Ask Us Anything

Volkswagen Passat or Ford Mondeo? I am trying to decide whether to buy a 2011 Volkswagen Passat TDI 1.6 CL or a 2010 Ford Mondeo Titanium 2.0 TDCi. Both have similar mileage in the region of 35,000. I am looking for a familiy car with reliability, fuel efficency and good resale.

Hi, would you mind giving me some advice/warning re purchasing a 2007 Toyota Corolla 1.4 diesel saloon? It's a new model with 170,000km on the clock and it's advertised for sale at €8,000.

Can turbos give trouble in the Opel Insignia 2.0-litre?

I read recently on a site that specialised in information on car engines, that the current 2.0-litre BMW diesel engine had a weakness in the timing chain area, and that getting this fixed was pricey. The site also said that BMW refuses to recognise that the problem exists. As I am considering purchasing a second hand 520d in the future, this piece of news is disquieting, as the engine seems to be good - powerful, frugal, and great when matched to the eight-speed auto. Have you heard of any problems with the timing chains of this engine?

Hi, could anyone tell me where to get the fuel consumption for the 1.4 TSI petrol engine as used in the 2008 Volkswagen Passat? I'm thinking of that car for low tax - doing about 19,000 miles per annum but that will fall to 6,000 per annum next year.

Thanks, Rtb, Galway.

Hi, due to the impending arrival of a new baby we are looking to sell our 2004 Toyota Avensis Estate (diesel) and change to a seven-seater. With mileage of about 94,000 miles it is in good condition. What do you think we could expect as a 'trade in value' as opposed to a private sale (which would appear to be in the region of €4 to €4.5k)? Also, the seats need a really thorough cleaning. Can you recommend a seriously heavy duty valet service?

Thanks

Helen

When was the current model of the Audi A6 allroad quattro introduced and is there any update due?

Thanks

Hi, I have found a second hand car that I really like; however it is from a private individual, not a garage. What checks should I do to make sure this car is what the seller says it is? I'm concerned about buying a stolen car, or a car that still has finance on it, will a Cartell.ie check tell me if that is the case? Other than that, and having an idependent mechanic check the car, is there anything else I should do?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Are there any known faults with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 180 AMG?

Are the Chevrolet Nubira or Lacetti 1.4 good cars to buy?