James Rupert: Owning a Picasso will make you the bee's knees

Maura Fenlon, from Co Carlow, Ireland, describes herself as 5ft 10in with painful knees due to suspected osteoarthritis. She loves her Volvo S60 but it is now becoming painful to get in and out of. Maura needs a practical and comfortable car, which fits in with her job as an estate agent. Her budget is €20,000 (£18,400).

Sunday, 5 April 2009

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A car for the head

The priority has to be a car that is comfortable for Maura, which means an upright and higher driving position so that her knees are not stressed when getting in and out. We are looking for a compact people carrier which offers a high driving position and all the space she needs. The latest Citroë*Berlingo would be ideal. It is also very easy to get comfortable as the steering adjusts two ways. Inside there is masses of space, with loads of cubbyholes, and large rear doors that slide back for maximum access. The refinement levels are not too bad, though, as they are based on the C4 Picasso, which is another slightly more expensive option. There is the choice of either a 1.6 petrol or diesel with two power outputs. The basic version is only about £11,000, although the specification is fairly primitive. So it may be worth paying a bit more for the little luxuries, such as air conditioning, that she may have got used to in her Volvo.

A car for the heart

More Citroëns fit the bill. The posh Berlingo is the Citroë*C4 Picasso, though it may be a tad too expensive. However, Maura may like the look of the C3 Picasso, which is smaller than the C4 but is spacious and practical. The important factor is the driving position, and because of the high roofline there is a noticeably upright driver's seat. Getting in and out should not be a problem, and I also think Maura will like the nice designer touches inside and out. When she needs to use the C3 Picasso for work there is a big, deep boot that gets even bigger if she folds the rear seats. The 1.6 diesel may be the best all-round engine, and Maura should probably even consider a 1.4 petrol, which may be powerful enough for the mixed motoring she does. Prices for the 1.6HDi start at £12,500 and the ideal specification, with air conditioning, would be a VTR+ for £1,000 more.

Looking to buy?

Please write to Car Choice, Features, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or email James Ruppert at carchoice@independent.co.uk, giving your age, address and phone number, details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested and your budget.

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