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I am soon to relocate to Belgium and have decided to take up the company car option, and sell my much loved Porsche Boxster. Whilst I want to gain the benefits of a comfortable long-distance driving experience, I don't want to lose the responsive handling or the power that I currently have. My budget is not very precise but I feel that the upper limit will be around £25,000 (or equivalent model in Euros) and I have the choice of any 4 door model from Citroen, VW, Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Although some may be out of my budget, I have looked at the C-Class 220D, the Golf GTI and (the one that seems to "tick more boxes" than any other) the Alpina D3. Can you give me the benefit of your advice and if the D3 is your top choice for my criteria, how can I get one for my budget?

Richard Smalley, Nottingham, UK

Hi Richard,

You want an Alpina badly, don’t you?

I could talk about the virtues of an Audi or the resale value of a Mercedes. But the Alpina has seduced you. Theoretically they start at £26,995. So, you need a £2000 - £3,000 discount (to allow for any extras you need, road tax etc).

Make an appointment and walk in with a cheque already made out for £25,000, because that is all you can afford. The reality of an actual cheque should focus their mind.

With the recent birth of twins we now have 3 children and need a suitably large car. We have been offered a Renault Espace that is a repaired insurance write off. What should the value of this car be in relation to a similar car without that has not been through the write off process?

Are there any other things to watch out for, I am aware there may be insurance issues? Also if the vehicle has the necessary paperwork does that make it as safe as a normal car?

Thanks,

Bryan Poynton, East Molesey, UK

Hi Bryan,

A properly repaired car, with all the correct paperwork is theoretically worth as much as a car that hasn’t been crashed. But with a common car, no one will pay the same money.

So it’s worth what the market will bear. Maybe 10 per cent less, probably 25 per cent, but probably not much more than a third less. I’m not sure I would risk it – there are so many Espaces and other MPVs out there with flawless histories.

I was told that to succeed in negotiation you have to be prepared to make an insulting offer. So phone the seller with a line like, “I am concerned about the re-sale value of a repaired car so I can only offer … (something incredibly small).”

You need to call the garage that is listed as having repaired the car and get a data check, to ensure it has been re-registered (having passed its test) as ‘accident repaired’. Theoretically it is then as safe as any car.

We are expecting triplets in the summer and have of course to buy a vehicle that will cope with the change in our motoring requirements! Safety is our primary concern and then that of space to carry 2 pushchairs / buggies and all other associated bags / supplies / essentials wherever we may travel. Of all the choices between large family cars and / or MPVs, we are a bit lost as to where to start! We have been recommended by a friend to opt for leather uphostelry to avoid milk, vomit or food being worked into normal car seat fabric with the resulting smells putting us off driving anywhere!

Our budget is £8-10k cash, or if you were to recommend an option that warranted it, we would look at some sort of finance.

Andy McMaster, Caversham, Berkshire, UK

Hi Andy,

A bit of leather is always nice.

The two family cars at the top of my list are the Ford S-Max and Volvo XC90.

The XC90 is as safe as a tank with great visibility, comfort and space. But is a bit heavy around town and parking in small gaps requires both flair and skill.

The S-Max is easier to live with in town, drives more like a car and apart from when you have the extra seats up in the boot, there is plenty of room.

An XC90 from 2003 can be found for £12,000, but the good ones start at £14-£15,000. An S-Max is the same money, but that will be a 2007 car with manufacturer warranty still left and much lower mileage.

I have a 1991 Mercedes E190. It has 187000 on the clock. It still drives well although maintenance costs are rising (£700 last time including 3 tyres. I service it once a year). I do 6000 miles a year, mostly urban (c.18mpg). Ex-urban about 26 mpg. I have no desire to replace it. Should I be looking to buy another car for economical or environmetal reasons?

John Hughes, Ipswich, UK

Dear John,

With your annual mileage, I wouldn’t bother.

If everyone ran their cars for 20 years, whilst the economy would be knackered, the environment would stand a chance. The making and transporting of new cars is pretty bad in terms of carbon.

Because of the three tyres your service bill is inflated (ho, ho). But even then the car is only costing £58 a month. Your MPG may improve if you use posh petrol, energy-efficient oil and check your tyres are all at the correct pressures. And give the car a good run from time to time.

If you decide to sell, let me have first refusal?

I am looking to replace my car and have a budget of around £9,000. I do around 1,500 miles a month travelling to and from work (mostly motorway driving) so need something economical but I also want something girlie, sporty and fun - is that possible?

Julie Barnes, Southampton, UK

Hello Julie,

I know a foxy Julie and she drives an MG TF in ‘British racing green.’ You can almost afford two. If you get one though, change the cam belt and keep changing it early. If it fails on you, well, I don’t want to put you off. Don’t let it fail on you.

Or there is the Mazda MX-5, millions of those about. Or, a nearly new or pre-registered Daihatsu Copen is just about within reach.

Now don’t turn your nose up until you have seen one – it’s a sexy little car. They all do over 33 mpg.

Hi there Matthew, I want to sell my ford focus 1.6 Ghia saloon, leather seats, all Ghia refinements, 03/2003 model. Site comparisons vary greatly. The car is in v.g.c 43600 service history mileage. What sort of price should I be leaving it go for, minimum?

Paul Llewellyn, Aberdare, Wales

Hi Paul

The average Focus doesn’t do as many miles as you might think and the average for that year is actually in the 20s. So at 43,600 miles your Focus is relatively high.

If you sell privately and the car is genuinely in good condition (I believe you), a sensible price will be £4,200 to £4,800. For a quick sale, or if there are defects, aim at anything over £3,700.

Dealers will look to charge around £5,200. You can ask for that but it may take time to sell, as savvy buyers prepared to pay that much, will go to a dealer and get a warranty.

Hi,

My wife is having a baby in a few weeks so we decided to try fitting the child car seat we purchased in our 2005 Kia Cerato.

It was a bit of a struggle so we thought it would be worth investing in an ISOFIX base for our Cosy Tot Premium Britax car seat. The Britax website does not list the Kia Cerato as having been safety tested with the base however some of the reviews of this car online report that the car has Isofix anchors Can I use an ISOFIX base with this car?

Daniel Harte, Lurgan, Ireland

Congratulations Daniel,

There is more good news: you don’t need a new car. The Cerato does have ISOFIX in the rear, so provided the Cosy Tot Premium Britax uses ISOFIX it will fit.

I have enjoyed the luxury, toys and reliability of my Type V Honda Accord automatic (with Sat Nav) for the past 6 years but would like a newer car of similar size and specification but less thirsty! It must be automatic with Sat Nav fitted and cost under £20,000. Unfortunately Honda do not do an automatic diesel engine and the Civic Hybrid is not sold in the UK with Sat Nav as an option plus the boot is too small. Suggestions please.

Robert Hope, Edinburgh, Scotland

Robert,

You could do worse than a Vauxhall Vectra (with the replacement due, deals can soon be had) or the brilliant new Ford Mondeo in Titanium X with the 2.0 TDCi engine.

Or, a flick through the classifieds reveals a 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Sport, a 2006 Jaguar 2.7D and a 2005 Mercedes E-Class E270. They are all £18,000, Sat-Nav’d up and Auto-everything…

My wife has been diagnosed with a neck problem. Which car would give the best neck and head support, in addition to protection from "whiplash" in case of an accident?

Edward Ukleja, Priors Hardwick, UK

Dear Edward,

A headrest is a misleading name in that it is not really there to offer support – but it is there to offer protection against whiplash.

In 2005 NCAP Thatcham whiplash tests, only 16% of cars were awarded the ‘good’ rating. By 2007 manufacturers were taking whiplash more seriously and 29% made the grade.

Volvo and Saab come out top. But you can find all the cars with a ‘good’ rating here: http://www.thatcham.org/ncwr

My 17-year-old son wants to buy his first car, with the usual requirements of being cheap to buy, insure and run, but he doesn't want a modern box, instead he is keen to get a car (or van) with character – possibly a 'recent classic'.

Budget £1500 - £2500. Any suggestions?

John Starke, Colchester, UK

Hi John,

Apparently Ralph Lauren had the same attitude to his first car. I hope your son has much luck with the ladies and lucre.

You need to raid specialist classified magazines like ‘Classic Cars For Sale’ and the banger section of Auto Trader.

Look for Triumph TR7s, 1970 MGBs (it will have to be the one with the massive bumpers) or if you can find one, a Fiat Xi/9.

In a few years he can consider 1980s BMW 3-Series or Toyota MR2s and Celicas. But the engine size will clobber him on insurance at the moment.

I have also seen a Singer Gazelle in dove grey for just £1,795. But as you may remember, it’s the Sierra of its day and I doubt its what he has in mind.

Beware there are a good few sharks selling cars in the ‘recent classic’ sector... I saw a 1993 Orion, for a thumping £1,500. Ouch.

P.S. I suggest getting him a Haynes manual and some spanners too.

We are thinking of buying a Toyota Prius. We are a family of four who would occasionally want to carry our bikes on the car.

I have had conflicting reports on how and if this would be possible from Toyota customer services, head office, dealers and towing specialists.

What, if any, are the options for carrying four bikes on a Prius?

Janet Greenwood, Barnet, UK

Dear Janet,

Healthy and green, huh? You make me feel so inadequate.

Toyota assure me that you can get a roof rack for £211.56 or you can fit up to two bicycle holders for £78.47 each. You need to call the Toyota Centre to order on 0845 275 55 55.

Further information: www.usedcarexpert.co.uk