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

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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.

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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.

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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...?"

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

I'd say your choice is a pretty good one. The first generation Focus C-Max wasn't the most exciting car around, but it was pretty well put together, comfy and good to drive. You can get them up to 2007 with the 1.6 TDCi 90hp diesel, which should suit your driving pattern pretty well. At 15k a year, even mostly urban mileage, I'd say you definitely need a diesel just to keep the running costs down.

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

Hmmm. That generation of Corolla doesn't seem to be keeping Toyota's usual reliability standard up. There have been reported issued with brakes (squealing, not failing), troubles with the automatic gearbox, clutch failures, slipping handbrakes and noisy gearboxes. If your potential purchase isn't displaying any of those symptoms, then it might be just fine, but be prepared to raise merry hell with your nearest Toyota dealer if it starts to develop problems. After all, if you're selling your cars on the basis of their reliability, then you'd better be prepared to back that up...

In terms of efficiency, well, it's a quite a small engine in quite a large car, so no, I wouldn't reckon it would be more economical than a 1.2 Fiesta - quite the reverse in fact, unless most of your mileage is on the motorway, in which case the Toyota's extra torque and power should make it more frugal than an over-stretched 1.2.

That price sounds pretty good - maybe even a touch low. Have you done a thorough history check on the car with Cartell.ie?

Expert answer

Hi Jeff,

If insurance is your main concern, then think smaller. Get as close to 1.0 litres as you possibly can. It’s a bit of a cliche, but the best cars in that arena are those good old reliables the Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris. Lots around in your price range.

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Hi Emer,

If you're spending around €10k and want the car to last for a decade, I'd say your best bet is to buy nearly-new and go for one of the Volkswagen small car triplets - the Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo or SEAT Mii. All three are genuinely brilliant cars, mechanically quite simple (which means reliable), safe, fun to drive without being fast and really quite cool. Should keep your student drivers happy.

Expert answer

Hi James,

Both are good, although French brands are never the most reliable, but of the two we'd go for the Picasso, simply because it's more stylish and strong second hand demand should keep your residual values shored up.

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

If nothing else, you need to adhere to manufacturer servicing schedules to ensure you don't invalidate your warranty. If you don't trust your local dealer then contact Opel directly, though these figures should be in your owner manual as well.

Besides all of that, we'd thoroughly recommend servicing modern diesel cars regularly, as the car makers often push the service intervals out to appeal to fleet buyers. Regular oil changes in particular are a very good idea.

Hope that helps