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Hi there,

The Meriva's pretty robust but there are a few reported problems. Most seem to do with the interior, which is not made of the highest quality plastics, and which develops a lot of creaks and groans over the years of use. Not much can be done about that, unfortunately. A more serious issue is to do with the steering. Power steering pumps can fail and it seems to be a recognised issue. There was a recall but not all cars, or indeed the entire problem, may have been fixed. Also watch for faulty timing chains on the 1.4 petrol.

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Hi Ian,

Right, the bad news is that the Yaris isn't going to be worth all that much at this stage. I'd say if you get €1,000 for it, either cash or as a trade in, you'll be doing well. The good news is that gives you a €4,000 budget and that puts an awful lot of really good cars well within your reach.

Now, funny story. When we had our first boy, he was born in February. That Christmas, I borrowed a Land Rover Discovery to bring us all down to my wife's parents in Waterford. And thanks to all the luggage, buggy, travel cot, bath etc. etc. etc. I couldn't see out of the back of the damned car for a whole week. That's a long winded way of saying you need to maximise your space.

So how about a Citroen Berlingo? €4,000 should get you into a 2005 1.4 petrol model and there's so much space in the back that all that baby gear will fit easily. Don't fancy a van with windows? Then how about a compact estate? There are some nice Chevrolet Lacettis around - not the most exciting car in the world but reliable, comfy, well-equipped and spacious. Your budget should get you into a 2006 or 2007 model. Or, if that's a bit too left field, what about a MkII Ford Focus estate? We found a 2005 1.6 diesel with air conditioning that's in your budget.

Best of luck with the car hunt and the baby!

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Hi Gary,

Automatic small cars are generally a bit hard to come by in Ireland, but I suggest a MINI One or First. Unlike some other small cars, the MINI's auto box is a sophisticated ZF unit and it's as much fun to drive as the manual. €5-7,000 picks you up a good one.

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Hi Cindy,

I would go for either the Skoda or the Opel. The Skoda 1.9 TDI is very economical (50mpg should be pretty easy) and Skodas are well built and reliable. 

The only downside is that if it's pre-2008, it'll have a high rate of tax. That's something that the Opel with the 1.3 CDTi engine avoids, and it's still very economical, albeit slightly less so as you'll have to work the smaller engine a bit harder to keep up with the flow of traffic.

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Hi David,

If the 2005 one has been better looked after, then go for that one. Condition is always far more important than age or mileage, and given that there’s no mechanical difference between the two cars, you won’t benefit from the newer model if it’s been less well cared for.

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Hi Cormac,

It will depend on the year and model you’re talking about, but if you mean the 2008 Audi A6 update, which was the first model with the TDIe engine, then it’s basically lightly tweaked for economy and emissions, but those will be nothing to write home about compared to more modern cars. The TDIe could manage 53mpg and 139g/km, but that was with the 140hp engine, so it’s a touch under-powered in the A6. You could be better off going for a more powerful 170hp version, which will have slightly higher emissions, but which will probably do better in economy terms in real-world driving - and far more satisfying to drive.

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Hi Michael,

I think your best bet then is to go for the Golf. As long as you are buying 2004 or newer (and I presume you're in the market for much newer than that), you'll be getting a car that feels barely, if any, less well made than your Merc, and as long as you go for a 1.6 or 1.9 TDI diesel, you'll have a compact hatch with the sort of performance, refinement and economy to mix it with even the best luxury cars. Depreciation? Well, everything depreciates but the Golf is perennially in demand so you shouldn't have any trouble shifting it on.

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Hi Pat,

The Polo's a fine car, no question. Practical and reliable, but your other two choices are, how shall I put this, a bit more interesting. The up! is one of the very best small cars to come along in a long time. It's nippy, agile and zippy, but still comfy on the motorway if you need to go long haul. The Swift is also a belter, a little short on rear legroom perhaps, but cracking good fun to drive and its reliability is off the scale good. The Polo's a safe choice, but I'd have a good long hard look at the other two before deciding. For what it's worth, if it were my money, I'd get the Swift.

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Hi Marietta,

I wouldn't like to pronounce absolutely on whether the Kuga is suitable for an elderly driver with arthritis.  Generally, Ford is very good at designing cars for elderly drivers, and was one of the first car companies to take limited joint mobility into account when designing the interior and access points. It would of course depend on which parts of the body your dad has the arthritis in, and how much it's restricting his mobility. I wouldn't be medically qualified to pass judgement on that.

Off the top of my head though, I would suggest that the Kuga might actually be a bit too tall, and require an up-and-in motion that may not be any easier than the down-and-in of the S40. I would have throught that a Ford C-Max, which is more between the heights of the Focus and the Kuga, would be a better bet. Easier to slide straight into. Worth a look anyway.

If you're trading in the S40, I'd reckon you should be getting offers of around €9,000 to €10,000, depending on the condition, history and which engine it's got.

Come back to us if you need more help.

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Hi Kevin,

Not great I'm afraid. The current Espace, which dates back to 2003, is based on the same platform as the second generation Laguna and suffers the same problems. So expect lots of electrical issues (not great on a car with an all-digital dashboard) and the electric windows are especially fragile. Front tyre wear is also an issue, and we've heard reports of collapsing front suspension and a tendency for the exhaust system to give problems, especially with the catalytic convertor.