Expert answer

Hi Matthew,

The first thing to check is if the auxiliary drive belt is intact and turning the power steering pump pulley as it should be. Then check the fluid level of the power steering system itself. If both of those things appear fine then we'd suggest you need the services of a good mechanic to take a closer look at the pump and perhaps the steering rack too.

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Hi Oliver,

Car dealers generally work on a margin of between two to six per cent, depending on the brand, model and individual dealership. They’ll make a little more on accessories and some optional extras, but that’s about the normal margin across the board.

On the Dacia, yes, a value of €12,000 from an original purchase price of €20,000 would be about right, although it may dip a touch more than that. An automatic probably won’t make a huge difference either way — 50-60 per cent depreciation in the first three years is the norm for all cars.

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Hi Darragh,

I think it comes down to a straight choice between the Fiesta and the Mazda, with the Mazda edging it slightly on the basis of it being better-built and more reliable. The Sandero is fine if all you want is something cheap, but then the Stepway version makes no sense because it’s just a more expensive Sandero with stick-on plastic bits. The i20 is a good outside choice though — very spacious, roomy, and well-made, but you need to upgrade to the 1.0-litre turbo engine for it to be a good choice. Here are a few reviews of those cars for further reading:

Mazda2 review

Ford Fiesta review

Dacia Sandero Stepway review

Hyundai i20 review

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Hi Paul,

It depends. If it’s the basic 1.6-litre petrol model, then your VRT will be around €3,000 (ish, depending on spec) and that model already appears on Revenue’s system. If it’s the more expensive version with the 1.2-litre petrol turbo, then it’s trickier as, you’re quite right, Revenue doesn’t have that car on its systems.

I would think they’ll hit you up for around €4-5,000 in VRT for one of those. The process isn’t too difficult, as such, but if you don’t fancy it, the new, updated Dacia Duster will be launching next year, and that should finally come with a petrol engine option here.

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Hi Simon,

The Mokka is quite nice, and a bit of an underrated car actually, but we reckon the best car in this class is the Suzuki Vitara, which is affordable, genuinely rugged, reliable and quite nice to drive. Handsome too. The Dacia Duster is actually a terrific machine — you have to allow for a rough and ready interior and an unrefined driving experience, but for the money it’s nigh-on impossible to beat.

Opel Mokka X review

Dacia Duster review

Suzuki Vitara review

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Hi Liam,

OK, first off you don’t need and shouldn’t be buying a diesel. With that kind of mileage, and doing most of it in town, you’ll never get enough efficiency out of the engine and you’ll run into trouble with the particulate filter and more potentially.

Of the three cars you’ve mentioned, I think that the Mercedes B-Class might actually be the most sensible, and it’s certainly the roomiest if you’re concerned about carrying big loads. Worth remembering that for similar money you could probably get yourself into a nice C-Class Estate too, which is only a little smaller inside and a whole lot nicer to drive. I’d be tempted to stick with the Mercedes, too, for safety reasons, if your son is going to start learning to drive.

The Tiguan is another very good option, and there are versions with Volkswagen’s excellent 1.4 turbo petrol engine if you shop around. Again, safe and good to drive, if not quite as roomy as the B-Class. I’d avoid the Duster at this point — it’s diesel only, and not as safe as the Merc or Volkswagen.

Expert answer

Hi Jim,

No, it's not. The Duster hasn't yet been offered with an automatic option in Ireland. It is available in Europe, so you could think about importing a left-hand-drive one, or wait and hope it arrives here soon. 

Read our Dacia Duster automatic review here

Expert answer

Hi Steve,

It will depend on the mileage and spec but it should be in the region of €2,300. 

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Hi Nigel,

The Duster has been on sale in Europe for more than a decade now and, for the most part, it has built up a decent reputation for reliability. Because it’s so basic, it lacks many of the more modern electronic systems that cause so many problems in more expensive models, which helps. The 1.5 dCi diesel is a sold engine, although you do need to keep an eye out for troubles with the turbo if it hasn’t been serviced properly.

Other things to think about are damage underneath the car from owners trying to drive further off road than the car was designed for. As long as you’re buying one with a full service history I wouldn’t have too many concerns.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

There is no specific market data for Ireland in this respect. The old rule of thumb still holds true - if you want ultimate reliability, buy a Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru or Mazda. You could probably pretty easily add Kia and Hyundai to that list too now.

The best I can do for you is to point you towards the results of the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study for the UK market in 2015. An independent research agency, JD Power ranks the various brands surveyed by problems per 100 cars - although it's worth remembering that those problems can range from minor electrical niggles to total engine failure, so you can't read everything into the stats. The last set of figures, ranked from best-performing to worst, were: