Audi Problems

An Alfa always looks good but the Volkswagen is the one that will get The Tick from me. The A3 is the same under the skin as the Golf but only go that way if you like the look and want the badge.

Historically you are correct but the current situation is that Audi mostly uses “tool boxes" of platforms and parts developed by parent company Volkswagen. It dresses them up nicely and adds quality but it's still a fact that an Audi A1 is a VW Polo under the skin and that an A3 is a Golf.

Your choices both get The Tick, but the Benz A250 might be too sporty for a retirement car and the A3 is an upscale Volkswagen Golf. A good mate has just bought an Accord Euro and, even though it goes out of production soon, he loves it. You should test-drive all three.

The X5 would be my pick because it's a classy car that was the class benchmark until the current Mercedes-Benz ML arrived. But make sure you do your homework, as any complicated prestige car can get expensive if something big goes wrong.

The WRX is a hottie and great fun, but the S3 is a much classier car. That’s in things like the materials and the way it feels on the road. It gets The Tick from me and I think it’s worth the extra cash.

The SQ5 has more punch, that's for sure, but I believe the Macan is a better car and it gets The Tick from me.

Yes, you can use E10 in your A5, but because E10 packs less energy than 95-octane premium unleaded the performance of your car will be diminished. The difference can be between one and eight percent, so you will consume more E10 to achieve the same performance. You won't do your engine any harm by using it, so try a tank of E10 and measure the difference in consumption that you get.

Definitely go for the Volvo. Apart from the safety gear, it's well built, well equipped and drives well.