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SEAT Toledo, Skoda Rapid or Renault Fluence?

Trading up from a 2006 Nissan Note to 131-132 Skoda Rapid, SEAT Toledo or Renault Fluence: open to suggestions on which is best choice.

Seamus Neville (Waterford)

Jul 2016 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Seamus,

The Skoda and SEAT are basically the same car with different badges. Neither are especially sophisticated, but they're roomy and pleasant to drive and very affordable. Personally I prefer the hatchback versions,  but that's just me. Both are preferable to the Fluence, which has never been a very satisfying car and which is about to be replaced by a new saloon version of the Renault Megane.

Relevant reviews:

SEAT Toledo review

Skoda Rapid review

Renault Fluence review


I'm tempted by a new MPV for under €30,000.

Hi guys,

I am looking to replace my Renault Scenic automatic (06). I do about 10,000 miles a year. I know I am probably going to get a very low trade in for a car this age... Do I buy a new car and get a decent €3,000 or €3,500 trade in allowance? (If it's new it needs to be under €30,000) Or do I buy a second hand car?

Ideally I would like a seven-seater (I wouldn't rule out a five-seater just yet). If it is used I do not want anything older than 2013. the most important factor is reliability, as this next car needs to do me at least 10 years, and be very economical (in terms of fuel consumption and tax). It needs to be a manual car, too - I have an automatic at the moment, but I want to revert back to a manual transmission.

I am looking at the Ford Grand C-Max or the Toyota Verso. Which of these is more reliable? Should I be looking at anything else (not French ideally; I will not buy any other French car I think - I have owned three and had nothing but trouble)? I am also tempted to get a hybrid but for a people carrier does it even exist and what type of cost?

Thanks

Lurdes Power (Greater Dublin Area)

Jul 2016 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Lurdes,

OK, lots to deal with here. Let’s go through it piece by piece. Theoretically, you will always get better value buying second hand than buying new. 'Buy at three, sell at five' (years old) is the rule of thumb to maximise your value and minimise your exposure to depreciation. But, you’ve been burned in the past by unreliable cars (been there, I feel your pain) so I would say that buying new is actually the best thing for you this time around, especially as you want to hold on to the car for an extended period.

Of the two cars you’ve mentioned, the Toyota Verso should be the most reliable. Nothing much wrong with the Ford, but if reliability is your priority then always buy Japanese. Happily, a manual 1.6 diesel Verso seven-seater is just inside your budget, at €29,100 and there is currently a €3,000 trade-in offer on that model, which means you’ll get a lot more for your old Scenic than you would if you traded it in normally.

There is only one hybrid people carrier so far, and that’s the Toyota Prius+, but to be honest, we couldn’t recommend it. For a start, a new one will bust through your €30k budget barrier, but beyond that it’s a disappointing car – far too thirsty unless all of your mileage is done in town at low speeds. The Verso is a far more versatile car.


I need to tow 750kg, but want ease of access...

Hi, how are things?

I am a farmer who has to pull a load of max. 750kg and I have family member who is finding it difficult to get into our Mazda6, a petrol model. What are the best options in a four-door car?

Thanks

Mike Carmody (Listowel )

Jun 2016 Filed under: towing

Expert answer

Hi Mike,

Most average family cars will pull 750kg easily enough, and if you like Mazdas, can I suggest a Mazda CX-5? It’s one of the better SUVs out there, and the extra height might make it easier for your family member to climb in and out. Plus the 2.2-litre diesel should bring down your running costs a little.


Audi A3 TDI or Toyota Auris Hybrid?

Hi,

As our family is fleeing the nest, I am hoping to buy a new or nearly new slightly smaller and economical (possibly hybrid?) car. Changing up from a 2009 Toyota Avensis 2.0-litre high-spec diesel with 98,000km on the clock. Do about 15,000km per year mostly in the city and trips to Wicklow, and odd long trip to West Cork for pleasure.

Not sure if I should go for diesel again, or hybrid. Is hybrid risky and will the residuals drop as newer technology comes onstream? Offered €6K by Audi for my Avensis (poor!) against a brand new A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI diesel (net after discounts and trade in = €25K) or €10k by Toyota against brand new 1.8 Auris Hybrid Luna (€26,225 + €575 + €180 road tax + €575 metallic paint = €16,980). Love the look of the A3 Sportback, but in my heart think Toyota is more practical for a privately run car. I am paying cash so am conscious I might have this car a while, i.e. five years.

Do you think a new car is advisable, or good demo, and also will the Audi be expensive to run?  

Thanks,

Linda DJ, Dublin

Linda Dwyer Joyce (Dundrum)

Jun 2016 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Linda,

€6k is at the bottom end of 2009 Avensis trade in values and your Toyota dealer is possibly boosting your trade in a bit (€10k is definitely top end) to keep you in the family.

I think with 15,000km annual mileage you definitely don't need a diesel - you'll really struggle to make back the extra purchase cost in fuel savings and if you're not doing lots of long journeys you could run into problems with the particulate filter. The Audi wouldn't be expensive to run at all - they're reliable and frugal, but the servicing would probably be slightly pricier than for a Toyota.

As for the Auris Hybrid, I think it sounds like it might be just about right for you, especially as most of your mileage is around town and that's where it works best. You may find it hard to get the best economy out of it on that long run to West Cork, but the rest of the time it should be about right, and super-reliable too.

An ex-demo is always a good idea as you'll get it cheap with minimal mileage, but there are fewer of them around these days.

Relevant reviews on the site:

Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI review

Toyota Auris Hybrid review


Have you reviewed the FWD Volvo XC90?

Hi,

Have you a review on the Volvo XC90 Momentum FWD?

Thanks

John Condren (Lusk/Dublin )

Jun 2016 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi John,

We've not reviewed that specific model, but you should be able to get a good idea from the versions we have tested, as listed below:

Volvo XC90 D4 FWD Inscription review

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Inscription review

Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Momentum review


Can you tell me about the new Ford Ka+?

New Ford Ka: when is it in Ireland and what are the prices please?

Also, is a new Fiesta on the way? When and what price?

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge)

Jun 2016 Filed under: future cars

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

The new Ka+ will be here in June and will cost from €13,050. You can find out much, much more about it in our Ford Ka+ news item. The new Fiesta is a bit more of an unknown and we certainly don’t have prices for it yet. It’s due to launch in Europe in the first quarter of 2017, but Ford Ireland may decide to keep its powder dry and launch it here closer to the 172 registration change in July of next year. It’s likely to be a little larger than the current car (although not by much, as the same basic structure is being retained) and the engine line up will be entirely the new-generation three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol and the four-cylinder 1.5-litre TDCi diesels. It’s likely to also be more expensive than the current car – the fact that Ford is launching a five-door Ka at a cheap-ish price, and the continuing efforts to push the Ford brand upmarket (Vignale, Mustang, GT, Edge etc.) means that the next Fiesta will probably be more sophisticated but more expensive too.


What SUVs have three Isofix seats?

What SUVs have three Isofix seats in the middle row? Thinking of putting two Maxi Cosi seats in middle and putting buggy in one seat's position if it's down, as I need the back two seats for children ages five and three. Most SUVs won't take buggy in boot space with seven seats in use. Is this idea viable or a non-runner?

Jim Donovan (Mallow)

Jun 2016 Filed under: child or baby seats

Expert answer

Hi Jim,

I think unless you’re going to go for a full-size SUV, such as a Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90, you’re going to struggle to find an SUV with three Isofix points in the back. Even the family-friendly Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe only have two outer seat Isofix mounts in the middle row. I’d suggest having a look at the Ford S-Max or Galaxy, or a SEAT Alhambra. These would seem to be the only cars that have the necessary Isofix points and the boot volume you’re looking for. 


When will the new Ford Kuga be in Ireland?

When will the new facelifted Ford Kuga be available for order in the Republic of Ireland?

James Mc Loughlin (Cork)

Jun 2016 Filed under: future cars

Expert answer

Hi James,

The big draw for the updated Kuga will be the availability of Ford’s 1.5 TDCi diesel engine, which will bring the Kuga’s running costs down significantly, not least because it will have a 115g/km CO2 emissions rating. It’ll be here in the autumn, once Ford has finished launching the new Edge SUV, but given the nature of the Irish car market, supply will probably be a bit restricted until January 2017.


Is the Golf GTI Performance no more?

Has Volkswagen Ireland stopped importing the GTI Performance? I have been told by Volkswagen that production for the performance model is ceasing (but it still seems to be available to order in other markets). Wondering if this is a temporary measure to help shift the glut of R models available for sale?

Many thanks

Gary Murray (Dublin)

Jun 2016 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Gary,

The answer is partially yes, but it’s nothing to do with R sales, which we are told are actually perfectly healthy. The GTI Performance model is being replaced by the GTI Clubsport, which gets an extra 34hp and some chassis revisions  to make the handling even sharper than that of the GTI Performance Pack.


Thinking of buying a Suzuki SX4 S-Cross...

Thinking of buying a 2014 Suzuki SX4 S-Cross: any thoughts on reliability etc> Has about 48,000km on the clock.

Ian Slowey (Sligo)

May 2016 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

We haven’t heard of any specific issues with that model and, generally and excepting the recent recall for dodgy brakes in the Celerio city car, Suzukis are usually very reliable, so you should be fine. A nice car, the S-Cross, actually — rather underrated.

Read our Suzuki SX4 S-Cross review


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