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Hi Paul,

I presume you're talking about the 'new' 9-5 - the last car Saab launched before everything went pear-shaped? It's a little hard to tell on the reliability front how good or bad they are, simply because there are so few on the ground. That said, all of the mechanical and chassis parts are shared with the Opel Insignia, and that's a car that has proved very reliable, bar the occasional electrical niggle. 

I know what you mean about the shape and style - you're talking to a long-term Saab fan here, and the 9-5 was an especially nice car, massive for the money (practically Mercedes-Benz S-Class sized for the price of a BMW 3 Series) and, in the fine Saab tradition, had a huge and comfy interior. It's also pretty decent to drive, not BMW good perhaps, but nice all the same and the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine should prove very frugal.

It is a bit risky, I suppose, but a risk I reckon might just be worth taking. Might be worth taking out an aftermarket warranty mind, just in case...

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Hi Vittorio,

You've got it all answered yourself there. The BMW's overall residual value will indeed be slightly better, but, long term, the Mazda should prove to be much more reliable and rugged. Both are excellent to drive. The BMW's classic rear-drive chassis is slightly the superior, but the Mazda's muscular steering feel and firmly sprung chassis makes it one of the best front-drive saloon chassis around. 

Nothing major to watch for on either - just make sure there's a fully stamped up service history and check the BMW carefully to make sure that all the electrical bits work and that it's been topped up with high grade oil at each service. Both cars may have been driven hard by previous owners (many will be ex-fleet) so check carefully for thinks like uneven tyre wear or noises from underneath that indicate worn or out-askew suspension.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Olivia,

I'm afraid a timing belt change is not something that the average person can do on their own. It's a skilled job that really should be left to a trained mechanic. It's not simply a case of unbolting something sliding the belt off, sliding a new one on and bolting it all back together I'm afraid.

Please get it done professionally. Even if you do a lot of work on your own car, getting the timing belt wrong can have catastrophic consequences for the engine.

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Hi there,

Generally speaking SsangYongs are very reliable, not least because the older models tend towards the crude and simple end of the scale. On the Actyon just keep an eye out for sticking transmissions (or lumpy changes if it's an auto) and fragile cabin trim. Oh, and for a diesel car it's not very fuel efficient - you'll be lucky to break 30mpg in daily driving.

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Hi Jean,

Tricky to say, I'm afraid, as the trade-in value offered by a dealer has as much to do with their business model and circumstances as it does with any intrinsic value in the car. It also of course depends on the car you're trading it in for. If it's something that's sticking to their forecourt, they'll be more keen to offer you a good deal to get shot of it. Values for a 5 Series like yours seem to vary from around €27,000 at the high end to low-twenties for higher-mileage models. You can knock off around €1,500 - €2,000 from that for the dealer to build in a margin and defray any costs of preparing the car for sale, so your trade-in should range from around €20,000 to €25,000, but that's a best guess and nothing more.

Try and have a ring around (or better yet, a drive around if you have the time) to various dealers and try and get them to give you a rough idea of what they'd give you for the car.

Do let us know how you get on,

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Hi Anne,

Electrics mostly - everything from the electric windows to the alarm system can give trouble, but also check in the boot for water getting in as the boot seals can be a bit dodgy on early models.

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Hi Simon,

It's a technicality of HP that you don't actually own the car until the last payment is made, but it won't affect your insurance as the car will still be registered to you. Essentially, the finance company buys the car for you and you're repaying them the money that they gave you, the loaning of which is secured against the value of the car. If your name is on the registration document, which it will be, then you are the registered owner of the car.

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Hi John,

Yup, a small diesel sounds like it should be ideal for you. Depending on what kind or size of car you need I'd recommend either a MINI Cooper D 1.6 (small and sporty), Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi (slower, but more spacious), Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D (similar to Opel but probably more reliable) or that old favourite the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion (ultra economical). Or, if you need more space how about a Skoda Octavia Combi estate 1.6 TDI or a Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi?

Help us with your needs and we'll narrow that down a little!

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Hi Thomas,

It's very hard to tell I'm afraid, as some people (and indeed dealers) baulk at the idea of a Japanese import, regardless of the car's actual condition and history. It's basically a knee-jerk reaction, but that's essentially what a marketplace is - a series of knee-jerk reactions leading to a consensus. Anyway, I reckon you're looking at a value of around €1,000, give or take.

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Hi Jaro,

Are you talking about the E46 model (1998 to 2006) or the E92 (2007 to 2013)?

If it's the E46, check carefully for any suspension problems - listen for clonking noises from underneath and look closely for uneven tyre wear. There was also a problem with radiator cooling fans failing. It's easily replaced but the problem is that the damage may already have been caused so if the car you're looking at has had a new fan, check carefully for any signs of head gasket damage or overheating.

If it's the E92, then cabin rattles and nosies are your biggest problem. They can be fixed but they can be a nightmare of trial and error to do so. Some electronic systems can also give trouble, especially the optional Bluetooth phone system, but that can usually be fixed with a software patch from a BMW dealer. The petrol 320i version can burn through a lot of oil, so take a long test drive to check for any signs of leaks or a smell of burning oil or blue exhaust smoke. There have been reports of total engine failures for the 320i too, but thankfully they seem to be very rare.

Hope that all helps