Your car has what’s called a dual-clutch transmission rather than a conventional automatic. And this transmission – which is used in many of the Volkswagen family’s models – has been known to give trouble. Failures of the clutch packs and electronic control units are the most commonly reported, but many experts reckon the dual-clutch in your car is a problem waiting to happen.

The situation is worse if you have the dry-clutch version of this gearbox, and in that case, failures from cars built around this time are relatively high.

A transmission specialist should be your first port of call. They will be able to assess what’s wrong and give you an idea of your next step. You might just find, however, that the cost of repairs is equal to, or greater than the value of the car.

But don’t give up hope just yet, it could be something simple and easy to fix. It’s just that experience with these cars suggests it could well be the opposite.

The reality in 2022 is that just about every car-maker has an SUV in its range. Many of these will have the high seating position you require and they’re often available with a choice of diesel or petrol power (some even offer hybrid drivelines) and the option of two or four-wheel-drive, so you’re not buying more car than you need.

There are plenty of options in the small and compact SUV category, so the best advice is to hit the dealerships and find the one that suits your budget, your requirements and has the level of quality look and feel you prefer.

The South Korean brands are doing some clever things in this class of car right now, and along with good value (compared with some established brands) they also offer brilliant warranties which give great peace of mind. For an even better value-for-money experience, a three or four-year-old SUV can be pretty sharp buying, too. Just make sure the service history is intact.