The Building Regulations require all new homes to have access to EV charging, so I'm not sure that element holds water

Sadly new home builders have interpreted that as simply meaning they fit an external 13a socket. Whilst that can be used with a 'Granny Charger' and fuel your EV at a stonking 4 Mile's per hour increase in range. Thus technically providing a charging capability. Penny pinching isn't it.

What you need is a 7kw EVSE....gives me 26m range per hour. Alas that you still have to pay for yourself. I'd also lay odds the cable they provide, up to the external socket isn't up to the 32a necessary either.

The regulations (Approved Document S) require (Section 6.2) a minimum 7kw output through a universal untethered socket. The installation has to be to BS EN 61851, which I'm sure we're all familiar with.

There was a period where some planning authorities demanded car charging but the building regs didn't, so everyone just stuck in 13 amp sockets, but those days are gone now.

While thats good, addressing this issue by changes to new build regulations implies a geological rather than an industrial timescale, and doesn't convey the requisite sense of urgency

My flat, like many in Edinburgh, is over 200 years old

Personally, if I had to replace my present car (10 years old and thankfully free from most of the 'safety improvements' legislated for since it was made) I would be tempted to go back to a classic car.

Having had 1950s/1960s/1970s and 1980s cars which I serviced and repaired myself, I would be content with their lower performance and higher fuel consumption.

Tempted to dig out the 60 yr old Jag MK2 in my neighbours garage and pay for a recon steering rack. Or if I could get an electric kit rack which were available once upon a time.

£2200 plus vat back order Martin robey

Watch out though for more 'top end' classic cars though. One of my old bosses (I have regaled this tale before) owned (maybe still does if he's still with us) a Aston DB5 - he purportedly spent (20 years ago) well into six figures in restoring it, mainly by himself. Apparently afterwards worth £500k+ (confirmed via Google search for the model generally).

Given that spend, I doubt if parts were cheap. Problem you never know how long the parts would last, i.e. when the next huge bill comes in to keep it on the road.

Personally, if I had to replace my present car (10 years old and thankfully free from most of the 'safety improvements' legislated for since it was made) I would be tempted to go back to a classic car.

Having had 1950s/1960s/1970s and 1980s cars which I serviced and repaired myself, I would be content with their lower performance and higher fuel consumption.

They're fine as long as you've got another car for when you need to get somewhere!

Family members live within a mile and would help in emergencies, taxis are also readily available and self-drive hire possible if needed.

I used to reckon about 3 hours to replace a clutch or head gasket, less than that for many jobs.

No chance of such times on present new cars, is there?

Personally, if I had to replace my present car (10 years old and thankfully free from most of the 'safety improvements' legislated for since it was made) I would be tempted to go back to a classic car.

Having had 1950s/1960s/1970s and 1980s cars which I serviced and repaired myself, I would be content with their lower performance and higher fuel consumption.

They're fine as long as you've got another car for when you need to get somewhere!

I can't go back as far as the 70s or 80s, but our 2008 Pug 207 has just done a 130-mile round trip and is looking forward to a much longer one at the end of this month. The 1991 205 does 80-mile round trips every couple of weeks. How far away is 'somewhere', or are you asking for high speed ?

Same as us with our 2017 Yaris. Wife is bored of it, but no way we are selling. Now at 46,000 it drives as well today as it did when a year old.

It also rides the ever increasing potholed roads and speed bumps extremely well.

Personally, if I had to replace my present car (10 years old and thankfully free from most of the 'safety improvements' legislated for since it was made) I would be tempted to go back to a classic car.

I've a 2014 Toyota Yaris (pre facelift), 1.3 Icon manual petrol, so it hasn't DRLs, EBA, LDWS, auto wipers, sat nav, auto lights, or auto dipping etc. It has halogen headlights, although it does have a reversing camera and (dodgy) Bluetooth. 50K miles. All offers considered.

But what the hell do I buy, Dacia?

The non-hybrid (mild or the clone of the latest Yaris) Mazda2 (2015-2020 or 2021 [MHEV afterwards). I suspect many of those 'auto this and that' may be able to be avoided, even the sat nav stuff if you stick to the base SE / SE+ / SE-L (non 'Nav' ones obviously) that don't have an ICE touchscreen, just knobs and buttons and fine to use.

I think that the SE+ or SE-L are best as they keep the reasonable profile tyres of the SE (for the most part), don't have sat nav (use your phone - the Mazda system will be out of date by now except if you get a newish one with Apple/Android apps built in) and most of them have climate control (single zone - don't need dual really) instead of manual A/C on the SE. Always check though, as some older versions may have a lower spec.

Even the 1.5 engine in its lowest 75hp tune is fine (in manual form) is fine performance-wise (0-60 in 11.3sec ish) because it has 100 lb.ft of toque, compared to 109 / 110 lb.ft for the 90hp and 115hp (GT Sport) versions.

The non-facelifted ones (before Sept 2018) are actually a bit more spritely than the facelifted ones, probably due to Mazda trying to improve emissions / mpg (going from the old to new testing regime), etc by remapping the engine. They may also have less gadgets and acronym safety / green features to annoy you / go wrong.

I suspect that the MHEV version (not the proper hybrid Yaris clone) isn't that much different, just a bit slower due to the extra weight of the hybrid stuff (just to run the electrics on that model) and newer safety / other environmental 'features'.

Not the largest supermini out there for its footprint though, and the Yaris is better screwed together. Just not as 'sporty' (handling). The same platformed CX-3 is similar (same cabin), bigg-er boot. Has the bigger 2L SA-G engine, so a bit quicker.