Which is better: a Passat 1.4 TSI or 1.9 TDI?
Which is better: a Passat 1.4 TSI or 1.9 TDI?
Fiona ConwayNov 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Fiona,
Depends; are you doing lots of long motorway miles? In which case get the 1.9 TDI. If you're doing mostly short hops, especially urban, then get the 1.4 TSI.
Unless of course you're talking about two specific cars, rather than in general. In which case go for the one in the best condition with the fullest service history.
Does that help?
How reliable is the Ford Mondeo 2.0?
How reliable is the Ford Mondeo 2.0?
Carol O'DwyerOct 2014 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Carol,
There's a specific issue with the 2.0-litre diesel whereby it can cut out unexpectedly - it's a problem with the engine management system but it's a pretty easy fix. You will need to take it to a Ford main dealer if your car develops the problem.
Other than that, they're pretty solid. Keyless ignition systems give a bit of bother but few Irish cars had that so it shouldn't be a major worry. The cabin trim can be a bit fragile too - listen for rattles and look for loose bits.
SEAT Leon, Kia cee'd or Hyundai i30?
Which is best: SEAT Leon, Kia cee'd or Hyundai i30? I am currently driving a 2012 SEAT Ibiza, but looking to change in 2015. Not sure of the three listed which one offers best value for money. Also whilst I do around 10,000- to 12,000 miles per year it's mostly urban and not stuck in traffic. I can't decide whether or not to go for diesel option as spec seems better in same.
Gerry Holland (Cork)Oct 2014 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Gerry,
You've picked three difficult cars to choose between. Obviously, both the Hyundai and Kia are essentially the same car beneath the skin, and both come with temptingly low prices and long, long warranties. The SEAT's three-year warranty looks a bit brief in comparison, but then you are buying into a car with excellent reliability and high quality, so there's that.
You've also got an odd combination of relatively high mileage, but in an urban location, which suggests that you won't be working up enough speed to generate exhaust heat to keep a diesel particulate filter (DPF) clean. With all that in mind, I think your best best might be a Leon 1.2 TSI petrol. It's a cracking engine, nearly as good as a diesel on fuel economy, but with no nasty surprises waiting in the exhaust. Both the Hyundai and Kia are excellent cars, but both are best experienced as diesels.
Should I order a petrol engine for my new Audi A4?
If I ordered a new Audi A4 with a petrol engine, would I lose out much in two or three years time when I trade it in? My annual mileage is less than 8,000km.
John S. (Limerick)Oct 2014 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi John,
OK, there's a balancing act to be done here. There's no doubt that the CO2-driven diesel stampede since 2008 has driven up the values of second hand diesel cars and driven down the values of their petrol equivalents. However, that is starting to change, and cannier buyers (helped in some part by investigations and comparisons by the CompleteCar.ie team - blowing our own trumpet etc. etc.) have shown that the overall cost of buying and running a petrol engined car can actually be lower than that of a diesel, especially for those drivers on relatively low mileage like yourself.
In that sense, I'd be well in favour of getting the petrol one, but there is a caveat to that - the A4 is very much a business market car, and therefore most of its prospective buyers, new and used, will be expecting to see a TDI badge on the boot. If you're buying on a lease or a PCP with a guaranteed future value, then that's not such an issue, but the answer is yes, you could well lose out a little on depreciation over a few years. Probably not a lot, but it's a moving target at the best of times.
Can I suggest this? Instead of an A4, have a look at the A3 Saloon. It's admittedly smaller, but it is also prettier, better to drive and good enough to win Family Car of the Year from the Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP). It can also be had with the excellent little 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and should be somewhat less sensitive to the diesel/petrol tug of war when it comes to second hand values.
Let us know which way you go anyway.
What's the best way to scrap my old Polo?
I have an 1997 Volkswagen Polo and I want to know if I can scrap it without buying a new car. Can I get any money for it? It is still insured, with road tax paid until December 2014.
Liliana Pinzaru (Malahide)Oct 2014 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi Liliana,
Right, you need to be quite careful here. There's a lot of fly-by-night "we buy cars for cash" types out there who will give you a pittance, not destroy the car properly and then leave you with a massive headache when the motor tax office asks you to provide a certificate of destruction.
So, the best thing to do is first of all to declare the car as off the road. You can do this by filling in a form that you can download from the Department Of Environment website.
Next, find yourself a reputable vehicle recycler. I'd try starting with a major firm such as Thornton's, but the basic rule of thumb if they don't have a landline number and only provide you with a mobile, then walk away.
Now, the law says that you're not allowed to be charged for disposing of your vehicle as long as it's complete when you hand it over. Making money on it is another matter entirely. A recycler may well offer you something if there are useable parts on the car, but it will vary from firm to firm.
If you're determined to make money on it, then your best bet could be a cheap classified ad to try and sell the car for spares and parts.
Can sun cream cause paint issues?
Hi, I'm currently looking at a metallic blue Volkswagen Jetta 1.6 petrol. Myself and my girlfriend are a bit worried by faded patches in the paint. Could it have been caused by acid? We have asked the car dealer what it is and he said it was caused by somebody touching it with sun cream. What do you think?
Thank you, Dylan.
Dylan McDonagh (Tallaght,dublin)Oct 2014 Filed under: paintwork
Expert answer
Hi Dylan,
Ok, there is a problem here. Modern water-based car paints can indeed be affected by the metallic contents of sun screen, and Volkswagen Group cars seem to be particularly vulnerable. The solution, at least in part, seems to be a full-body mechanical polish, although you could take your chances and have a go yourself with T-cut. It's unlikely to cure the problem entirely though, so the only viable option could well be a full respray.
Of course, if the car is younger than three years old it should be covered by Volkswagen's paint defect warranty. We've heard that Volkswagen (and other companies) won't honour paint warranties where sunscreen is concerned (because it's not strictly a manufacturing defect) but you could try and argue it out with them. Certainly, it seems obtuse to us to argue that reactions to something as common as sunscreen indicate a serious lack of quality control in the painting process.
Can you help me choose between these Audi A6s?
I have a choice of two cars, both Audi A6s. Both the same price-ish at €18,500 vs €19,000. One is a 2009 basic spec with 64,000km and a one-year warranty, the other is a 2010 S line model with 80,000km on the clock and a six-month warranty. I am not sure from a risk point of view what I should consider as the most important thing to look at.
Michael Kehoe (Dublin 15)Oct 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
Right, the base spec is going to be harder to sell on again, so you're better by far going for the S line as long as you can live with the firmer ride.
In terms of the difference between the cars in mileage and warranty - it's down to condition and history. If the 80k car is in as good nick, and has a full service history, then there's nothing to worry about and you can always buy an aftermarket warranty to keep yourself covered.
Let us know which way you go
Are daytime running lights now mandatory?
Is it mandatory for all new cars to be fitted with daytime running lights?
James Dundon (Dublin)Oct 2014 Filed under: legal
Expert answer
Hi James,
Yep, it sure is. European Union directive 2008/89/EC requires all passenger cars and small delivery vans first type approved on or after 7 February 2011 in the EU to come equipped with daytime running lights. The mandate was extended to trucks and buses in August 2012.
There's a lot of grumbling about DRLs or using dipped beam all the time - people (grumpy, ill-informed people) still seem to think that it's going to wear their bulbs out or something. Think on this though - in Sweden, the most safety conscious country of all, lights on with the ignition has been mandatory for decades while former F1 world champ Keke Rosberg, when asked what one thing he would change about motoring, said "make daytime lights mandatory."
It's not about making bulbs burn out quicker, it's about making cars easier to see (yes, even on bright, sunny days) and trying to stop us crashing into each other quite so much.
I have €35,000: which Porsche to go for?
Hi - with about €35,000 to spend on a second hand Porsche - which should I go for? 911, Cayman or Boxster?
John Walsh (Dublin)Oct 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
The Cayman and Boxster are both utterly, gloriously brilliant cars but if you can find a good, full history 911 in your budget, get that - it's the full Porsche experience whereas the Cayman and Boxster, for all their brilliance, are like Porsche tasting menus.
I have €35,000 to spend on a sporty car...
If you had €35k to spend on a sporty car what would you buy? Doesn't necessarily need to be new, would go up to three years old, running costs wouldn't be that much of an issue but need to tolerable all the same, i.e. car tax < €1,000 a year.
Simon MacMahon (Dublin)Oct 2014 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Simon,
OK, for that kind of budget you have a wealth of options, new and used. How about a new MINI Cooper S 2.0-litre? Massive fun to drive, affordable to run (it'll do 50mpg and costs just €290 a year to tax) and they're really well built. Better yet, a brand new one starts at €27k so you have plenty left over for insurance, extras and servicing.
Not practical enough? How about the best hot hatch around at the moment then? The Volkswagen Golf GTI? Your budget just about gets a new one, but it'll be pretty basic. Better to go for nearly-new; get one with a bit of spec and make sure it has the optional Performance Pack fitted - it turns a brilliant car into a gob-smacking one.