The 1980s XJ 300 series was also a great looking car but prior to the introduction of the V8 models (308) were not the most reliable in terms of electronics and trim quality. But the gem of those cars was the engine and in XJR form they used the same 4.0 litre supercharged 6-cylinder unit that powered the Aston Martin DB7, and produced a very healthy 322bhp. These engines are pretty bullet-proof so no major problems there but you need to check all the electrics and be realistic about your fuel consumption – about 16-20 mpg but with the potential to plummet to about 12mpg if driven in anger.

The Volvo T5 is going to be your ‘cheapest option’. The 5 cylinder engine is very strong and will handle 200,000 with ease. Spares are reasonable and you can do much of the servicing yourself. My heart says buy the Jaguar XJR but my head says Volvo T5.

I have the opportunity to buy an Alfa Romeo 147 1.9JTD M-Jet Turismo 5-door on a 53 plate with 16,000 miles on the clock for £9,995 from a main dealer. It is taxed until August and they have agreed to throw in a full tank of diesel and four new wheel trims in the deal. I drove the car for a day (it was the courtesy car while mine was being serviced). It is rattle-free and in very good condition. I was smitten within five minutes. Is this too good a deal to miss? Name and address withheld

The 147 1.9JTD is one of my favourite cars and I’d always pick one over an equivalent VW Golf. It looks lovely, drives brilliantly and has plenty of kit and space. The book price on the car you are looking at is £10,195 on a dealer forecourt so £9,995 is about right. I’d go for it.

What car would you advise for a new-ish driver (one year and eight months) with pass plus under his belt? I have a maximum of £5,500 to spend and I want something good that will last. I was thinking of a 2003 03 Ford Focus 1.6 Elle. Unfortunately it has 74,000 miles on the clock which is high but it has a full service history. What do you think? Is the mileage a problem? Are there any other cars worth looking into? Please help me as I have a lack of knowledge. Name and address withheld

I wasn’t sure if you meant the ‘Elle’ or the ‘L’ but I decided it was probably the ‘L’ unless Ford produced a limited edition that I’m not sure about. The Ford Focus is a cracking car and for years has been the UK’s biggest seller. It drives and handles well and has plenty of space so it’s difficult to argue with the logic of buying one. The price of £5,500 is towards the top of the values for a car that age and mileage and it would be nice to get it for closer to £5,000 which should be possible if you don’t have a part exchange. In 2003 Ford produced the LX which should have air conditioning as standard. See if it does and if so check it blows hot and cold air correctly. Don’t worry about the mileage, particularly as it has full service history, as these cars will run and run if maintained. Try and get the dealer to throw in 12 months warranty, knock £500 of the price and agree to either service the car now or pay for the next service when it’s due.

I am about to buy a BMW 520i SE 51 2002, for £9,900. It has one owner and has done 37,000 miles. I am aware that the shape has changed recently and I was wondering if this was a reasonable price to pay. It is in very good condition. Probjot Rathore, Birmingham

I’m not sure if the car you are looking at is a manual or an automatic but either way it sounds like a bargain. A BMW dealer would charge you around £12,000 for the same car with a manual gearbox and a whopping £1,200 more than that if it was an auto. Just make sure that the car is what you think it is. Check the registration document for date of registration and engine size, look at the service book and ask to see the original invoices for servicing to authenticate the mileage. Finally, remember to get the car’s HPI to check for outstanding finance or registration of any accident damage or police interest. If all seems fine then crack on, as you’ll be buying the car at a great price.

My current job is taking me further a field and I now find myself doing 20,000 miles a year including private motoring. I am looking for a reliable and comfortable car that will ease the time spent travelling (mostly long motorway journeys) and have a budget of £22,000. Ninety per cent of the time there is only me but I need to take suitcases etc as I am away from home for five nights or more. Can you recommend a second-hand or new car that will fit in to these requirements? Roger Thomas, Swansea

With a budget like that the world is your oyster. If I was in your situation I’d be thinking diesel and looking at new or nearly new. I recently drove the Jaguar X-Type diesel which now has a new 155bhp 2.2 litre diesel lump and I was so impressed. It’s quiet, very economical and embarrassingly quick but best of all you feel cosseted, safe and successful when you drive it. I’d also take a look at a second hand Mercedes Benz E-Class – something like a 2002 ‘02’ E270CDi Elegance with 40,000 miles on the clock would be a great buy and comes in on the budget. I’d advise against putting your money into a top spec car from a volume manufacturer like a Renault Laguna or Vauxhall Vectra though. They drop like stones and rarely put much of a smile on their drivers’ faces.

I would like to get my son a second-hand car for a graduation present. He will be 22 in August, and he has held a full licence since November 2000. No accidents. He is 6 foot 5 inches tall and a law student. Can you suggest any cars, costing less than £4,000 that would suit such a tall young man? Name and address withheld

If you are after headroom then steer towards an MPV which have higher roof lines and bundles of headroom. Something like a 1998 ‘S’ plate 1.9 RT dTi Renault Megane Scenic would be ideal, and with 70,000 miles on the clock should come in on budget. It’s also worth looking at a Mercedes Benz A-class of a similar age, as 1.4 litre models are now changing hands for about £4,000.