Any issues with the 141 Toyota Avensis?
Are there any known faults with the 141 Toyota Avensis?
Sean Gillespie (Belmullet)May 2016 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Sean,
Yes, the water pumps can fail, there can be issues with the turbo on diesel engines and the CD players can need re-coding. Also, if the spare key is missing, it’s hugely expensive to replace.
Was there a flywheel issue with the Audi Q5?
Are there any issues with the Audi Q5? I see some cars listed as 'replaced flywheel'.
Regards
Tony in Greystones
Tony Casey (Greystones)May 2016 Filed under: recall
Expert answer
Hi Tony,
There's no major recurrent fault for the flywheel on a Q5 specifically (although dual-mass flywheels generally come in for a lot of reliability criticism across all brands), but there was a recall for Volkswagen Group 2.0 TDI diesel engines a while back to replace faulty flywheels, so it's worth checking to make sure that's been done. If it doesn't show up in the service history, get in touch with Audi Ireland customer services, as they should be able to find out if a specific vehicle has or has not had the work done.
I'm thinking of buying a Mitsubishi Carisma.
Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 2002 Mitsubushi Carisma. I don't know anything about them and just wondered if they are worth the risk? It's a 1.3 petrol and has one year of NCT remaining. Not sure of mileage yet; anything I should look out for in particular?
Thanks very much.
Catherine Keenan (Longford)Apr 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Catherine,
To be honest, I wouldn’t. Quite aside from the fact that the Carisma is dull to look at, sit in and drive, it was also quite unreliable for a car from a major Japanese car maker. There was no end of problems with the engines and worse still, the 1.3 was hopelessly underpowered. If you want a simple, reliable car from around 2002, think Toyota Corolla instead.
Is an older Golf a good first car?
Hi,
I'm buying my first car and need some advice on what I should get. My budget is about €3,500 and I'm looking for a car with a 1.2- to 1.4-litre engine. At the moment a 10-year old Golf seems like the most reliable option.
Thanks, Conor
Conor Quinn (Dalkey)Apr 2016 Filed under: learner
Expert answer
Hi Conor,
A Golf is a great idea, but it would also be worth looking at the Toyota Auris too - it's not as sweet to drive as the Golf, but even more reliable. One word of warning though - both cars come with, at smallest, 1.4-litre engines, so you could run into trouble with insurance if you're only starting out as a driver. Have a shop around for premiums first as you may have to find something with an even smaller engine.
What do you think of the Volvo S80?
Can you please give me an opinion on the Volvo S80 from 2005 to 2010?
Joe Mcelwee (Galway)Apr 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
A hugely underrated car, the S80. Big, comfy and mostly very reliable. As ever with something that started out in life as an expensive model, don’t buy anything without a full service history and check carefully for any electrical gremlins. They’re also sensitive to knocked-about suspension, so check the tyres carefully for any uneven wear and tear. Other than that, reliability is pretty decent. The bigger diesel engines can be expensive to run, but if you go for the 1.6 diesel you’ll have a car that’s really frugal and not all that under-powered.
Should I go for a new Skoda Superb Combi?
Need to upgrade from a 2008 Audi A4 saloon due to family expansion. Is the new Skoda Superb Combi a reasonable option in terms of drive quality and premium feel?
Mike
Mike Gallagher (Cork)Apr 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mike,
Yes, yes, yes and oh, yes. Basically, it’s almost exactly like an A4 (same engines, same platform, same buttons, switches and touch-screen), but much more roomy (space for three child car seats abreast on the back seat and a massive 600-litre boot) and a lot cheaper to buy. Perhaps a touch noisier than the Audi, and maybe a little less precise to the steering, but you won’t feel short-changed.
What do you think of the 2005 Mercedes CLK?
Hi lads,
What do you think of the 2005/2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK 1.8, especially reliability?
Justin McElwee (Galway)Mar 2016 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Justin,
It was always a nice car to drive and never less than pretty, but watch out on the reliability front - it comes from Merc's dodgy period. The engines and gearboxes are pretty solid but everything electrical is suspect, and the interiors are pretty poorly built in some cases. Watch the frameless glass in the doors too - it can slip away from its rubber seals and let in a lot of wind noise.
Citroen Berlingo Multispace: good for dogs?
Is the Citroen Berlingo Multispace a reliable car? What are its weaknesses? I'm involved with training dogs for a charity and ease of cleaning is one of the issues.
Thank you,
Mike
Michael Ho (Dublin)Mar 2016 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
Yes, the Berlingo is generally excellent. It is occasionally prone to electrical issues, but they tend to be minor and the engines and gearboxes are long-lived and hard-wearing. As long as you buy one with a full service history, you should be fine. The cabins can be a little fragile at times, but being van-based, it should be easy to clean out after the dogs.
Do early Ford Kas rust?
True or false that the pre-2010 Ford Ka's metal is very prone to rusting?
Catherine Dalton (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Catherine,
The 2008-onward Ka model, which shared a chassis and engines with the Fiat 500 and is built in Fiat's factory in Poland, should be rust free - the cars are well treated for rust when being built and offered with a lengthy anti-perforation warranty. If you come across a rusty one, chances are it's had accident damage, which has left bare metal exposed.
Is the Qashqai's 1.5-litre engine enough?
Is the Qashqai's 1.5-litre engine powerful enough or does the 1.6 make for a better alternative to the Hyundai Tucson or the Toyota RAV4? My driving is a mix of rural roads, motorways and urban.
P. J. Hynes (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi PJ,
It's a slight oddity that the Qashqai has two different engines so close in capacity. The 1.6 is actually a replacement for the old 130hp 1.9-litre engine while the slightly older 1.5 has 110hp and is a direct competitor for most rivals' 1.6-litre engines. Confused? Don't worry - the basic answer is that the Qashqai's 1.5 is indeed competitive and should suit your driving just about perfectly. There's plenty of poke in it and it's still very economical.