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Hi John,

Clearly no car is utterly immune to breakdowns or component failures, but the Lexus LS 430 comes closer than probably any other. It is staggeringly reliable. We have heard tales of people buying the (older) LS 400 model from the '90s for under a grand and still finding every single electrical item working perfectly. Try that with a 7 Series or S-Class...

The Lexus is also hugely comfortable and deeply luxurious and actually better to drive than you might think. No hot hatch, obviously, but still more capable than the roly-poly reputation would have you believe.

Downsides? Colossal motor tax costs and it helps if someone else is paying for your fuel...

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Hi Nicky,

OK, I think you have a couple of options here. First off, assuming you have a friendly, trustworthy mechanic who looks after your Yaris, it's worth having a word with them to find out how much life they realistically think is left in it and how much money you'll need to spend to keep it going. If the omens are good in that respect, then there's nothing wrong in the slightest with sticking with what you know and keeping your current, faithful steed.

If it's a poorer prognosis then I'd suggest sticking with what you know and simply upgrade to a newer Yaris. The model that's just been replaced was a fine car, sturdy as ever and really quite nice to drive. You won't go wrong. As an alternative, have a look at a Honda Jazz. They are usually a little more expensive than an equivalent Yaris but are more spacious inside and a little more technically advanced, so well worth a look.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Steven,

We asked Citroen Ireland about this one and here was the reply:

"There are two possibilities of engine type in Berlingo mark I 1.9d - you may have an XUD9, which is the earlier engine and is a Euro 2 emissions type engine; the second option is a DW8, which is a Euro 3. In Berlingo mark II 1.9d you only have DW8 type. You can tell the type from code found on the engine block."

The use of Bio-diesel and the associated guarantee conditions:

"Citroën approves of the use of Biodiesel as long as the quality of the biofuel/methyl-ester conforms to the European standard EN14214 and that the fuel mixture meets standard EN590, having a maximum 5% of fatty acid methyl-ester. A mixture of up to 30% Biodiesel in diesel fuel can be used. (B30: vegetable oil methyl-ester made from oil-seed rape). Such fuel must be supplied by the petrol companies directly and the fuel must not be stocked for more than three months.

On the other hand, Citroën does not cover under guarantee the use of pure biodiesel (B100): poor resistance of rubber components in the fuel circuit (leading to the risk of leaks and starting and running problems) and of the fuel injection components."

Hope that's of assistance

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Hi Stephen,

The E60 was a terrific car but not without its faults. Listen carefully for any nasty noises coming from the suspension and check the steering to make sure it responds quickly and accurately and that there's no odd weighting in the power assistance. The run-flat tyres and the pressure monitoring system that goes with them can also play up, as can the first-gen iDrive system, so make sure all the electronics are working.

Finally, that last-of-the-line 2.2-litre straight-six was a fab engine but did occasionally suffer from some cooling and head gasket problems. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge during your test drive and check the service record (which should of course be full and complete) for any frequent revisits to the dealers to have the cooling looked at.

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Hi Philip,

We put this to Kyle Fortune, one of our UK-based writers, as he's the only one of the team that has driven both cars:

"The Jaguar will undoubtedly feel like more of an event initially, the V6's engine and exhaust note are superb, though in some ways it's extrovert sound does promise more than the engine ultimately delivers. It's agile, fast and easy to drive, with an edge that makes it fun, too. The Cayman GTS is a different proposition; it's mid- rather than front-engined, which immediately makes it feel more exotic, even if familiarity - there are lots of Boxsters and Caymans out there, and less F-Types - does lessen its impact. Neither will disappoint, but the Porsche is the more engaging, more polished drive. It's arguably the best sports car you can buy, though the Jag runs it close. Clincher for me would be that the Cayman GTS is available as a manual, the Jag only an automatic."

Hope that's of interest!

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Hi Aparesh,

You know what? I wouldn't. Renaults from that era are not the most reliable things and your budget could be as easily eaten up fixing a catalogue of minor problems. Your budget though should be able to get you into a Toyota Corolla Verso - one of the most reliable cars around and a firm favourite in CompleteCar Towers when it comes to affordable, reliable family transport. 

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Hi Des,

As with all Suzukis the Grand Vitara is impressively well bolted together and there are very few reports of any major reliability issues. The only recurrent problems seem to be glitches in the electrical system, but as long as the car you're looking at has a full service history, you should be OK. There are only two major downsides: the interior looks and feels pretty cheap and old-fashioned compared to some rivals, while the 1.9-litre diesel engine (which Suzuki actually bought in from Renault) can be very thirsty, as the Vitara is no lightweight.

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Hi Margaret,

You need to book a session at your nearest NCT centre to have the car valued for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), which is the fee payable when importing a car from outside the state. According to the regulations, you have to book the inspection within seven days of the car arriving in this country, and then you have 30 days to complete the inspection and pay the fee, which will be calculated as a percentage of the estimated Irish market value, based on that model’s CO₂ emissions. You can find more details here: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/vrt-guide.html

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Hi Bryan,

I'd say about €15,000 on average, perhaps slightly below the €14,000 as a trade-in.

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Hi Roy,

The Passat is a good, solid car that with just a few points to check. Some of the early 2.0-litre TDI engines had some fragility in the turbo and injector departments, so have any of those cars checked carefully. The 1.6 FSI petrol engine is pretty solid but bear in mind that in a car of the Passat's size, it will have been thrashed pretty hard to keep up with traffic. Have a close look and listen to the suspension for any noises or clonks, and make sure the power steering feels consistent and precise as that system can give trouble too.