Ask The Guide

It’s unlikely to be electrical, or the gauge itself. It’s more likely to be the thermostat, but before you do anything make sure the cooling system is filled to the full mark.

The Mondeo is generally reliable, but the dual-clutch automatic transmission has been troublesome and I wouldn’t buy one myself. Manual no problem, but not the auto. If, as you say, it is under warranty take it back to where you bought it and have them investigate the noise you hear.

It's not uncommon to hear of transmission troubles with the Territory. I'd suggest you get a second opinion by taking it to an independent automatic transmission specialist who should be able to diagnose the trouble and suggest a fix.

Holden reduced the service interval on the cam timing belt change to 60,000 km to get over the problems they were having with the belt breaking and causing major engine damage before the original service point was reached. They later changed it again to 90,000 km. A 2004 model should have already had a belt change, if not on the basis of kilometres done, then certainly on the basis of time. If in doubt have it changed.

It's not uncommon for the clear coat to peel off on cars of this age, it’s a result of the paint technology of the time, and there’s no alternative to repainting it. I doubt that you would get any help from Toyota with the cost of re-spraying it; the car is eight years old.

Both would be suitable for your use, but the final decision should be based on how much country driving and towing you do. If it's mostly country then I would err towards the diesel, but if it’s more town or line ball I would go for the petrol engine.

Each time you switch the engine off and then on again you are rebooting the computer. Sometimes that resets things and you can drive on with no further problem, but because it is doing it again and again there must be an underlying problem. I suggest you take it to a mechanic with the diagnostic gear to identify the problem and fix it.

You can purchase keys to replace lost or damaged Falcon keys from places other than Ford dealers. I would suggest you Google 'replacement keys for Ford Falcon' and you should come up with a number of people who could supply the keys.

Obviously you're in the market for a performance drive, and the biggest difference between your preferences is seats. Specifically, just two in the Porsche. So, despite the fact the Cayman has a pretty handy boot in the nose, it's never going to be as practical as a C-Class sedan. The 6.2-litre V8 in the (W204) C63 is a naturally aspirated dream. The sound and fury of 372kW/620Nm (in the Edition 507) driving the rear wheels is a rare pleasure, and on the right road, its balance and mid-range punch are sublime. The current (W205-based) C63 S's 4.0-litre turbo V8 just pips it on outputs (375kW/700Nm), but the biggest difference with that unit's forced induction is that all that torque is available from just 1750rpm. The new chassis is brilliant, and is even quicker point-to-point than the Edition 507. Then there's the Cayman. Although we've somehow missed seat time in the GT4, experience with previous ‘special' models, including the (881) Cayman R and GTS point to this being the purest (or purist's?) choice. The 3.4-litre atmo R produces 243kW/370Nm, the GTS 250kW/380Nm, and the 3.8-litre GT4 is at 283kW/420Nm. The Cayman's mid-engine layout, and ideal weight distribution makes it one of the most precise and agile sports cars on the planet. So if you can live with just the two seats (that aren't exactly easy to get in and out of), it's our pick in terms of outright driving enjoyment.

You were right on the limit of the Everest, close to both the towing limit and the GCM limit, so you needed to be mindful of that when towing and you shouldn't be towing in the overdrive ratios. It sounds as thought the transmission was overheating, which suggests the Everest is borderline for cooling when operating at its supposed limits. Anyone planning to tow in a similar loading situation should consult a towing specialist before they go to make sure they're fully prepared for the trip. Maybe the Everest needs extra transmission cooling. To be fair to the Ford dealers they can't diagnose a problem that isn't presenting itself at the time the car is in their workshop. As a consumer your best option if the carmaker isn't being helpful is to go to the consumer affairs department of your state government.