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Hi Lurdes,

OK, lots to deal with here. Let’s go through it piece by piece. Theoretically, you will always get better value buying second hand than buying new. 'Buy at three, sell at five' (years old) is the rule of thumb to maximise your value and minimise your exposure to depreciation. But, you’ve been burned in the past by unreliable cars (been there, I feel your pain) so I would say that buying new is actually the best thing for you this time around, especially as you want to hold on to the car for an extended period.

Of the two cars you’ve mentioned, the Toyota Verso should be the most reliable. Nothing much wrong with the Ford, but if reliability is your priority then always buy Japanese. Happily, a manual 1.6 diesel Verso seven-seater is just inside your budget, at €29,100 and there is currently a €3,000 trade-in offer on that model, which means you’ll get a lot more for your old Scenic than you would if you traded it in normally.

There is only one hybrid people carrier so far, and that’s the Toyota Prius+, but to be honest, we couldn’t recommend it. For a start, a new one will bust through your €30k budget barrier, but beyond that it’s a disappointing car – far too thirsty unless all of your mileage is done in town at low speeds. The Verso is a far more versatile car.

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Hi Mike,

Most average family cars will pull 750kg easily enough, and if you like Mazdas, can I suggest a Mazda CX-5? It’s one of the better SUVs out there, and the extra height might make it easier for your family member to climb in and out. Plus the 2.2-litre diesel should bring down your running costs a little.

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Hi Jim,

I think unless you’re going to go for a full-size SUV, such as a Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90, you’re going to struggle to find an SUV with three Isofix points in the back. Even the family-friendly Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe only have two outer seat Isofix mounts in the middle row. I’d suggest having a look at the Ford S-Max or Galaxy, or a SEAT Alhambra. These would seem to be the only cars that have the necessary Isofix points and the boot volume you’re looking for. 

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Hi Orlaith,

Most UK cars should come with a main analogue speedometer (the physical dial bit) with both mph and km/h markings. The good news is that the digital speedo display between the main instruments can be adjusted from the settings menu. A quick glance at the owner's handbook should see you right. 

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Hi Sean,

I'd say your Audi dealer is low-balling you, but perhaps not by that much. Equally, I'd say your SEAT dealer is over-bidding a little to keep you in the brand. Second hand trade in values are never an exact science because it depends as much on what other cars the dealer has on their lot already as on the actual car itself.

Your Leon is a pretty basic one, but that's not necessarily a bad thing and if it were me, I'd probably pitch you between €13,000 and €14,000 as a trade in and that's staying on the safe side. Again though, every dealer's setup and circumstances are different and therefore every trade in offer is different. 

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Hi Katalin,

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Hi George,

Yes, and I’m assuming you mean the 1.6-litre diesel model? It’s a very good engine – decently reliable and very economical and it needs long motorway miles to make sure that the diesel particulate filter doesn’t start clogging up. The particle filter also needs to be replaced at 120,000km. It needs a cam belt change every 160,000km, but you need to keep it checked at regular service time as the belt can stretch and slip. The water pump is also a weak point, so keep an eye on that. There are a few random electrical issues with these cars too, mostly to do with the ignition system and intermittent warning lights on the dashboard. They’re more niggles than serious problems though.

Oh, and don’t buy one without a full service history. That engine needs a steady diet of really high-quality oil at service time, or it can develop sludgy waste oil in delicate parts.

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Hi David,

Yes, they are different, but it’s not a simple difference. Basically, the ‘classical’ Audi quattro system uses a centre differential, supplied by Torsen, to deliver engine torque to both the front and rear wheels. The system has been hugely updated and altered over the years, both to improve efficiency and to allow for more torque to be sent to the rear wheels (the current version can send as much as 85 per cent of the engine’s power to the back).

The Volkswagen 4Motion system (which is also used on four-wheel drive Skoda models) is a simpler and lighter Haldex system that uses a differential and a series of clutches to send power to the rear wheels. It can disable power to the rears in order to reduce mechanical losses, friction and therefore improve fuel economy. This system has become markedly more sophisticated over the years, but it’s still primarily a front-wheel drive layout that can send power to the rear, while the Audi quattro system is a classic all-wheel drive setup that is always powering all four wheels.

Now, there’s a catch. Some Audi models, mostly the A3, Q3 and A1, use a modified version of the Haldex 4Motion setup, although it’s still badged as a quattro. And there’s a new 'quattro ultra' system coming shortly, which Audi says gives the benefit of all-wheel drive, but with less drag and better fuel economy.

So basically, yes, they are different, but the overall effect – extra traction in poor conditions – is more or less the same. A really keen and sensitive driver will be able to tell the difference between the two in terms of feel and handling, but for the rest of us mortals, they’re effectively the same.

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Hi Christine,

The Kia Sorento should fit three seats across the back, but you should always take along your seats (and preferably your kids too) on the test drive to make sure everything and everyone fits in nicely. Cracking car that Sorento - other good options are the Hyundai Santa Fe or Land Rover Discovery Sport. If you need to go for an MPV the Ford S-Max, SEAT Alhambra or Opel Zafira Tourer are your best bets, but it's worth considering the Volkswagen Touran too - not quite so roomy, but cheaper to run and very pleasant to drive. 

Here are our relevant reviews:

Kia Sorento review

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Land Rover Discovery Sport review

Volkswagen Touran review

SEAT Alhambra review

Ford S-Max review

Opel Zafira Tourer review

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Hi Tony,

There's no major recurrent fault for the flywheel on a Q5 specifically (although dual-mass flywheels generally come in for a lot of reliability criticism across all brands), but there was a recall for Volkswagen Group 2.0 TDI diesel engines a while back to replace faulty flywheels, so it's worth checking to make sure that's been done. If it doesn't show up in the service history, get in touch with Audi Ireland customer services, as they should be able to find out if a specific vehicle has or has not had the work done.