Buying a high mileage Mercedes-Benz - what should I look out for?

I have a chance to buy a high mileage (100,000 miles) 2011 Mercedes-Benz C220 Sport Estate from a cousin. I only need to pay off finance which is £8500, apparently. It would be great as a replacement...

Which estate car do you recommend for winter driving, long journeys and good comfort?

Over many years I have averaged 50,000 miles per year and in later years in Mercedes E350 estates, both diesel and petrol. I currently have a 12-year-old Mercedes E350 Estate (petrol) and my wife has a...

Looking to buy a 2001 BMW 330d - problems to watch out for?

I am looking to buy a BMW 330D but it has 229,000 miles on the clock. The car has had all the services done by BMW, the last was done at the end of 2012 with an oil change. The car has MOT for a year...

Is my Skoda Octavia reliable because of my driving style?

I read your slightly dismissive comments a couple of weeks ago on the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Passat 2005-2011. I have had a 2-litre diesel Octavia L & K for almost seven years and have covered 77,000...

Should my son lease a Nissan Qashqai or a Kia Sportage?

My eldest son is looking to lease over four years either a Nissan Qashqai 1.5dCi or Kia Sportage 1.7dCi. For 10,000 miles per year quotes on both are very similar. However he will be doing 14,000 miles...

Why aren't there more recommendations for petrol-driven cars?

I often read the so-called ‘Best Buys’ in magazines like ‘What Car’ but more often than not the recommendation is for a diesel. I shall drive no more than 8000 miles a year and, given your advice about...

Should I keep this Passat?

I own a VW Passat 1.9TDI S estate on an 07 plate. It has 104,000 on the clock. It is regularly serviced and I do about 18,000 miles a year. The car is an ex fleet car which had 50k on the clock when I...

Replacing an Insignia with what?

I am considering changing my car. I have had a diesel Insignia for four years but have had to replace cam belt, flywheel etc... which isn't cheap. The car has been fine other than that though but now has...

Buying a small car for family use?

I'm buying my first car at the age of 35. What used car (excluding 2 door) do you suggest to buy for a family of 3? I will commute around 40 miles per day for the 5 days of the week with some long drives...

Should I change the oil in my Freelander 2 before embarking on a 2000-mile trip round Europe?

We own an 18-month-old 150PS Land Rover Freelander 2, which was serviced at 12 months and 10,000 miles. We will shortly be six months on from the first service and 5000 more miles (90 per cent of which...