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Can you guide me on a price for this BMW 3 Series?

Can you suggest a guide price for a 2011 BMW 316d Special Edition with one lady owner and 30,000 miles on the clock? What generally is a guide drop price between a forecourt price and a private seller's price? If this car is still for sale in Jan 2014 how much should the price drop by?

Thanks

Liam O'Neachtain (Tramore)

Oct 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Liam,

I would suggest a price of between €20,000 and €23,000 for a model like that, assuming that it's in good condition and has a full service history. The gap between a retail forecourt price and a private seller would usually be in the order of €1,000 to €2,000, but that can vary quite a bit depending on the type of dealer and the type of car. I wouldn't expect the price to drop by an awful lot in January - the lack of new cars sold in the past five years is keeping second hand prices high.

Hope that helps


Should I wait until January to buy this Focus Estate?

I have a Ford Focus Estate with 170,000 miles on the clock. I intend to change it for another Focus Estate with 55,000 miles on the clock for €11,000 this month. There is only a choice of two near me. Both about the same mileage and price. Should I wait until January 2014? Will there be more choice then? Will a 2009 car drop in price on 1st January if I gamble on it being still for sale then?

Thanks, Green wood worker

Kevin Downing (Dublin)

Oct 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

Although the extra year on the car will have a small effect on the price, waiting until January probably won't help very much. There was a dearth of new car sales in 2009, which is propping up the second hand prices of cars sold in that year (and indeed in 2010, 2011 and 2012). Unless there is a vast rush of buyers trading in used cars for new on Jan 1st (which is, let's face it, unlikely) then the price of a 2009 model isn't especially likely to suffer a significant drop.


How much should I pay for second hand Citroen DS5?

How much should I pay for second hand Citroen DS5?

Paddy Lynch (Ramelton)

Oct 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Paddy,

The cheapest we've seen advertised is around the €24k mark. The DS5 has hardly been popular, indeed it's hardly made any impression on the national sales charts, so you should be able to haggle that down a bit. The good thing is that because of the paucity of sales, most of the cars on the market will be ex-dealer-demo, and so will probably be highly specced up. Good hunting!


What will I replace by old SEAT Leon with?

How much should I get for my 2004 SEAT Leon 1.9 TDI with about 130,000 miles on the clock, in great condition and full service history, new timing belt etc. And what should I replace it with? I do a bit of driving for work. I also love the Leon! Looking for reliable and cost friendly car.

Thanks so much

Au Considine (Ennis)

Oct 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Au,

In terms of trade in, you're probably only looking at a value of around €1,500 or so. You might just break the €2,000 barrier if you try and sell it privately, but selling private is never easy. If you love your Leon  then can I simply suggest trading up to a newer one? If you go for a 2009-on second generation Leon, with the 1.6 TDI diesel engine, then you'll have a superbly economical car that will cost you only €200 a year to tax. You already know how robust and reliable SEATs are, so I don't need to remind you of that, but it's worth pointing out that the second-gen Leon was better to drive and more spacious than your current car. My dad has had three now and won't have anything else, so that recommendation is as good as it comes.

Mind you, it could be worth holding fire for a week. The Budget's coming up next week, and there's just a chance that the Society of the Irish Motor Industry's (SIMI) 'Swappage' plan, to give those trading in six-year-old-or-older cars €2,000 off the price of a new one could get approved, and if so then it may be worth trading up to an all-new Leon, which is simply one of the best cars out there. It's even, whisper it, a bit nicer than the Volkswagen Golf...

Here's the latest on the Swappage plan


What's the SsangYong Rexton like for family transport?

Hi lads. What do you think of a 2007 SsangYong Rexton as a family mode of transport? Also how safe and reliable are they? Im looking at one with 50,000 miles on it.

Thanks

Justin McElwee (Galway)

Oct 2013 Filed under: family car

Expert answer

Hi Justin,

In reliability terms, there doesn't seem to be much to worry about. The Rexton is one of those rare cars that's never been recalled for a manufacturing fault and the ancient Mercedes-based turbodiesel engines are long-lived and simple, mechanically speaking. Likewise, even though the cabin looks and feels cheap, it seems to be well screwed together.

The problems though are two-fold. One, the Rexton really is very crude. In terms of engine noise, performance, handling, ride quality and just about everything, it feels at least a generation, sometimes more, behind the best of the European, Japanese and Korean rivals. And sadly, we can't give you too many pointers on safety. The Rexton has never been crash-tested by EuroNCAP so we have no objective data on it, crash-wise. You pays your money, you takes your chances...


Any major issues with the Land Rover Discovery 3?

Are there any serious mechanical issues with the Land Rover Discovery 3 that a prospective buyer should know about?

Vinny Duggan (Galway)

Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Vinny,

Hmmm. Yes and no. Land Rover quality control has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and the Disco 3 was one of the first cars to benefit from a new, higher quality regime. Mostly, they're well built and reliable, but a few 'rogue' cars still seem to slip through the net. The main fault is with the air suspension system, and the air compressor that pumps it up, which can fail, so make sure that the car rises and lowers as it should. Earlier cars had a lot of minor electrical glitches - everything from Bluetooth phone hookups to stereos to the electronic handbrake, but most of these should have been ironed out by now.


What do you think of this BMW 1 Series?

I'm interested in this 2009 1 Series BMW on Carzone.ie. Are there any issues of note with this import?

here's the link

Thanks

Una O'Connor (Dublin)

Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Una,

A good, solid car the 1 Series, but there are a few issues to look for. Watch for front tracking problems or even problems with the steering rack itself - excessive front tyre wear is the giveaway. All 1 Series gearboxes feel a bit stiff but one that's especially obstructive could be on the way out. Electric windows can seize (thankfully usually in the shut position) and airbag faults are common, but there'll be a dash warning light for those. Make sure that the traction control is working too, as it can fail and shut down entirely. There were a few recalls, for rear axle problems, seatbelt and pre tensioner issues and for the brake booster so make sure the work has already been done by checking with a dealer.

And for an import, we'd urge you pay for a Cartell.ie history check.

Hope that all helps


Can you compare a Ford Ka and Citroen C4 in running costs?

Hello. Can you tell me the difference in running costs between a 2000 Ford Ka 1.3 petrol (88k miles) and a 2003 Citroen C4 2.0 diesel (65k miles)?

Cheers

David Daly (Kinnegad)

Oct 2013 Filed under: running costs

Expert answer

Hi David,

OK, well the Ka wins in terms of road tax as you'll pay just €358 a year for that, as opposed to €710 for the 2.0-litre Citroen, but after that things start to get a bit more murky. In terms of fuel consumption, it does depend a lot on what kind of driving and mileage you do. If you're a low-mileage person, driving mostly in and around town, then the Ka, even though it uses an aged petrol engine, will probably work out more frugal to run than the Citroen. But if you're doing lots of long motorway miles, then the Citroen will win hands down in economy terms. I'd say you'll average around 40mpg in the Ka, probably 50mpg in the Citroen, depending on your driving style. Beware though; neither of these two cars has the greatest reliability reputation. The Citroen is prone to annoying electrical failures, while the Ka suffers from occasional total engine failure if not cared for.


Should I buy a 'flex-fuel' car?

Is it worth buying a bi-fuel (ethanol/petrol) car in Ireland yet? (Ford Focus C-Max 1.8 Flexi-Fuel for example)?

Robert Wolff (Dublin)

Oct 2013 Filed under: fuel prices

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

Not even slightly. There was a fad of buying bi-fuel cars about five years ago, thanks partly to an experimental push on E85 bio-ethanol from fuel supplier Maxol, but mostly because such cars got a €2,500 VRT rebate due to their supposedly 'green' credentials. That all fell apart once (a) the new CO2-based tax system came in and (b) people realised that there simply isn't enough arable farmland to grow enough crops to make E85 for all of us, and still be able to feed ourselves. As far as we know, there are not even any E85 filling stations still running, so you're effectively just buying a standard 1.8 petrol, and not benefiting from the original VRT rebate.


Can you help me choose between a new Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series?

I'm stuck between my choice for a new car. I've narrowed it down to an Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series. I hated the Mercedes-Benz E-Class; it felt so cheap inside. Friends tell me that the BMW is a much more dynamic car due to being rear-wheel drive, but I'm not the kind who likes to throw my car into roundabouts and corners; I would prefer a good, solid, reliable car with attractive features. I'm getting swayed towards an A6 at the moment. Probably mostly because I'm seeing too many BMW 5 Series on the roads. Any help or opinions would be appreciated...

James Corbett (Nenagh)

Sep 2013 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi James,

Well, frankly that's a good dilemma to have. Both are utterly excellent cars and you honestly won't go wrong picking either.

To compare, you're right that the BMW does feel that bit more reactive, that bit more plugged in to the road surface, but the gap between the A6 and the 5 Series is far narrower in that regard than once it was. 

You're also right that the 5 Series is becoming a touch, shall we say, common on the roads these days and while Audi is hardly struggling to shift A6s, they are perhaps a little less widely seen.

One small spanner in the works; have you tried the Jaguar XF? It does give a little away to both the Germans in terms of cabin design and space, but it's gorgeous and utterly brilliant to drive. Plus, of a Friday night, you get to turn to your significant other and utter the immortal words; "Darling, tonight, shall we take the Jaaaaaaaaag...?"


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