Expert answer

Hi Brian,

You have two options for orthopaedic seats in your Yaris. The first is to try and track down a Japanese import 'Vitz RS', which was a turbocharged sports version of the Yaris. This may be difficult due to their rarity in Ireland.

The other (much more troublesome option) is to fit off-the shelf orthopaedic seats from the likes of Recaro or Sparco. We say more troublesome as these seats are rarely car specific and will require you to fit separate rails in addition to the seats.

We hope this helps.

Expert answer

Hi Sandra,

The Stilo is well known for its electrical gremlins I'm afraid and it's impossible to diagnose from afar. Even a good automotive electrician may not easily trace the source of your woes. In this instance we'd advise you to bring the car to a Fiat main dealer, as they will have seen the symptoms before and should quickly get to the root of the problem.

It's likely that there's an issue with the car's wiring loom, which is difficult to pinpoint.

Sorry not to be of more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Niamh,

That's a nice problem to have. Thanks for sending the details of the cars to us via email.

In my opinion, the BMW is the better driver's car and more practical. However, the Mercedes is faster and much sportier looking. It also looks to be better equipped. Both are quite reliable in general, especially with low mileages, so I wouldn't worry about that unduly.

Maybe get a Cartell.ie car history check to verify the mileage and that there is no outstanding finance when you decide which you prefer.

It's imperative that you drive both cars yourself for as long as the seller allows you, as, no matter what we say, your preference is all that matter.

Now, onto money. A figure of €4,500 seems a little steep as a cost to change given the asking price of those cars and the estimated value of your own. I'd be tempted to offer €2,000 and see what they say. Don't be afraid to walk away, as there will be plenty of other cars like this. Also consider selling your car privately for a better price - if more hassle...

Come back to us if you need anything else.

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

It's very difficult to assess such things from afar. It could just be dust and dirt in the wrong place or a stiff ball joint or bushing that needs to be replaced.

We advise you bring it to a mechanic to have a look at.

Expert answer

Hi John,

I'm afraid this is not something unique to the Kia Rio. Loads of new cars now come with this sealant kit instead of a spare wheel. Many motoring journalists in Ireland (ourselves included) are actively against this, but as car makers hope to reduce weight and cost this is the way it's going. It also frees up boot space - not that that matters to the hapless motorist stranded in the middle of nowhere with a hole in their tyre...

Final note - it's often not up to the Irish distributor to make the decision to offer a car with a spare wheel, but it's worth checking with a dealer before you put down a deposit if it's an option - and negotiate not to pay for it.

Expert answer

Hi Pierce,

Overall it's proving to be a reliable car with no major mechanical issues. There are a few things to watch out for on used examples, including uneven front tyre wear - indicating that the alignment is out. Scan the dashboard for warning lights too, as the particulate filters clog if the car isn't used at higher speed very often - and there are isolated reports of issues with the electronic parking brake.

Finally, ensure all the seat belts are in good order - including the adjusters - and that the electric windows all work as you'd expect them to.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Jenny,

I'm a family man myself so I know well your needs! Before saying anything more though I assume you've looked at the pricing of the BMW and Merc and that's not a consideration? The X3 starts at about €47,000, while the M-Class costs from €71,000.

If price is not a problem then the answer has to be the Merc. It's a bigger, more luxurious car with more equipment. There's nothing at all wrong with the X3 (I'd consider owning one myself), but the Merc is in a different league - as it should be for that price difference.

Come back to me if we can help further.

Expert answer

Hi Hagen,

There's a lot of choice on the market for that price. Here's a few cars we'd consider good buys for the purpose you've described:

Citroen C3, Fiat Panda, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Honda Jazz, Mazda3, Nissan Almera, Nissan Micra, Opel Astra, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Cordoba, SEAT Leon, Skoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Polo.

I appreciate that's a long list, but we've left out plenty too! If you'd like more in depth help with choosing from the above come back to us.

Expert answer

Hi Annette,

First thing to try is changing the battery in the key. Hopefully it's as simple as that!

If not, come back to us again...

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

If you don't have any luck cleaning this by hand it's probably worth bringing the car into a spray painter and having the paint machine compounded and then polished back up.

Cheaper than a respray!