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What estate car for the family and dog?

Can you recommend a family car (estate) in the €6,000-€7,000 price range? Should I be looking at the engine size to balance the extra weight of a family and dog!?

Steve Lynch (Bray)

Aug 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Steve,

A fair degree depends on your mileage and how much you are prepared to pay per year in motor tax. Bearing in mind that you will be getting an older car, the motor tax can be pricier, but that is just a fact of life. If you want to carry lots of people and stuff then a diesel will be a better choice in an estate because there is more torque but it isn't essential. 

If you weren't afraid of the odd bill, then a BMW 320D Estate would be a super car. I've owned one and they are great, but get expensive the older they get. 

I'd be very tempted by this Nissan X-Trail which has low mileage, is diesel and would be great for the family. 

This Peugeot 407 SW is superb value and lots of car for the money. 

I think out of that lot, I'd probably have the Focus though. 

I hope this helps! 

I'd say something like a 2005 Ford Focus 1.6 Diesel Estate would be a good place to start - something like this one as it would be cheap to run and spacious as well as good to drive too. 


Does my Kia Sorento have suspension problems?

Hi, I recently bought a 2008 Kia Sorento (30k miles) privately and really like it. Everything has been great so far except for when I hit bumps in the road. The bang you get from going over bumps is quite hard and travels through your body. I did research on Sorentos before buying it but now going back I see there are suspension problems reported on Kias. Do you think if I replace the shocks it should ease the suspension problem and do you know if there is a type of shock that I should get a garage to install to try and dampen down the bang I get from bumps in the road?

Thanks Ciaran.

Ciaran Browne (Dublin)

Aug 2011 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Ciaran,

The Sorento is known for being robust and generally mechanically sound. However, its suspension was never the most comfortable. Your car is very low mileage so I would be surprised if anything in the suspension needs to be replaced as yet. One option would be to ask a mechanic to replace the dampers with high quality items. They'll cost more though.

Before you do that I'd urge you to try to get your hands on another example of the Sorento - from a dealer or something - to compare back-to-back with your own over the same bumpy road. Only then can you know if there's a problem.

Finally, check the tyre pressures as well and make sure they're within spec.

Hope that helps in some way.


WIll I buy now to get the best deal on a Volkswagen Golf?

Hi Paddy,

I love the site and your reviews for the irishtimes. Just looking for some advice. I'm buying a new VW Golf for January delivery. First time buying a new car. I'm getting the Edition-R 1.2TSI 105bhp with some options like MFSW, privacy glass and auto lights/wipers. Have you any tips for haggling with dealers?

I've shopped around to about 5 of them and the price in Dublin is much the same - none of them would budge, cost to change for me is about €21k (though I have been offered a better trade in price outside the pale). Also, I was told that Volkswagen are holding a dealer conference in October where some changes are likely to be introduced to the range, and also that VW may increase their 5.9% finance rate - have you heard anything about this or know what kind of spec changes are coming for the Golf? Would I be better off ordering before then and getting the dealer to hold it for me?

Many Thanks, Eoin.

Eoin S (Dublin)

Aug 2011 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

I'm glad you like the site. Firstly, let me congratulate you on choosing a nice car. I had a Golf Edition R recently and it was a really lovely car. The spec is really good on that car and you seem to have chosen a nice few options on the car. 

There are a couple of things that you mention there and it is tricky to answer them. Volkswagen are unlikely to announce anything from their dealer conference until after their dealer conference. I'm not sure where you get your intelligence but we can certainly investigate. In terms of your deal, the usual advice applies - you need to focus on the cost to change and not how much your own car is worth, which you appear to be doing and given that you aren't changing your car until January it can be difficult for the car dealers to price your trade-in. My advice to you would be to put down your deposit, arrange your deal and make sure that your terms are agreed. If there is any change which would favour you then you can renegotiate, but at least if it turns out to be as you suspect, then at least you will have secured the best possible rate. 

The other bit of advice I would give, is if your trade-in came from say, a Peugeot dealer, then go back to the Peugeot dealer and offer him the deal. Most dealers can buy in the car you want and they might offer you a better deal on your trade-in. That would be worth a try. 

I hope this helps. Feel free to come back to us if you need more help, we are always here!!


Why is my car worth so little?

Please help! My local Ford garage offered €9,000 trade in for my 2-year old Fiesta 1.4 automatic, 17,000 miles against new 2 litre Focus Ghia automatic. . My friend was offered €11,000 for her 2 year old Focus 2 litre automatic 20,000 miles against new Focus Titanium. Both cars were originally bought in this garage.

Changeover date for both cars Feb. 2012. Can such apalling values for our cars be correct? We are going to shop around but we have no idea what figure we should be looking for. Please , please give us your opinion. Regards, Teresa

Teresa Joyce (Ennis, Co. Clare)

Aug 2011 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Teresa,

As with any car exchange - you need to look at the cost to change, not the value of your trade in. At the moment there are lots of Ford Fiesta and Focus models on the used market so the values of them aren't great. The dealers are also pricing your cars as to what they will be worth in February 2012 when the cars arrive. 

You said you are going to shop around and that is exactly what you should do. We could tell you that your cars are worth more, but unless a dealer is offering you this then it is not much use. 

You need to shop around!


When is the timing belt due on a Peugeot 807?

When is timing belt due for change on peugeot 807 and what else has to be done with it?

Padraig Sinnott (Donard)

Aug 2011 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Padraig,

We asked Peugeot Ireland about this and they told us - "For this vehicle with a 2 litre diesel engine we recommend 80000 km or 5 years with ever comes first."

Aside from that make sure to check on the diesel particulate filter. 

I hope this helps


How much should a dent cost to fix?

How much would it be to repair a dented boot door from a small rear end accident? No paint damage, just a boot door dent across the width of a car bonnet.

Mark White (Kildare)

Aug 2011 Filed under: paintwork

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

I'm afraid that's a very difficult question for us to answer remotely. Every car is different, as is every dent. We'd suggest you contact someone like www.dentmagic.ie or www.autodentsolutions.ie to have a look, as they provide a service that requires no painting, sanding or filling. Should work out far cheaper too.

Hope that helps.


Should I swap my Volvo S80 for a Mondeo or Citroen C5?

Howaya.

I have a 2007 Volvo S80 D5 and it's giving me 7 litres per 100km. I'm thinking of exchanging it for either a Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi or a Citroen C5 1.6 - both 2008. Which car is better from economy, reliability and safety point of view or should I change at all?

Thanks

Justin McElwee (Galway)

Aug 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Justin,

I can't imagine why you would want to come down from a Volvo S8- into a Mondeo or Citroen C5, which are going to both feel inferior to what you have. Are you just simply bored with the car you have and want a change? Both the Mondeo and C5 are 'okay' but their diesel engines aren't as good as the Volvos.

Without fully knowing your circumstances, I would say that if you did want to get something else, then you should perhaps look at a Subaru Legacy Diesel, which for me is the best in its class around that era.

Here is one:

Subaru Legacy

Otherwise, stick with what you have, because both the Mondeo and C5 will feel inferior to your S80.

I hope this helps!


How do I know if my head gasket is gone?

Hi. I just wanted to know how would I find out if my car's head gasket is gone. When I start the car heaps of water comes out of the exhaust, but I'm not that sure if it is the gasket. Can you help me?

Thanks

Mohammed Sid (Palmerston North)

Aug 2011 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Mohammed,

It's quite normal for water to come out of an exhaust when a car starts up from cold. Water vapour can easily get trapped in the exhaust system when you stop the car and this condenses to liquid when it cools down. Symptoms of a head gasket gone would include overheating, steam in the exhaust under hard acceleration and bubbles in the coolant when the engine is running.

If you have any doubts you should bring the car to a qualified mechanic to check over.

Hope that helps.


Is Its4women car insurance ok?

Hello, I am looking around for quotes to renew my car insurance and I would like to know if Its4women is an ok company, as I was thinking of getting insurance from them as they have given the best quote. This includes my no claims bonus of six years fully protected. Thanks.

Pauline Murphy (Cork)

Aug 2011 Filed under: insurance

Expert answer

Hi Pauline,

We've not used them ourselves, but the credentials on the website seem to suggest it's a legit operation.

As with all insurance quotes make sure you read the small print before committing.

Hope that helps


What do I do about a leaking radiator?

My Toyota Camry suddenly started leaking coolant from the radiator and the engine stopped. Any ideas why?

Nilofar Majumdar (Yanboo)

Jul 2011 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Nilofar,

We presume that this was a very large leak rather than a trickle if the engine stopped. If an engine loses its coolant it will overheat, the cylinder block and head could warp and it will seize up and stop. If the engine ran for a long period with little or no coolant it could be a complete write-off. You need to get your car to a garage to have it looked at by an expert as soon as possible. Do not attempt to drive it there.

As to what caused this, the radiator itself may have been holed by road debris, or a hose could have worked loose. There are other possibilities of course, but these sound like the most likely causes.

Hopefully it doesn't cost you a fortune to repair and get back on the road.


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