I am a fit and active 75-year-old and learned to drive in London in a Ford Popular when I was 17. I have always driven manual cars. Being barely five foot tall I have enjoyed the adjustable seat and steering wheel on my latest Golf but after 92,000 miles I am now considering buying a Beetle or MINI convertible, for a last bit of fun. Probably a one to two-year old model. I drive approximately 10,000 miles a year on both country lanes and motorways and wonder whether there is any structural difference between the two cars in the case of an accident. I drove the original MINI, which seemed very flimsy in comparison to the early Beetles.

Also, my family are urging me to get an automatic, feeling it would make driving less tiring on long journeys, especially when the joints start to stiffen up. However, I remember reading somewhere it is unsafe for older drivers to change to automatic driving if they've never done it before. I would very much appreciate your advice.