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Hi John,

Yup, a small diesel sounds like it should be ideal for you. Depending on what kind or size of car you need I'd recommend either a MINI Cooper D 1.6 (small and sporty), Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi (slower, but more spacious), Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D (similar to Opel but probably more reliable) or that old favourite the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion (ultra economical). Or, if you need more space how about a Skoda Octavia Combi estate 1.6 TDI or a Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi?

Help us with your needs and we'll narrow that down a little!

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Hi Noel,

It's probably pretty much neck-and-neck. Toyotas are legendarily reliable and well-made and there's nothing in the history of the current Avensis to suggest that it's anything other than that. Likewise, the Octavia; Skodas tend to do extremely well in owner satisfaction surveys and while part of that can be put down to the switched-on customer service nature of the brand's dealers, there's no doubt that Skoda's Czech factory turns out some beautifully made products. Nothing between them, really.

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Hi Vittorio,

Oooh. Aargh. Ummm. God, this is actually a real toughie as I utterly adore both cars and they're both ideal picks. 

OK, I'll lay out the pros and cons and you'll have to make your own mind up from there.

The Octavia will likely prove to be the more reliable in the long term and is much more spacious and practical than the Beemer. The 320d, by contrast, is much sweeter to drive thanks to all the usual BMW rear-drive balance and it does have a nicer interior. 

To be honest though, I'd grab either with both hands and not let go. See which one you can find that's in better condition or is better value.

Let us know what you decide

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Hi John,

Well, an A4 is much more expensive than the Octavia, so that would seem to answer the question. The Octavia uses many of the same components, it’s reliable, decent to drive and very practical so why spend extra? Of course, the Audi is more stylish, sharper to drive and more refined, but it depends on what matters most to you.

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Hi Mark,

In simple terms, the Skoda Yeti.

Hope that helps

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Hi Seamus,

A Mondeo 2.0 TDCi is, frankly, a great choice - spacious, comfy, well made and superb for that kind of long-haul journey. Just as a suggestion though, it may be worth coming down a class and having a look around, just as a way of potentially keeping your running costs as low as possible. Perhaps a Honda Civic diesel or a Skoda Octavia TDI? Both are massively spacious (so would carry your height with plenty of space behind for baby seats etc.), but would also be a little cheaper to run than the Mondeo, and almost as comfy on the long haul. Worth a thought, but if you fancy the Mondeo, go for it. Buy one with a full service history and you won't go wrong.

Let us know which way you go in the comments below.

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Hi Angela,

Sounds to us like a dead battery. It might come back to life if 'jump-started' and then driven for a while, but it's possible that it needs to be replaced completely.

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Hi Peter,

OK, you've a couple of good options here. There are five-seat versions of the Citroen C4 Picasso and Renault Scenic that are slightly less bulky than the seven-seat models and which will easily take three car seats across the back. Or you could try one of our very favourite cars of all, the Skoda Yeti, which has just about enough width to fit all three seats in the back. My best advice is to make sure you bring the kids and seats on any test drives you might be doing and make sure that all three fit and that the bigger ones can happily clamber up into their perches.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi Ian,

If it's space you're looking for, go for the Superb, as it's massive inside. No reported electrical problems, but watch for high front tyre wear, paint peeling away from bumpers and flimsy fuel filler caps. There are some reports knocking around of clutches and flywheels failing, but these seem to be very isolated and not a recurrent problem. The Superb's a great car though - smooth and comfy, very spacious and one of the best cars on the market. Go for the Combi estate for even more boot space and nicer exterior styling (in our opinions!).

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Hi Jimmy,

Try a Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI petrol. It's massive inside and has a huge boot, and it can easily reach 50mpg in daily driving, with around 900km to a tank possible.