Q We are moving to a cottage on a busy road without much turning space in the driveway. A car turntable would mean we would not have to reverse into the road but I can't find anyone to show us a working turntable. Can you help? - JD from Framlingham, Suffolk
A You're wise to consider a solution that will prevent you having to reverse into the flow of traffic. A car turntable is a steel disc fitted into your driveway, which rotates like a record on a record player so you can turn the car in a tight space. There is also a security advantage as a turntable allows you to position your car at an angle that would make it hard for a thief to drive away.
A number of companies offer turntables, including Car Turntables (01827 69438, www.carturntablesltd.co.uk) and Car Parking Solutions (02392 522 017, www.parkingsolutions.co.uk). Both have videos on their websites that show how turntables work. Prices vary depending on the size and specification; a turntable of 3.4 metres (11ft 2in) is probably as small as you can get, for a fully fitted price of about £7,000. Some systems can be controlled remotely at a typical extra cost of £250.
Q We travel to our house in the south of France every school holiday and want to buy a four-seater pickup truck that can handle rough, steep terrain and boggy woodland. Can you recommend a truck that is economical, won't break the bank, doesn't look like it's on steroids, will comfortably seat a family of four and, if possible, be environmentally friendly? Also, would it make sense to keep a set of off-road tyres in France as I am unlikely to need them on the weekly trip to the supermarket? - JE from Fareham, Hampshire
A Sales of double-cab pickups have grown, partly because of tax concessions for business users and partly because of improved on-road handling and looks.
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Among the most popular are the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 and Isuzu Rodeo. All three start at about £16,500 for the four-door double-cab versions and offer similar economy from their 2.5 litre diesel units - expect about 32mpg in mixed driving.
These vehicles are large, heavy and not hugely aerodynamic so the laws of physics mean you will have to live with emissions of about 220g/km, which is about the same as a petrol-engine Mercedes 2.8 litre E-class and puts the vehicle in road tax band F.
You should find the off-road tyres supplied with the vehicle will handle some pretty extreme situations with ease while still driving well on tarmac.
Q I have had no luck in finding a luggage rack to fit the rear of our 2002 BMW Z3 roadster for touring through Europe this summer. Any ideas? - BS from Swindon
A The Roofrack Shop (www.roofrackshop.co.uk, 01506 418 218) sells a boot rack specifically for the older Z3, which costs £189 including postage. The rack is made from polished stainless steel, locks onto the boot lid and will carry up to 66lb. You can add a ski or snowboard rack fitting for an extra £70.
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Q My wife and I are planning to retire and are looking forward to long road trips in a comfortable motor. We're both tall with long legs and since we sold our Granada Scorpio have not found a car that gives us the comfort we like at a reasonable cost. The budget is £20,000-£30,000 and we want a reasonably economical (say 30mpg plus) automatic. What would you suggest? - RB from Cheltenham
A A large executive car with an economical diesel engine is the solution. The good news is that there are plenty to choose from, including the BMW 5-series, Audi A6 and Mercedes E-class.
These all offer a great combination of power and economy in diesel form, but if you want armchair comfort then consider the Jaguar S-type and the Citroën C6. The S-type Jaguar 2.7 diesel has a 206bhp engine, will reach 0-60mph in 8.2sec and return 36mpg with automatic transmission. A new Jaguar S-type 2.7 V6 Spirit will cost about £30,000.
The real bargain is the Citroën C6. It has the same 2.7 litre V6 diesel as the Jaguar and thanks to its Hydractive suspension system has one of the most comfortable rides in the business. A new diesel auto will cost about £30,000 but a 2006 56 with 10,000 miles will set you back about £25,000.
Q The speedometer on my new Honda Civic TypeR is overestimating my speed by 10-15%. The dealer said Honda did this deliberately. Is this true? A few mph out is okay but this seems too much. What do you advise? - SH from Stockton-on-Tees
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A Speedometers can overread by up to 10% at any speed. The difference varies between manufacturers and even between different examples of the same model. This built-in error is there to allow for tyre wear (because a worn tyre has a different diameter from a brand new one) and also allows for owners changing the wheel and tyre size.
This can be frustrating, especially when some speed cameras can result in a fine for motorists going only a few mph over the limit.
The easiest remedy is to invest in a GPS speedometer, which uses satellite location technology rather than wheel rotations to calculate your speed. You could fit a portable sat nav system with a speed display or a GPS speed camera locator, which will not only show your speed but give warning when you are approaching a camera.
E-mail your questions for our experts to carclinic@ sunday-times.co.uk or write to Car Clinic, InGear, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST. Please give a daytime telephone number and as much detail about your car as possible. We cannot send personal replies or deal with every letter. Please do not send original documents or SAEs. Advice is offered without legal responsibility.