Is it worth repairing my old Honda Accord?
Worth repairing? Have an old 2000 Honda Accord four-door saloon - 1.8 petrol. It's beginning to give trouble and major oil leak under the engine this weekend. I've been quoted €500 to repair. Reasonably trouble free - 150,000 miles.
Tom DickFeb 2016 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Tom,
OK, you've got a couple of choices here. You could trade it in under one of the current 'scrappage' schemes and make potentially as much as €4,500 on it, depending on what car you're trading in against.
Or you could junk it or sell it for parts and grab another Bangernomics special.
Which is the smoothest automatic model?
Which is the smoothest automatic model under 1.5 litres?
Sally Mulford (Greystones)Feb 2016 Filed under: automatic
Expert answer
Hi Sally,
Generally speaking, automatics and small engines don't go well together, but there are a few good ones. Any Volkswagen Group cars using a combo of either 1.2 TSI or 1.4 TSI petrol with the DSG gearbox should be pretty smooth and there are some Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D diesels around with self-shifters. The Auris, while not exciting, is certainly smooth and comfy.
Actually, your best option could be to go hybrid or electric. The Honda Insight has a 1.3-litre hybrid powertrain and is an automatic and is surprisingly good to drive. Or what about the Nissan Leaf? If the roughly 160km electric range suits your lifestyle, there's nothing smoother than an electric motor.
What's the best supermini right now?
What's the best small family car or supermini of 2016? In terms of value for money, economy, driveability.
Don Naughton (Galway)Jan 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Don,
I'd say it's a tied vote between the Honda Jazz (amazingly roomy and reliable, but a bit pricey), the Skoda Fabia (as solid a choice as the day is long) or the Ford Fiesta (brilliant to drive and has a wonderful EcoBoost petrol engine).
Relevant reviews:
Is a PCP right for me in retirement?
I'm approaching 66 and recently had to retire. My state pension will be around €230 when it comes in March plus a small work pension of €57 a week. My car, an Audi A2, is a 2001 reg. It's showing signs of age and as it's an obsolete model services are expensive. I would have 3,000 maybe 3,500 Euros to put towards an upgrade. Can you advise me as to whether I should opt for a new car and a repayment plan or get a second-hand one?
Angela O'Sullivan
Angela O'Sullivan (Waterville)Jan 2016 Filed under: finance
Expert answer
Hi Angela,
I think a PCP plan would be entirely wrong for you, because they really only work if you're intending to come back in three years' time to trade in again. I'm guessing you don't want to do that.
Your Audi is worth about €2,000 so put that together with your €3,000 and we're looking at a budget of around €5,000. That's great because that will get you into a 2007 Honda Jazz - one of the best small cars around. It's spacious, comfortable, frugal and above all reliable. You simply can't go wrong with one.
What will I replace my Kia Soul with?
I had a 1998 Honda CRV auto. I changed it in 2014 as it was costing so much to run. To this day I still pine for my Honda. Its reliability was incredible. I got a Kia Soul diesel 1.6 but find it noisy and bumpy on country roads. Also, the boot is too small for country living. Everything I look at is too big and bulky. I want something in a similar size to my Honda, diesel, 1.6 engine, automatic with low tax. I need height as I have bad back issues.
Many thanks. Margaret
Margaret Devereux (Louisburgh, County Mayo)Jan 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Margaret,
I know what you mean. The Honda bug is a hard one to shift once it's bitten you. The good news is that Honda has a new car on the market, the HR-V, which is more compact than a CR-V, but still pretty spacious. It's high-riding, so good for your back, and can be had with Honda's terrific 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine. Looks nice too. Prices start from €23,995 or on a PCP deal from €255 a month and I'd say it's well worth checking out.
I can't get insurance on my old Honda!
Hi,
Is it legal to increase the price of an insurance premium times five? I was paying €400 last year (seven years NCB plus for 55 per cent discount) for a 1999 Honda Accord. I've got letter from my current insurer (AIG), with a new quote for €1,998. When I rang them, they told me the reason was that my car is too old! Car passing NCT every year, no problems whatsoever, no convictions either. Another two broker companies and three individual insurers have declined me for the same reason.
Any ideas?
Joe Black (Dublin 18)Jan 2016 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
This is a serious issue at the moment and the Government is, typically, sitting on its hands over the matter. Insurers, beginning with Aviva, decided last year that, actuarially speaking, ten-year-old cars and their drivers were at higher risk of accident than average, and so decided to either (a) refuse to quote altogether, or (b) issue massive quotes that were effectively the same thing. Frankly, it's a scandal and of course, insurance being something of a cabal industry at the best of times, the other major firms are following suit. Sorry - that isn't actually of any practical help to you, but it's the facts of the matter.
The best suggestion I can offer is to find a really good local insurance broker and see if they can help you find a solution. Please do let us know how you get on.
What to buy with up to €5,000?
I am looking for a medium size second hand car. My budget is €3,000 - €5,000. Which make/model is the most economical for road tax and fuel?
Sinéad O Sullivan (Tralee)Jan 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Sinead,
How about a Honda Civic? Your budget should get you into a 2007 model with the 1.4-litre V-TEC petrol engine. Frugal, reliable and spacious.
Jeep Renegade or Honda HR-V?
Which is better value for money, has the best mpg, reliability and low running costs: A Jeep Renegade or a Honda HR-V? I don't need an off reader or four-wheel drive, but I do live in a rural location up a high boreen and would need the SUV to be able to get me through icy or snowy conditions should they arise.
Thank you
Aryelle
Aryelle Anders (Wicklow)Jan 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Aryelle,
It's a slight win for the Jeep as, in basic 1.6 diesel form, it has a €1,000 price advantage over the HR-V. Mind you, we'd expect the Honda to be slightly more economical overall, but the gap won't be huge.
Now, one word of warning - you say you don't want four-wheel drive, but if you're looking to get through those icy and snowy conditions you might need it. In which case the Jeep is your only choice as Honda doesn't offer a 4WD HR-V yet. You'll have to upgrade to the €31,200 Renegade 2.0-litre to get all-wheel drive though.
Relevant reviews:
I'd like a newer seven-seat people carrier.
Hi,
I have a 2002 3.3-litre petrol Chrysler Grand Voyager with 100k miles on the clock in great condition and never giving any trouble. But it costs €1,800 a year to tax and is not fuel efficient, though small mileage is done annually about town (Dublin). Am considering a newer seven-seater say 2008 with lower tax and better fuel consumption, but that brings possible depreciation costs. Maybe a smaller seven-seater.
Would welcome advice
Denis Gallagher (Dublin)Jan 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Denis,
Best to stick with a Toyota Verso (neé Corolla Verso) or a Volkswagen Touran so - both have space for seven, and big boots if you leave the rear seats folded down. Both should be endlessly reliable too. Honda's FR-V also worth a look if six seats (in two rows of three) would work for you.
Which new crossover/SUV to go for?
Hi,
Can you advise on crossovers/mini-SUVs available on the Irish market please?
(A) most economical?
(B) Standard spec vs high spec (including leather seats, parking sensors, cruise control etc)?
(C) Warranty period vs reliability (current driving Kia pro_cee'd nearing end of problem-free seven-year/150k km warranty)
Many thanks,
Adrienne Redmond
Adrienne Redmond (New Ross)Jan 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Adrienne,
OK, let me take that section by section...
(A) Most small crossovers use 1.5- or 1.6-litre diesel engines so you're going to average between 40- and 50mpg in any of them. Ignore the official consumption figures - they're not representative of real-world driving.
(B) Standard spec on most will include at least air conditioning and probably Bluetooth, but the items you've listed will push prices up into the €25-30k region.
(C) Kia, Hyundai and Mitsubishi have the best warranties on the market at the moment - seven, five and eight years respectively. Ford, Renault and Peugeot all offer five-year warranties too, while Fiat offers a four-year one. Most others have three-year cover. In terms of reliability, Japanese and Korean brands will almost always beat their European and American competitors.
Of the cars you're looking at, I'd say the strongest contenders are Honda's new HR-V, the Jeep Renegade, the Peugeot 2008 and the Kia Soul. All well worth a look.
Relevant reviews: