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Hi Nikki,

Bit of a funny one this. Normally, we would suggest that Lexus cars are peerless when it comes to quality and reliability, but there is some chatter out there on the owners' forums about some problems. OK, so this is not necessarily the most reliable source, but it's interesting that the same issues (injectors, coolant leaks, gearbox problems) keep cropping up. 

Certainly the gearbox was an issue and sufficiently so that Lexus changed some components on it during the car's lifetime, apparently to smooth out the shift action. Even so, the IS has a clunkier gearbox to use than an equivalent BMW or Audi. It also won't be as economical overall - the Toyota-derived 2.2 just can't keep up with the Germans in terms of economy. 

That said, it's a really good car to drive, has a lovely interior and, notwithstanding the Internet chatter, we'd still say it's a better bet for reliability than anything from Europe. Just check history and condition carefully before buying.

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Hi Donie,

It's a pretty new design, the A7, and Audi has an enviable reputation for build quality, so if there are any recurrent problems, they haven't come to light yet. That 3.0-litre diesel engine is a proven design, and doesn't seem to give much trouble in the other models it does service in, so we wouldn't expect many issues. That said, as always with a premium brand car, the A7 is massively complex and high-tech, so if there's not a full and proper Audi service history, walk away. Lack of proper maintenance on a car like this is a sure sign of future problems.

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Hi Sean,

There are no consistently reported problems, but we have heard reports of gearbox issues, problems with the dual-mass flywheel and some steering snafus. As long as it has a full Audi service history, you should be OK, but be picky as there are plenty out there to choose from.

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Hi Conor,

We've heard of a few electronic glitches (faulty cruise control, sticky electric handbrakes), but other than that, the A6 seems to be built to the usual solid Audi standards. As always, if you're looking at a high mileage one, remember that this is a complex, expensive car so make sure it has a full service history and appears to have been cared for.

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Hi Peter,

Yes, apparently so, but possibly still not quite so popular as the evergreen Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

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Hi Cormac,

It will depend on the year and model you’re talking about, but if you mean the 2008 Audi A6 update, which was the first model with the TDIe engine, then it’s basically lightly tweaked for economy and emissions, but those will be nothing to write home about compared to more modern cars. The TDIe could manage 53mpg and 139g/km, but that was with the 140hp engine, so it’s a touch under-powered in the A6. You could be better off going for a more powerful 170hp version, which will have slightly higher emissions, but which will probably do better in economy terms in real-world driving - and far more satisfying to drive.

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Hi Kevin,

Should be a good 'un. A3s are solidly built and the full service history sounds reassuring. Just make sure with that kind of mileage that major maintenance work, such as timing belt and (if needed) brake discs etc have been done.

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Hi Deirdre,

You should be fine. As always with a premium badge car, look for a full service history, but seeing as an A3 is essentially a Golf in a swanky frock, it's actually pretty simple under the skin. That 1.6-litre engine is an older design, and pretty bulletproof, but at that kind of mileage make sure things like timing belt changes have been done and check for any obvious signs of wear and tear. There were issues with 2005 models with both fuel pumps and flywheels, but both problems should have been sorted by recalls.

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Hi Cormac,

Interesting one this. To be frank, it was news to us. We don't have a standardised headlight test on CompleteCar.ie (perhaps we should), but a trawl of the Audi-based internet forums does indeed seem to show that many C5 owners do have doubts about the power of their lights, especially on dipped beam.

While we can't find any definitive evidence that the facelifted model is any better, it seems that there are two potential fixes to the problem. One is to replace the standard bulbs with better models - and we've seen German-made Flosser bulbs recommended. Philips also produces a line of higher-output bulbs that may be worth a look. The other issue may be the state of the headlamp lenses, and any problems there can potentially be fixed by a good clean. Cleaning kits are available from most good motor factors. Incidentally, beware an aftermarket upgrade to a HID or Xenon headlight set. If it doesn't conform exactly to the original equipment specification, then there are doubts over the legality of such units and it could potentially lead to an NCT failure.

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Hi Alan,

If it’s the 2.0-litre TDI, then that’s €710 a year. Unless it’s been imported since 2008, in which case it’ll be €570.