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Hi Noel,

No matter which engine is fitted to your Jetta, the recommendation from Volkswagen is that the belt is changed after four years if not before that. The 1.6 and 1.9 TDI engines have different intervals otherwise - every 225,000- and 130,000km respectively.

It's always a good idea to be cautious so if your car has never had a change we'd urge you to get it sorted out now.

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Hi Morgan,

There's no doubt that the Land Cruiser will be the more reliable of the two. Toyota's quality has dipped in some areas of late, but the Land Cruiser is still something of a halo model for the whole range. There is a good reason why Land Cruisers are the vehicle of choice in sub-Saharan Africa and other harsh environments and that's because they're built tough. The current model lacks a little in terms of its cabin appointments (certainly, the Audi feels far plusher) and it does roll a lot through the corners (again, the Audi is much better to drive), but it's superbly comfy, very spacious and you'll be giving it to your grandkids in your will. 

Mind you, the Audi is no shabby player when it comes to reliability, and only really excessive front tyre wear (it's been known to get through a set in as little as 8,000km) and some electrical niggles (watch for powered tailgate problems) seem to count against it.

Our instinct would still be to go for the Toyota though. The Q7 has an unfortunate whiff of the trendy, socialite, school-run SUV about it whereas the Land Cruiser is more appealingly rugged.

Hope that helps

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Hi James,

A solid 8 out of 10 I'd say. A really good family car, with lots of space, that's also good to drive. They're pretty solid on the reliability front too. Just watch for uneven front tyre wear, clogging diesel particulate filters and issues with the standard-fit electronic parking brake - it's usually just a faulty sender switch in the clutch mechanism though. Listen for clonking noises coming from the steering, watch for faulty seatbelt adjusters and beware of drooping rear electric windows.

Hope that helps

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Hi Feena,

If you need actual space for seven full-sized adults (as opposed to jump seats for occasional use by small kids) then pretty much all of the medium-sized SUVs, such as the Opel Zafira, Peugeot 5008, Citroen C4 Picasso and Ford C-Max are out of the question. They're simply not big enough. You'll need, therefore, to trade up to a proper, full-size SUV and in that category there's simply nothing better than a Ford Galaxy. There's real space in the third row even for big people and while the 2.0-litre 140hp diesel engine is a bit juicy on tax (Band C) it's pretty good on overall fuel economy .

They're robustly made too, and while the Galaxy isn't on Ford's official Irish price list any more, a quick ring around the dealer network should easily turn up either a dealer demo model or a very young used car.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi F D,

The 100hp Astra was never the quickest car in the world at the best of times, and much here will depend on exactly when and at what rpm you’re trying to change gears and accelerate. I think it’s a bit early to start talking about power upgrades or changing the engine management system — your best bet is to get the car into a garage and have the engine checked out for any issues. When was the last time you had it serviced, for example?

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Hi Nessa,

Yes it is. In fact, in the latest generation RAV4, it doesn't appear possible to get a front-wheel drive only petrol RAV4. The 2.0-litre petrol 'Valvematic' model with AWD (all-wheel drive) starts at €33,830. Full details on Toyota's own website.

Hope that helps

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Hi James,

The Nissan X-Trail has a timing chain, so should be virtually maintenance free.

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Hi Steve,

That fault code indicates a wiring issue somewhere that may well be your problem, but would require a good auto electrician to sort out. 

However, before doing that, a known issue with that car causing similar problems is a faulty engine coolant temperature sensor that intermittently sends the wrong signal to the car's brain and causes all kinds of problems. It needs to be replaced and shouldn't cost the earth.

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Hi Andrew,

Whether it's a case of giving us the poor mouth or not I'm not sure but Irish dealers by and large operate on a margin of between 8 and 12 per cent. That can vary wildly between brands, of course. Dacia dealers for instance will probably tell you they work on a margin closer to five per cent, so don't go asking for discounts. Premium brand dealers will obviously have broader margins so there is a little more scope for discounting there. 

The UK market has a number of advantages over us when it comes to seeking out bargains. For a start, there's no VRT to pay, whereas anything from 30 to 50 per cent of every Irish dealer's sale goes straight into the tax man's pocket. Competition in the UK is also much more cut-throat and the big dealers have to compete with the likes of car supermarkets, so they're keener to offer discounts.

If you're looking for bargains at the moment in Ireland, the best thing to do is watch for pre-registrations. To meet their market share targets, many importers are pressuring their dealers to register cars that will then be sold as 'nearly new' or 'demo model' at a significant price cut. The best thing to do is shop at the start of the month, as most pre-registering will be done on the last working day of the previous month and dealers will be keen to off-load pre-registered stock.

Hope all that helps

Expert answer

Hi David,

It's actually a very good car, and as long as it has a full service history you shouldn't have too much to worry about. That 1.6 TDCi engine is robust, but just make sure that at each service it has been topped up with the correct grade and type of oil as it's a bit sensitive in that regard. The only regular weak point is the exhaust gas recirculation valve, which can give trouble. Any lack of power or sluggish acceleration is the giveaway. Loud? Not really. Of course, a petrol-engined version would be a touch quieter but the Focus is at least as refined as any of its main rivals. Of course, being a Focus, that means that there's lots around to choose from, so be picky and shop around until you find a really good one.