Wealth and efficiency

I bought my Ford Focus Ghia in January 2001, a size of car that would enable me to take my sick husband out and about. Fords had always been popular with us and this certainly proved its worth and, serviced...

S-Max of discontent

I bought my Ford S-Max a year or so ago with runflat tyres. Before people go for this option, I think they should bear in mind that they cost much more, they weigh (according to my local fitter) a third...

Adapting a low profile

I have a 2008 reg manual Ford Fiesta Titanium. I am very pleased with it. It's a great car. The car was supplied with low profile tyres. Pirelli P-ZERO Mero 205/40R17. I have had bad experiences of low...

Bad news to brake

I have a 2006 Volvo S40 with 1.6 diesel engine. You suggested this engine in preference to 2.0 litres. It has been economical (average of 48mpg for mixed motoring) and very satisfying to drive. In the...

Easy TSI

I am thinking of changing my 2006 Focus 1.6 (113) Zetec for a new Octavia with the 1.4 turbo petrol engine. I would appreciate your view on small turbo petrol engines in general and this one in particular....

Ghia change

I want to change my car, a May 2005 Ford Mondeo GHIA Petrol 2.0 litre. In very good condition, it has done 71k miles with FSH and warranty to April 2010 and taxed to March. Having been really pleased with...

Completely pluggered

Recently I took my 2005 Ford Focus 1.6 Ghia for its 40,000-mile service to my local Ford garage from which I bought it new. They could not remove the sparking plugs to change them because the plugs had...

Histyrey lesson

The low profile 195/45 R16s on alloy wheels on my 08 Fiesta 1.4 TDCi seem increasingly inappropriate for our winter snow-covered, year-round speed humped and potholed roads. I'm fed up of the hard ride...

Cinq, or swim?

I test-drove a FIAT 500 Lounge at Parkside Garage, Twickenham. There's no doubt, it has bags of style and character at a very, very attractive price (though they tell me now that If I placed an order today,...

Mr Softy

I would like to know what reasonably-priced cars have a soft suspension as my wife has back problems.