Which hybrid saloon for up to €60,000?
Hi, what hybrid saloon car would you recommend with a budget of €50 -60k? How are residuals with hybrids doing?
Many thanks,
Paul from Carlow
Paul Duffin (Carlow)Sep 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
Residuals for hybrids probably depend slightly on where you live — if you’re in a major urban area, then they should be extremely good, in a rural area maybe slightly less so. Anyway, for that budget I’d unhesitatingly recommend the Lexus GS 300h. Smooth, silent, incredibly comfortable, beautifully made and utterly reliable. Hard to beat, really.
Which high car to replace my BMW coupe?
I have a bad back so a hard-riding low car is out as I already have one a BMW 4 Series. I need a nice smooth and interesting to drive alternative that is higher up.
Declan McEvoy (Portlaoise)Aug 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Declan,
Don’t get an X3 then — it has great seats, and is higher up, but has a ride every bit as hard as that of the 4 Series. Would you consider a Lexus? The NX SUV is really very comfy, and softer riding than most competitors, as is the Volvo XC60 (either the new model or the old one) as long as you avoid larger optional alloys and the R-Design pack.
Verdict on the new Hyundai i30?
What's your verdict on the new Hyundai i30?
Declan Otoole (Dublin)Aug 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Declan,
Should I stretch my car's legs regularly?
Thanks very much for your reply on fuel additives for a Skoda. In the normal event, it is probably the case that an engine doesn't get raced very often, and probably runs at fairly low revs most, if not all, of the time. Is there a benefit in running an engine, either petrol or diesel, from time to time at high revs and, if so, how often and for how long?
Your review of the Jaguar F-Type 2.0-litre was very interesting. I have one comment about the engine noise. There are times driving on a back road when it is a pleasure to hear an engine crackle and roar, but perhaps not always. I was driving along a long Spanish sea side resort behind an F-Type, where there were ramps and pedestrian crossings every couple of hundred yards. My thoughts were that one could quickly get tired of that roar every time the car started off again.
Perhaps, that's just me getting old and grumpy!
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2017 Filed under: miscellaneous
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
On the Jaguar front, first of all thanks for the compliment. As far as noise goes, I don’t think I’d ever tire of the F-Type’s V6 sounds, but that four-cylinder model is hugely impressive (and very refined) all the same.
As for running a car up and down its rev range, yes, it’s a good idea. Engines perform best (especially in fuel economy terms) when held at constant, low rpm (such as on a long motorway journey), but from a mechanical point of view it’s a good idea, once in a while, to stretch things out, warm things up, and get things moving.
Looking for a practical compact estate...
Hi,
I'm looking for a small estate the back seats of which fold completely flat. Which models, to your knowledge, best fit this requirement?
Thanks, Tom Nelson
Tom Nelson (Maynooth)Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Tom,
The best ones to go for are the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Skoda Octavia Combi, Peugeot 308 SW, or Toyota Auris Touring Sports. Our reviews:
Hyundai i20, Opel Astra or Ford EcoSport?
At same lending cost... what to buy and why? Hyundai i20, Opel Astra or Ford EcoSport Titanium Plus?
Jitu Mehta (Rajkot.)Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Jitu,
Of those three, we’d go for the Astra every time. The i20 is fine, but a little dull. The EcoSport is an awful car so don’t go near it. The Astra, though, is well made, engaging to drive, roomy and economical. Go for the 1.0-litre turbo petrol and you won’t go wrong. Here are our reviews of each:
Which small car meets my needs?
I would like a small car with the following: automatic gearbox, leather seats, glass roof and four or five doors. What makes or models are available?
Thanks, Kathleen
Kathleen Barry (Dublin)Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Kathleen,
I think your best bet would be a MINI Cooper. Have a shop around and you’ll definitely find one with the auto gearbox, the panoramic roof and the leather seats option and you can, of course, now buy a MINI with five doors if you fancy. Not cheap, but they’re well made, reliable and fun to drive too. Here's a relevant review:
How does the Skoda Octavia 1.0 perform?
I have just ordered the Skoda Octavia Combi 1.0-litre petrol. How does the one-litre engine perform with a fully loaded car?
Mark Conway (Dublin)Jul 2017 Filed under: performance
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
While we haven’t loaded an Octavia 1.0 to its total maximum GVW capacity, we have driven it with four passengers and a boot full of luggage and it performs very well indeed. Not the fastest car around, no doubt, but we found no lack of performance and fuel economy remained at an impressive 50mpg.
Have you a new Mazda CX-5 review?
Have you done a review of the new Mazda CX-5 yet?
Mark Foley (Dundalk)Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
We certainly have. Read Neil's first drive of the 2.2-litre diesel AWD version here.
We're looking for a good seven-seater.
Hi, we're looking for a seven-seater where we could potentially fit three car seats across the back seat. We currently have a Nissan Qashqai, which we love. A friend recommended a Volkswagen Touran, but says it feels a bit boxy to drive - but that might be the case with all seven-seaters? Our budget is €30k net of trade in (04 Ford Fiesta).
Happy to buy new or consider up to two years' old.
Thanks
Rosalind O'Brien (Dublin)Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Rosalind,
If you go for the current Touran (which launched two years ago) then no, it's not boxy to drive at all. Rather good in fact. The new Renault Scenic is also quite nice to drive, and if you go up a size, the Ford S-Max is actually slightly nicer to drive than the Mondeo that it's based on. Here are a few reviews for your interest: