Towed, on the whole

I need a practical beast that will comfortably tow a 1,500kg caravan for about 3,000 miles a year, and carry 4 adults and accommodate 2 Labradors and walking gear in the boot for probably another 4,000....

Turnip for the book

I purchased a 2006 SAAB 9-3 1.9tdi 150bhp almost two years ago with 19,000 miles on the clock and have now done 50,000 miles, but have had nothing but problems with it. As I use the car for work, I am...

Rental arithmetic

I recently decided to trade-in my 30,000 mile 2003 Ford Focus1.6 Ghia Auto for an 09 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Auto in Moondust Silver. But I was slightly surprised to find that its mileage since first registration...

Leased of his worries

I am a company car driver and currently have a choice of: Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi 125ps Zetec 6 speed 5 door Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi ECOnetic 5 speed 5 door Estate Ford Focus Titanium 2.0 135 TDCi 6 speed Estate Vauxhall...

Buying an ex-rental car

I've been talking to Silverdale Cars in Oxfordshire about a 2.0 Diesel Mondeo Zetec. They have been completely open with me and told me the car I'm interested in is ex Enterprise Rent-a-Car (ERAC on the...

Slippery condition

I have a 9 month old, 1.8 petrol Ford C-Max. I have done 5,500 miles and am generally pleased with it except that on 2 occasions in stop-start traffic conditions I have had an appalling stink fill the...

Bob, Ted, Carol and sue too.

I am having to sue Ford for an apparently known fault on an engine. The car was stopping and going into limp mode, black smoke, and stalling. I sent it to a local workshop that had serviced the car regularly,...

Pull (with) the other one?

A friend of mine uses his 10-year-old Focus 2.0 petrol to tow a Bailey 460/2 caravan that weighs just over 1 ton. He is now interested in buying a 1.6 TDCI diesel Focus. I am concerned that this car will...

Perturboed

I have just bought a Mondeo with a 2.5 litre turbocharged engine. This is the first time that I have owned a car with a turbocharged engine. I have occasionally read in your column in the Saturday Telegraph...

Scotch miss

My niece is 18 years old, having passed her test 15 months ago. She wants something with a bit more zip than her 1.0 litre 03 Reg Corsa (that is going to another family member) at least as much room and...