Expert answer

Hi Nick,

It might be tempting to go with the newer car, but the Peugeot engine has what's called a 'wet belt' and these can be problematic. Unless it has had more oil changes than is recommended, we'd shy away from this car. Shame as it's otherwise nice, and newer than the Fiesta.

Still, the Fiesta (and we're assuming you mean the 80hp non-EcoBoost one) is a great choice. The Peugeot and Ford are contemporaries when it comes to safety equipment and standards with the Fiesta slightly better anyway.

All in all, if those are the two cars on your shortlist, we wouldn't hesitate to say go for the Fiesta.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

A diesel would probably continue to give you the best economy given your usage, but we'd worry about long-term maintenance for sure as modern diesels have expensive components that can get gummed or clogged up.

If you're willing to make that compromise, then you could do a lot worse than a 2018 Honda Civic 1.6 diesel. Lovely car. It also came with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, but it has known 'wet belt' issues so we would not recommend it.  

You could afford a 2019 Hyundai i30 with either a 1.6-litre diesel or a 1.0-litre petrol engine and that's a very good bet in terms of reliability. Same for the related Kia Ceed, though they're rarer.

Even less common is the Mazda3 of the same year. It's a lovely looking car, of great quality and though it comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, it's an efficient and reliable option.

If you liked your Peugeot, you could move up six or seven years to a newer 308, though best to stick with diesel if you are doing that as the 1.2 'Puretech' petrol engine can have wet belt issues like the Honda.

One of the last of the Renault Megane hatchbacks is another good option, available with petrol or diesel power depending on your preference.

The SEAT Leon is possibly our favourite find for you at this price point with good petrol and diesel engine options and great comfort. You can't ignore the Skoda Octavia for the same reasons, and it's even bigger.

Lots to think about there so come back to us and let us know if we're on the right track. We've only selected mid-sized hatchbacks, while there would be plenty of crossovers and small SUVs in budget as well.

Expert answer

Hi Richard,

I agree that it's ludicrous that Revenue can't give you a clear and definitive answer ahead of time and that it could come down to "who you get" on the day.

Nonetheless, I'd be confident that you should not be liable for VAT or import duty on the car as described. 

Expert answer

Hi Pam,

You didn't tell us the model year, but anyway, the only 1.5-litre petrol engine in a Kuga that is not referred to as an EcoBoost unit is the 'Flex Fuel' engine of 2019-2021.

It uses a dry timing belt.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

There are a few options for sure, starting with the plug-in-hybrid Audi A6, if that's not larger than you're looking for. There are plenty around within budget. Most are the less-powerful '50 TFSI e' model, though there are a few sportier editions as well, including the '55 TFSI e' variant. None of them will feel as agile as your BMW, but they're not bad cars at all.

If you've not been put off by your BMW's issues, then the 530e M Sport is a logical next step up. Again, not as agile as the 3 Series, but a fabulous car by any other measure. You could just about afford the Touring estate model as well.

From Mercedes you could get into the C 300 e instead. They're not as common as the others here, but the C-Class is a comparable size to your 330e, yet it has a dramatically more modern interior.

Finally, if you're open to estate cars, the Volvo V60 is an excellent option. It's powerful, great to drive, stylish, well-made and has a decent electric range. It would possibly be the one we'd choose from this selection.

If you want us to help narrow down your search, don't hesitate to come back to us again. Here are a few of our relevant reviews:

Audi A6 50 TFSI e review

BMW 530e review

Volvo V60 review

Expert answer

Hi Edel,

Not many cars have the same windscreen demister that Fords do, so you may have to compromise on that. Most at your budget will have heated seats and auto lights though.

You can afford a 2023 Audi Q3 with a manual gearbox and there are plenty around within budget whether you want a diesel or a petrol engine.

For the same price, you'd get a year newer Mazda CX-5, again with a manual gearbox if you want it, and the option of petrol or diesel power.

The Mazda will be the better-equipped of the two and the more enjoyable to drive.

Then it just comes down to which you prefer the look of (the Mazda wins that one hands down).

Expert answer

Hi David,

Our information is that your car's engine – 2.0 TDCi diesel – has a timing belt, not a chain. The belt should be changed at least every 200,000km or 10 years, whichever comes first. If that has never been done then I strongly recommend you get it replaced as soon as possible, along with the water pump and auxiliary belts.

It's also recommended that the coolant system is flushed out every 120,000km and the antifreeze replaced. Same story with the cabin odour filter.

Aside from all that, obviously replace the oil and filter regularly, too.

Expert answer

Hi Seamus,

I'm afraid we don't have experience with different scissor jacks or buying aftermarket spare wheels. Just make sure you buy a good-quality jack with a sufficient weight rating. Your Hyundai weighs about 2,000kg for reference and, while you obviously don't lift the whole car on a jack, you should always apply a safety factor.

There are plenty of options on MicksGarage and Halfords Ireland.

Finding a suitable space-saver spare wheel may not be so straightforward, again because of the car's weight. There are people offering such things for sale online, but we can't vouch for any of them. Perhaps pop into your nearest Hyundai dealer and talk it through with them in case they have a solution.

Expert answer

Hi John,

The Leapmotor B10 could be a suitable choice as a taxi as it has quite good levels of rear passenger headroom and legroom, while still retaining a useful 525 litres of boot space.

The 67.1kWh capacity battery is capable of 434 kilometres of range, and we found it to be quite close to the official energy consumption when we drove it.

Also, being an LFP battery, it is happier to be charged to 100 per cent regularly. Speaking of charging, it has a peak DC charge rate of 168kW, so 25-30 minutes will add an almost full recharge, though obviously charging up at home would be more affordable.

We did find the driver assistance features to be overbearing, but Leapmotor does provide a way of creating shortcuts to mute these, but it must be done every time the car is turned on.

Expert answer

Hi Lee,

That generation of Kuga is generally quite dependable, certainly with the diesel engine. Just make sure that all the warning lights are working when you switch on the ignition and that they go off quickly when the engine is running. You want to make sure that the DPF isn't clogged, as that's relatively low mileage for the year.

For the same reason, make sure you take it for a decent test drive and ensure that there's no hesitation in the acceleration or in how the engine runs. Top tip: try to test drive other examples of the same car from other sellers so you get a feel for what it should drive like.

It isn't quite due a timing belt change yet, but no harm trying to get the seller to do that for you before you make the deal. Our data shows it's due once the car is either over 10 years old or has done 200,000km.