Buying a new or nearly new small car - what would you recommend?

My daughter is a single parent with a four-year-old child and very happy with her 04 plate, manual, petrol, Jazz, but wants to change it for a new or nearly new five-door vehicle which is cheap to run...

Are Mazda 3s known for being susceptible for battery drain whilst parked for a few weeks?

Illness and zero degree weather meant that I did not start my 2009 Mazda 3 for three weeks. When I tried to start the vehicle the battery was flat. The dealer told me it was the extreme cold and they had...

Is there an alternative to my automatic to my Toyota Yaris which is less jerky when pulling away?

My Yaris TR with the new-type combined automatic is now three years old and paid for. I find this type of automatic very jerky in first gear and very poor at pulling away at junctions and traffic lights...

Should I buy a spare wheel if the car doesn't come with one?

There's reams on your Ask HJ about the trend of not providing a spare wheel. I'm about to buy a Mazda 3 ... which I'm sure doesn't have a spare. What would be your best advice: buy a second-hand wheel...

Why is my Mazda 6 returning just 40mpg when it is advertised as returning up to 52mpg?

I bought a Mazda 6 estate 'Takuya' edition in September 2010. It’s a 2.2TDi (163ps) with an advertised mpg of 40.9 urban and 52.3 combined. Given the rising price of fuel, the mpg performance was a key...

How much for a 2005 Ford SportKa?

My daughter wants to sell her good condition Ford SportKa 55-plate 50k miles. What's it worth in part exchange? With this as a deposit she can afford up to £10k to buy a five-door hatch. She wants something...

Can you recommend a reliable, safe 3-door car to replace our daughter's Volkswagen Polo?

My daughter lives in the south of England and does a fair bit of motorway driving. She currently has a Volkswagen Polo that is eight years old and is starting to cost her money. We would like to help replace...

What would you recommend to replace my wife's T-reg Toyota Yaris?

My wife currently drives a T-reg Toyota Yaris, which has been a fantastic car. We are thinking of changing. She only drives 7,000 a year. We like the Suzuki Swift, but is there another you would recommend?

Please recommend a 7-seat vehicle for my son's family?

My son is looking to exchange his BMW estate car for a 7-seater as they are expecting a third child and will need three car seats and room for extra passengers. I was wondering what you would recommend?

Can you recommend an economical car for my 60-mile commute?

I currently own a 2007 Aygo+, with three doors. Following a job change last year I am now commuting over 60 miles a day on the A5 and A38, both dual carriageways, between Tamworth and Derby. I am spending...