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Hi Kieran,

Yes, turbocharged petrol engines do often have exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems and dual-mass flywheels, but they are far less likely to cause problems due to, respectively, the different exhaust gases and the torque characteristics of the engine. Added to which, petrol engines work at lower combustions pressures and with less vibration than diesel engines so there's a little less wear and tear to worry about.

No, turbocharged petrol engines don't have particulate filters as, for now, they're considered 'clean' enough not to need them. That will change in the coming years, however.

Finally, the low-down-power thing is simple physics. Most turbocharged petrol engines and their diesel counterparts are pretty close on top-end power numbers (generally grouping around the 110-120hp level), but the difference you're talking about is torque - turning force, that low-down lugging sensation. Some of that is down to turbo design and the fact that a heavier diesel engine can accept higher turbocharger pressures, but most is simply down to the fact that diesel burns from compression ignition, which generates more torque and makes the engine feel more muscular at lower rpm. 

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Hi Luke,

We certainly have done a few reviews... The closest cars to your Galaxy in terms of size and space are the Ford S-Max (a little smaller,  but still very roomy) and the SEAT Alhambra (not as swish to drive as the Galaxy, but very spacious and with sliding side doors). There's also the Volkswagen Sharan, which is basically identical to the Alhambra, but a little more expensive. It wasn't on sale in Ireland for a while but it's back now and there are a few second hand ones knocking about.

If you fancy something a little smaller, then try the Opel Zafira Tourer. It's a really underrated car - nice to drive, well made and with decent cabin space.

After that, you're into the smaller MPVs such as the Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens and so on. Good cars,  but much smaller than your Galaxy so you'd be trading down in size terms.

With our practical hats on, we'd go for the SEAT - it's big and useful and those sliding side doors are great.

Here are the reviews themselves if you'd like more detail:

Ford S-Max review

Ford Galaxy review

SEAT Alhambra review

Volkswagen Sharan review

Volkswagen Touran review

Kia Carens review

A few others worth considering as well:

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso

Toyota Verso review

Renault Grand Scenic review

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Hi Rue,

No problem, have a look here: http://www.carzone.ie/search/result/cars/make/nissan/model/qashqai/transmission/automatic

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Hi James,

It depends; do you mean the first-generation 9-5, which was in production from 1996 to 2009 or do you mean the short-lived last-of-the-line 9-5, which only survived in production for two years before Saab went bust?

If it’s the first generation car then the rating is a little mixed. It was always well thought of in terms of overall quality, comfort and driving dynamics, but there were a number of annoying, niggling reliability issues with that model, although at least with the 1.9-litre diesel engine you’re avoiding the troublesome 2.2-litre model.

If it’s the later, second-generation version of the 9-5 then it is indeed very well thought of, and generally considered one of Saab’s best cars. It’s just a shame that it was also its last.

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Hi Niamh,

Well, obviously we would advise you to get the car to a garage, preferably a Suzuki one, pretty quick. We can’t diagnose a problem on a car we’ve never seen, but the ticking and smoking does indeed suggest either a starter motor or ignition issue, so it may not be all that expensive to fix, especially if it’s just a wiring problem.

Generally, for most so-called ‘scrappage’ deals (they’re not actually scrappage at all, but trade-in boosters) the cars do indeed need to be running and drive onto the forecourt under their own power, so if you want to use it for that purpose, you’ll need to get it running again somehow.

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Hi Rowland,

Sadly no, the two offers are generally mutually exclusive. On top of which, the zero per cent finance offers are generally only on PCP (or Personal Contract Purchase) plans. Being as those run on a three-year replacement cycle and you’ve kept your Peugeot for 14 years, I’d suggest that they may not be the ideal way to buy a car for you. I reckon you’d be better off with either a Hire Purchase plan or a bank loan and taking full advantage of the ‘scrappage’ discount.

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Hi Mike,

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Hi Martin,

Dealer seal isn't really worth it in my opinion because for most of the year Irish roads aren't gritted and salted. I know they are this week, but a regular trip to the car wash will do just as good a job as 'dealer seal.' Protect coating is pretty similar. You'd be better off just keeping the car in good condition and taking care of stone chips etc as and when they occur. Step back protection is like any form of payment protection insurance - it has its uses, but buy carefully and make sure you study the small print with great care. 

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Hi Anne,

Actually, it’s not far off. I’d say, with a bit of practice, you should be able to beat 60-65mpg on a regular basis with that Polo, and to be honest you’re not going to get much better than that from any car. There are plenty of cars with official economy figures up in the 70s and 80s mpg, but those are laboratory figures and damned near impossible to reach in real world driving. If economy is your priority, then I’d stick with that Polo.

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

If you find the overall aesthetics of a car matter to you then the Kuga ST Line is the best version of the new line-up to go for. It looks especially good in darker colours. We’re also fans of the Volkswagen Tiguan, though it is at the more expensive end of the market. A similarly good looking car, and more affordable, is the SEAT Ateca. Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Ford Kuga ST Line review

Ford Kuga Vignale review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

SEAT Ateca review