I’ve been asked this question several times and to the best of my knowledge the short answer is no. At the moment all the ‘open top’ motoring cars in the UK have just two rear seat belts and no lap or third diagonal for middle seat passengers. Please do not let any of the children or other passengers travel in the rear without a belt. Seat belt mounting points are specially strengthened and are designed into the car so do not accept the word of anyone who promises that they can ‘retro’ fit a third belt in the rear. if it isn’t designed into the car from the start then it should never be added.

I am interested in upgrading my car within the next year and could do with some advice please. I was thinking of buying an Alfa Romeo 156 but have been put off by rumours of poor reliability and was wondering if these are true. I am now thinking of a Hyundai Coupe FX 1.6 and was wondering if you would consider this car a good buy or if you could tell me anything that I should watch out for when buying second-hand. (If there are any similar cars you would deem preferable to the coupe or the 156 I'd appreciate the advice). Finally, I have been told that I should wait until next year to buy as there will be several cars on the second-hand market when the Government savings scheme is cashed in. Should the increase in available second-hand cars result in a drop in price? Thanks for your help. Name and address withheld

The new car market is currently in recession and manufacturers have been forced to offer discounts to shift stock, and this in turn has caused used car values to also fall. I can’t see any signs of economic turnaround during the next 12 months so expect the situation to remain the same. If you have the cash then now is a cracking time to buy any used car. In terms of reliability Alfa Romeo has always had a bit of a reputation for delicate reliability but sometimes this is more fiction than fact. I must confess to having a real soft spot for the way the Alfa 156 looks and drives but you are right to note that some owners have a had a few problems. A good website to look at to compare the reliability of used cars is www.reliabilityindex.co.uk which compares hundreds of makes and models. In general the Japanese car makers come out well – Lexus, Honda, Nissan and Toyota although the Koreans also perform above average. The Hyundai Coupe is a good car and great value but I’d also look at a Honda Civic Coupe and a Ford Puma.

I am a junior doctor who covers on average 90 miles a day, mostly motorway and odd hours. For three years I have been driving a Peugeot 306 1.6-litre petrol with reasonable economy of 40mpg. I am looking to upgrade my car and would like something that is a bit more economic but also fun to drive and looks sporting without spoilers and so on, with some extras in the interior. I will spend the next five years driving around the country and would like this car to see me through most of this until consultancy and hopefully a nicer car. My budget is £8-9,000 and I have been looking at second-hand A3 diesels. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Andrew Cook, Epping

The Audi A3 diesel is a fine choice, well built, sporty, but understated. My only gripe with the Audi is that it can seem a lot of money compared with a VW Golf or BMW compact, which will both do a similar job. If I was in your situation at the moment I’d definitely try and take a drive in the 150bhp BMW 320td Compact. For around £9,000 you should get a 2001 ‘51’ plate with about 50,000 miles on the clock. You will love the power and the economy!

I'm 25 and about to come into some money and would like to use it to buy my first 'real' car. (I've had Vauxhall Novas and a Renault 5 so far...). My budget is up to £4,000 (tops) and I'd like something sporty, preferably a convertible. It doesn't need to be particularly fast, as I'd rather avoid very high insurance costs. I'd rather it wasn't new as it seems a waste of money, and in an ideal world I'd like a car that might hold some of its value. My main criteria is to finally drive a car that looks good and has the 'wow' factor - I want to drive a completely frivolous car before I start having kids and need an estate! I don't know much about cars - is all this possible, and what would you recommend? Rosie Radford, Birmingham

You have plenty of ‘ordinary’ cars to choose from but if you fancy a convertible then my advice would be to look at the Toyota MR2 (T-Bar) or Mazda MX5. They are great fun to drive, cheap to maintain and have a real wow factor. The MX5 will be cheaper to insure but having broken through the magic 25 age barrier you should get reasonable quotes on each if you shop around. For around £3,500 you should be able to buy a mid 1990s MX5 1.6 or 1.8 litre or a Toyota 2.0 litre GT T-bar of a similar age. The great news is that which ever you buy you should have no trouble selling it in a few years when you decide it’s time for family!

I have been a nurse in the NHS for the last 10 years and have never been able to afford a decent car. My pre-loved 140,000-mile VW Passat 1.9TDi R-reg has caused me suspension problems, water leaks and air mass meter hassles no end. I have just changed my job, drive a lot and need a car to match. I’ve got a budget of £5,500 and am after a solid mile cruncher, durable, good spec, efficient and reliable diesel car. I am unsure whether to buy a new-ish Skoda Superb TDi or a BMW 525 TDS SE. The latter has class but prices are quite keen with high mileages. Please, please help. Will Chakawhata, Bournemouth

This is a tough question because ultimately your choice of car is going to be based on image. The Skoda Superb is, as the name suggests, a really good car. It shares its under pinnings with the VW Passat. I know you’ve had problems with yours but on the whole they are pretty reliable. On the other hand the BMW does have a more upmarket image and that 525 engine is a corker, very strong and capable of ultra high mileages. As I’m writing this response my gut feeling is pushing you towards the BMW – as the VW has not been too kind to you perhaps it’s time for a change. Find a good local non-franchise BMW specialist to look after the BMW and it won’t cost a fortune. It’s time to enjoy your car so get a 525 in a nice metallic colour with air conditioning and a decent service history – it will make you feel good about yourself and your new job every time you drive it.

I would like to trade in my P-reg Nissan Micra for a newer car. I have a budget of around £5,000 but need something with four doors and ample boot space or folding seats as I have now with the Micra. I need to carry a gazebo and many boxes for my work during the summer months which I can just about squeeze into my present car. Can you help me with a few suggestions? Dawn Jones, Cardiff

Your budget could get you into one of the ‘new shape’ Micras - and if the current model has been big enough then the newer one will certainly do the job with ease. I think they look great and they drive superbly. However if you fancy a change from Nissan then what about a small MPV like a Renault Scenic or Citroen Picasso? Despite all the interior space they are not huge cars and you’ll find them easy to drive thanks to the high driving position and good visibility. My final suggestion would be something like a Ford Fiesta or a Vauxhall Astra – both are a step up in size from your current Micra and are plentiful on the second hand market.

My wife is learning to drive and insists that it is much, much easier to pass her test in an automatic, despite the good advice given to her by friends, our family and me. So we have to buy an automatic car for her to practice in, and then use after she has passed her test. We are looking to spend about £5-6,000. As I know very little about cars what model would you suggest, and where would you suggest I buy it from? My view is that I should get one with at least six months guarantee/warranty in case problems occur. Rob Airey, Ealing

I’m with your wife: modern autos are fantastic, easier to drive, more relaxing and just as economical as a manual. I passed my test in a manual because that was all there was in the family at the time and I know that passing in an auto means you can only drive an auto but as they are becoming more common its less of a problem. Try driving an auto for a few weeks, get back into a manual and I guarantee you will be sold on an auto gearbox. Anyway rant over! I’m not sure what size of car you are after so I will suggest a couple of small and a couple of medium sized ones. If you want small then a Renault Clio or a Ford Fiesta. My personal favourite is the Clio – I love the looks. Something larger? Then how about a VW Golf 1.6 auto or a Mercedes Benz A160 Elegance? The Merc will be about 5-6 years old but has the prestige, while the Golf is a bit of an all-time classic. Try the used car supermarkets that have big stocks of these sorts of cars and upgrade the standard warranty to 12 or 24 months.

I have a budget of around £7,000 and am looking at either VW Golfs or MG ZRs; I have to take in consideration on insurance because I'm only 19, so anything above a 1.6 is a no-go. What are your views on the two cars? I have looked at a 2002 VW Golf 1.6 with 72,000. It’s a former rental car so should I steer clear? David Bradshaw, Telford

Car insurance for drivers of your age is so expensive I do sympathise with you. In terms of the cars the MG ZR is a cracking drive and has been under rated and over looked by many people. The 1.4 litre engine producing 105 bhp is super little car to drive and I think the MG styling makes the car look very sporty. In contrast the VW Golf 1.6 will not feel anything like as lively due to the extra weight. In terms value for money you will also find some cracking deals on MGs at the moment and it should be easy to buy a decent warranty now that the manufacturer’s original three-year warranty is invalid. I wouldn’t be put off by the fact the VW is an ex-rental car; the mileage is quite high so it should have finished its rental life quite some time ago. Rental cars are prone to clutch, brake and suspension abuse but at 72,000 miles all these components should now have been replaced. Check for a full service history and try to see the original invoices for evidence of additional work completed. Either car would make a good buy so check out the insurance quotes first and then take a drive to see which one you enjoy the most.

I have driven a Volvo 440 for the past 10 years. It has covered 87,000 miles but the time has come for a change. I drive to work each day and cover about 13,000 miles a year. I do not want anything too big or too small but just an economic, reliable medium-sized car. My budget is up to £8,000 maximum. Any suggestions? Jeremy Harcourt, Horley

Volvo is probably hoping you stay brand loyal and go for an S40 saloon, a superior car to the 440 that you currently have. For around £8,000 you could get one of the economical S40 1.9D SE saloons, 2002 ‘02’ plate with 30,000 miles. The 115bhp diesel engine has plenty of power and will beat your current car on the economy front. Alternatively take a look at a Ford Focus 1.8TDC1 Zetec hatchback, for about £7,500 you should be able to get a 2003 ‘52’ plate with about 30,000miles. It also produces 115 bhp and is a very, very good drive.