Expert answer

Hi Albert,

Generally speaking, it should be fine. In fact, depending on which options the original owner ticked on the sales form, it may even still have a couple of years worth of warranty to run. Most of them are fitted with the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine, which is a proven and rugged design. It's also very economical, which is a bonus.

As ever, with any French car, watch the electrical systems like a hawk. Renaults are prone to throwing an odd warning light at you, which could be something major about to go bang, or it could just be a faulty warning light. Either way, pounce on any potential issue and get it sorted, quick. Watch for the diesel particulate filter clogging up too if the previous owner has only been doing low-speed, around-town mileage.

Hope that helps and let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Diarmuid,

With that kind of mileage, I'm afraid the value just plummets and that's notwithstanding the fact that the Mazda6 is reliable and very well built. I'd say you're looking at a value of around €2,500 to maybe €3,500.

As for changing, with that kind of annual mileage I'd say it could be well worth looking at changing for a newer diesel model. The 2.2 diesel Mazda 6 is a bit of a favourite around here, really good to drive with good economy. Just get the calculator out and do your sums carefully to make sure that you'll be saving money in the long run. With the cost of changing your car, it can be worth looking at spending money on your existing car, giving it a good going over and a tune-up, which can both prolong its service life and improve the fuel economy.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Aideen,

Wow. That's a request, and frankly, space and time simply don't permit. So I'll boil it down to the two best options for pre-and-post 2008. Pre: Toyota Corolla Verso. Spacious, simple and very reliable. A very hard car to beat.

Post 2008? Ford C-Max (the current model). Perhaps not as utterly reliable as the Toyota, but solidly built, spacious and with an excellent and efficient 1.6 litre diesel. Good cars, both.

Is that enough information for now?

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

To be honest, if badge snobbery were outlawed in the morning, the Kangoo is what we'd all be driving. Massively spacious, comfy and not at all bad to drive, it's the closest modern successor to the original Renault 4. And yes, that's a good thing.

As for reliability, they're pretty good. Being van-based, the mechanical bits are generally of an older design, so the kinks have been long since ironed out and they don't break down much. The only thing to watch for, as on any French car, is the electrical system, which can storm off in a Gallic huff, especially where electric windows are concerned.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Maria,

The simple reason for Merivas being worth less is that they're just not as in demand as the mechanically similar Corsa. The Corsa has always been popular with learner drivers and first time car owners so its values hold up. The Meriva, as a compact MPV, just isn't as popular so its prices are softer.

As for reliability, like all Opels it's decently well made, but being a mass-market car, there are issues. The most serious of which is a persistent power steering failure, which prompted a recall, so make sure any car you're looking at has had that done. Other than that, watch for fuzzy engine management systems, broken turbos on the diesel models, fragile cabin trim and timing chains that need too much attention at low mileages.

Hope that all helps

Expert answer

Hi Nuala,

Mostly yes, they're fine. The engines and gearboxes are essentially old Mercedes-Benz items and they're pretty long lived and can rack up mega mileages. What you've got to watch for are cabin trim (which is spectacularly fragile and can often come off in your hands) and electrical gremlins. Essentially, if it's on a Rodius and its got a wire in it, it can go wrong, so check carefully to make sure that everything electric is working and budget for running repairs in the future. Expect to pay around €3,500 to €4,000 for a 2005 version, but they're pretty thin on the ground.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Myra,

You should be paying anything from as little as €8,000 to as much as €15,000 depending on condition, mileage and history. As for reliability; are you kidding? It's a Lexus and about as likely to break as a sundial.

All we would say is that, as with any modern premium-brand car, there are a lot of complex systems under there that all need to be properly cared for, so if you don't see a full set of authorised Lexus dealer stamps in the service book, run, don't walk, away.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Julie,

The short answers are; no. And, indeed, no.

The 206 is actually quite mechanically robust, so major things like engines and gearboxes tend to last pretty well, but the roof of the CC model is a disaster. Not only does it tend to leak, but it often gets jammed halfway through folding. The cabin trim is pretty fragile too and switches, important ones like the indicator stalk, often break.

The Volkswagen Beetle isn't much better. It was based on the Mk IV Golf, which is the one with just about the poorest reliability record of the whole Golf family. Engine management issues are the most serious ones, so make sure there's a full and proper service history with any car you're looking at.

Hopet that helps

Expert answer

Hi Ros,

Not so much. The Mk IV Golf was not the paragon of reliability that the previous three generations had been, nor indeed that the subsequent three generations have been. The biggest recurring problem seems to be fragile engine management systems that can fail, which often leads to major mechanical components going pop. Smaller irritating niggles such as failed locking systems and electric windows have also been regularly reported. 

That said, by 2003, that generation Golf was gearing up to be replaced so it's possible that Volkswagen had ironed out the model's issues by then. Worth looking at so, but tread carefully and have the car checked. A full set of service logs and history would be nice too as always.

Expert answer

Hi Christopher,

The labour rate will vary from garage to garage, but it should take less than an hour to complete the job. Likewise, the price of the alternator will vary whether you are buying it from Ford direct, a local motor factors or an online car parts site, such as MicksGarage.com - we saw one there for about €165.