A new estate with a diesel engine and four-wheel drive?
I want to buy a new station wagon with a diesel engine, automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. There seem to be very few options, e.g the Volvo XC70, which is too expensive. Can you recommend any alternatives?
Pat Norris (Clonakilty)Oct 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
This is a very particular car that you are looking for, but thankfully there are some options for you without spending the sort of money that you would need for a Volvo XC70. For a start you could choose something from the Audi range, which has some Avant models with quattro all-wheel drive. You could have an Audi A4 allroad quattro, which could be just about right for what you need as it has a good 2.0-litre diesel engine and has an elevated ride height so it can cope with the odd muddy field. It is a handsome thing too. This starts at €45,400 and while it isn't very well known it is a cracking car.
A cheaper option but along the same lines would be the Skoda Octavia Scout, which has a 140hp diesel engine, a decent 4x4 system and loads of luggage space. The emissions are a little high though, at 173g/km, which makes it Band E in terms of road tax.
Another really good choice would be the Subaru Outback, which comes with a superb 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and all-wheel drive. Subaru is really talented at making this sort of vehicle and I've driven this car and really rate it. It has 150hp, 350Nm of torque and it still comes with reasonable emissions of 156g/km, putting it in motor tax Band D. There is no automatic option for this car though, so that perhaps rules it out for you.
If you could cope without an automatic transmission then the Subaru would be the best buy, but I guess the Audi with quattro in an A4 Avant is your best choice. However, you are going to have difficulty with the A4 allroad in terms of you cannot have an automatic in the 2.0-litre TDI it seems, only in the 2.0-litre FSI petrol or the 3.0-litre TDI.
Hope that helps anyway
What will I replace my Mitsubishi L200 with?
Hi,
I am driving a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up, but I am thinking of changing. I like the height of the driving position, but I am looking for lower tax and a diesel engine that's more economical. Any suggestions?
Marie Finucane (Clare)Sep 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Marie,
We had a chat on the phone to get more information and now know that you would prefer to sell the L200 privately and use the cash to buy your next vehicle, so your budget is about €10,000 - €12,000.
The difficulty in getting something with height is that the SUVs going back a few years tended to be diesel with fairly large engines, so before 2008 these engines were in some cases cheaper to tax than they are now. Emissions were higher, but you were charged - as you are probably aware - for the size of your engine. I'm sure you don't want to get landed with a high road tax bill per year, but we will explore some options.
The first is a 2004 Toyota RAV4. There is a model in a dealership in Louth, which I realise is quite far from you, but this diesel model is a beaut and is at a SIMI dealer so this brings with its some safeguards. This RAV4 is under €10,000 and has low mileage, though is going to cost €823 to tax each year.
The Kia Sportage fiesel would be a great little buy for you. This small SUV has proven to be very reliable and very well liked by owners. This one in Cork is a little over your budget, but as a cash buyer I would think you could bargain down the asking price of €13,900.
A car that you might not have thought of, but I have always rated as a good little car, is the Fiat Sedici. This small SUV has four-wheel drive, a diesel engine and is cheap to buy and run. We found a 2009 model in Laois with just 23,000 miles on the clock and the asking price is just €11,750. This would be a nice little runabout and it still retains some of the height of the SUV. This will cost you €447 per year to tax.
Another good choice, although the annual tax will be the same as the RAV4's, is the Nissan X-Trail. This is a really nice example from 2005 that has a 2.2-litre diesel engine and would be a nice vehicle to own. Again, if you couldn't cope with the high annual road tax then it might not be the best option for you.
I'd be inclined, if it were me, to buy that RAV4, as it would be a nice vehicle to own.
I hope this helps!
What will I replace my 5 Series with?
Hi Complete Car,
I am upgrading my car. My budget is around the €25k mark. First off, I'm no expert, but I do know I'm not much into speed and performance; I'm more into comfort and style and I prefer European cars over Asian ones (Honda and Lexus being possible exceptions). I'm a big person myself, over six-foot three so leg- and head room are important.
For the last few years I have had a BMW 5 Series and have always liked BMW so I'm leaning that way. Currently thinking about a BMW 6 Series: there are some '05s floating around that fit the bill.
Question: is the 6 any good? Should I stick to the 5 Series (although I'm not a fan of the recent models in terms of looks)?
I'd be interested to know if you think there are other makes and models I should be looking at. I have tried a few Alfas - 159, Brera and GT - but they didn't grab me, were generally too small and always have that 'rep' associated with them (rightly or wrongly).
I'm not keen on hunting for cars in the UK (the hassle), but is that actually a no-brainer I'd be stupid to ignore?
Should I be looking at a brand new car?
Thanks for your time, and a great car website; the best in my opinion,
Stephen
Stephen Moriarty (Dublin)
Jul 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Stephen,
If you have owned a BMW 5 Series before then you might want a change. The 6 Series is a good car, but like anything else in BMW land when it gets a little older repairs can start to become expensive when things go wrong. I personally wouldn't go near one unless it had a full set of BMW service history stamps and unless I could budget another few thousand for things that might go wrong.
This one here is in a main BMW dealer so will have all the right history and paperwork and is pretty nicely equipped too. It is a little over budget, but I would be shocked if they weren't flexible on a 3.0-litre petrol car these days! The mileage on that example is also very low for the year. These cars have great handling and are usually generously equipped too. Remember though that it will cost quite a bit to run, both in terms of road tax and petrol costs.
Now, for alternatives. You did mention Lexus and the GS 450h hybrid is a wicked car. It is very, very fast, superbly equipped and comfortable. It will be ultra reliable too. You could have this one here, a 2007 model, for €25,950 and it would be a superb car to own. It actually does pretty decent fuel economy too. I'd prefer this to the 6 Series myself.
Or, you could enter Porsche ownership and have the brilliant Boxster S like this example in Galway that has the better engine and comes from a good home. Again, ignore the sticker price, as it is a buyers' market right now. I think you should own a silly car once, so unless you have cots and prams to carry about, I'd be tempted by the Boxster. It isn't going to annoy anyone any more than the 6 Series is.
The UK can be a minefield, but we wouldn't ever rule it out and I myself have bought cars there. What I would say is that the more research you do (and use history checks like motorcheck.ie) the easier it is.
As regards buying new, well you are likely to only afford something pretty dull and I think that you would not be too pleased coming out of a 5 Series. You seem to like interesting stuff.
If it was me, out of that lot I'd probably have the Boxster, but if I needed more practicality, the Lexus.
Hope, this helps. Feel free to come back for more odd suggestions.
Peugeot 407, VW Passat or Mazda6?
Hi lads,
Any thoughts on the Peugeot 407 1.6-litre diesel? Seems to be great value. Looking at that or either a 2007 Volkswagen Passat or Mazda6.
I have heard mixed reports on all at this stage. Budget is tight so swaying to the 407 as seems to be a lot of spec etc.
Thanks,
Mick
Michael Mulvey (Ashbourne)Jul 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
Having contacted you by e-mail since we have a better idea of your budget and we know that you are trading in a 2006 Opel Vectra 1.6-litre petrol with 40k on the clock. You could get offered around €7,500 for your Vectra (depending on condition) and add your budget of €6,000 to this, so you'll have €13,500 or so to spend.
Of the cars that you mentioned the Peugeot 407 will no doubt offer the best value for money, quite easily in fact, with something like this 2007 model likely to end up within your budget. The 407 diesel is great for economy. The quality isn't bad either. You might get the odd electrical fault, but by and large these cars are capable of quite high mileage. I'd be more inclined to spend a little less if I was buying one.
The other cars you mentioned are the VW Passat and Mazda6. There are lots of Passats about so this means that there is lots of choice and the prices are pretty competitive too. A diesel one would put up with high mileage pretty well, like this example, which would be a nice car, feeling more upmarket than the Peugeot. They aren't without their faults though and the Passat has had issues with the handbrake and some other items.
Lastly is the Mazda6, which is a grossly under rated car and you could have a fully loaded 2.0-litre diesel version with low mileage and loaded with kit for €13,950. Of all these I would probably buy the Mazda, as it should be ultra reliable and there aren't too many reported faults with it.
I hope this helps, if there are any other questions then do come back to us.
What four-door automatic will I replace my Fiat Punto with?
My wife wants to change to a car with automatic gears as she has broken her leg and now her ankle has plates in it and recently she fractured a bone in the same foot, the left foot.
She does not put up much mileage and drives only local, no country or even cross-city. She has a 2006 Fiat Grande Punto with 18,000 miles on the clock. She wants a four-door and carries a few grandkids quite often. What would you recommend in an 08 or 09?
Frank Dodd (Dublin)Jun 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Frank,
You are likely to get up to €6,000 for your Grand Punto as a trade-in. Having spoken to you via e-mail we know that you have a budget of around €8,000 - €10,000 on top of this.
A car like the Mazda3 saloon with an automatic transmission would make a great choice, as it would be more than suitable for the small mileage your wife does and even though it is a petrol engine it won't cost a lot to run. Here is an example that should be well within budget.
If you wanted something that is a little bigger and more comfortable, then you could have a 2008 Volkswagen Passat automatic within budget. Here is a 2008 one on sale in Naas.
Another good choice would be a Honda Civic saloon automatic, which would be ultra reliable. This model would be well suited to your wife's needs.
I know that you didn't mention an SUV, but if your wife suffers from mobility problems, it can be a lot easier to get in and out of a higher vehicle and this Suzuki Vitara could be great, as it comes with an automatic transmission and has plenty of space for the grandkids too.
Out of all these, my hunch is that the Mazda3 would make the best buy for your needs. I hope this helps. Feel free to come back to us if we haven't quite hit the mark!
Is a used BMW a good first car?
Hi,
I have a budget of €4,000 and I am looking for a car that will fit the golf clubs and a trolley. I'd like something sporty and was thinking of a BMW but that may cost too much with road tax etc. It will be my first car.
Edward Murphy (Dublin)
May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Edward,
There is no such thing as a cheap used BMW. I just recently sold a 2002 BMW 318i Touring and I loved it, but the repair bills when things went wrong were high, even from independent garages, so you need to bear this in mind.
Having said that, you could get something that will be similar, like a Lexus IS 200 perhaps, which should be less costly to put right if things go wrong.
Here is one for €3,975 and it is from a main SIMI dealer.
Or how about this? A nice Subaru Legacy for just €2,950? This would be a great car for the money.
I want to change my Rav4 for a seven-seater, just not a boring one!
Hi, congrats on new website, hope it works well. I'm looking to change an '05 Toyota Rav 4 for a 7 seater, but don't want a boring looking rectangle type car! Any ideas for a decent 7 seater that looks good as well, maybe '07/'08, max spend €15k. Thanks.
Emer Kennedy (Dublin)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Emer
As you know Toyota don't offer the Rav4 with seven seats in Ireland (but they do in the USA) so that is off the list.
We have spoken since and I now know you have a 2005 Toyota Rav4, petrol with 40,000 km on the clock, which is very low mileage. I would hope you would get about €6,500 - €7,000 for your Rav (perhaps even a bit more) as a trade-in against a new model and with the €15,000 on top of that to play with you have quite a few options.
The most obvious option for me, is the Nissan Qashqai+2. The Qashqai has been immensely popular and the +2 model adds extra seats to make it a seven seater. That only came on the market in 2009, so it might just not make your budget, but then again this depends on what you are offered for your Rav4. The cheapest of these is likely to cost around €25,000, so this might not be an option.
Never fear though, there are other good options. The Chevrolet Captiva was a lesser-known SUV that sold in small numbers but really was quite good and crucially, for you, came with seven seats. You should expect to pay about €17,000 for a 2007 one and you might even sneak into a 2008 for about €23,000.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chevrolet/Captiva/LT-VCDI-/201019198001210/advert?channel=CARS
Another good option would be the Mitsubishi Outlander. You could have a 7-seater one of those, with a 2.0-litre 140hp diesel engine and a 2007 one would cost you about €19,000, and a 2008 one would cost about €23,000.
This could be quite a nice solution actually
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Outlander/2.0-DI-D/201013197400203/advert?channel=CARS
The other thing you could do, is totally lord it up and get a Land Rover Discovery which has one of the most generous rear row of seats around. This 2006 model is under €20,000. Yes it will cost you an arm and a leg to run and service, but at least we are giving you your options.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Discovery/3-TDV6-S/201015197653184/advert?channel=CARS
I do hate to use the 'S' word, but if you did think of something more sensible, then you couldn't really pass the Ford S-Max. Of the MPVs of that type, this is the best of them and it looks good too. Here is a 2007 diesel with low mileage for €19,300, leaving you plenty of change.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/S-Max/1.8TDCI-/200928194542104/advert?channel=CARS
Anyway, I hope some of this helps, but feel free to come back to us with your thoughts.
I need a tow car for €12,000.
I have inherited a small farm and I am thinking of buying a car or jeep to pull a trailer, spending about €12,000. What would you recommend?
Thanks
Alfie Barrett (Ballinasloe)May 2010 Filed under: towing
Expert answer
Hi Alfie
You will need something tough for towing and reliable too. A 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9-litre diesel would do a good job at towing and is nicely put together. We found one in the classifieds for €11,500 here: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Suzuki/Grand-Vitara/201016197685753/advert?channel=CARS
Or perhaps a Nissan X-Trail? This one here, a 2005 2.2-litre model would cost you less than €11,000: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/X-Trail/2.2-DCI/200840190271505/advert?channel=CARS
You could also go for a Hyundai Tucson. This 2006 4wd diesel model is less than €12,000. This would also be a fine choice: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Tucson/4WD-S%23R-/201017197807527/advert?channel=CARS