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Hi Gerard,

If you’re doing very low mileage (and you pretty much are) then we would usually say that the petrol engine is the better option. However, with the new CX-5 that’s a slightly tougher decision as the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine isn’t as good as the diesel options — it’s a bit underpowered and underwhelming to drive. The 150hp 2.2-litre diesel is a much better engine overall. Have a test drive of both and see which you prefer.

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Hi Mark,

Yes, estates are definitely the most practical, and generally offer a lower purchase price and lower running costs than an equivalent SUV or crossover. They tend to have bigger boots, too. The best Qashqai spec is generally SV or SVE, which come with the touchscreen, air conditioning and some other nice toys. The Kadjar is essentially mechanically identical to the Qashqai, so should be fine from a reliability front.

The Skoda Octavia Combi estate would probably be the best overall bet for you. The rear seats and boot are massive and very kid-friendly, and they’re reliable. With your mileage, you’re probably better off with a petrol engine, so go for a 1.2 TSI for the best overall value.

It’s well worth looking at a Toyota Auris Estate too — it's huge inside and virtually unbreakable. Worth considering the hybrid as well. Hyundai is also well worth a look. The Tucson makes a good SUV option, and the i40 Tourer estate is a terrific car, but you’ll struggle to find anything other than a diesel. Here are a few reviews for further reading:

Nissan Qashqai review

Renault Kadjar review

Hyundai Tucson review

Skoda Octavia Combi review

Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid

Expert answer

Hi Lucy,

It's always difficult to analyse an issue like that from afar, but it is likely to be a problem with either the charging circuit (battery or alternator, basically) or maybe the mass air flow meter. All of these things could be affected by lower than usual temperatures, but if working properly they should still not fail.

Best advice I can give is to get your car to a good mechanic if it does this again.

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Hi Marian,

As hourly labour rates vary so much from garage to garage, that's not an easy one for us to answer. Likewise, the parts themselves can vary in price depending on where they are bought from. The best we can do is tell you that the work should take about four and a half hours. Ring around a few garages with that knowledge in mind.

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Hi Darren,

Unless the damage is very slight and not at all jagged, then yes, it probably will fail. An extract from the NCT manual as a reason for failure: "Secondary structural components missing, insecure, rustedor damaged to such an extent as to leave sharp edges."

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Hi Dermot,

It's impossible for us to know where the oil leak is coming from, I'm afraid, and that will massively affect the cost of the repair. It could just be from the cover, or a camshaft oil seal, both relatively small jobs, or from a damaged head gasket, which is considerably more work.

If the leak is substantial, you really should bring the car to a good mechanic for an estimate and to help you pinpoint the source.

Best of luck

Expert answer

Hi Roland,

It’s a simple choice — the Porsche. Not that we don’t love the E46 M3 and its snarling straight-six soundtrack, but the problem will be finding a good one. With prices dropping, a lot have fallen into disreputable hands, and for a car that needs careful and constant maintenance, that’s bad news.

Not that there are no bad Porsches out there, but the 996 is almost (almost) an investment. Prices are starting to nudge upward, so search for the best possible one you can find, don’t buy without a really solid Porsche service history (or one from a reputable independent specialist) and be prepared to spend a reasonable amount keeping it maintained. Do that, and it might just increase in value over the next few years.

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

We asked Toyota Ireland about this and the explanation appears to be that the leather seats are not set up to be ordered from the factory, though they can be purchased as an aftersales accessory. 

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Hi Ray,

To be honest, it sounds to me as if you should just stick with it. I appreciate that it’s not much fun spending €1,200 a year on motor tax, and that the service interval is a bit short, but if you’re only doing short mileages with the occasional long trip, then you’re just going to be throwing money at trading up to a car you don’t really need.

DPF issues are never far away from a diesel car if you’re only doing low mileage, but the biggest issue is going to be the cost of change. A budget of €200 a month isn’t going to get you very much, to be honest, so I would just do the work your Volvo needs and stick with it.

Expert answer

Hi Hugh,

It’s only a rough guess, as ever with VRT, but it should be in the region of €3,300.