Expert answer

Hi George,

We spoke to Volkswagen Ireland and it confirmed that yes, it is. Prices start at €23,175 for the Golf Plus Trendline 1.2 TSI 85 and rise to €29,355 for the Life 1.6 TDI 105 DSG version.

Engines are 1.2 TSI petrol in 85- and 105hp guises or 1.6 TDI diesel in 90- and 105hp outputs. DSG automatic available with both 105hp engines. Trim levels are Trendline or Life.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

There are widespread problems with the MMT semi-automatic gearbox and it's sometimes expensive to fix so we'd advise buyers to stay away from cars with that transmission. Somewhat surprisingly we've heard of isolated problems with the manual gearbox too, though they're few and far between.

Hope that's of help.

Expert answer

Hi there,

A rate of €570 per annum would put the car in Band D based on its emissions, which is 155- to 170g/km. Our initial investigations suggest that this car should have emissions of just 134g/km, which would put it in Band B2 for an annual tax bill of €280, however, that's for a newer car than you're talking about. The older one has emissions of 165g/km, which would indeed mean a €570 tax bill.

Hope that helps clear it up

Expert answer

Hi Davy,

There are four versions of the Santa Fe sold in Ireland, all with the 2.2-litre diesel engine. Here are the figures:

- Comfort 2WD manual: 5.9 litres/100km (48mpg)

- Executive 4WD manual: 6.1 litres/100km (46mpg)

- Executive 4WD automatic: 6.7 litres/100km (42mpg)

- Premium 4WD automatic: 6.8 litres/100km (41.5mpg)

If it was the older model you're interested in please come back to us.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Well, it depends — do you mean the Avensis Verso or the Corolla Verso? Both are very good from the point of view of reliability, although as we’re talking about a 12-year-old car, there are limits to that. You’ll need to check carefully to make sure everything’s working properly, and if there are gaps in the service history, walk away. The Corolla Verso was always a very decent car — compact, but very spacious inside, and not at all bad to drive. The Avensis Verso was much bigger, of course, but really felt it — they’re very roly-poly in the corners. Automatics are fine, but you’ll have to expect slightly higher fuel consumption than you would with a manual of that era.

Expert answer

Hi Tom,

First thing to do is pop along to Cartell.ie and pay for a full history check, as this will tell you a lot. Then, ask the seller to scan or photograph all the documentation for you so you can check it before you go any further.

After that, you either make the journey to Dublin to test the car or you pay an independent assessor (the AA provides such a service) to do it for you.

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

This is a job for a really good auto electrician to find, but we do know that some Mercs have such an issue caused by a CD changer. The only way to stop it appears to be physically unplugging it from the car! Take the car to an auto electrician and tell them that and they may find a way to install a switch for it or to fix it properly...

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi F D,

As discussed via email, the dual-clutch transmissions are usually far more efficient, resulting in lower emissions and fuel consumption. They also offer a more 'engaging' driving experience if that's what the driver wants. However, they can also be jerkier to drive than an old-school automatic, so we'd always recommend buyers to drive both to form an opinion of their own.

Hope that helps with the buying decision.

Expert answer

Hi Sadiya,

It really depends on condition etc. Most traders would advertise this at just under €6,000, but we suspect they'll sell for a lot closer to €5,000.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Val,

Generally it's a bad idea to fit mis-matching tyres across the same axle of a car (i.e. both front tyres should be the same and both rear tyres should be the same, but front and rear can be different brands etc. so long as the size is within manufacturer guidelines). In an ideal world all four tyres would be matching, but we realise that people need to save money.

On that note, we'd urge caution with regards to buying second-hand tyres. You can't possibly know their history and though they might be fine, it's still not a great idea.

Final point from us: a tyre is one of the most important parts of your car to maintain safety. Please don't scrimp on that.

Hope that's been of assistance.