Walking car

A friend has decided to ditch his 2003 X-Trail diesel after its fuel pump failed. I am advising him on his next purchase. He travels 25,000 miles each year as he is an avid hill walker. 4x4 preferable...

Taxing work

Could you advise me as to the best car to buy for use as a mini cab? I need an automatic to save on my clutch leg; however, I've been getting conflicting advise as to whether to go for a diesel or petrol...

Out of Focus

A friend is thinking of changing her 3-year-old Ford Focus Diesel manual for another car. Could you advise what types of similar mid range cars are available (including the Focus) but with an automatic...

Is the new Toyota Prius affected by crosswinds?

We currently run a 2007 Prius which has been utterly faultless in 45,000 miles. It is, however, affected by strong crosswinds and as we are considering changing it for the latest version I wondered if...

Will an automatic diesel Toyota Corolla be more economical around town than our Ford Fiesta?

My partner currently has a 2005 Mk3 Ford Focus 1.6 automatic. The fuel economy is terrible, averaging sub-20mpg. She does several short trips per day for the school run, each trip being about 2.5 miles...

Which reliable car to replace my Nissan Primera for £2000?

I have £2000 or thereabouts to buy a car for work. I do about 50 miles a day, so I need something that is reliable to drive. I was thinking about a Nissan Almera or the 52-plate Fiesta. My present P-reg...

Is it a nightmare task to change my 2004 Toyota Avensis automatic's transmission oil?

You have mentioned that changing oil in an auto box is like a type of dialysis. My 2004 Toyota Avensis T3 is an auto with conventional torque convertor. Is it a nightmare task and costly to have the oil...

How can I make my Toyota Yaris' instruments easier to see in bright sunlight?

I have recently purchased a new Toyota Yaris and I am generally quite happy with my choice. However there is a 'but'. This model has an analogue instrument panel, lit in an orange colour. The Yaris I had...

Should I buy a Citroen C1, Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo for my 17-year-old daughter?

We are looking at buying a car for my 17-year-old daughter who is learning to drive. We are budgeting on spending £5000 and thinking of a 2007/2008 Citroen C1, 2005 Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo. Is...

Which cars are easily insurable for a 17-year-old?

Our daughter will shortly be 17 and will learn to drive. We currently have a two-year-old Touran and a six-year-old MINI Cooper soft top. We assume both would be horribly expensive to insure for our daughter....