What car will I replace my Hyundai Tucson with?
I have a Hyundai Tucson diesel worth about €3,000. My daily commute is 130km, seven days a week, mostly away from the motorway. I have another €12,000 to add to the trade-in value.
I am a single person, but I need to pull a trailer for very small stuff and need to fit in the golf clubs. I typically hold onto a vehicle for five to seven years.
What is the right second-hand vehicle for me ?
Rory Donohue (Galway)Feb 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Rory,
I'm sure you're aware that your budget will get you any number of relatively new regular cars such as the Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, along with bigger models like the Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis.
However, given your current choice of car I'd suspect that you'd like to retain the elevated driving position and your mileage dictates a diesel engine. Most cars can take a tow bar and you don't have heavy towing needs so that's not a major consideration. Likewise, all SUVs etc. will have room for your golf clubs.
So the logical choices based on all that include:
BMW X3: Good diesel engine, spacious, but your budget may only get you an older example.
Citroen C-Crosser: Great 2.2-litre diesel engine; rest of car built on Mitsubishi mechanicals.
Honda CR-V: Bomb-proof reliability, but again may have to settle for older example.
Hyundai Santa Fe: Big and comfortable, though running costs higher than smaller SUV.
Mitsubishi Outlander: Spacious, well made, ok diesel, if loud.
Nissan X-Trail: Strangely forgotten, but plenty around at this price.
Peugeot 4007: Shares its engine and underpinnings with the Citroen above.
Suzuki Grand Vitara: Very reliable.
Toyota RAV4: Another with impressive reliability. Possibly the choice of the lot at this price.
There are loads of older, bigger SUVs for sale at that price too, but they'll cost you more to run for no real benefit.
If you're willing to change body styles completely it's worth checking out something like a BMW 120d Coupé or a diesel 3 Series Coupé. There are also plenty of great estates on the market for that budget, including the Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3 Series Touring. I know you don't need that space for a family, but it's useful for a lot of other things.
Come back to us with more information and we'll help to narrow your search further.
Can you help me find an automatic car for my mother?
Guys,
Can you recommend a good used (1-2 year0old) small/medium car for my mother? Must be automatic transmission. Currently has an 08 Opel Corsa with an auto box so jerky it'd introduce your forehead to the steering wheel at every change-up. She's in the 60+ age group, but good competent driver. Low tax a priority, performance not an important criteria. Comfortable entry/exit a must and seating not too low due to arthritis - comfort a big factor too.
Any recommendations?
Barry Delaney (Dublin)Jan 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Barry,
Thanks for confirming via email that the total budget including trade-in is about €15,000.
One car that immediately comes to mind is the Honda Jazz. They're utterly reliable, easy to drive and park and are available with a decent enough CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic gearbox. Here's an example on Carzone.ie. Emissions are in Band B so annual road tax is €225. The seating position is more upright in the Jazz than in most small cars so it's easier to get in and out of.
Another option is the Nissan Note. The automatic version's engine is 1.6-litre in size so emissions are higher, putting it into Band D for tax - costing €481 per annum. Otherwise it compares well with the Jazz, with easy access and good reliability in a compact package. Here's an example on Carzone.ie.
The Nissan Qashqai may also fit the bill, though it's a larger car overall, which I suspect is not what you're looking for.
If you need help narrowing the search down further come back to us - and let us know what you go for.
Hyundai i40 or Kia Optima? Help!
I am thinking of buying a Hyundai i40. I was advised to wait until March and have a look at the Kia Optima. Which car would you opt for?
Damien Dunne (Dublin)Jan 2012 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Damien,
Both are good cars so you're starting from the right place. They're not too dissimilar as they share so much under the skin, but there are differences. Admittedly these are quite personal. Graeme Lambert works for us, and as he's the only one in the team that has driven both cars he's best placed to comment:
"Forgetting deals, spec and warranties, the Hyundai i40 is probably the one to go for. It is more refined and smoother on the road than the Kia Optima and has a better quality interior. Saying all that I really prefer the look of the Kia..."
Sorry if that confuses things, but the best advice is to go drive them for yourself.
Let us know how you get on.
Is it worth paying more for the 110hp Renault Fluence?
Which Renault Fluence to buy - 90- or 110hp?
There is a 700 Euro difference in price, just wondering if it's worth it or not. On the face of it the vast bulk of Fluences are 90hp, just wondering is the 110hp model a better buy, even for resale later, as it will be a lot rarer. Also, two unconnected Renault dealers are pushing much harder on the 90hp version, which says to me that the 110hp is like a special order for them. They are almost dismissing it as an option, which is odd, or maybe they are looking after me!
Is there any servicing/maintenance differences between the two different engine types? One last thing, problems with DPF, apparently it's a problem if you only drive a diesel car on solely short journeys. Is it a major issue or storm in a teacup?
Thanks
Donal Murphy (Cork)Jan 2012 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Donal,
Before talking about the Renault Fluence specifically, diesel cars in general are better when used on longer trips regularly - for the DPF and other components. We're not aware of any problems with Renault's DPFs in particular.
We asked Renault Ireland about the differences between the 90- and 110hp Fluences and they essentially said that most people are more concerned with saving money, so the 90hp option is, as you've discovered, the best-seller. Here's Renault's statement:
"Both the 90- and 110hp Fluences are great value. It depends on the usage of the car by the customer. €700 can be sometimes hard to upsell these days so dealers prefer to offer the best value, which is the 90hp. It's the customer's choice, and down to what they want to purchase.
Both engines are in Band A and theyare under the same servicing/maintenance programme. For the last point (DPF), this is not an issue on Fluence."
So essentially it comes down to whether you want the extra power. In our view whether it's worth it or not will depend on how often the car is full of people and luggage. In those situations you'll want the higher power output.
Hope that helps - come back to us if you want to discuss it further.
Is having a Dublin reg an advantage?
I'm getting a new car shortly. Does having a D (Dublin) registration over other county regs make any difference?
Noel Freeman (Navan Co. Meath)Jan 2012 Filed under: registration
Expert answer
Hi Noel,
It really depends where you plan to sell your car on. Anecdotal evidence indicates that dealers regularly do not want cars from other counties as they are harder to sell on. However, I do wonder if that applies to Dublin cars, as, naturally, more cars are sold in Dublin than anywhere else.
Let us know if you have other worries.
What SUV for €10k would be good for carrying bikes?
I'm thinking of getting an SUV. Nothing fancy, just big enough to get a couple of bikes in the back, won't be much off road done in it, and preferably low emissions for tax reasons. What would you suggest? My budget isn't great, under €10k if possible. Is that way too little to get something half decent?
Rob Davis (Dublin)Jan 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Rob,
For that budget we are assuming you are looking for a second-hand car. The Honda CR-V springs to mind, but the tax could be a little high for you as your budget will get you a pre-2008 version, which came with 2.0- and 2.2-litre engines. How about a five-door version of the Honda HR-V instead? We found this example on Carzone.ie and it looks the part. The 1.6-litre engine means it's not too much to tax either.
There are loads of Hyundai Santa Fes and the smaller Tucson around at that price too, though again their age and engine size might rule them out for you in terms of tax costs. Same story with the previous generation Kia Sportage.
Don't be tempted by older Land Rover Freelanders.
Another good option is the Suzuki Grand Vitara. A quick search showed that there are several 1.6-litre petrol versions with four-wheel drive within your budget, though most seem to be the less practical three-door body style, so you may need to look around to find a five-door example that suits your needs.
The Toyota RAV4 would be a great option, but keeping your tax bill down on a four-wheel drive version with five doors might be tricky. Recommeded though.
Hope all that helps. If you narrow down your search a little come back to us and we'll help you choose!
Is Volvo servicing expensive?
Hi, am I being ripped off on my Volvo servicing? I was quoted €229 for 20,000 service, €259 for 40,000 service, €360 for 60,000 service. The first is for oil, oil filter and fluid top-ups; 40,000km service includes oil, oil filter, pollen filter and fluid top-ups, plus Volvo wipers were €48. Servicing for other cars I've owned (VW, Ford and Opel) was nearly €100 cheaper. I am sorry I bought a Volvo now.
Jimmy Dillon (Swords, Dublin)Dec 2011 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Jimmy,
We've done some ringing around for you based on extra information you provided us with (2010 Volvo S40 1.6 diesel). First of all, you can't do anything about different brands charging different amounts; that's a fact of life. We talked to several Volvo dealers around the country to compare pricing and they all quote similar amounts to the numbers you gave us. It seems expensive for the first service for sure, but at least you know it's standard across the network.
While we didn't ring every dealer in Ireland, we did get a quote from Bandon Motors (www.bandonmotors.com) that was much cheaper for the first service - though the same after that. Best bet is to ring all the Volvo dealers you are within easy driving distance of.
Of course, failing all that you could take the car to a non-Volvo garage, but I'm guessing you'd like the main dealer stamp in your service history.
Let us know how you get on.
How much should Revenue value a Nissan Skyline saloon at?
Hi, I've been looking into buying a Nissan Skyline recently and found one for sale in the North here on offer for £4,995 (an offer of £4,150 was accepted almost straight away by the dealer through email correspondence). However the Revenue Online Service values the car at €2,468. I'd like to know what you consider to be the value of this car as I can't find any comparable Skylines to get a good guide of the price.
Thanks.
Ciaran Mc Cashin (Drogheda)Dec 2011 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Ciaran,
The Nissan Skyline saloon did not really get caught up in the upsurge of popularity experienced by other rear-wheel drive Japanese four-doors towards the end of the Celtic Tiger era so is still a fairly rare model. This would go some way to explaining why the Revenue Online Service (ROS) value seems so low. The Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) is based on an 'average' for that particular model, but with so few cars having been imported it can be difficult to determine a true average.
Regarding the car you have highlighted, and taking into account current exchange rates and the VRT calculated by ROS that car would cost €5,824, which seems expensive to our eyes.
A thorough search of all the classified adverts we could find revealed a few similar cars, albeit with higher mileage, in the region of €3,500 - €4,000.
The one you're looking at does have some nice additions such as the wheels, suspension and spoiler, but whether they and the low mileage warrant a near €2,000 premium is a question only you can answer.
Let us know how you get on.
Is the Nissan Twice is Nice Deal a good one?
Would it be a good idea to change my 2011 Nissan Qashqai 2011 for the Twice is Nice Deal? With the VAT increase and new diesel engine, is it still a good deal? Thanks.
Joe Malon (Dublin)Nov 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
On the face of it this is a great deal for sure - especially if you do not plan on doing excessive mileage. The terms and conditions (see here for the document) seem reasonable enough. One thing you have to realise though is that you're giving up any potential discount on the new car. Essentially you're offsetting that against a year of depreciation.
In your position I'd first of all go into a Nissan dealer and get the best deal on trading in your car against a new Qashqai as normal. Only ask about the Twice is Nice Deal after you have a price to compare with.
Please note that some dealers may have elected to have a limited quota of cars to sell on the Twice is Nice Deal as well so you may not get what you want from the first one you visit.
Let us know how you get on.
What do you think of driverless cars?
Are self-driven cars a good idea in your opinion?
Rory McCormack (Sligo)Nov 2011 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Rory,
I don't have a strong opinion for or against the idea. I can see merit in the technology, but also major hurdles and potential issues. First, some good points:
- Potential to significantly reduce collisions caused by careless or distracted drivers
- Big gains in efficiency and fuel economy - on average
- Long-term could be used to transport people that cannot drive
- Could help ease congestion, especially on motorway networks
- Could eliminate drink-driving once and for all!
Some negatives:
- We all know that computer systems are far from infallible
- If something goes wrong, who is responsible? Legal minefield
- Would breed a whole generation that may never learn to drive for themselves
- I love driving and would hate for that choice to be taken away from us
We already have aspects of this technology in our cars right now, with things like Volvo's City Safe system (it can brake the car with full force if it detects a pedestrian in the car's path and the driver does not react) and Honda's Lane Keep Assist (where the car gently steers itself back on course if it thinks you're distracted) and it's likely they'll become more commonplace. Self-driving in really slow traffic may be next, though at all times a sober, responsible driver will have to be behind the wheel.
Fully autonomous cars are a long way off.
What are your thoughts?