Q: I'm trying to determine an economical way to pull a trailer, carry a 17-foot canoe and transport an 88-inch tandem bicycle. My 1999 Ford Windstar was ideal, except for the economy part. We could pull our pop-up trailer, carry the canoe on the roof rack and put the bike inside with the front wheel removed. A Honda Ridgeline is one possibility, but the gas mileage (17 miles per gallon) isn't very good. Is there a small truck that is strong enough and still gets decent gas mileage?

—Jim Stratton, Ebensburg, Pa.

A: The Toyota Highlander hybrid should satisfy your fuel-economy requirements while competently hauling the load. It has a reasonably long roofline that should accommodate a specialized rack that can carry both the bike and the boat. The Subaru Outback wagon is a smaller, less-expensive vehicle that still has enough towing capacity. Keep in mind that carrying heavy items on the roof requires a well-designed rack, so you should shop around for one that is a good fit for your car and the cargo you are carrying. The load’s weight and aerodynamic drag will also hurt your fuel economy.

Q: I'm interested in buying an Audi A3 compact. Since my budget is capped at $20,000, I am looking at certified pre-owned 2006-07 models. The reviews in Consumer Reports on Audi's reliability record are unfavorable. Are the problems serious enough that I'll be in the shop every month?

—Andrew Au, San Francisco

A: I think you should go for the A3, which happens to be one of my favorite cars. It’s true that some Audi models do not have the highest reliability scores, but I don’t think a used A3 would necessarily need frequent repairs.

It is often the case with used cars that the first driver has already addressed maintenance problems associated with mechanical defects and other shortcomings. I also think that if we based our buying decisions strictly on reliability ratings, the road would become a boring place.

Q: My BMW dealer advises me not to rotate my tires so that they can develop a "set" and grip the road better. I would welcome your thoughts.

—Marc Hyre, Cleveland

A: This advice doesn’t make sense, especially when I consider the number of complaints I have heard about short-lived tires on BMWs. Rotation is a good practice because it helps drivers extract the most mileage from their tires. If doing so compromises performance, the effect is so slight that you will never notice in everyday driving.