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Hi Dermot,

That’s kind of an open-ended question because it depends hugely on whether you want to get into a PCP deal (which effectively makes you come back in three years’ time to trade in for a new car), an old fashioned hire-purchase agreement (which doesn’t, but is more expensive per month than the PCP), or whether you want to go with a bank or credit union loan. It also depends on your own circumstances and, substantially, on the car you’re looking at buying.

As an example, Volkswagen is currently offering 3.9 per cent APR interest on a  PCP deal on a new Polo hatchback, but just 0.9 per cent on the larger Tiguan, Golf and Passat. Or even 0 per cent on the Jetta. Alternatively, you can get a very sharp 0 per cent Hire Purchase deal on a new Kia cee’d, which is an excellent car for not a lot of money.

To be honest, almost every car maker is currently offering some pretty decent deals, so it comes down to what you want and what you can afford. Come back to us with more detail and we'd be happy to help.

Read our guide to Different Car Finance Options in Ireland

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Hi Julia,

Yes on both! It's Golf-based, so the Eos is pretty solidly built and there seems to be a refreshing lack of reports of issues with the roof mechanism (not usually the case where folding steel hard-tops are concerned), but it is quite a pricey car, especially if you want one with a bit of decent poke. The problem is that the weight of the roof banjaxes the performance, even that of the model with the 200hp Golf GTI engine, and that heft, whether it's up above your head, or folded out back in the boot, doesn't do the handling much good either.

If you're looking for a classy cabrio, could we suggest going for something a year or two older and snapping up a nice Audi A4 Cabriolet instead? It's got a (proper) cloth roof, is nicer to drive than the Eos and built like an utter tank.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Carl,

To the end of May this year it's the Volkswagen Golf, ahead of the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Focus. It was the same top three for 2012, though the Focus was first and the Golf third.

Hope that's of interest

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Hi F D,

They’re basically the same car, so the differences are, at most, fractional. The Leon SC is 4,428mm long overall and 1,975mm wide. That compares to 4,258mm and 2,027mm for the Golf, and an Audi A3 three-door at 4,237mm and 1,777mm. So the Leon SC is a little longer (longer than the five-door Leon too), but not by very much, and most of that extra length is actually in the bumpers.

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Hi Majella,

We don't know of any widely reported issue with the brakes of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf.

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Hi Martina,

It's been a while since we drove the Volkswagen Golf Plus in truth, and bear in mind that the one that's on sale right now is based on the previous generation Golf. However, while it's usefully more spacious than the Golf itself, it's not the most practical or versatile car for the money. Nonetheless, it does everything well and that 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine is great. It's relatively quiet and refined, while having plenty of performance. It also is cheap to tax and fuel.

Let us know if you'd like alternative suggestions for your money.

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Hi Michael,

The official recommended interval is 150,000 kilometres, regardless of time.

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Hi Aidan,

The only concern here really is the value of your old Clio. As someone who recently traded in an early 2000s Renault, I feel your pain, but the sad fact is that it ain't going to be worth much. Even so, the best thing you can do is to start searching for a Volkswagen Golf. If you've got a family on the way, and you need something safe, solid and with a decent bit of space, then you won't go wrong, although it is of course worth looking for those evergreen Golf spinoffs, the Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon. All three are equally good and the Octavia is particularly spacious.

Come back to us if you need more assistance.

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Hi Ano,

It depends on your priorities. The Almera isn't very interesting, but it is hugely reliable and roomy, so it’s a sensible choice. The Golf is more stylish, better to drive and has a classier cabin, but is perhaps around 90 per cent as reliable, overall, as the Nissan.

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Hi Leonie,

On a private sale, if it’s in exceptional condition, you might get €1,000 for it. As a trade-in, you’d be lucky to get a couple of hundred, unless you go for one of the current ‘scrappage’ trade-in boosters against a new car.