I wrote to you several weeks ago regarding trading in my 5 year old X-Type Jaguar 2.0 diesel estate for a smaller car. You helpfully suggested a Mazda and I am currently looking at a Mazda 3. Doing a bit of research and it seems the 1.6 petrol isn't the best choice, described as “sluggish” in some reviews I have read. Because of the mileage and type of driving I am now likely to do this is the model I was looking at. Mileage anticipated around 10k per annum and mostly around town, with probably one trip per month of a 200-mile motorway trip, occasionally two trips. Main question therefore is if I go for a diesel, am I going to have problems with diesel particulate filters that we read so much about in your column? Also can you tell me what type of timing belt there is on the petrol and the diesel? I would like to go in to a dealer with as much technical knowledge as possible as I am a 59 year old widow and so now do not have the resource of my husband's technical knowledge.