What's causing the whining noise in my Landcruiser?
I recently purchased a 3.0-litre Toyota Landcruiser in Northern Ireland and have noticed some rust in the chassis and exhaust, but more worrying is a whining noise it has developed in first, second and third gears at around 2,000rpm - the noise dissipates at about 2,300rpm. Have you any idea what the problem could be? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Neville Case (Wicklow)Jul 2011 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Neville,
While the Landcruiser is generally quite robust many large four-wheel drives give trouble with their gearboxes. They're more complicated than your average car's. It's not possible to diagnose your particular problem through email, but it could be as simple as a bearing in the gearbox. I'm afraid you need to bring the car to a mechanic to have it looked at before you'll know what the problem is.
Good luck with it.
Will I have Freelander problems?
Hi,
I am thinking of buy a second hand 2007 Freelander 2 with 90k miles. I would be grateful for your insights on 2 questions: 1. What major service issues should i check should have been done already by 90k (e.g. timing belt changes, etc) and what major works / replacements do you think will need doing in the future ? 2. I have read that Freelanders can develop signficant problems (more the old version than this one). Do you think that if this Freelander 2 has not developed such problems by 90k that it is likely that most problems in the future will be related to mileage undertaken ? (i.e. if such problems have not surfaced by 90k they are not likely to) I am not absolutely committed to buy a Freelander 2 so if you warn me to stay away from Freelanders i wont be disappointed!
Regards and thank you in advance, Ciaran.
Ciaran Browne (Dublin)Jul 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ciaran,
Sorry for the delay in coming back to you on this. Let me honest first and foremost and put my cards on the table and say that I probably wouldn't buy a second-hand Land Rover Freelander at all and especially one with 90,000 miles on the clock. You are right in what you say that the second one has proven to be more reliable than the first one but it still has been a little bit problematic. There aren't major reports of problems on the second version, but to be honest if I was looking at a vehicle a few years old and in SUV form I'd be looking at something from Japan or Korea.
If you are going to get one and you have your heart totally set on it then only buy from a main dealer with a full service history and get the longest warranty you can find.
For me though, I'd still be looking at something like Toyota RAV4, Nissan Qashqai or Hyundai ix35 to get something that will be reasonably headache free.
I hope this helps.
Can I get a discount on a new BMW 520d?
Hi, I would like to know if it's possible to get a discount on a new BMW 520d from a BMW dealer. I have seen on the internet that it seems to be common practice in other countries but have not heard anything about what happens in Ireland. Thanks.
Sarah Jones (Limerick)Jul 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Sarah,
As a cash buyer you can sometimes get a discount on a new car. Often this depends on how popular the car is though and the 520d is in massive demand at the moment, so I would suspect that discounts are likely to be pretty thin on the ground. It is worth a try, but I think aside from a small discount you would have to pay list price on this popular car.
I hope this helps
Will I buy the Saab I have always wanted?
Hi,
I'm considering buying a 04/05 Saab 9-3 petrol with about 80,000 miles on the clock. I have always like this car but are they reliable? And are they expensive to repair? My heart is telling me to get the saab and my head is telling me to get an Avensis/Mondeo type car..Help!
Thanks Ray
Ray Murphy (Dublin)Jul 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Ray, do you know what? I am like you. I would always go for the older, more interesting car rather than the brand new snooze-box. I won't lie to you though, the Saab could be a pain if you compare it to something like an Avensis (sorry, I nodded off there). Look, a few things might end up going wrong, but it is a way cooler car than the ones that you mentioned. Repairs won't be too bad as most Opel dealers can cope with them pretty well. I'd say go for it, but don't expect it to be as trouble free as an Avensis.
Can I do PCP on a second-hand car?
Is it possible to do a PCP on a second-hand car from a garage or does it have to be new? I was considering doing this with a F10 BMW 5 Series and taking the worry out of depreciation etc. I would have a sizeable deposit.
Paul Byrne (Drogheda)Jun 2011 Filed under: finance
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
We asked our friends over in Motorcheck.ie about this. Unfortunately you can only do a PCP on a brand new car. Sorry about that.
When is the seven-speed auto Mercedes E-Class coming?
Any idea when the new revised Mercedes-Benz E-Class with the seven-speed automatic and lower emissions will be released and if prices will be reduced in line with lower VRT rates?
Thanks,
Andrew
Andrew Kelly (Drogheda)Jun 2011 Filed under: new car ordering
Expert answer
Hi Andrew,
According to Ciaran Allen, Sales Manager of Mercedes-Benz, "Stop/start is the main factor in reducing CO2 and is available now on manual models. We are not expecting full availability on stop/start including seven-speed auto until August production - September arrival. Because of our market seasonality August and September are not big production months for us, so while it will be available we really consider E-Class seven-speed as a 2012 car. The model price won't be reduced but the auto road tax will go from band C to band B."
Hope that answers your question?
Which car should I trade in?
I have a 2000 Micra with only 40,000 miles, its our second car. We also have an 2004 VW Passat 2.0-litre Diesel. Would I do better in the Scrapage Scheme with the Micra or trading in the Passat. We would like something similar to the Passat or even a little smaller.
Donal Mc Menamin (Dublin)Jun 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Donal,
That is a very good question, but one that you really might not have a choice on. The scrappage scheme ends in just six days, you would have to have scrapped the Micra and registered your new car by then to ensure that you get the scrappage allowance. Having said that, if you get a car that is already in stock then you would certainly probably be best getting the most amount of money possible for the lower value car and that will certainly be the Micra.
As we have mentioned here before, Renault offer the most amount of money off a new car through the scrappage scheme so in effect if you bought something like a Megane or Fluence you could make your Micra very valuable. I am doubtful that you would want to go from a Passat to a Megane or Fluence however, despite the fact that you do mention you would get something smaller.
The other side of this arguement is though, that you would have to put less money towards your new car if you traded in the Passat - so I guess that part really depends on your own circumstances. If you scrapped the Micra you would still be left with the Passat, which you will need to change again at some stage I am sure. Economically, it might make decent sense to hold on to the Micra. Just because it is old doesn't mean it has to go. It could last another few good years doing the job it has been doing well. If the Micra is costing you little or nothing now, it isn't likely to depreciate too hard, while you could maximise the value of your Passat by trading it in now rather than letting the mileage get too high.
To be honest, the obvious choice for me, if you were intending getting something similar but not quite as big would be to go for the new Volkswagen Jetta. It isn't quite as big as the Passat but feels every bit as good. You didn't mention a budget to us, so if you need to be more specific then come back to us, but the new Jetta would be an ideal purchase.
What car for family of four under scrappage?
What car should we get on scrappage that's cheap, economical and spacious for family of four?
Mary Tully (Dublin)Jun 2011 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi Mary,
You have sure left it late! There really is only a matter of days left on the scrappage scheme so make sure that you fit all the criteria and that you can get your car scrapped in time.
You can read our article on this here.
Anyway, since you have little time and you need a decent car that is cheap, economical and spacious I would say that a good buy would be the Renault Grand Mégane. You are likely to find one in stock and it is superb value. We reviewed the car recently here. It is a super car for the money. There is more available from the Renault website and if you are after space then this would fit the bill.
Anyway, you don't have a lot of time, so hurry!
I need another estate car
Great site. I have one myself so know the amount of work it takes to keep it running so well done.
I have a 2001 Audi A6 and want to replace it with an estate as I have a dog. I have about €20k to spend and am not worried about getting a car that is a few years old, as I do not do much mileage.
Thanks
Mark S (Dublin)Jun 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
It is hard not to look past a BMW 520d Touring. There are a few nice ones around that fit your budget and to be honest this is where I would be looking. You might need one from a dealer if you intend to trade in. They are super cars and cheap to run too.
However, an outside choice as an estate is the Volvo V70. I personally love them as they are timeless and great for the dogs too. I have been drooling looking at this one in Cork all week and I reckon it would be a super buy - look at how low the mileage is!
Failing that, and if you aren't too worried about it being petrol, then a Subaru Outback is a marvellous car; this one has low mileage and is within your budget.
You might notice I didn't mention any Audis there. I figure you want a change, otherwise you wouldn't be asking us!
Best of luck with the change and make sure to tell us what you bought. You will find us on Twitter @completecar.
I need a stylish, practical car for low mileage use.
Hi, I am looking for a reasonably stylish and fun-to-drive car that is practical enough to carry a couple of sets of golf clubs. I only drive about 3,000 miles a year as I live in city centre and walk most places. I therefore was thinking a petrol model would be a wiser choice than diesel.
I am less worried about upfront cost and more about cost of ownership such as depreciation, servicing, maintenance etc. I don't mind spending more for quality, but value and reliability are important. I am therefore thinking a couple years old maximum.
Cars I have considered are a 2008/9 Mazda6 Sport five-door with the 1.8-litre petrol engine (tough to find) and a 2009 Audi A5 with the 2.0 TFSI engine. This probably shows that I have a pretty broad range of things I would consider and I would be open to something completely different. What are your thoughts?
Apologies as I know its a fairly broad question but I figure you guys need a challenge every now and again.
Thanks for the great site, there really is no equal in Ireland.
Derek Popkes (Dublin)Jun 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Derek,
Glad you like the site. Let's hope we can live up to your expectations! We got a little bit of extra information from you and you told us that you are trading in a 2000 Mazda 323 five-door and that your budget is around €30,000-€32,000, which is plenty to work with.
Given your criteria, and the fact that you mention the Audi A5, then I've had a look at some of those. You mention petrol models and with your low mileage then you could quite easily run a petrol car, but given the fact that you are concerned about residuals then the diesels in the A5 would make a better choice. There is a lovely 2.7-litre TDI A5 in the classifieds and this is under €30,000. It would be a smashing buy and the fact that it has quite high mileage doesn't really mattter in your case. The 2.7 TDI version would hold its value better than a 2.0T petrol.
At the other end of things you mention the Mazda6 - an odd contrast to the Audi but still a nice car nonetheless. You are unlikely to find a petrol-powered Mazda6 because Mazda really hasn't sold any in the last few years in Ireland. Plus, it wouldn't be a good use of money because it would be hard to sell on again a few years down the line. The diesel version is so much better anyway these days and you could have a demo 2011 model for well under €30,000. It is a nice car, but to be honest we can find you something a little more interesting.
How about a Jaguar XF 2.7 D Luxury? What a super car, for €33,000. This is a marvellous example and fully loaded with kit. Another outside bet would be a 2008 Lexus GS 450h. We found a low mileage one that would be great around town and it is super fast.
After all that, this is the car I think would suit you best. It is petrol, a 320i, but it is a hard-top convertible and it looks awesome. I don't know if you are a BMW fan but this could be a brilliant buy for you.
Come back to us if we've not hit the nail on the head.