Expert answer

Hi William,

Yes, the Q5 and the BMW X3 are both solidly reliable and good to drive, but if your budget is around the €40k mark, can I suggest instead shopping for a Honda CR-V or Kia Sorento? Not only would both of those be more reliable, long-term, than either of the German cars, for your budget you’ll also get a brand new one, and the 1.6 i-DTEC Honda is very economical. Some reviews for your consideration:

Audi Q5 review

Audi Q3 review

BMW X3 review

Honda CR-V review

Kia Sorento review

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

You’ll need to check the turbo dump valve is working (irregular idle speed is the giveaway), listen for rattles that could be the cam belt tensioner and a knocking sound underneath that might be the exhaust working loose. The MINI needs a catalytic converter replacement at 115,000km so make sure that’s been done, and any vibration from the engine (up through the pedals and gear shift) could be a flywheel on the way out. Misfires or rough running usually means a coil pack needs replacing.

Clutches wear out easily, as do the wheel bearings (listen for rumbling noises), and the power steering pump can fail.

As for spec, UK cars are the same as Irish cars in basic spec, but a UK car is likely to have had more optional extras fitted.

Expert answer

Hi David,

It can be, but it depends on the model and it depends on what the exchange rate is doing during a given week. By and large the rule of thumb is that the more expensive the model,  the bigger opportunity to make a saving, but even more humble cars, such as Toyotas and Fords, are becoming cheaper on import now. Do your homework, work out your VRT payment in advance as best you can and then wait for Theresa May or Boris Johnson to say something utterly stupid and drive down the value of Sterling again.

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Hi Kim,

At the moment, I'd say the Kia Sorento, which is big, comfy, smooth and has the requisite seven seats. Hang on though, because the new Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 are imminent and those are both cars with big appeal. Relevant reviews:

Skoda Kodiaq review

Kia Sorento review

Expert answer

Hi David,

Yes, if you’re buying from a main dealer and the car is still covered by its original factory warranty, then that warranty also covers Ireland — we are all, for the moment anyway, still Europeans. Always, always haggle, but remember that dealers generally work on a margin of about 8-10 per cent, so don’t be unrealistic and go in offering half what they’re asking.

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Hi John,

The Skoda. Both the Volvo and the Volkswagen are decent, solidly built and generally reliable cars, but Skoda always seems to beat Volkswagen in major reliability surveys, so go for the Octavia if reliability is paramount.

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Hi Michael,

I think your best bet is to sell the car in Germany first, but possibly not to this other person you’re speaking about. If you’re concerned about what a future owner may do with a car, then the best thing is to find someone else to sell it to. Bringing the car into Ireland to sell will involve a large amount of paperwork and a hefty price tag in Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), so I think you’re going to be better off by far selling the car in Germany.

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Hi Sean,

It probably won’t. Opel confirmed at the Paris Motor Show last year that there won’t be right-hand drive production of the Ampera-e and that position has not yet changed. If there’s a sudden jump in demand from the UK and Ireland for electric cars, then Opel may well reconsider, but for now, we won’t be getting it. 

Expert answer

Hi Anthony,

According to the EuroNCAP crash test experts, the three best-performing cars tested in 2016 were the Toyota Prius, Hyundai Ioniq and Volkswagen Tiguan. That said, the NCAP crash test is a laboratory test, and its parameters can be designed in to a car's structure. Only two car makers still have teams that investigate real-world accidents involving their cars and they are Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. Generally speaking, if I'm thinking of safety above all else, those are the two brands I'd look at. 

Expert answer

Hi F D,

Yes, they will, though probably not at the new car level. Although some car importers in Ireland are connected to their UK equivalents (BMW and Opel for instance) unless it's market driven, they probably won't do the same here. However, those lower UK prices will lead to lower second hand values, which will make imports cheaper, which will have an effect on second hand values here. How much? We'll have to wait and see...