What Car? Q&A - Disabled driver seeks sporty model

Q: I’m a disabled driver currently driving a Mercedes C43 AMG. I like sporty cars but only have a licence to drive automatics. I really like the BMW M3 SMG, with its price, performance and clutchless manual gearbox it would be ideal. But am I allowed to drive it?
Richard Williams

A: Unfortunately, the DVLA is vague on this one. It states that an automatic is classed as a car where ‘the driver is not provided by any means whereby he may vary the gear ratio’.

It won’t give the green light to any particular car, however, saying that individual cases are ‘matters for the court to decide’.

BMW, though, says that the M3 SMG has been homologated as a manual, so unfortunately it looks like you won’t be able to drive it with your licence.

Audi’s 414bhp RS4 doesn’t come with the option of an automatic, so your best bet might be the 362bhp Mercedes C55 AMG, which comes with an auto ’box as standard.