Expert answer

Hi Mary,

At just 1,500km per year it's highly likely that a petrol car would be better suited to your needs. Diesel cars are usually more expensive to buy in the first place, and new petrol cars are much closer to their diesel counterparts than ever before in terms of fuel economy and tax so in your case the balance tips in favour of petrol. On top of that, diesel cars are designed to be driven at higher speed regularly and they don't take well to a life in town.

Recently we did a piece of research in conjunction with Cartell.ie looking into this very thing. Read the results of the research here.

Expert answer

Hi Dorothy,

OK, the official schedule for changing the timing belt is 60,000 miles so if the one you're looking at hasn't had it done, it's on serious borrowed time. Other than that, they're very reliable, one of the most solidly built cars you can buy. We've heard reports of intermittent issues with the electric sliding side doors and some problems with the infotainment system, but the main mechanical package is pretty tough. In 2010, the Carnival got upgraded to the full Kia seven-year warranty, so that just shows you the faith Kia has in it.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, but with one small caveat. The Prius has always been one of Toyota's best, and indeed best-built cars. It's essentially a flagship model, particularly for Toyota's eco-friendly ambitions. There have been a few recalls (for malfunctioning brake lights, airbags, steering and brake issues, as well as the infamous sticky-throttle-pedal one), but generally Prius are solidly reliable and there have thus far been no reports of fading or failing battery performance. We've heard one or two reports of rust breaking out, but they're probably most likely down to unattended panel damage exposing bare metal.

The caveat? It depends how and where you drive as to whether or not it's worth buying a Prius. Yes, you'll get cheap road tax, but to get even vaguely close to Toyota's quoted 65mpg fuel economy figures, you're going to have to drive with the reticence of a trappist monk. Get anywhere in the neighbourhood of enthusiastic driving and you're going to see the fuel economy plummet, ditto for undertaking any long motorway journeys. But, if you spend most of your time in town, where the Prius' electric motor and stop-start systems can best bring their armament to bear, then the economy should pick up, and you'll have one of the most comfortable, reliable and relaxing cars in which to hustle your way through city traffic.

Expert answer

Hi Vincent,

Not that tough, these days actually. Would you consider an Opel Mokka? Not the greatest car ever made or anything but it has a higher seating position, which may help and, better still, its front seats are approved of by the Aktion Gesunder Rucken, which is the German Bad Back Association. If you don’t fancy the Mokka, I too am a bad back sufferer and I always found that the seats in the Citroen C3 Picasso were always very comfy. Worth a try at any rate.

Here are the reviews:

Opel Mokka X review

Citroen C3 Picasso review

Expert answer

Hi Ruairi,

OK, the good news: that model of 944 is probably the cheapest to run and maintain. The bad news: 944s are not cheap to run and maintain. 

Essentially, as with almost all Porsches, 944s are very much over-engineered and built to last. Which is great, and mileages of over 200,000 miles on these cars are not uncommon. But to keep them in fettle, you've got to maintain them carefully and use correct original, or at least very high quality pattern, parts. The problem is that many previous owners have tried to run one on the cheap, and the results can be disastrous.

More good news though is that these early model 944s had the indestructible cast brake calipers, which give much less trouble than the later alloy ones. 

The main mechanical weak point is the tensioner for the camshaft chain, which can snap without warning and the subsequent engine rebuild bill can often be far more than the value of the car.

It would be a good idea to get in touch with the Irish Porsche owners' club, www.porsche-club-ireland.ie, as its members will be able to point you in the  direction of a good one and will be more than happy to offer more detailed technical advice. 

Other than that, best of luck and send us a photo of your pride and joy when you get it!

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

I'd say you're looking at a probable value of between €5,000 and €7,000 with that kind of mileage. Trading in probably the better route, unless it's a diesel you're selling. Private buyers just don't seem to want to know about petrol cars at the moment.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

We're acutely aware of this, which is why we mentioned depreciation and other costs in our notes at the end of the article (here it is if anyone else is interested). Predicting future values of current cars is a black art that we'd rather not take part in!

Saying that, diesel cars currently hold their value a little better, but we suspect that may change in time, with the advent of more efficient petrol technology, plus, potentially, lower bills as a car gets much older. Along with all that of course is that fact that petrol cars will become very rare soon following our new car buying habits of the past four to five years.

Thanks for getting in touch.

Expert answer

Hi Mim,

By and large, yes. The 1.6 FSI engine was actually pretty peachy to drive, if rather underpowered. As with all underpowered cars, watch carefully for signs of abuse and hard-running by drivers frustrated with the lack of oomph. 

It seems to be a very solidly reliable car, but there are some reports in owner forums of problems with the cam belt tensioner repeatedly failing and needing to be replaced at almost every major service, while there are also some reports that the direct fuel injection system means that the inlet valves can become sticky with carbon deposits. That seems to be about it, though.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

The official fuel figure for the Sportage petrol model of that era was 27mpg, but we'd expect you will probably do a little lower than that, most likely around 25mpg. It's not terrible, and you have to play that off agains the extra that a diesel model would cost, but it's not exactly economical. Then again, with a bit of practice and technique, you may be able to do better.

Other than that, it makes entirely good sense. Sportages are rugged and pleasant to drive and very practical too. One thing; the price seems a touch high, although that could have to do with there being a dearth of good 2009-2010 used cars around in general, as well as the very low mileage.

Expert answer

Hi Bill,

Is that the 1.8-litre engine? If so, then it had an official fuel economy figure of 32mpg. I say ‘had’ because that’s a 16-year-old car and a huge amount is going to depend on how well it’s been looked after. Generally speaking, I’d say that you should expect around 25mpg from it around town, and maybe 35mpg on a longer run.