I am a 48-year-old single mother of 4 and have just qualified as a nurse. I have got a job as a community staff nurse, which involves a lot of travelling. My present car is a 2000X Polo (bought 2nd hand from a dealer in Kent for about £5,000 two years ago on HP) and I can only drive automatic cars, which limits my choice (I only have an automatic licence). Any car trader can see me coming miles away with a large ‘rip-me-off ‘sign as I do not know anything about cars and have got ripped off many times in the past. I am asking if you could recommend whether I should trade my present car in and get something else as my Polo although it is very good. It is heavy on petrol and I spend on average £20 - £30 a week on fuel. Brand new cars do not excite me as I am not worried about the aesthetics of the vehicle or how good it looks, just the reliability and the economy of it. I am still paying off my Polo and will not have loads to spend so I am not necessarily looking for a brand new car. I could put £1,000 down if I sell a family heirloom, or should I trade in my car? My children can work towards buying their own old banger between them so I do not have to accommodate for them necessarily. Can you recommend anything to me?