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Hi Alan,

Quite a few niggling faults really, although it's worth pointing out that the Galaxy shares all its mechanical bits with the generally-very-reliable Ford Mondeo. The main issues seem to revolve around electrical faults, which can affect the wipers, windows, lights and the anti-lock brake (ABS) system. Check carefully to make sure all are working and don't ignore a warning light. Then there's the interior trim, which many owners describe as fragile and some have even reported cabin parts coming off in their hands!

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Hi Peter,

For a ten-year-old Ford, that sounds a little too pricey. There are certainly better value Mondeos around. On the whole, though, it is a good car to buy. The quality of Mondeos that came out of the old factory in Ghent in Belgium was better than the new ones coming out of Valencia in Spain, and if it has a full service history and that mileage is genuine, then it should be pretty solid.

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Hi Catherine,

OK, so what you need here is something spacious (kids, even just the one, take up a heroic amount of space, as you know), something economical for all that annual mileage and something comfy so that your buttocks survive all that mileage. I think you should stay with the current rough size of car, as some of the best bargains can be found in the mid-size saloon segment.

First up is a Volkswagen Passat. Ideally, you'd get the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion version, a car in which we once managed to drive from Galway to Glasgow and back on one tank of fuel. Or, what about a Ford Mondeo? You'll easily get a 2.0 TDCi model for that money, and there are very few cars quite so comfy on a long journey. Even BMWs and Mercs can't always match the Mondeo for seat comfort.

Of course, if you fancy the high life, and are prepared to compromise on space a little, then there's the BMW 3 Series. You'll get a 320d or 318d for that kind of budget, but shop around to make sure you get one in a dark metallic, with leather and preferably an automatic gearbox.

Finally, there's the Mazda6. Bit of an unsung hero of this segment, it's brilliant to drive, spacious, good looking and you should be able to track one down with Mazda's excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine under the bonnet. Reliable as it gets, it should chomp through your annual mileage with nary a worry. Find the even more handsome estate version if you can.

Come back to us if you need help narrowing this down.

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Hi Gary,

The only major recurrent problems seem to be exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves that can get sticky (a smell of unburned diesel is the giveaway) and a weak timing belt tensioner that needs regular attention. There's an excellent UK-based owners club at stdrivers.co.uk and the forums there are full of helpful advice. Apparently, in the UK, some of the parts for the 2.2 diesel engine are cheaper from Jaguar dealers (the same engine was used in the X-Type), but we're not sure if that holds true here. Lovely car the ST TDCi, although I do recall from my (long ago) test drive that the brakes needed a hell of a good shove to work hard...

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Hi Greg,

Yes, it’s well worth looking at a UK import as you can potentially save money. Mind you, have a shop around local dealers too — many of them have cut their prices to compete with the UK cars, and you can often get better after-sales care if you buy locally. A figure of 90-110k miles isn’t a big deal in and of itself; it all comes down to the service history. If the car has been cared for and has a fully stamped-up service book, then it should be fine.

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Hi David,

We can't find any information on a known issue so I would suggest you bring the car to a good auto-electrician or in-car entertainment specialist to have it sorted out.

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Hi Paddy,

If reliability is what you’re looking for, always go for the Toyota. The Ford is actually pretty solid, in quality and reliability terms, but when it comes to quality, nothing beats a Toyota. 

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Hi Paul,

These have both a chain and belt set up. The belt (known as a 'wet belt') is immersed in oil to reduce Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) and is recommended to be changed before 200,000 kilometres or ten years, whichever comes first. As the belt is immersed in oil, it is imperative that the vehicle is serviced regularly and correctly (every 20,000km or once a year) to ensure the longevity of the belt.

Hope that helps

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Hi Tommy,

First of all a quick list of possibilities we found on Carzone.ie that we would consider wise buys:

- Audi A4 - Good to drive and plenty about, though you'd have to look at 2005 - 2007 within your budget. Not all that spacious either.

- Audi A6 - Hugely spacious and comfortable, but again you'd have to settle for an older car with higher mileage, which could bring unexpected costs.

- BMW 3 Series - Most examples at this price are 2005-2007. Economical diesels and great to drive, but we'd worry about potential bills - and not as spacious as non-premium brands.

- BMW 5 Series - We'd be sorely tempted by this 2005-2007 model as it's such a great car. Seek out a low mileage example with a full service history and a warranty though.

- Citroen C5 - Comfy big car with decent specification and well-proven diesel engines. Not a huge number on the market, though at least you could afford a 2008 car.

- Ford Mondeo - One of the default options here. It's big, comfortable, good to drive and there are loads and loads about. Relatively cheap and easy to maintain too.

- Honda Accord - Relatively unknown here, but the 2.2-litre diesel engine is a gem and the car is very reliable and comfortable. Look for a post-2008 one to keep your tax bill down.

- Mazda6 - This is probably the car we'd put our own money on. Go for a post-2008 diesel example in a decent specification. It's spacious, well-equipped and great to drive. Reliable too.

- Toyota Avensis - Your budget might get you one of the last of the old models from 2009, though taxi drivers tend to snap these up as well. Make sure you check the history and mileage with Cartell.ie.

- Volkswagen Passat - Plenty about and it's a spacious and comfortable car, but there have been a few niggles with the electrics that'd steer us elsewhere.

There you have it. Come back to us if you'd like more help narrowing down your search.

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Hi Joseph,

Yes, generally very reliable, but that 1.8 TDCi engine did have some issues with the fuel injection system, the dual mass flywheel and the turbo, so if you could instead track down one of the 2.0 TDCi models, you’ll be getting a slightly better, more robust car. That said, with this one being ten years old already, you’ll need to carefully check everything and don’t buy unless it comes with a full service history.