Is there still a market for small, basic, economical cars?

We bought our 1998 Fiat Panda 0.9-litre for 1400 Euros six years ago. It has now covered over 150,000km, and we have done 54,000km of those. It will comfortably cruise at 70 mph on a motorway. It is running...

Is a ten-year-old camper van a good buy?

We're keen to buy a camper van with which to explore the UK. We've seen a 2001 Fiat Ducato for £18,000, which seems ideal as with the elevated roof it gives my tall husband sufficient room to stand and,...

Is the 2011 BMW 320d particularly susceptible to DPF faults?

I am about to trade in my 2003 BMW 320d for a 2011 example of the same model but with automatic transmission. My current car is manual and does not have a diesel particulate filter, but the new one does....

We only need one car - should we keep the BMW 320i or the Toyota Yaris?

My 2001 BMW 320i is a joy to drive and has only done 56,000 miles. It is used mainly for longer runs and can return almost 40mpg. My wife's car is a 2003 Yaris and is used as a runabout and was, until...

Is the new Toyota Yaris better than the previous model?

Will you please comment on the new Toyota Yaris automatic hybrid from the point of view of a Motability lease, its reliability and whether the quoted mpg figures are realistic? I have a Yaris 2009 semi-auto...

Which small car for all my daughters?

I am looking for a car for my family to drive with three essentials; safety, economy and reliability. I am thinking of solid SAAB-like safety rather than gizmos, and the economy should come from an optimised...

Dacia Duster - what is the 1.6 engine from and is it powerful enough?

I have ordered a Dacia Duster for delivery JAN 2012. I am concerned about the reliability and fuel efficiency as I don't know anyone with one.

Am I mad to consider a Lotus Esprit?

Having owned several Lotus Elans in the 1970s and 1980s I am aware that they are 'Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious', but am nevertheless tempted at the thought of owning an Esprit. Am I barking mad? What...

Should I replace my Honda Civic with a Jazz?

I have a 2004 1.6 Honda Civic manual which I've owned from new. It has only just passed 31,000 miles. My local Honda dealer has always serviced the car. To date, it's performed without any problems and...

Is my Vauxhall Zafira going to be reliable?

I have heard that the Zafira's 1.9-litre diesel engine can be a disaster zone. I am now worried as I bought a 20-month-old 1.9CDTI automatic one year ago from a local Vauxhall dealer. It had covered 24,000...