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Help! I'm confused by Almera models

What is the differance between the 2004 Nissan Almera saloon 1.5 and the Nissan Almera Tekna saloon 1.5?

Brendan Higgins (Dublin)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

The Tekna is just a specification - like GL or GLX, so there would be no difference in engines or performance and running costs. It might have a slightly higher specification than a standard car, but the likelihood is that all cars around that time might be Tekna.

I hope this helps!


Buying my first car for €5,000

Hi, I want to buy my first car. My budget is €5,000. I will be driving it on country roads and returning to Dublin at the weekend. Can you recommend the best car for my needs. I have a full driving license for the past 5 years. I look forward to your reply.

Regards Hazel.

Julie Travers (Tallaght)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Hazel,

What you need is something that will be reliable, has low mileage, has a full service history from a SIMI dealer and that will be a little bit fun to drive. I had a look for you and there are several that match your criteria on sale at the moment. We found a great little Kia Picanto: it has only 30,000km on the clock and is a smashing wee thing that would cost you very little to run.

We really like the Fiat Panda too, as it is a straightforward car that is chic, charming and fun and you could get one with really low mileage that is within your budget. You can never really go wrong with a Ford Fiesta: this would be a super car to own although the mileage on is a little higher.

If you want something that is a little bigger, then this Nissan Primera would be a good car and this is a low-mileage example.

Out of all of these, that Picanto could be a super little buy.


Is the Toyota RAV4 a good buy?

Is a 2007 Toyota RAV4 2.0 Luna with 46,000 miles on the clock a good buy at €11,900?

John O'Brien (Waterford)

May 2011 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, that is a good price and very much at the lower end of the scale of how much you might expect to pay. Is it too cheap though? Is it from an SIMI dealer? Has it a full service history and have you done a Motorcheck report on it?

Here is one from around that price that meets the criteria.


Are BMW swirl flaps a problem?

Hello I would like to know if swirl flaps are a problem in BMW cars please. I would also like to know at what stage should you look out for this.

Thanks.

Declan Reidy (Kerry)

May 2011 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Declan,

I must admit that it wasn't a problem that I was aware of up until now, but there is quite a lot of literature about it on the internet. Here is a forum thread on the topic.

We also found a website that offers a cheap solution although we cannot verify its effectiveness. We will find out how bad the probem is in Ireland.  

It would seem to be that there is no real way of checking for this in advance because it doesn't appear to be on the service check list, though we do know that an improvement was put in place post-2004.


How do I change my Renault Mégane's front bumper?

How do I change the front bumper on a 2001 Renault Mégane Fidji?

Sidney Black (Bottisham)

May 2011 Filed under: miscellaneous

Expert answer

Hi Sidney,

Changing body work on cars is always fiddly. Without seeing the car in front of us we couldn't give you a detailed set-by-step guide, but generally you'll need to get access from underneath the car to start with. It's possible that there will be several unusual fixings that require special tools so make sure you have a good look at what's holding it on before you start work.

Taking a quick look at a picture of the 2001 Mégane, make sure you pop the bonnet when you're doing the work, as there may be fixings hidden under there, as there may be behind the headlights.

Systematically remove each of the fixings from underneath first and don't forget to disconnect wiring from the fog lights - if fitted.

Obviously do not leave the keys in the ignition when carrying out this work and, as always, we recommend that this kind of job is only carried out by an experienced person.

Good luck!


Why the delays on the Kia Sportage?

Have you heard anything about why it is taking so long for the new Kia Sportage to reach Irish showrooms? Is it just right hand drive cars for Ireland and UK that are slow to arrive or is it all over Europe?

Kevin Leonard (Rush Co Dublin)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

Yes I recently had a conversation with the guys from Kia Ireland about this. There simply aren't enough of them being made and they can't make them quick enough. It is a problem that Kia have with the Sportage and Hyundai have with the ix35. Apparently they are going to add a new run on a different plant and this will help relieve the backlog, but we are being told that the delays are 'significant' and obviously with such a demand for them in right hand drive markets, especially in the UK, this is making the situation worse.

Kia Sportage - delays

There are a couple of unregistered ones around - so maybe these would be suitable if you are looking for one?

Kia Sportage - Naas Road, Dublin

Kia Sportage - Demo Model - Wicklow


Should I buy the VW Golf 1.2 or a Toyota Auris 1.3?

My question is: I'm looking to change my 2006 1.2 SEAT Ibiza and am considering the 1.2 Volkswagen Golf Highline or the Toyota Auris 1.3 Sport. I drive every day, mostly city driving but only do about 6,000km a year. Do you have any comments on either of the cars I'm considering or is there anything else I should have a look at?

Many thanks for your help

Brendan.

Brendan Cullen (Dublin)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

I think the Golf is your best bet here. The 1.2-litre petrol engine tends to freak out a lot of people because they think it will be way too small and meagre for their needs, but this just simply isn't the case. We have tried this engine in a number of body styles and have always found it to be more than capable. The Auris isn't a bad car as such, but it is simply not better than the Golf in any way so if it is a straight choice between these two, for me anyway, the Golf would win every time.


Is the Opel Meriva a decent buy?

Hi lads, just a quick question.

We have a 2003 Fiat Punto and we are expecting twins shortly. We were looking for a five-door car with Isofix seats but not too big a body. We are thinking about an Opel Meriva Club version, 3-4 years old. The Meriva has a flat and level boot that would leave some space for shopping etc. Basically, is the Meriva a good car, cheap to run and flexible enough to cope with two young babies?

Do you have any info on autodirect.ie? They seem to offer good deals.

David Mc Ardle (Drogheda Co Louth)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi David,

I see that Autodirect do have a 2007 Opel Meriva for €6,495 and yes it is a good little family car for the money. It is a small MPV, so even though it has a high roof, the cabin isn't that massive. I am wondering whether it might be more prudent, given that those twin babies will grow, to look at something a little larger that wouldn't cost the earth to run.

For the same price as that Meriva, you could have a 2007 Citroen Picasso with tiny mileage. This is a much bigger vehicle and it's a great MPV. Go a year older and you could have the infinitely more useful Opel Zafira for similar money. Something like a Peugeot 307 SW offers lots of space and comfort too, as well as good value.

Anyway, I am not answering your question. AutoDirect is very good to deal with and has established a very strong reputation, so it would get our seal of approval. The Opel Meriva will be a decent buy too.

Anyway, come back to us if you need more help!


Which Kia pro_cee'd will I buy?

Hi, I am thinking of updating my car to a 2008-2009 Kia pro_cee'd. I think it is a good looking car and the seven-year warranty a real plus point. Would you recommend this car or know if it's a nice drive? I do roughly 10,000km per year so wondering if the petrol engine might be better for me. Would there be much of a power/economy difference to the diesel model? Is there anything else to watch out for?

Thanks, Ciaran

Ciaran Reid (Dublin)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Ciaran,

Thank you for your query. The Kia pro_cee'd is a good car, but thankfully the only thing negative about it is the silly name. We really rate the car and it would make a great second-hand buy. It has been a while since we drove a pro_cee'd so we called Kia Ireland to get a reminder on the engines. We were told that very few 1.4-litre petrol models were sold in 2008 and practically none in 2009 after the road tax laws based on emissions were introduced.

The first thing to note then is that the petrol models are scarce, but quite a bit cheaper than the diesels. A petrol model will cost you €9,945 while a diesel from the same year could cost you €12,950 - more than €2,000 more. You certainly won't save €2,000 in fuel and road tax in a hurry, so it depends on how long you intend to keep your car. If you change your car quite often and residual values are a concern then you probably need to get the diesel, but if you will be keeping the car for a long time then you should get the petrol, especially given the relatively low mileage that you do.

In terms of what to look out for, there is nothing. There have been no recalls that we know of and the car has few real faults apart from the fact that visbility isn't great out of the small rear window, but then you can expect that with any coupé-like hatchback.

Anyway, I hope this helps and doesn't actually make it more confusing! If there is anything else don't hesitate to come back to us.


What family diesel would suit me with €10,000 to spend?

I have roughly €10k to spend on a used car and I was hoping you might help with my choice. My requirements are: I drive 50,000 kilometers annually (work mainly) so a diesel would be essential; I have two children so a saloon sized car or bigger would be needed; and I really like a car with generous extras. Have you any ideas what might fit my need?

Thanks so much.

John Woods (Clonmel)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi John,

Right John - sensible would be something like a Citroen C5. You could have a choice of diesel ones with low mileage and every conceivable extra for your budget. A Ford Mondeo would fit the bill too. But you would want one with a few decent extras on it. This Skoda Octavia sounds like it could be a super choice for you too.


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