My Dad needs an automatic and was looking at a KIA Sportage 2wd diesel auto because of its 7-year warranty, which is about £18,000 new. Then he saw a Mercedes-Benz 56 plate C-Class estate Kompressor locally with under 40,000 miles, with all the bells and whistles, but I am worried about high running costs. Still, at £13000, it could do, but I have a Renault Scenic for my family and these seem cheap when new from the car supermarkets. So, basically, do you have any advice on a 5-seat automatic car, estate or MPV for a man of 69, his new wife and their teenage son for the school run, ferrying other kids around and a boot for doing DIY jobs?