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Hi Denis,

Prices for 2012 Corollas seem to run from around €13k up to as much as €16k so I'd say a €14,500 ballpark would be about right, although obviously you're going to get offered less than that as a trade-in.

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Hi there and sorry to hear about your issue. That sounds to us like a blocked gauze in the oil pick-up in the sump. This gets clogged up with dirt and debris and the oil pump can't cope with the blockage. The end result is starvation of oil to important areas of the engine like the camshaft and crankshaft bearings, which could result in terminal engine damage.

A decent mechanic should be able to diagnose it properly for you. Hopefully we're wrong...

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Hi Milan,

It sounds to us like a bad earth or, surprisingly common, an incorrect bulb. Try changing that first to see if it cures the issue.

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Hi Shane,

That car has a timing belt.

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Hi Tom,

How about a Fiat Multipla? OK, not everyone's idea of a good looking car, but it's got an amazing interior, bags of space, is terrific to drive and I found one for €4,500. Yes, I know... OK, on with the sensible stuff though.

There are plenty of Opel Zafiras around for that kind of money, but you will have to search hard to find a diesel one. They are out there though. Plenty of Peugeot 307 SW estates (which came with a seven-seat option) too, but tread carefully and make sure there are no electrical gremlins to deal with. Ditto Renault Scenics. Actually, the more ruggedly reliable Kangoo (or a Citroen Berlingo for that matter) might be a better option.

The most sensible suggestion would be a Toyota Corolla Verso, but they're very, very hard to find with a diesel engine at that price level. Might be worth biting the bullet and going for petrol to get the best.

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Hi Michael,

Sorry to tell you that, as far as we know, you only can get boot rubbers that fit over (e.g. no split), and you need a special tool as well. It might be easier to bring the car to a good mechanic.

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Hi Ashline,

A tough call this one. Your annual mileage isn't really enough to tip you over into diesel territory, and the Corolla is likely to be the more reliable of the two cars. That said, the Passat would be much more comfy and cosseting on the journey and it costs €180 a year less to tax.

So I guess if comfort is your priority, get the Volkswagen. If it's reliability, go for the Corolla, which will probably also work out the cheaper of the two to run overall.

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Hi Bernard,

They're a solid old thing, the Corolla, and not at all bad to drive, it may surprise you to learn. Just check a few small things. There were recalls for brake, airbag and gearbox faults that should have been carried out, so make sure they were. Small niggles occur and apparently condensation building up in the rear lights - potentially causing a short-circuit - is one of them so check for that. Otherwise, you can pretty much bask in Toyota's legendary reliability and solidity.

A good buy, that one.

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Hi Richard,

There is lots of good choice out there in the compact saloon world, whether you're buying new or used. The Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta, Skoda Octavia, Ford Focus Saloon or Mazda3 Saloon all spring to mind and all make solid purchases. Just one thing - for pity's sake, don't buy another Aveo - not only is it cheap, nasty and bad to drive, but it was one of the worst-scoring cars ever on the EuroNCAP crash test.

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Hi Eoin,

Go for the Corolla. Its long term reliability prospects are better than those of the Polo, it'll be far more comfortable on the motorway and barely any more expensive to fuel and tax.