Expert answer

Hi Tony,

Er, not very I'm afraid. Yes, underneath it's essentially an old Honda Civic, so those bits are pretty solid but the build quality coming out of Rover's now dead-and-gone old Longbridge factory was never especially good, and you need to be very wary of electrical issues, rain seals, poor quality cabin trim and rust creeping in, especially underneath. Plus, if it's the 1.4-litre petrol, that K-Series engine was always a lovely little powerplant to drive, but it had a plastic inlet manifold that can warp and there's also the all-too-common head gasket failure. Tread carefully!

Expert answer

Hi Caroline,

The Qashqai should be pretty reliable; Nissans tend to be, although we have noted that it's a model that's been through quite a few recalls, so check with Nissan to make sure that the one you're looking at has had all its work done. Other than that the only weak spot seems to be the rear suspension and bushes, which can be prone to wear. Listen for clonking noises from the back or wallowy handling.

Expert answer

Hi Darragh,

Well, there's both good news and bad news. The good news is that the W124 is from an era when Merc built its cars properly, so they're as rugged as the day is long. 

The downside is that this is now a very old car so literally anything can be wrong with it. Ignore any sewing-machine noises coming from the engine - that's just a classic Merc trait and nothing to worry about. Blue smoke from the exhaust is bad news though and could be the piston rings on the way out. If it's an auto then check to make sure there's no hesitation selecting a gear or kicking down. The cabin should stand up to wear and tear pretty well, and there's not much in the way of complex electronics to go wrong but check all the internal systems, like dials, air conditioning and electric windows, to make sure they're in good health. 

With an older car like this, it's always a good idea to get in touch with the owners' club who will be a font of advice and help.

Expert answer

Hi Gareth,

Go for the Skoda. Dave Humphreys (also of this parish) and I recently drove the latest Octavia RS diesel from Goodwood to Dublin and frankly, you'd be hard pressed to find a car with a broader spread of talents. Go for the estate to get the best looking (as well as most useful) version.

Let us know what you do

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

We'd definitely advise you to go straight to Skoda on this one.

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

It's impossible to diagnose such an issue from afar accurately, but known issues with that Mondeo include:

- Water in the fuel filter or tank (replace the fuel filter to check)

- Poor earth connection under the battery (check the physical connection for rust, etc)

- Fuel injectors out of calibration (requires reprogramming, usually at a dealer)

Another possibility is that the dual-mass flywheel has broken up and needs replacing.

I'd recommend you get the car along to a good mechanic to diagnose it properly.

Expert answer

Hi Amanda,

Pretty good, but all Mercedes models of that era suffered major problems with the electrical systems (especially the instrument displays) and some braking issues too. It's a complex car so perhaps get in touch with the Mercedes Club of Ireland to get a better handle and some friendly advice.

Expert answer

Hi Ben,

Watch for faulty exhaust cats, failing electrics (especially the electric windows), fragile suspension mounts and bushings, disintegrating cabin trim and cracked engine mounts.

Expert answer

Hi Marc,

Well, both cars will be more or less equally economical over that kind of mileage, but you'll be filling the Skoda up more frequently as it has a smaller fuel tank. 

Even so, we'd say go for the Skoda. With kids (growing kids at that) you'll find the space in the back and the gargantuan boot are blessings from the car gods. The Audi may be slightly sharper to drive and certainly more handsome but as family wheels the Superb really is hard to beat.

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

Ah, a car close to my particular heart. I owned one for several years and can happily report that it never gave a day's trouble. 

That said, watch for issues with the brake servo, the fuel pump and the alternator. And the plastics in the cabin are quite fragile and easily-marked, so a perfectly healthy car can look surprisingly tired inside.