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Car Choice: In need of a bit of extra legroom for grandad

Jane Beale's father has a hip problem which means that he can only fit into her Volvo V70 in the front passenger space with the seat pushed back as far as it will go. If Jane travels in the back of any car she is sick, so her husband, who is 6ft 2in, has to sit behind the driver's seat – leaving her two teenagers with precious little room behind their grandpa. So, is there anything that will take all of the family in comfort and safety within a budget of �10,000?

Inside Comment

Car Choice: The family's growing and it's time to give up the runaround

Sunday, 8 August 2010

Jamini Nair owns a 2006 Mini Cooper 1.6 which she really loves. However, her family is growing – Jamini's second child is on the way – and she is looking for a car with more seats. She is thinking of getting a people carrier, and is looking at something like a seven seater. Luckily she has a huge budget of £27,000, so what would we recommend?

Car Choice: Wanted: A narrow vehicle fit for wide-open spaces

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Camay Winfield is after a small estate or something equally spacious because she spends a lot of time out in the wild, camping with her grandchildren. She has a 2007 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXi. Assuming she gets up to £6,000 for the Corsa, her budget is £7,000. The one complication is that she can't have a car any wider than the Corsa because her driveway is so narrow, with clearance in places of just six inches either side of the mirrors.

Car Choice: Here's how to head for the Highlands in style

Sunday, 25 July 2010

Julien Jarmoszko is 28 and has a wish list for his next car. Firstly, he needs something to cope with hiking expeditions to the Highlands in winter. It must also seat four comfortably, have decent boot space, and have a quality finish inside. Julien does a modest 5,000 miles a year, but wants cruise control, good safety features, and would love a V6 engine or something with a bit of character. He has £20,000 to spend and resale value is not an issue.

Car Choice: No need to replace your lovely old car – restore it instead

Sunday, 18 July 2010

Helen McLennan is looking for a car to replace the family's old and ailing Peugeot 206 GTi. Ideally, she would like to buy exactly the same again, but failing that she wants a smallish hatchback with what her husband calls "a bit of poke". Helen mostly uses the car for shopping and occasional longer journeys. She would like to spend up to £10,000 but would consider a bit more.

Car Choice: You do the maths: 3 teenagers + 5 seats = 4x4

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Alan Corsie wants to replace his old Honda CRV. On family trips he has three teenage children in the back, and is struggling to find any alternatives that have a decent middle seat and a flat rear floor without a transmission tunnel. The vehicle, preferably with a diesel engine, must have some 4x4 capability for occasional driving on rough tracks and over fields. Reliability is important too, and his budget is £15,000-£20,000.

Car Choice: 'Our car drinks too much but we don't want to downsize'

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Eileen and Volker Stiens have a Saab 9-3 automatic which is spacious and has been solid, reliable and a great car for them. However, it drinks too much. The fuel consumption is near to 23mpg and the Stienses want around double this, but they don't want to downsize. They would prefer to have an estate car or something just as spacious because there are always toys and bikes to heave around. Ideally, they want an easy, cheap-maintenance car, but the big catch is their buying budget of £500 to £1,000.

Car Choice: Three humans and a dog seek comfort and practicality

Sunday, 27 June 2010

Simon White would like to replace his ageing Honda Jazz, which also lacks the space to cope with a growing 12 year old and the family's golden retriever, Rosie.

Car Choice: In search of something small that suits a 'Supergran'

Sunday, 20 June 2010

Pauline Blackmore reckons that after seven years of doing her "Mr and Mrs Green" bit by sharing a car, it is now time for her to get her own wheels again.

Car Choice: A country estate that can also hack it in the city

Sunday, 13 June 2010

Jacqueline Tompkins returns to Car Choice after a change of circumstances – her partner Nicholas is now not able to drive. So the choice of car will be Jacqueline's, because she will be the sole driver for the foreseeable future. She is looking at the Toyota RAV4, but would consider any other small 4x4. The budget is £5,000 and the only other requirement is that the car should have four doors.