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Hi Brendan,

Good choices, all of those, if you're looking for a more affordable 3 Series alternative. The new-shape Mazda3 (the one that's only just been launched) seem to be especially excellent, and with Mazda's reliability you won't be spending too much on repairs or maintenance down the line. The Golf is always a safe bet too, although if you're used to the saloon shape it may be worth having a look at the little-seen Jetta - an underrated gem, that car. Or, alternatively, you could try the Audi A3 Saloon, which I reckon is the best compact sports saloon around at the moment.

See how you get on and let us know which one you go for.

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Hi Ashasan,

I'm presuming you mean the 407 Solaire. They're better made than you might think. There are some issues with the 1.6 HDi engine though, including a sticking exhaust gas recirculation valve, sticky throttles and faulty injectors. Blown turbos have been known as well, but they're rarer. Cabins are better made than the French car norm, so if it's a bag of rattles, suspect that it's been in an impact. Many 407s will be ex-fleet cars, which is a good thing - it means that they will have been serviced on the button for the first few years.

Hope that helps

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Hi Alan,

Electric Ireland charges a standard 19.28 cent per kWh as of Jan 20th 2014, according to moneyguideireland.ie. Other suppliers charge more or less the same although there can be a variation of up to 3c per kWh. 

In terms of what is charged to charge an electric car, the energy companies make no distinction. The plug points are downstream of your electricity meter so it's counted as the same juice that goes into your fridge, dishwasher or vacuum cleaner.

The total amount of tax charged on your kWh amounts to about 11 per cent, including both VAT and Carbon Tax, according to Sustainable Energy Ireland. 

So, why is this so much lower in tax terms than the 50-odd per cent levied by various charges on pump fuel? Simple: expediency. On the one hand, the Government must be seen to be encouraging the use and development of electric motoring. On the other, there is currently no simple and reliable way to distinguish between electricity being pumped into your car's batteries and what's being used to light, heat and wash.

That said, you can sadly and safely expect that to change, rapidly, if electric car sales ever take off in a big way. The Government has been very careful and canny about making sure that improving vehicle economy hasn't eroded it's annual €1 billion+ tax take from petrol and diesel sales, so if battery cars start eating significantly into that, expect some form of battery levy or electron tax to be enabled tout suite.

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Hi Vittorio,

You've got it all answered yourself there. The BMW's overall residual value will indeed be slightly better, but, long term, the Mazda should prove to be much more reliable and rugged. Both are excellent to drive. The BMW's classic rear-drive chassis is slightly the superior, but the Mazda's muscular steering feel and firmly sprung chassis makes it one of the best front-drive saloon chassis around. 

Nothing major to watch for on either - just make sure there's a fully stamped up service history and check the BMW carefully to make sure that all the electrical bits work and that it's been topped up with high grade oil at each service. Both cars may have been driven hard by previous owners (many will be ex-fleet) so check carefully for thinks like uneven tyre wear or noises from underneath that indicate worn or out-askew suspension.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Susan,

Nothing at all really, and if you're picking a Micra then you should be on a winner, reliability-wise. Fleet cars are often a better bet than private cars simply because their service history should be full and all major maintenance done on time and schedule. Will it have had a harder life than a private car? Possibly, but just have a careful check over for signs of excess wear and tear and if you're concerned, walk away; plenty more out there.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Eddie,

There are certainly no reports out there of any persistent handbrake issues with the FR-V so it could just be a specific problem with that car - the handbrake may have been over-adjusted at the last service, perhaps. Try another one and see if you feel the same problem. Otherwise FR-Vs are, like all Hondas, staggeringly reliable and well made. There are just no repeated problems with them, so, as long as the one you're looking at has a full service history and is in good nick, you should be fine.

Just watch for two things; check the interior and especially the boot for signs of excess wear and tear - these are hard-working family machines and many have been treated with a fair amount of disdain. Then check the tyres for signs of uneven wear - that could mean that the suspension has been knocked askew, something that's easily done as the FR-V is a little wider than most cars.

Hope that helps

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Hi Vittorio,

Oooh. Aargh. Ummm. God, this is actually a real toughie as I utterly adore both cars and they're both ideal picks. 

OK, I'll lay out the pros and cons and you'll have to make your own mind up from there.

The Octavia will likely prove to be the more reliable in the long term and is much more spacious and practical than the Beemer. The 320d, by contrast, is much sweeter to drive thanks to all the usual BMW rear-drive balance and it does have a nicer interior. 

To be honest though, I'd grab either with both hands and not let go. See which one you can find that's in better condition or is better value.

Let us know what you decide

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Hi Gerard,

It’s a very good family car from the point of view of safety and comfort, and yes that 1.5-litre diesel is hugely economical (you should see better than 50mpg on a regular basis). You just need to keep a close eye on electrical items such as the central locking, the key-card and the windows and beware of traditionally steep depreciation for large French cars.

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Hi Gabriel,

Dacias are fine, to be honest, you just have to make sure you know what you're getting into. They're not sophisticated, nor are they especially modern, but they're cheap and genuinely quite cheerful. Best of the bunch is the Sandero supermini, which combines decent build quality with surprising refinement and a  emptingly low price.

The Duster SUV is also pretty good, albeit it's quite an old design now and lacks things like electronic stability control as standard. Still, it's rugged, tough and refreshingly simple. The newer Logan estate and Stepway crossover are just variations on the Sandero theme and are there for those who need either an enormous boot (Logan) or a bit of 4x4-esque style (Stepway).

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Hi Katy,