What are my options for replacing a Picnic?

HELPDESK:From LB: I was driving a Toyota Picnic for years which has now died. I was looking at getting a Citroen C4: Do you think these are good cars? I've heard mixed reports on them. What else could you recommend for about €10,000?

Given that you were driving a Picnic, I suspect you’re referring to the C4 Picasso. Launched in 2007, it’s a massive leap forward in looks and luxury compared to the previous Xsara Picasso.

In the seven-seat C4 Grand Picasso version the rear seats slide forward and back, but bootspace disappears with all rows in use. For my money, I’d be topping my shopping list with the Ford S-Max. It’s better to drive. I’m also not a fan of Citroen’s six-speed electronic gearbox, the EGS. If you opt for the C4 then look for a manual version. If you want to take a look back over our previous car reviews, visit irishtimes.com/motors, where we have a free archive of all our road tests going back to 2001.

From WL: Will there be an electric seven-seater in the near future?

There is nothing due in the next year or so, but you might consider the upcoming Toyota Prius+, a petrol-electric hybrid that’s part of the expanded Prius range and arriving here in June. It’s a proper seven-seater with decent space in the boot and a smart exterior look that matches the practicality of a people carrier with the current Prius’s hybrid potential.

The car is longer than the Verso, the three middle row seats slide independently and the mechanics of flipping up and down the third row are a doddle. It has emissions of 99g/km, thanks in part to the use of a lithium-ion battery pack, the first time Toyota has put this in a production car. It might not be the full electric answer to your wishes, but it’s worth serious consideration.

From PC: I know you’ve probably answered this question a thousand times but if I buy winter tyres, do I need to have summer ones as well? Are they worth the extra spend?

Ideally you would have both, but given the current financial situation, it’s understandable that some people simply can’t afford to. There are all-weather alternatives out there from the likes of Bridgestone that cover both conditions.

On a recent visit to the winter driving course at Rally School Ireland, owner and chief instructor David Smyth, who has worked with some of the best rally drivers here and internationally, suggested that if your mileage is relatively low and if you just potter around rather than drive aggressively in corners, then you could use winter tyres all year round.

Just as they are good in the snow, they are also very good in dealing with wet road surfaces as well.

Smyth also has a tip for judging which tyres to buy, given the plethora of brands out there at the moment, particularly at the budget end: “If I can’t pronounce , then I wouldn’t buy it.”

Got a query? Send it to motorshelp@irishtimes.com