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Hi Joe,

Both excellent choices although it's worth pointing out that the petrol-powered Honda will struggle more to hold on to any value as the market is so diesel-obsessed at the moment. Still, that means prices are cheaper for you at buying time...

As with all Hondas, the CR-V is remarkably reliable, although this model has suffered from some issues. There have been some problems with trim scratching and scuffing too easily, as well as problems with the alternators. Some have had issues with the gearbox too and high front tyre wear. You should also check carefully underneath to make sure that any previous owner hasn't been taking the 4x4 bit too seriously.

That goes equally for the Hyundai and the good news here too is that reliability is excellent. The only regularly reported problems with the Santa Fe are that the air conditioning system can need regular re-gassing and that the stereo is pretty rubbish.

Both will be expensive to run though. The CR-V has CO₂ emissions of 194g/km so motor tax is going to be pricey. Despite being diesel, the Hyundai is no better, with CO₂ emissions of 191g/km. Both will average around 35mpg in regular driving.

I have to admit to a small bias - my father-in-law has owned his 2.0-litre petrol CR-V from new in 2007 and loves it. It's been massively reliable (only ever needing a replacement alternator) and he regularly gets better than 40mpg from it. That said, the Hyundai is also an excellent vehicle and I would say both are safe bets - try some test drives and see which one you prefer and let us know which way you go.

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Hi David,

All I can say is go for it. The CC (I still always start to say Passat CC even though the Passat name has been dropped) is a fabulous car - smooth, comfy and good to drive and really quite devastatingly handsome. Problems are few and far between, but make sure that the service record is up to date (at only a year old it certainly should be) and check that the seals around the frameless door glass is in good nick and keeping out the rain. Other than that, I'd say you can't go wrong.

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Hi Sean,

It's a tough question to answer, this one, simply because different wheels and tyres can make an enormous difference to ride quality. As you say, French cars tend to fare very well in this regard and I think the most comfortable car I have driven in recent years was a top-spec Citroen C5 with the traditional Citroen hydra gas suspension, which just felt as if the road surface wasn't there. As you say, French cars can have their reliability issues, but the C5 was always pretty well screwed together.

Of the other options, both the Ford Mondeo and Opel Insignia are good bets, especially if you can avoid any cars that have been specced-up with big wheels and low profile tyres. Go for nothing bigger than a 17-inch wheel with at least a 55-profile tyre - wheel and tyre combos make a huge difference to ride comfort,

Of course if you want the ultimate in ride comfort, then track yourself down a Jaguar XJ6 saloon from the mid-eighties. Best ride quality of any car ever. I can't vouch for the reliability though...

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Hi Gary,

We rate the Scirocco very highly indeed. It's peachy to drive, quietly handsome and surprisingly practical for a coupé. The 1.4 TSI petrol engine is actually fine in the Scirocco, although it can't really cash the cheques the body is writing. It's got more than decent performance, but if you want some proper thump, then the 2.0-litre 140hp diesel is definitely the better choice. Best of all though is the 2.0 TSI with the engine from the Golf GTI. It can get a little thirsty if you drive it like it begs to be driven, but as an all-rounder, it's very hard indeed to beat.

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Hi Catherine,

Not necessarily. The 1.6-litre diesel used in the C-Max is an engine used in a huge variety of cars, from the C-Max to the Focus to the Mondeo to various Citroens, Peugeots, Volvos and even the occasional MINI. This means that, by and large, it's a decent engine with good reliability prospects and millions of miles of use in a massive number of cars to reveal any bugs.

That said, there are a couple of issues to watch for and mostly it's to do with the turbocharger, which can occasionally be a weak point. Usually it's down to a failure of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, and it can be pretty easily fixed. Watch the parts prices and shop around for quotes if anything does go wrong. Alternators can give trouble too, so be suspicious of any engine or battery warning lights.

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Hi Emmet,

The general consensus seems to be yes, but make sure you ask beforehand. All banks seems to have slightly and subtly different policies when it comes to issuing loans (and not just for this specific circumstance). More than 25,000 cars have been imported to Ireland since the start of the year, so clearly, people are getting loans to buy them and bring them in, and it's an entirely normal procedure. Your bank may ask for some additional guarantees or similar, but as long as you check with them first on their precise policies, you should be absolutely fine.

By the way, you may want to check out our guide to importing cars from the UK while you're here.

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Hi Rob,

Really good actually - reliable, hugely spacious and quite nice to drive. Best of all, a 2009 one will still have up to two full years of the manufacturer's warranty left to run. Mind you, you need to read the fine print on that - there are some exclusions, including interior rattles and loose trim, something the cee'd does suffer from.  

They can also go through tyres quite quickly and the gearbox can give trouble, although it's usually just a matter of changing the transmission fluid.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi Owen,

Not bad actually, but check it carefully for electrical gremlins, gearbox issues and look underneath for signs of abuse from over-enthusiastic off-roading.

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Hi Matt,

I'm afraid €22,000 doesn't seem to be a high price for that car any more. In fact, it's right in the general ballpark for the Passat for a 2012 diesel. The problem you're looking at is one currently facing a great many used car buyers - used values have risen significantly since 2009, because of the scarcity of good cars in the market, a legacy of the collapse in new car sales following the financial meltdown. In some cases, values have risen by as much as a third, and with both Volkswagens in general and diesel models especially being highly sought after, you're shopping in one of the most expensive categories in the second hand market.

Sorry to not have better news!

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Hi Kevin,

We get a lot of importing questions so we put together this comprehensive guide to the whole process.

If there's anything you'd like to know that is not answered there please do come back to us.

Many thanks