Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

There are no major recurrent problems to report on the Focus 1.6 TDCi. The nice thing is that the same basic engine design is also used by Peugeot, Citroen, Volvo and some MINIs so any potential issues tend to come to light pretty quickly. 

Just with that high mileage, make sure it's been serviced properly and on schedule, make sure the timing belt has been replaced and check for any electronic issues.

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Hi Aideen,

Wow. That's a request, and frankly, space and time simply don't permit. So I'll boil it down to the two best options for pre-and-post 2008. Pre: Toyota Corolla Verso. Spacious, simple and very reliable. A very hard car to beat.

Post 2008? Ford C-Max (the current model). Perhaps not as utterly reliable as the Toyota, but solidly built, spacious and with an excellent and efficient 1.6 litre diesel. Good cars, both.

Is that enough information for now?

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Hi Bryan,

I reckon the mileage probably pushes down the potential trade-in value to under €8,000 and the fact that no-one sells bio-fuel anymore probably doesn't help. 

As for the Mondeo, there is a new one coming late in 2014, but the current model is still near the top of the class and you should be able to get some good deals on one.

Expert answer

Hi Christopher,

The labour rate will vary from garage to garage, but it should take less than an hour to complete the job. Likewise, the price of the alternator will vary whether you are buying it from Ford direct, a local motor factors or an online car parts site, such as MicksGarage.com - we saw one there for about €165.

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Hi Catherine,

Of the two, I'd go for the Focus. Bigger, much better to drive and barely any less economical in day-to-day driving. That generation Corsa was pretty crude, really - noisy and not especially nice to drive.

They're both pretty robust though, which is good, although you should check the Focus carefully for underbody rust as some early cars had very poor weather sealing.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi Austin,

They're pretty tough, those Mondeos actually. Handbrakes give trouble and were the subject of a recall so make sure that's been done. Windscreens are a touch fragile when it comes to cracks and chips and rear suspension bushes can wear out, which means replacing the whole rear subframe. Other than that, at that kind of mileage, just check for the usual major maintenance items like timing belts, brakes etc.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Karl,

No, the 1.2 (actually it's a 1.3 really) diesel in the Opel Combo is the same unit that Opel co-developed with Fiat, so it should have either 75- or 90hp and plenty of torque. Clearly, a larger engine means you can haul larger payloads, but unless you're a gym weights delivery company, you should be OK.

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Hi Nial,

On a trade in I'd say you'll get about €1,500 for it, but you might manage slightly better selling it yourself if you invest in a good valet and get it looking properly smart.

Best of luck

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Hi Mick,

Tempting to say a Volkswagen Golf (which is the answer everyone gives), but I’ll be slightly different and say a VW Golf Estate. Classy, lovely to drive, comfy and with a massive boot. Perfect family motoring. Read our Volkswagen Golf Estate review here.

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

There are a couple of alternatives to the Q7 alright. The Land Rover Discovery is probably the best all-round seven-seat SUV on the market and easily matches the Q7 for driver appeal, cabin space and premium image. The only problem is that Land Rover is still working its way up from a low point in terms of reliability, and while the current Disco is certainly very well built, we'd reckon that a Q7 would be a little bit better in terms of reliability when you're talking about a car that's already a few years old.

In fact, we know of only two issues with the Q7. One, it's apparently quite hard on tyres and two, if it's got an electric tailgate, it can open or close with a mind of its own sometimes, although that should have been fixed in a recall by now.

You could go for a BMW X5 with seven seats, but there's not as much space in the third row in the BMW, so it depends on what you need those extra chairs for. If it's only for occasional use, for kids etc, then the X5 is well worth a look and is a fantastic car to drive. If you need to put adults back there, stick with the Audi. You could downsize to a Hyundai Santa Fe seven-seater of course, which is a reliable, affordable choice but lacking both third row space and the cachet of the Audi.

Or you could steer away from the SUV world altogether and get a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate with the extra rear-facing seats in the boot. Bit of an unsung hero that one, and much cheaper to run than a big 4x4. Or, of course, you could do the whole off-roader thing properly and get a long wheelbase Land Rover Defender, but you'll need ear plugs for long journeys.

Choosing between a 2007 or a 2008 Audi Q7 is all down to the price and the individual car. There was a facelift in 2009 that brought some engine updates and cabin and styling changes, but if you can find a good 2007 one, with a full Audi service history, you could be looking at paying as little as €20k. A Q7 for the price of a new Ford Focus? Not bad...

Let us know which way you go