Shifting circumstances

We are opting for either a new Ford Fiesta Zetec automatic or a new VW Polo SE 1.4 DSG-7. Our budget is approx £15,000 to £16,000 in cash which of these would be best, or should we choose something else?

The big Frees

I have been snowed in with sick animals in France for nearly two weeks and of course my Suzuki Splash wasn't up to it. So I have been chasing Jimnys to no avail. I now have the chance to buy a 2002 (but...

Rough trade

A few years back we attempted to move from Southern to Northern England and bought a BMW 320D for anticipated long trips up and down the motorway. The move never happened and though we really like this...

Afford Moredoor

I currently own a Honda Civic 1.6 Sport 3 door hatchback registered November 2003. I bought this nearly new on your recommendation in exchange for a Ford Puma. The Honda has been very reliable and is still...

Pyramid sale

My daughter lives and works in Sinai, Egypt and has asked me to suggest a replacement for her old Suzuki Grand Vitara automatic, a car that has given her very good service. She requires a 4-wheel drive...

Retiremumt

Quick email to ask your opinion on what would be the best automatic cars for my mother to buy? She has just retired and has very bad arthritis so doing things like changing gear all the time is getting...

Fuel if you think it’s over

I have a Sept 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9DDIS which I bought about 18 months ago with 19k miles from a non-franchised dealer. In April of this year at 31k we discovered a problem with filings being deposited...

Seventeener

My Granddaughter, who is 17, hopes to pass her driving test in the next couple of months and my wife and I are thinking of buying her a car. I seem to recall you mentioning in your column that a KIA Picanto...

Swift decision

I am selling my 2006 Suzuki Swift 1.3 GLX and am torn between another Swift DDiS 1.3 GLX or the Splash DDiS 1.3, which is 1100 Euros less but with only manual aircon. The Splash seems a better buy but...

Fox shunt

My wife has just had her 3-year-old VW Fox written off. A possible contributory factor was the over generous roof strut at the drivers side. She only uses it as a ladies shopping trolley and fills the...