Buying a new company car

I need to buy, by HP over 3 years, my first company car. It's a small family partnership and I've got a budget of approx £21k plus £2k that I can put in. I'll need to cover 20k miles a year, carry a...

Buying a new car - cheap to run, can get to the dog in the boot - but still good fun!

I'm looking for a (nearly) new car, preferably five-door, that can fit a dog in the boot, with quick acceleration and some 'pizazz!' (I can't get excited by the undoubtedly brilliant VW Golf or Ford Focus) I've...

Why does my Alfa Romeo MiTo only achieve 75 per cent of its quoted mpg figure?

I know from what you have written that official fuel economy figures are unachievable, but does there come a point at which they are misrepresenting the car? I bought an Alfa MiTo in August (pre-reg but...

Why do some motoring journalists continue to describe cars as unreliable when more recent models have improved?

I wonder about the way in which motoring correspondents talk about the reliability of one make of car or another. I imagine there are statistics with a certain degree of reliability, but it does seem to...

Do you know of any problems with the Alfa Romeo 159?

I have decided to buy a used Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDm. I have read your review of the 159 and you list a number of faults that affect the 1.9 JTDm, but nothing on the 2.4. Now that this car has been around...

Can I fit 225-45-17 winter tyres to my Alfa Romeo 159?

I'll be driving to Austria in December and I have been offered four winter tyres (225-45-17) in very good condition. I have an Alfa Romeo 159 SW 1.9 JTD with 225-50-17 tyres. Will the different tyre section,...

Out of controlled

I write with reference to an incident that occurred whilst driving a brand new MINI. I was driving on the M1 and whilst changing lanes the car lost stability. It felt as if somebody had grabbed hold of...

Is my Alfa Romeo GT's water pump faulty?

I have done 28K miles and there is a slight 'squeak' from engine at tickover. Could this be the water pump and should I change it?

Why does my Alfa Romeo 159's battery keep going flat?

I have an almost new Alfa Romeo 159 TI. I have no complaints with the car other than a battery problem. There are occasions when I have to attend conferences abroad, leaving the car in the open air car...

Is £389 reasonable for a first service on an Alfa Romeo MiTo?

I have had my Alfa Romeo MiTo serviced this week. It is it's first service. It was bought in May 2009 and has done just short of 20,000 miles. I took it for its service and when I came to pay the total...