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Hi Michael,

You've not mentioned whether you have the Superb or the Octavia, but either way our data suggests that the recommended service interval for the 1.6 TDI timing belt is 140,000 miles (225,000 kilometres) or every four years.

We'd suggest erring on the side of caution with timing belts always, especially on a car that you've not owned yourself from new.

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Hi Kevin,

Because, unfortunately, there is always a lag between the price of crude oil falling and the price coming down at the pump. It’s rarely the case going in the other direction of course, but before you go blaming rapacious fuel companies remember that the actual wholesale price of oil represents only a tiny fraction of the price of a litre of pump fuel – most of it is fuel duty and VAT. In fact, according to the AA, the price is on the way down. The average price for a litre of unleaded has fallen by 5c since June, and the average price for a litre of diesel has fallen by 3c. 

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Hi Sharon,

There are indeed others although the car has to be brought to one of a network of nationwide test centres for some. Or you could engage the services of a professional vehicle assessor, but that might be a prohibitively expensive option.

A good place to start is Cartell.ie

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Hi Shirley,

Generally speaking, the Micra (especially the 2002-onward model, which is probably the best Micra there's ever been) is something of a gold standard for reliability, but there are a couple of small recurring items to look for. The immobiliser system can sometimes go a bit haywire and drain the battery, the seat adjustor cables can snag, the boot and door seals occasionally leak and if you hear a knocking noise from the steering on full lock it means the front suspension is out of alignment.

Other than that, cracking little car and it should give years of solid service.

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Hi Sharon,

Short answer - yes, the clutch is one of the few major reliability weak points on the RAV4. The gearshift was always a bit heavy, so ignore that, but if the clutch feels wrong or is making any untoward noises, it needs replacing. Of course, an automatic version would get you around that issue, and there's no tax penalty for the extra emissions - both versions will cost you €750 a year to tax. Generally speaking it's best to get the lower mileage car, but the rule, as ever, is to buy on condition and history, not mileage. If the higher miles car has been better cared for, it's the better option.

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Hi Declan,

While the second generation Freelander is a heck of a lot better off in reliability terms than the woeful first-gen, there are a few things to watch for. Check all the electrical systems as these are the most common areas to go. The stereo, headlights and airbag warning lights can all give up on you, so keep an eye on them. Check the bumpers for damage as they can be hideously expensive to fix, and check the clutch and gearbox carefully for smooth, quiet action as these are perennial weak points. Finally, check the engine for excessive oil consumption - it can be a warning sign that something big is about to go pop.

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Hi Mary,

Here's the official bumpf from the Department of Transport:

"If your motor tax expires around this time, and you have not received your motor tax renewal notice in the post, it is likely that you enrolled for the electronic service when your vehicle was last taxed online and have now received your PIN by email. Issue of your renewal notice electronically ensures instant notification of your PIN and easy access to the PIN when required. Please check the email address supplied with that online transaction to retrieve your online PIN.

"If you have lost or misplaced your PIN, have yet to receive it, or have recently purchased a vehicle and wish to retrieve your PIN, you can access the 'PIN Retrieval' link on our homepage, submit the requested details and your pin will be emailed to you if your vehicle is eligible for online taxing.

"In the case of the first taxing of a brand new or imported vehicle, the PIN is the last six characters of your vehicle's chassis number as printed on your RF100 form. You should have received your RF100 form either from your Motor Dealer or the Revenue Commissioners."

Hope that covers it?

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Hi Tom,

It’s for the 1.8 petrol I presume? Should only be around €50 a side from a supplier such as MicksGarage.ie.

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Hi Auke,

We asked Mazda about this and the official response was: "Simple answer is it is not available in Ireland unfortunately. There are only 1,000 examples of the limited edition 25th anniversary in the world and we have one press model for marketing/PR purposes really - not for sale."

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

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Hi Richard,

No, because the two cars are based on two different platforms. Although the engines are the same, the ancillary fittings and their attachment points will be very different.