Q: I'm the original owner of a 2001 Honda Accord with 60,000 miles. I plan on keeping the car at least another two years or longer. I've done the regular scheduled maintenance at the dealership up until now. I'm due for the 60,000-mile appointment, which costs $435. Should I continue with the scheduled maintenance with a car this old?

P.A. Hanley, Natick, Mass.

A: I recently had to make a similar decision with our 1998 Subaru. A car's value typically decreases with age, but the cost of servicing it tends to stay expensive, especially at the dealership. This is a great time to develop a relationship with a good local mechanic who can keep track of your car's needs, often for half the cost of dealer service.

Q: My husband has always driven older Volvos and loves them. His current Volvo has 100,000-plus miles on it, and we've had to spend quite a bit of money to maintain it. Do we keep putting money into the Volvo or look for something new (or used)? I like the looks of the Toyota Matrix (the all-wheel-drive version), the new Toyota RAV4 and the Subaru Outback. Or should we look into getting another used Volvo?

Anne Sturm, Brunswick, Maine

A: I understand the love for old Volvos, which appear to be the official cars of Maine. If your husband really loves vintage Volvos, switching to something like a Matrix might take too much wind out of his sails. You may be better off tracking down a five- to 10-year-old V70 wagon or S70 sedan and have your mechanic check it out before buying.

Q: We recently moved to a rural section of Vermont and traded in our Toyota Prius for a 2011 Subaru Outback. Would snow tires offer a significant advantage for winter driving over all-season tires on the Outback?

Jim Erwin, Guilford, Vt.

A: During a snowstorm, I saw an all-wheel-drive sport sedan spinning four wheels while trying to ascend a nearly imperceptible incline. Of course it was wearing low-profile performance tires. But all-season tires can be almost as bad in winter weather. I have been switching my wife's car to winter tires for several years now, and we're convinced the difference in handling makes the effort and expense worthwhile.

Q: We are retired. My wife drives a Honda Pilot, which we also take on road trips. I got myself a fuel-efficient, four-cylinder Subaru Legacy. Being used to climbing up into the Pilot, she detests falling down into the front seat of the Legacy, and she wants me to get a vehicle that is not so low. I don't want a second SUV, but I do want at least front-wheel drive. Is there anything out there, perhaps a crossover vehicle, that's fuel efficient and a bit easier to get into?

Wayne Krachun, Reno, Nev.

A: There are small or medium-size crossovers that have the higher seating position that your wife may prefer, without the large footprint and high fuel consumption we often associate with SUVs. Many are available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Chevrolet Equinox comes to mind, as do the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester.