Toyota Problems

It's what's called "seasoning" of the catalytic converter, basically as it burns in during early use. In a lot of cars, especially in the early days of converters, there was a rotten-egg smell from the exhaust gases. So, in my experience, nothing to worry about.

It seems to me your answer lies in what you wrote at the beginning of your email. Why not buy another Hilux, it did the job for you before and there's no reason it wouldn't do the same again.

The Camry is a good choice, it's well-built and reliable, and won't cost the Earth to service. Another to consider would be the Mazda 6, also a well-built and reliable car of about the same size as the Camry.

They flip up to the side to allow more stuff to be carried, but they’re not designed to be taken out completely. It is possible to remove them, of course, but we understand that it’s a bit of a chore to reinstall them.

Yes, I agree that SUVs are a good choice of vehicle for older drivers; as you say they afford you a good view of the road ahead and your surroundings, and they're easier to get in and out of. They are, however, larger and that can make them awkward for older drivers who have a greater tendency to bump into things. If you choose an SUV the CX-5 is a good one. Should you decide against the SUV you could look at the Mazda 6, Subaru Liberty, Toyota Camry, Kia Optima or Honda Accord. All are good cars. Another to think about is the Subaru Outback, a high-riding version of the Liberty.

Market values are a guide only, and they sold used that way. The value of a car comes down to condition, kilometres travelled, service history, and accessories and options fitted. Start with the guiding values given on websites like Redbook and Glass's and go from there. It's usually better to deal privately because a private vendor doesn't have an expensive car yard to pay for, doesn't have to offer you a warranty, and isn't under as much pressure to achieve a price that would represent a profit. A dealer has all of those things to consider when setting his prices. There isn't a rule of thumb when it comes to negotiating, it's best to go in with a figure you're prepared to pay for a particular car and try and negotiate with the dealer to get it.

If you don’t want a convertible, which rules out the MX-5 as my easy first pick, then the 86 is the car for driving enjoyment on a reasonable budget. But don’t overlook its Subaru twin, the BRZ, which is my choice of the two. Both get The Tick, having shared our Car of the Year award.

Years ago when you owned your Torana it was considered something of a performance car, as the Clubsport, SSV and Calais are today, but there are many other ways of getting your driving thrills today without having to go for a V8. Some of the hot hatches now available would give you all the thrills, and more, than the big-bangers of old. Take a test drive in a VW Golf GTi or one of the fast Ford Focuses and I'm sure you'd rethink your choice. All the cars you mention, the Clubsport, SSV and Calais are good cars with plenty of grunt, the V8 sound, and the comfort of a big car. For mine though I'd be going for a hot hatch.

Drive the VW Golf to calibrate yourself with the best car in the class, but go ahead and buy the Hyundai because it's the modern-day Corolla and definitely gets The Tick from me.