Winter tyres on automatics

I know from your column in the DT that you are an advocate of winter tyres. My wife and I have now rationalised our transport arrangements from a Landrover Defender 110 LWB (mine) and a Corsa 1.4 automatic...

Octing out

I am the second owner of a 1997 Vauxhall Astra 1.6, which is still a good car but has become very expensive to run, especially as I have reached my 80th year. I am unsure whether to go for old, like 12...

Toyotal protection

I'm awaiting the arrival of my new top-of-the-range Prius. Toyota offers its own insurance, and if I've read your replies to recent letters correctly, you reckon this is probably better value because it...

Failed clutch plate on Toyota Aygo

I have a low mileage Toyota Aygo (34,500 miles) having covered approximately 6,500 miles each year, bought nearly new from a Toyota dealer 5 years ago. The clutch plate rivets failed a week ago. I took...

Silent Prius

Hi In the past month I have been 'surprised' by Prisuses. On the first occasion I had filled my car at a local petrol station and was walking out of the shop, busy putting my credit card back in my wallet....

A car with a large boot

What would you recommend as a replacement for our aging Nissan Primera. A large boot is important. We've driven automatics for 20 years but are considering, for economic reasons, changing to manual -...

Avensing angel

Some 4 years ago I acted on your advice and bought a Toyota Avensis hatchback, 2.2 diesel. We live in an attractive part of the Scottish Highlands and most of my average of 14,000 miles pa is long distance,...

Can you recommend a short wheelbase car with good ground clearance?

I currently drive a 2005 Toyota Avensis which I now find is too large. I am looking for a shorter wheelbase car which also stands higher off the ground because I need to be able to get in and out more...

Can you recommend a Golf-sized, British-built car?

If one wanted to be patriotic and buy something made here in the UK, can you identify (in a very small space) which models (Golf-sized, say) are made here? I drove a Volkswagen Golf for years before...

Is a Yaris suitable for a long winter commute, or should my daughter buy a 4x4 instead?

My daughter has a Toyota Yaris, which she was driving for four years over short to medium distances. Now she is taking up job in Walthamstow (Herts) shortly and needs to commute from home in Chorleywood...