Under what circumstances should I allow my Mondeo's turbocharger to cool as it spools down?

I have queries on two issues on which you have advised several times. Firstly you have warned that a turbocharged engine should be left idling before switching off to enable the turbo bearings to cool....

Would you recommend a petrol-engined car for short journeys to the golf course?

I wonder if you would be so kind as to give me some advice regarding my next car. I have been driving a BMW 530d since 2003 and using it to make very frequent long commutes to Scotland from Herts. It has...

Does the KIA Soul have a DPF?

I will check whether the 2011 KIA Soul diesel automatic we are looking at has a DPF. It seems it will be a bonus if it has. We have looked at the Venga but don't find it very attractive. There's something...

Which small car to replace my Fabia which doesn't have a DPF?

I am thinking of replacing my 89,000 mile 2004 Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDI with a similar car. I do about 9000 miles a year, mostly short runs. In view of your warnings about DPFs can you tell me at what point...

Which MPV do you recommend to replace our Toyota Previa?

Our 2001 Toyota Previa petrol automatic has been an absolute joy and we've driven every one of its 125,000 miles. Sadly it's beginning to get expensive in its old age and it's time for a change, but Toyota...

Which reliable car do you recommend for a school run and the occasional 300-mile round trip?

I need to buy a car for my wife and daughter to commute eight miles each way, via rural roads, to school each day. Occasionally we will drive from our farm to Edinburgh and back again, which is a 300-mile...

Should I give my Hyundai i10 a long fast run every now and again?

In January 2009 I took your advice and bought a Hyundai i10 1.2 Style. I have never regretted this and my little car has never given me a moment's trouble. It is serviced each year at the Hyundai garage...

Is a diesel Land Rover Evoque inappropriate for short urban journeys?

We are considering buying a new Evoque, but virtually all are diesels and we are concerned about the particulate filters. We do many short local journeys in built up areas, and only occasionally and mainly...

What sort of journey is sufficient to allow the DPF to clear in a diesel BMW 3 Series?

I was interested to read the question titled "Agriculture club" that concluded "you bought completely the wrong engine for your type of use". I'm currently considering a new, or nearly new, BMW 3 Series...

Which automatic would you pick from the B-Max, C3 Picasso and Nissan Note?

I have decided its time to trade in my old Renault Scenic auto. I have narrowed my search down to three models, the Ford B-Max, Citroen C3 Picasso and the Nissan Note, and I can’t choose between them....