Disastra zone

My husband's trusty and very ancient Vauxhall Astra 1.6 automatic has finally given up the ghost and he needs to replace it quickly with a very reliable second-hand car that we will keep for a long time....

Re-tyred

At the age of 77 I have been offered the chance to run a 'company car' with advice to get one with a low emission rate to avoid as much tax as possible. Over the past six years I have run three Mercedes...

Can you recommend a petrol automatic hatchback with low emissions?

I am looking for a car that is petrol, auto, under 120g/km CO2 and a 5-seater hatchback. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If not available now, are any to come in the near future?

Winter tyres on automatics

I know from your column in the DT that you are an advocate of winter tyres. My wife and I have now rationalised our transport arrangements from a Landrover Defender 110 LWB (mine) and a Corsa 1.4 automatic...

Failed clutch plate on Toyota Aygo

I have a low mileage Toyota Aygo (34,500 miles) having covered approximately 6,500 miles each year, bought nearly new from a Toyota dealer 5 years ago. The clutch plate rivets failed a week ago. I took...

Silent Prius

Hi In the past month I have been 'surprised' by Prisuses. On the first occasion I had filled my car at a local petrol station and was walking out of the shop, busy putting my credit card back in my wallet....

A car with a large boot

What would you recommend as a replacement for our aging Nissan Primera. A large boot is important. We've driven automatics for 20 years but are considering, for economic reasons, changing to manual -...

Octing out

I am the second owner of a 1997 Vauxhall Astra 1.6, which is still a good car but has become very expensive to run, especially as I have reached my 80th year. I am unsure whether to go for old, like 12...

Toyotal protection

I'm awaiting the arrival of my new top-of-the-range Prius. Toyota offers its own insurance, and if I've read your replies to recent letters correctly, you reckon this is probably better value because it...

Avensing angel

Some 4 years ago I acted on your advice and bought a Toyota Avensis hatchback, 2.2 diesel. We live in an attractive part of the Scottish Highlands and most of my average of 14,000 miles pa is long distance,...