choosing used car

Can you recommend an affordable two- to three-year old SUV/4x4 that has relatively low road tax, is fuel efficient and would have cruse control also?

Thanks Sinead (Limerick)

Hi, I have €7,000 to €8,000 budget to buy a used SUV. I only drive 3,000 miles per year and I have been told by friends to go for the Toyota RAV4 or Suzuki Grand Vitara. What do you suggest? It will not be used for work or off road etc.

Many thanks, William.

Is a 2005 Toyota Corolla 1.4 petrol a good car? It is a one owner car with 75,000km on the clock.

I want to get a 2011-2012 Hyundai ix35. I have a 2008 Volkswagen Golf GT Sport with 113,000km on clock. What should I be looking to pay with my Golf and are ix35 good and hold their value?

Hi there. I'm trading in a 1.6 petrol 2006 Mazda3 for a small diesel hatchback to commute in. Looking at a 2010 Ford Focus with 41,000 miles for €7,750 or a 2010 SEAT Leon with 47,000 miles for €7,950, both 1.6 diesel. I prefer the Ford's stats and Leon's looks - any advice?!

Hi, I was wondering which is the best second hand car for me. I would like a high off-the-road car because  I have back problems. I have between five and six thousand to spend.

Ta, Evelyn

I currently have a 2005 Mazda3 saloon 1.6 petrol. Would like to get a new car to upgrade to at least 2008 and still stay with a saloon type. What would you recommend? I'm sick of paying crazy tax for the 1.6 petrol. Thanks

What should I look for when going to view a 2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI?

We have two cars at present: a 2008 Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.9 TDI diesel (low tax, 90,000 miles, does approx. 10k miles per year), which is a family car doing town trips and three days a week motorway driving 74 miles round trip on the M1 and M50. The other is a 2007 Golf Plus 1.9 TDI with 110,000 miles on the clock doing approx. 20,000 miles per year (mainly round trips of 74km per day seven days per week on the motorway). Very happy with both cars and not giving any problems, but have been told that both cars will need the dual mass flywheel changed at some point as this is often a problem with these Golfs.

Was going to change the Golf Plus for new family car worth approx. €17k - was going to get approx. €5-5.5k as trade in and a loan for €12K. Trying to justify changing car! Both cars are serviced at most 1,000km after service is due. How much is too many miles on these cars? Could I get high mileage on these cars without too much of an outlay on repairs or should I regularly update the car? If I'm to change I was going to look at a Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Octavia or a Toyota Avensis. Am I right in sticking to diesel?

Many thanks

Is a 2010 Volvo S40 with 91,000km on it good to buy?