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Car Choice: Mobile pensioner couple seek a vroom with a view

Nicholas Tompkins says that he and his wife, Jacqui, are both fit pensioners who enjoy driving – but only as a means of transport. With an old Volvo 850 GLT and a T-reg Corsa to replace, they have £5,000 to spend on a four-door car. Ideally it must have a high driving position and good visibility. However, they don't need the high fuel consumption or the off-road ability of a 4x4.

Inside Comment

Car Choice: In search of a small car with the highest seats

Sunday, 29 November 2009

Janet Ingamells is looking for a small car. She is disabled and therefore needs an elevated driver's position, power steering, and automatic transmission. Apparently, the vehicles we suggested a few weeks ago for Peter Unsworth sounded absolutely ideal – but we treat every Car Choice request individually. Therefore we will apply fresh thinking to Janet's requirements, bearing in mind that she has a maximum budget of £2,000.

Car Choice: Quiet, please – this driver's looking for a bit of hush

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Mark Jenkins currently drives an M registration Golf TDI estate, which has done about 145,000 miles – and it's getting a little tired. Mark does a lot of mountain biking, hiking and kayaking, plus he has a new job which has a daily 110-mile commute. He wants reliability, economy, and comfort, but he's also deaf and his hearing aids pick up a lot of noises generated by the car, so something quiet would be good. Mark has between £3,000 and £4,000 to spend.

Car choice: Seasoned travellers seek comfort on the autoroute

Sunday, 15 November 2009

Looking to buy?

Car Choice: A spacious Alp-mobile that you can take anywhere

Sunday, 8 November 2009

Jonathan New has just bought a chalet in the French Alps and requires a 4x4, left-hand drive car.

Car Choice: Taxi for Julio! That'll be the Mondeo or the Galaxy outside

Sunday, 1 November 2009

Julio Lambert is 58 and looking to buy a car to use as a taxi. He admits to being on the short side, so wants a raised seat for excellent all-round visibility. Julio does have an old Rover which could be part exchanged for £2,000 in scrappage, but he wonders whether something a little older would be better value?

Car Choice: Good things really do come in small packages

Sunday, 25 October 2009

Alison Thompson is currently driving a Fiat Seicento, which she bought almost seven years ago on entering retirement. She reckons it won't see her out, and she has up to £5,000 to spend on a replacement. Ideally, Alison wants a very small car, and does not wish to pay more than £35 per annum road tax. She hates irritating gadgets so it must be basic. She also lives in a rural area so it must be able to cope with muddy roads just as well as more urban environments.

Car Choice: What does the future hold for Ronnie after the Jazz age?

Sunday, 18 October 2009

Ronnie Wilson is a pensioner and sadly, due to illness, his wife can no longer drive. They currently have a 2005 Honda Jazz, which has been an excellent little car for them, but now they want something more comfortable for long trips. The main criterion is that the car allows the passenger seat to be raised, to give Ronnie’s wife better vision. Economy and easy maintenance are a priority, and their budget – including trading in the Jazz – is around £10,000.

Car Choice: Something elegant and sporty, with room for a border collie

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Sharon Finch is looking to replace her Ford Puma with something similar which is also elegant, sporty, has good performance, is very responsive, and is not too big. Sharon says the Puma is easy to park, but she does not want a Mini. Style is the most important factor – although a border collie occasionally needs a seat. Sharon has up to £20,000 to spend. Her mileage is on the low side, running at 7,500 miles a year around the M25.

Surprised by Daihatsu

Friday, 9 October 2009

I was reading up on Daihatsu's plans for the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. For some reason I've never really given much thought to the company or its products; for some reason I had categorised it as a manufacturer of interchangeable, small, boxy cars.

Car Choice: Mobility scooters can wait – there's a funky alternative

Sunday, 4 October 2009

Peter Unsworth is 75, disabled, and needs a vehicle that he can slide into rather than crouch down to enter. With that in mind he has been thinking about some van-based people carriers.

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