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Hi Sam,

Split result here. The Golf is a terrific car, handsome, spacious and fun to drive and of course very desirable too. But with the basic 1.4 petrol engine it's going to be slow. 

The Corolla by contrast has a surprisingly peppy, rev-happy 1.4 engine that's a joy to drive. A shame that the chassis, styling and cabin are all on the dull side but the upshot is of course near faultless reliability. 

So, Golf for desirability, Corolla for longevity.

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Hi Michael,

If depreciation is your primary concern, then it’s best to go for a Toyota, which in general has the best reputation for retained value in the Irish market. An Auris is the same size as a Golf, and while it’s not as interesting to look at, it’s not at all bad to drive, and hugely reliable too.

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Hi Michael,

I think your best bet then is to go for the Golf. As long as you are buying 2004 or newer (and I presume you're in the market for much newer than that), you'll be getting a car that feels barely, if any, less well made than your Merc, and as long as you go for a 1.6 or 1.9 TDI diesel, you'll have a compact hatch with the sort of performance, refinement and economy to mix it with even the best luxury cars. Depreciation? Well, everything depreciates but the Golf is perennially in demand so you shouldn't have any trouble shifting it on.

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Hi Deirdre,

You should be fine. As always with a premium badge car, look for a full service history, but seeing as an A3 is essentially a Golf in a swanky frock, it's actually pretty simple under the skin. That 1.6-litre engine is an older design, and pretty bulletproof, but at that kind of mileage make sure things like timing belt changes have been done and check for any obvious signs of wear and tear. There were issues with 2005 models with both fuel pumps and flywheels, but both problems should have been sorted by recalls.

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Hi David,

Cracking car the Bora, solidly built and distinct enough from the Golf to not have the hatchback-with-a-boot-stuck-on-the-back stigma. Definitely go for the 1.9 TDI, as it's a far better performer in all regards than the rather weedy 1.4 petrol. Just make sure the injectors and the air pressure sensor (well known weak points on the old 1.9 'Pump Duse' engine) are in good nick.

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Hi Ann,

Yes, they should, but it's worth bearing in mind that the Alhambra and Touran are very different vehicles. The Alhambra we'd refer to as a 'full-size' MPV, with proper space inside for seven adults. The Touran is a more compact vehicle, based on the same architecture as the Volkswagen Golf, and the third row seats are much smaller, more suitable for kids than adults. Of the two, we'd go for the SEAT - it's one of the most impressive family cars around and SEAT has a terrific reputation for reliability.

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Hi Gareth,

Go for the Skoda. Dave Humphreys (also of this parish) and I recently drove the latest Octavia RS diesel from Goodwood to Dublin and frankly, you'd be hard pressed to find a car with a broader spread of talents. Go for the estate to get the best looking (as well as most useful) version.

Let us know what you do

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Hi Stan,

OK, well currently (as of the end of September), the best selling cars in Ireland are, in descending order, the Hyundai Tucson, the Nissan Qashqai, the Volkswagen Golf, the Skoda Octavia, the Ford Focus, the Ford Fiesta, the Kia Sportage, the Toyota Yaris, the Toyota Corolla and the Volkswagen Tiguan. The biggest-selling market segment is the SUV/H1 segment (that’s the Qashqai-Tucson-Sportage mid-size SUVs) all of which cost between €24,000 and €40,000 depending on spec.

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Hi Mark,

I'm afraid Volkswagen Ireland confirms that it has no plans to offer the new Golf Estate for sale here.

If you like it that much it'll have to be an import from the UK.

Let me know if we can be of further assistance.

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Hi Martina,

No, it's not really. There's only a marginal increase in cabin space over the standard Golf and a major drop-off in both styling and dynamics. You'd be much better off just buying a new Golf (which is also lighter and more fuel efficient) or if you need the space, go for a Skoda Octavia (a little more space) or a Volkswagen Touran (a lot more space).

Let us know how you get on