choosing used car

My son wants to purchase a 2009/2010 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi. Any issues with this type of car? Is it economical? I have heard that the engine can be loud in some models. Can you suggest a good diesel engined car if the Focus is not a good buy?

I am driving a Qashqai+2 (2012) and want to change some other older car to close off the finance. Looking at a car that would be cheaper for me to run with good boot space, as I only use on weekends for shopping or some travel in the country. Approximate budget is €8,000.

Hi there, I am thinking of buying a Kia Soul TX 1.6 diesel, the main reason being that my current Honda HRV, while a lovely car, is heavy on petrol and car tax. Can you please give me you opinion on the Kia Soul (2011)? Is it a good buy?

Many thanks,

Dympna in Galway

I do 50,000km per year with work but get a mileage allowance. I am looking to get a low mileage 2012 saloon for about €25k. My main criteria is a decent spec, good fuel economy but also some punch for overtaking. I currently fancy the Hyundai i40 Executive spec 115hp. Would you recommend this? What other models should I consider?

I bought an 09 Toyota Corolla 1.4 petrol with 64,000km on the clock three months ago. It is still covered by the dealer's one-year warranty, is taxed until July 2014 and NCT'ed until July 2015. Since then, I have changed job and will now be commuting two hours a day on the motorway and so need to change for a diesel. Even though I'm generally the only one in the car, I prefer saloons and like a big car around me, partly for safety reasons. I also want a comfortable, hi-spec, economical car. And as I will be putting a lot of miles on it, I want something with low mileage. I am thinking a diesel Volkswagen Golf or a Skoda Octavia.

Have test driven the Ford Focus and Hyundai i30 and the interior put me off. Maybe I was driving the basic models but found them to be quite cheap in feel. I am trying to keep the total spend to about €2,000 to €4,000 with my own for trade-in.

First of all, am I on the right track in the types of cars I am looking at for what I want? Secondly, how much should I roughly be expecting to get for my own car?

Does the Citroen C5 diesel make a good second hand car?

Is the Volvo S40 (2006) 1.6 diesel an economical car and are there any common failings to this model?

Can you advise on the Peugeot 206 and 207? Are these reliable and trouble free? Which is the better car?

Are there any serious mechanical issues with the Land Rover Discovery 3 that a prospective buyer should know about?

I'm interested in this 2009 1 Series BMW on Carzone.ie. Are there any issues of note with this import?

here's the link

Thanks