I have read your articles for many years and have taken particular note of your advice regarding using diesel engined cars for regular short runs - as im afraid I do. I do take my car, a Jaguar 2.2 automatic, for a long run once a week. Although normally on a motorway, today I took it on a series of A-roads with speed limits of between 40 and 70mph for about 40 miles.

Today I used the paddle gear levers to stay within the relevant speed limit, but also to keep my rpm at or slightly above 2000 as you recommend. Common sense says that the paddle levers are intended to be used in this fashion but, nevertheless, I would welcome your observations.