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Hi Ruadhan,

That, I'm afraid, is a question with too many variable answers. Second-hand vehicle values are like stock market values - they go up and down and often rather unpredictably. There are a few rules of thumb, though...

1. It's got to be diesel. Yes, we (and others) have tried to educate the motoring populace that diesel power doesn't automatically mean better economy or lower running costs, but right now the market is diesel-crazy and if it doesn't sip from the black pump, it's not going to hold on to its value.

2. The lowest depreciating cars are, obviously, the most popular models. So the likes of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Santa Fe, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and so on will always hold on to their value the best. Check the list of the top-ten best-selling cars on the market - these are your depreciation heroes.

3. What about depreciation villains? Anything that the market doesn't trust, really. Estates tend to fare especially poorly, anything with a French badge is suspect and if it's Italian, forget it. You'll lose your shirt on any of these.

4. Spec is king. You can have the most in-demand car going but if it's painted bright yellow and has green seats, you're never going to shift it. So, to keep depreciation at bay, stick with dark metallics and subtle interior tones. Pale cabin colours tend to fare less well when it comes to wear and tear, so the market prefers blacks and greys on the inside too. If it's an executive car, it has to have an automatic gearbox. Anything with factory-fit air conditioning and Bluetooth telephony is looking good, leather is always helpful but other expensive toys don't always help a car hang on to its value.

Hope that's all of interest

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Hi Michael,

It kinda depends on the spec of the cars in question. If, for instance, it's a 2.0 160hp Insignia versus a 110hp 316d, then go for the Opel. If it's a 320d, then go for the Beemer.

Come back to us in the comments if you'd like more help.

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Hi Chris,

The Getz came from the last round of Hyundais that arrived before Hyundai got really good at making cars - in other words, it's cheap and cheerful where more modern Hyundais are slick and sophisticated. That said, as far as reliable, uncomplicated family transport goes, there's little enough wrong with the Getz. As far as we can tell, there are simply no major reliability problems to report, aside from a recurring problem with noisy rear brakes. All Getz models will have been originally covered by Hyundai's five-year warranty (introduced in 2002), so they will probably have been well cared for over their first couple of owners. Not an exciting car, then, but a solid secondhand buy.

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Hi Charles,

Ah, the second-generation Avensis - the taxi drivers' friend. Hardly surprising you see so many on the rank of a Friday night, as they're dependable, comfy and spacious. 

This Avensis was from the last line of big family cars that came mostly as petrols, so the 1.8-litre VVTi engine is the most common. It's a good one too, economical and smooth if just a touch noisy by modern standards. The 2.0 and 2.2 D-4D diesels are rarer, noisier and have iffy clutches - one of the Avensis' few mechanical weak points.

Cabins are robust, hard wearing and massively spacious, which is all good, but listen for rattles from the steering column - not a major issue, more of an annoyance. 

Finally, check the suspension and steering for any wear and tear, they're the only other mechanical weak points.

Actually, this Avensis is also, somewhat secretly, rather good to drive - it used the same steering and rear suspension as the last-generation Celica coupé and while it's no hot-rod, it's better than you might think.

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Hi David,

Depends on your driving style, but 55mpg should be a gimme, 60mpg if you're a bit careful and 70mpg if you're driving with baby kittens under the accelerator pedal.

You're quite right about 1.2 engines, at least for now. They usually have to be worked too hard to drive at normal speeds to get the best economy and, for now, 1.6 seems to be a displacement sweet spot. That will change though - just check out the economy you can get (with some effort) from Volkswagen's 1.2 TSI petrol unit.

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Hi Edel,

Yup, the current Yaris is about six inches (150mm) longer than its predecessor. Most cars are getting bigger with each new generation though as car makers try to keep up with growing occupants (we're all getting bigger too) and ever tougher safety requirements. Thankfully, the porky weight gain (the cars, not us this time) seems to have been reversed with recent improvements in construction and materials. Most new cars are now lighter, and more efficient, than their predecessors in spite of being larger.

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Hi Noel,

Yes, unreservedly. One of the most reliable cars around and also comfy, nice to drive and, in the current version, really rather handsome too. The only issue has traditionally been a very limited engine range. On older versions, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrols were your lot, more recently there has been 2.0 and 2.4 petrols and a 2.2 diesel. Currently, only the 2.2 diesel (in 150- and 180hp forms) is on sale in Ireland. As long as that doesn't bother you, go right ahead.

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Hi John,

OK, you can get a 2008 5 Series for under €13,000, but they will probably be even higher mileage than your old one and will most likely be from private vendors, rather than a dealer offering you a warranty and after-sales care. You takes your chances etc.

You may be better served by looking at the UK again - more cars, generally better prices but how about this: why not use the insurance payout to get yourself on the new car buying ladder? BMW Ireland has some cracking PCP deals on both the 5 and 3 Series and that €13k would be a decent deposit to get you off to a good start.

Worth thinking about anyway.

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Hi Dolores,

The Fluence isn't one of our favourite cars, to be honest, as it's a bit dull to look at and drive, but in reliability terms it should be mostly OK. The 1.5 dCi diesel is pretty solid in that regard, and it's very economical. Just keep an eye on the electrics, as things like electric windows can give trouble. Other than that the only concern is resale value - it's an area where many previous Renaults have fallen down, so you need to be aware of that. If you're planning to trade it in for another Renault in a few years' time, you'll be OK, but switching to another brand could prove a problem when it comes to trade in.

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Hi Jack,

Well, I guess there's a couple of things here. In the first place, "The Best Built Cars In The World" is an advertising tagline, and such things aren't exactly given under oath... In a more serious sense though, just take a look at the recent JD Power customer satisfaction rankings (in the UK market, but quite applicable to the Irish scene). Out of more than 130 individual models analysed, there were three Toyota or Lexus models in the top ten, and even the lowest-scoring Toyota model, the Aygo, scores better than the industry average.

Are Toyotas really the actual best built cars in the world? No, simply because it's more or less impossible to scientifically assess that claim. But are they impressively reliable, robust and well made? Yes, they most definitely are.