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Hi Gino,

That Ford 1.6 TDCi diesel engine is one of the most common engines around, as it has also been used by Mazda, Volvo, Peugeot, Citroen and MINI. It has one major vulnerable spot and that is that sooty, gummy deposits can build up in areas that are supposed to be kept cool and lubricated by oil. If the deposits build up enough, they can block the oil passage and cause component failure — most commonly of the turbocharger. The best way to prevent that happening is with regular servicing (at least once a year depending on mileage) and making sure that you always use a high-quality grade of synthetic oil for the engine.

The 1.6 petrol engine, the 100hp version, is a much simpler unit and it’s pretty reliable, mostly because it’s a much older design. It won’t be as economical nor as punchy in its performance as the diesel, but if it’s reliability you’re looking for, it might be the better option. 

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Hi Peter,

It depends on how the interior layout of the van is arranged. If there is no bulkhead or physical separation between the seating area and the cargo area, then it’ll be registered as a Category A vehicle and it’ll be taxed on the full CO₂ emissions. If, though, there is a fixed bulkhead or separation between the seats and the cargo, then it goes into Category B, as it’s allowed to have more than three seats but have the passenger and cargo/functional compartments in completely separate units. That should VRT is charged at a flat rate of 13.3 per cent of the OMSP. 

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Hi Conor,

There is no specific mention of such a thing in the NCT testers' manual, but it does reference the bodywork and if anything is deemed to be dangerous to others, or even just potentially dangerous, it could get classed as a minor defect. I suspect a simple crack won't cause you a problem, but testers wouldn't be happy passing a car with bits hanging off it either, so you need to make a call on that.

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Hi Dan,

It should do, for the outer front passenger seat. Check at the point where the base of the seat meets the backrest for ISOFIX logos (a silhouette of a baby sitting in a car seat) and you should also be able to feel the steel anchoring points at the back of the seat base. 

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Hi Terry, 

The type of licence that you can apply for once you pass your theory test depends on your age. If you’re under 18 then you must first apply for your A1 licence and complete your Initial Basic Training (IBT) before applying for your driving test. 

If you’re 18 or older, you can apply for your A2 licence through Direct Access. As you’ve passed your theory test you can apply and start your IBT (modules 1,3 and 5) on an A2 bike. After six months, when you pass your driving test you’ll have a full A2 licence.

For the full A licence, you can apply post-theory test again through Direct Access providing you are aged 24 or over or through Progressive Access from age 20 and up. The same process applies with regard to IBT and your test.

You can find more detailed explanation on the RSA’s website here.

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Hi Philip,

Well, as ever, beauty (and general appreciation or enthusiasm) is in the eye of the beholder. In fact the Supra is very much a Toyota, even though it does share a lot of BMW parts. The whole car was engineered and developed separately by Toyota and it’s chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada. Basically, BMW and Toyota agreed at the start of the project on a common set of parts, and then went entirely their own ways in terms of design and development. It does feel very different to drive compared to the BMW Z4 — sharper (thanks to the stiffer body structure), but also a little softer and more pliant on the road. It’s actually rather lovely. As for reliability? When we first drove the car Tada told us that it had passed all of Toyota’s quality control and reliability checks, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. 

Read our Toyota Supra reviews here

Read our BMW Z4 reviews here

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Hi Trevor,

We’re not sure about the five per cent VRT BIK rate, as that will depend on your personal circumstances and how the vehicle is paid for and registered. Better to ask your company accountant that one. As for being OK to carry passengers for personal use, yes you can, but you’ll have to register it as a private car and tax it as such (which could be tricky if you’re trying to get the van rate BIK) and you’ll have to make sure that your insurance covers it for social/domestic/pleasure use as well as work.

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Hi Declan,

That’s right — the NOx tax will only apply to Category A vehicles, i.e. private passenger cars. Vans are in Category B and are exempt. 

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Hi Patrick,

We have indeed reviewed the A-Class Saloon and you can read our thoughts on the car here. As for whether it’s good value for money, it kind of depends on how you look at it. Compared to other similarly-priced cars — Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb, or Opel Insignia for example — it’s not good value as you’re paying the same or more for a smaller car, probably with less standard equipment. That three-pointed star on the bonnet costs a fair bit… On the other hand, viewing the A-Class Saloon as a slightly smaller (but not that much so) alternative to the C-Class saloon — an entirely valid point of view — it’s actually really good value. Models available range from the basic A 180 petrol and A 180 d diesel versions, through A 200 and A 200 d, all the way up to the slightly rabid 300hp A 35 AMG model. 

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Hi Aidan,

No, the new NOx tax is only applied to Category A vehicles — which means private passenger cars — from Jan 1st onwards.