Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it's up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday's paper.

This week's question

Any answers? My eight-year-old Ford Focus is beginning to give me problems. I drive 8,000 miles a year, but as a retired person (income £18,000) I can't afford to buy a new one outright. Leasing schemes offer a new car for about £180 a month. Are they good value and what are the pitfalls?

What are your thoughts?