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Hi Aidan,

Parts probably won't be a problem for the immediate and medium term, especially because so much of the car was mechanically shared with the Opel Insignia, but otherwise it depends on how the long-term reliability pans out and that's something of a mystery. There were so few sold that it's hard to get a handle on whether or not things actually go wrong on them.

On the upside, all of the Insignia bits underneath are decent quality and shouldn't give any major bother; on the downside Saab's reliability record with the preceding 9-5 was patchy to say the very least. It's a bit of a gamble to be honest, but as old-school Saab fans, we'd say it's worth a punt and let us know how you get on.

Here's our latest review of the Saab 9-5 as a new car by the way.

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Hi Darrell,

Generally speaking SsangYongs are very reliable (it's the upside of them being somewhat old-fashioned and mechanically simple), but the price you pay for that is them being really rather crude to drive and live with. Noise levels from the engine will be very high indeed, cabin quality will resemble that of a Toyota from the 1980s and the handling will be little short of terrible.

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Hi Mark,

The more recent versions of the Renault Grand Scenic are at least reasonably reliable, and the commonly-seen 1.5-litre diesel engine is a sold enough old lump, and well proven in various Nissans and Renaults. The recurring nightmare is that of electrical problems. Renaults, older ones at any rate, just seem to eat through their cabling and wiring and everything from electric windows to engine management and injection problems can crop up. Buy very, very carefully if you're looking at  anything older than 2008.

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Hi Joy,

I'd go for the Yaris, if only because it's fractionally less likely to give any trouble than the Polo, but to be honest it's a close run thing in that regard. A nice 2005 model with an automatic gearbox (if she fancies) can be snapped up for between €5,000 and €6,000.

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Hi Padraic,

The general consensus seems to be that no, it doesn't. A lot of cars of the early 2000s had issues with dual-mass flywheels, but the technology seems to have matured to the point where it has become reliable. Of course, tread carefully and make sure that any Santa Fe you're looking at has a full service history and is in good condition, but it's worth pointing out two things - one, a 2010 Santa Fe still has a year's worth of its full manufacturer's warranty left to run and, two: you can get dual-to-single-mass flywheel conversion kits if you think it's going to be a problem.

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Hi Louis,

We thought it best to send this one to Toyota's tech people as they have more experience than most. Here's what they told us:

"It depends on the vehicle and how it's driven, but as long as the vehicle is in regular use and is serviced then the battery life is expected to be over 10 years. High mileage batteries can last longer than vehicles that do low mileage or are not in frequent use. Like any other battery type if it is in regular use and kept conditioned this will extend the battery life."

Hope that's of interest

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Hi Ann,

I'm afraid the CT 200h's residual values aren't that great. The general buying public is still a bit suspicious of hybrids (the popularity of the Prius notwithstanding) and the CT's poor day-to-day fuel consumption marks it down relative to the likes of the rival BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. 

It's also quite cramped inside, with tiny rear seats and an almost useless boot. If you're looking for a classy small hatch, better stick with the Audi A3 or save yourself even more and get a nicely specified Volkswagen Golf.

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Hi John,

You know what? Just avoid the lot of them. In the early 2000s Renault was going through a period of very poor build quality that wasn't really resolved until the launch of the current Mégane in 2008. Older Renaults are generally just to be avoided. Electrical problems are commonplace and frustrating, and just because they're working now doesn't mean they'll stay working. These cars are marked down in price for a reason.

Hope we were in time to stop you buying!

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Hi Peter,

It depends on the year but with that sort of mileage XC90s seem to vary from as little as €9,000 to as much as €19,000 for a fully-loaded model from a main dealer. I'd say a safe enough bet would be to ask for around €11,000.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Aoife,

We asked Toyota Ireland what it thought would be reasonable oil consumption, and though you haven't told us the age of your car it was suggested that a rate of a quarter litre of oil per 1,000 kilometres was normal. Toyota suggested that, if you suspect there is an issue, bring the car to a dealer and as for an oil consumption test to be carried out.

Hope that helps