Best summer car for £7000?

I'm looking to buy a convertible for the summer (and probably keep for a few years) with a budget of £7000 (maybe a little more). It needs to be petrol and a four seater. The BMW E93 looks nice but what...

Buying a Ford Grand C-MAX - which engine is best?

I am thinking about buying a new Ford Grand C-MAX. The dealer says the new 1.1 engine is powerful enough to carry a full load with seven adults and luggage. Is this correct? It seems like a rather small...

Audi A3 engine failure

The engine of my 2010 Audi A3 2.0 petrol has failed. It was recovered to my local independent garage who found no compression on one of the cylinders, suggesting serious damage. Monday they can start removing...

Need a small car with a petrol engine - any recommendations?

I am changing my wife's car. She is 5 foot in height and wants a car with a slightly raised seating. Motoring is mainly local but with occasional trip to Scotland and possibly France. We do like diesels...

BMW 320i xDrive hesitancy under acceleration

I have a 2013 BMW 320i petrol xDrive manual, with 31,000 miles on the clock. I have had an ongoing issue with a hesitancy under acceleration. When the car is cold, and for the first couple of miles, the...

Is the Skoda 1.4 TSI an unreliable engine?

We are looking at buying a 2012 Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI but have read that the engine has been recalled due to a problem with the cam/chain belt resulting in engine failure. What is your understand of the...

What's the best petrol SUV for £30k?

I'm looking for a mid-size SUV with a petrol engine, autobox and on demand four-wheel drive. I also want 17-inch wheels and a boot big enough for two full size suitcases. What do you recommend for £30k?

Buying a used Ford S-MAX - which engine is best for economy?

I would like to buy a Ford S-MAX petrol. Could you advise which engine is the better buy. I have always thought the 2.3 engine was uneconomical, and not a powerful as the straight 2.0-litre. Which unit...

Jaguar XE or BMW 4 Series - which will be the most reliable?

I'm considering buying a petrol sports saloon and am thinking of either a Jaguar XE or a BMW 4 Series. I plan to keep the car for a long time, 10 years plus, but have some concerns on the reliability of...

Are Porsche Boxsters suitable for short trips?

You recently published a response stating that short runs are very bad for a flat six Porsche Boxster engine. Why do you say that? I use my 2000 model as my station car (seven miles each way) and have...