Hi everyone,

I'm looking to replace my current vehicle and have my eye on a Suzuki Baleno SZ5 1.0 Boosterjet. Seems to be quite roomy compared to other superminis and decent amount of features. I would like to keep the car for a few years, the extra space whilst still being a small class of car is appealing as I'm a young driver and would like to keep the insurance premiums down. I suppose my question is, has anyone had any experience with the Baleno, namely negative ones? Or perhaps should I be looking elsewhere, such as the Dacia Sandero? My budget is £7,000.... Read more

As much as I like cars and motoring I’m struggling remember the last car I had a serious want for, something I really hankered after. Is it just age? Do we all lose interest as we get older or have cars become soulless machines filled with unnecessary gadgets and lacking in any real joy?

I’ve always liked hot hatches, ask me what my favourite car is at almost any point in my life and a fun to drive yet useful family hot hatch of some sort would pop to mind immediately. Peugeot 306 GTi-6, Citroen ZX Volcane, Renault 19 16v, Renault Clio 16v, Honda Civic Type R EP3, Peugeot 205 GTi, Metro GTi were all a hoot on a twisty B road yet affordable to ordinary folks like me. They weren’t over endowed with too much power, they didn’t come with feel sapping electric steering racks that sucked the fun out of driving. They were usable, fun and practical. They generated a smile on your face.

Ask that question today and I’m at a loss to answer it, I really can’t think of a single car I really lust after. I mean I respect many modern cars, I like my C Class estate and same goes for our Nissan Leaf, both are very efficient and surprisingly quick but I’ve no real interest in them, I won’t be found out in the garage polishing them every other night like my dad did with his long line of interesting cars while I was growing up and I don’t just go out for drive for the sake of it anymore. They’re appliances.

Hot hatches today are overpowered, ludicrously overpriced and unattainable for ordinary people. A Type R Honda Civic comes in at almost £50k, a fast A class Merc is over £60k! There is no real world hot hatch offerings left. SAIC make a stupidly fast electric MG4, but it’s absolutely numb to drive as per the norm with EV’s, fast but no fun in the twists where a good hot hatch should shine, outright speed had nothing to do with it.

I think the last car I really fancied was my neighbours bright red Fiat 500 Arbath, but it’s a bit too small to work for us even as a second car. Beyond that I’m drifting back to the early naughties or even the 90’s. I’ve driven a recent Golf GTi and found it no fun at all. Very efficient, quick and refined but it just wasn’t fun.

Bring back the fun. Even car adverts and motor shows are largely gone, cars are a financial product you rent to get you from A to B as dispassionately as possible. They don’t stir the soul. Maybe I need to finally get my bike license.

If asked today what your favourite current car is what would be your answer? I have none to give, no recent cars give me the fizz (as James May says) nothing stirs me at all. I don’t even think they still make the Fiat 500 Arbath petrol with a manual box, I believe it’s an EV shopping trolly now sadly. I’ve so little interest I don’t even add to my huge collection of What Car and Autocar mags, nothing of interest ever provokes me enough to buy a copy. Read more

Ive been looking at Petrol, Full Electric and Hybrid as a potential car purchase but theres a lot of fog out there.

Petrol has merits like purchase price.... Read more

Hi all.
I’m looking at buying a Peugeot Boxer SWB motorhome.
The reg is M710 PAG.
Registered December 1995.
I’m trying to get some figures for MPG.
The seller has given me a figure for when he drives “conservatively.”
Other than that, I’m finding it tough to find some figures.
The engine is 2800cc, Diesel.
Can anyone help with the information?
Thanks in advance. Read more

Had my Vauxhall Mokka (1.6 diesel, manual, 2016 4WD) overheat, looked like was from the near side front, there was smoke and a burning smell coming from that side. Not long after the engine management light came on not too long after along with some sharp jittering of the steering wheel. I think it might just be a brake stuck on, but don’t know why the management light would come on (although the engine bay was rather hot too) any suggestions or guidance would be great thanks l! Read more