Expert answer

Hi David,

That's a tricky one to answer accurately. It really depends on the dealer you bring the car to. There's undoubtedly a real lack of good second-hand cars so dealers do want such things, but the Impreza Diesel is, as you say, quite rare.

We reckon your expectations are fairly realistic, especially if you are happy to go into a dealer right now for a 2012-plate car. New car sales are slow at this time of year. Aim a little higher than that and try a few Opel dealers.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Without knowing much about the car the price seems quite good. It has below average mileage and a good specification. It compares well to the other 320Cd coupés on sale right now on Carzone.

Hope that puts your mind at ease

Expert answer

Hi Michellle,

You've not told us what version of the Zafira you're looking at, but you should know that the basic 1.6-litre petrol engine is a little gutless and the base spec cars a little spartan inside. However, the interior of the Zafira is cleverly designed and great for family use. Check the service history carefully, as cambelts require regular changes (where fitted). Other than that, make sure all the seats move as they should, that the spare wheel is underneath at the back and that there's no damp in the cabin.

I know several happy owners of these cars.

Expert answer

Hi David,

We really like the DS3. It's great to drive and certainly different to the norm. I assume practicality and space in the rear are not a priority, as the Citroen is lacking in those departments.

Going with that, an alternative is the Volkswagen Scirocco. It's great to drive, of even higher quality than the DS3 (which is quite good by the way) and a sure thing when it comes to resale values. Saying that, they're relatively scarce at your price point and the DS3 you've found has more equipment.

Other more interesting cars available at that price that we'd recommend include the Audi A5 Coupé and BMW 320d Coupé.

Come back to us if these are wide of the mark and you'd rather stick to a regular hatchback shape.

Expert answer

Hi Karl,

This is nothing to worry about. It's good practice on a lot of cars to replace the sump plug seal whenever the sump plug is opened to drain the oil. It prevents slow oil leaks.

I assume your mam wasn't charged very much for this? It's an inexpensive part and there's no extra work involved if the sump plug has already been taken out.

Expert answer

Hi Conal,

Over the years the Focus has proven to be considerably more reliable than the Mégane, though this latest one is still relatively new so we wouldn't like to make such predictions. Renault claims to have improved reliability.

Without seeing the actual examples you're considering the Renault should have more equipment for the price, though its resale value may be lower later on, balancing that out.

If you can send us links to the two cars for sale we can give you more advice if that's not enough.

Expert answer

Hi Jo,

I'm afraid not. There are loads of car-pooling schemes, but these usually involve filling a car with people as opposed to letting someone like yourself borrow other people's cars. Contact www.swiftcommute.ie and www.carsharing.ie for more information. There's also www.gocar.ie for hourly rental in main cities, but I suspect that's not what you're looking for.

Hope that helps.

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

Put simply, no, they are not. There are examples out there that run without a problem, but we've heard a lot of complaints from a lot of owners and it's a used car we'd steer people away from, as some repairs - especially the electrical ones - are expensive to fix.

No doubt you've been tempted by low pricing, but we couldn't recommend it.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

It's certainly on the high side for the mileage when you look at what else is on the market, especially as it doesn't appear to have leather seats. However, it looks very well presented and those alloy wheels are not cheap. It has a nice long NCT and in general they're robust cars.

This is a private sale so the seller could be chancing their arm with the asking price. Do some haggling!

Before you commit, make sure you get it checked over mechanically and do a full history check through the likes of Cartell.ie. Inspect the hood with it up and down and check for uneven idling, as that could mean the need to change all four ignition coils.

Best of luck - let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

We assume you mean this car on Carzone. It appears to be in good enough condition for the age and is very well specified. It's a good thing that the timing belt has been done, as if they snap they cause engine damage. It's worth asking the seller if this happened or it was changed voluntarily. Get the answer in writing if possible and a warranty too.

Though some Alfas have a bad reputation for reliability this doesn't affect all examples of the 147. Some are perfect. Best bet is to inspect the car thoroughly, try every switch and take it for a decent test drive.

Best of luck - and let us know how you get on.