Should my wife buy a Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion?

My wife is thinking of changing her two-door car for a four-door and likes the look of Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion 2010/11, but a mechanic friend said they can be a problem. Can you please advise as we...

Which van is suitable for short journeys for use by a plumber?

My son in law is just starting out as a plumber and is considering buying a Peugeot Partner diesel. Having read your page for a number of years I told him that he might have problems with a diesel as he...

Why are modern diesels bad for short journeys?

I would be grateful for information on cars using diesel. I have been told that this is a good feature if you are doing a lot of distance driving, but not a good choice if the running is mostly local....

Which car do you recommend for a tall, elderly lady driver?

Could you possibly recommend a small car, please, for an 85-year-old 5-feet 9-inches lady whose knees are beginning to go? Could be secondhand or new, but spending well under £10,000. It will be street-parked,...

Will a diesel Volkswagen Golf be more economical than the petrol version?

New Golf 1.4TSI petrol or new 1.6TDI diesel? I’ve done the maths. For both cars after three years at 8000 miles per year at urban mpg (43 petrol and 62 diesel) and local fuel prices I’ve calculated petrol...

Our postal vans keep breaking down with DPF faults - do you have any comment?

As a keen reader of your columns in the Saturday Telegraph, I am well aware of the pitfalls of operating a modern diesel for short journeys. Our local postmen have been subjected to new "modern" work methods,...

How often do I need to take a DPF-equipped diesel for a long run?

We are looking to buy a diesel estate but have had conflicting advice on how often you have to take them out for longer, faster drives to avoid problems with DPFs. Is it twice a month or every couple of...

When should I change the CVT oil in my Honda Jazz?

In November last I purchased a Honda Jazz 1.4 VTEC ES CVT, first registered March 2012, and am getting conflicting advice regarding the need to change the CVT gearbox oil. Current mileage is 6600 and it...

Which SUV for a school run?

I'm looking for a second-hand SUV for my wife to do the school run in. I don't want to spend a fortune but want something comfortable that is not thirsty. What do you think about a 2005 Volvo XC 90 2.5T...

Which car would make a good runaround for my parents?

My parents are in their 60s and looking for a new car. They don't want anything flash, just something small and reliable that isn't too expensive to run. They will mainly use it to get around town with...