Ask The Guide

The Mazda3 uses a 5x114.3mm bolt pattern, otherwise known as Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD). Many Nissans and large Fords use this same PCD measurement but you would need to check hub bore size and offset.

You would either have to drive it home or have it transported by truck or perhaps train. Unless it’s a special car that cannot be found in your hometown I can’t see it being affordable.

The first things to do would be lower the suspension, fit some aftermarket 18 or 19-inch wheels, tint the windows and try finding a lip spoiler for the front. Of course, you need to have this work done by a qualified professional and check it is legal before starting work.

It’s true that diesels are at their best on longer trips when they are fully warmed up and not accelerating and decelerating all the time. You can have problems with the DPF clogging up and not regenerating if the car isn’t getting up to speed for any length of time. You could take it for a run on a highway or freeway once a month or so to get fully up to working temperature, so the DPF burn-off car hopefully happen. If the burn-off doesn’t happen automatically you face the prospect of having to have the dealer do it manually, and that would involve a cost.

Lifting the suspension of a Corolla won't help improve how it drives off-road. Toyota already sell a Corolla-sized vehicle with higher ground clearance, called the RAV4. Buying a RAV4 will save you navigating re-engineering the suspension on the Corolla with a factory perfect model.

Clutches are deemed wear and tear items, which is why they wouldn’t cover the replacement cost. While 80,000 km is not a lot of kilometres for a clutch replacement it is getting near the kilometres that you would anticipate it. The two things shouldn’t be related, I would guess that they saw the clutch was nearly worn-out and it was deemed best to replace it now.

Ford offer their Ranger commercial utes in 4x4 or two-wheel drive. The 2WD models are rear-wheel-drive, while the 4x4 models will drive around town using just their rear wheels, engaging all four wheels once 4WD is selected. There are no front wheel drive Rangers.

The auto had serious problems with the Powershift dual-clutch automatic transmission, so serious that it’s a car to avoid, but of course those problems don’t affect cars with a manual gearbox. The manual is a good little car that can be bought with confidence.

Ford's 4x4 Ranger models have become quite well-regarded as off-road vehicles. Once fitted with a suspension lift, good off-road tyres, locked diffs, and other minor revisions they can go most places a traditional 4x4 (like a Patrol or LandCruiser) could go. Stock 4x4 Rangers are quite good on sand and in light off-road conditions, too.

Because you want to travel to the snow, and visit farms, I would suggest an all-wheel drive compact wagon, and with your need for low running and service costs I would suggest that it be an Asian brand. Models to consider would be a Subaru Forester, Nissan X-Trail or Kia Sportage.