Hyundai i30 1.6 or Toyota Auris 1.4 diesel?
Hyundai i30 1.6 diesel or Toyota Auris 1.4 diesel? I have a 2007 1.8 diesel Ford C-Max with approximately 140,000km on the clock. Will I get a decent trade in price?
Thanks.
S O (Cork)Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi there,
I'd go for the Hyundai. It's got a better engine, it's nicer to drive and the warranty is pretty hard to beat too. As for trade in on your Ford, I'd take a stab at around €6,000 to 7,000.
Hope that helps
What's the top-spec Hyundai i40 like?
I do 50,000km per year with work but get a mileage allowance. I am looking to get a low mileage 2012 saloon for about €25k. My main criteria is a decent spec, good fuel economy but also some punch for overtaking. I currently fancy the Hyundai i40 Executive spec 115hp. Would you recommend this? What other models should I consider?
Pat Kennedy (Cork)Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
I would unhesitatingly recommend the Hyundai - it's a cracking car and very economical too. If you're looking to shop around a little, then I'd say have a look at the Ford Mondeo - it's ageing, but still a very impressive machine. The Volkswagen Passat is also worth a look.
Come back to us if you need more assistance.
Should I replace my Corolla with a Golf or Octavia?
I bought an 09 Toyota Corolla 1.4 petrol with 64,000km on the clock three months ago. It is still covered by the dealer's one-year warranty, is taxed until July 2014 and NCT'ed until July 2015. Since then, I have changed job and will now be commuting two hours a day on the motorway and so need to change for a diesel. Even though I'm generally the only one in the car, I prefer saloons and like a big car around me, partly for safety reasons. I also want a comfortable, hi-spec, economical car. And as I will be putting a lot of miles on it, I want something with low mileage. I am thinking a diesel Volkswagen Golf or a Skoda Octavia.
Have test driven the Ford Focus and Hyundai i30 and the interior put me off. Maybe I was driving the basic models but found them to be quite cheap in feel. I am trying to keep the total spend to about €2,000 to €4,000 with my own for trade-in.
First of all, am I on the right track in the types of cars I am looking at for what I want? Secondly, how much should I roughly be expecting to get for my own car?
Grainne Callanan (Kilkenny)Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Grainne,
I'd say you can expect to get about €8,000 and €9,000 as a trade-in value for your Corolla, although that could vary quite a bit from dealer to dealer. As for the cars you're looking at, a diesel Golf or Octavia would probably be ideal for the type of driving you're looking at doing, but if it's refinement you need, then I'd go for the Volkswagen over the Skoda - there's not a lot in it, but the Golf is that bit quieter.
Hope that helps
Hyundai i40 Tourer or Skoda Octavia Combi?
Hi guys, I cannot make up my mind between the Hyundai i40 estate or Skoda Octivia estate. Which would you go for?
Paul Mc Mahon (Dublin)Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
You know what? While I'm a big, big fan of the Skoda, especially in estate form, I think I'll recommend the Hyundai. It's more expensive, true enough, but it's also bigger, exceptionally well equipped, frugal and very comfy to drive. And of course it has Hyundai's excellent five-year, unlimited mileage warranty too. It's something of an unsung hero in fact.
Should I buy a diesel hatch for commuting?
Hi, I need a new car. I live in a rural area and drive to Dublin for work. I average 300km for work with approximately an additional 150km for leisure. I had a four-wheel drive Suzuki Jimny, but don't really need another off-roader (if weather/roads that bad I won't be driving). I want something sturdy and dependable - nothing fancy, maybe a second hand hatchback - would a diesel engine be a good option? Have a max of €7k to spend. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Avril Bailey (Blessington)Sep 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Avril,
Yup, if you're doing big mileage, then the fuel-sipping nature of a diesel is exactly what you need. I'd suggest a 2008 Hyundai i30 or Kia cee'd 1.6 diesel. Both are in your price bracket (just about - you may need to haggle), both are massively reliable, spacious, comfy and nice to drive. Hard to go wrong with either so just buy the best one of either brand that you find.
Which MPV would you recommend for us?
Hi, we're looking for a family car that will fit three child seats, not necessarily in the one row. We're considering a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. How would you rate this in comparison to other family MPVs? Other options we've considered are a Mazda5 or Ford S-Max. Motor tax costs are fairly important to us. We had a loan of a Toyota Corolla Verso and preferred our current Ford C-Max, so it's out of the running for us.
Thanks for your help, Susan, Dublin
Susan Kirwan (Co Dublin)Sep 2013 Filed under: family car
Expert answer
Hi Susan,
Well, strictly speaking the Santa Fe isn't an MPV, it's an SUV (I know; Captain Pedant strikes again...) and that does have a pretty unpleasant effect on its CO2 rating. A 2008 2.2 CRDi diesel Santa Fe emits 190g/km of CO2 - enough to land you with a €750 annual bill. That aside it's a very fine car, with reliability, looks and practicality all on its side.
If it's lower CO2 you're looking for though, you may well have to consider an MPV. The Ford C-Max is only capable of taking three child seats once you get into the current model, and that may still be too pricey for you. Likewise, the Mazda5 needs to be a recent model if it's to have the current 1.6 diesel that brings with it lower tax bills. So, try and track down a 2009 Citroen C4 Picasso with the 1.6 HDi diesel and the EGS automatic gearbox. That has a 140g/km CO2 emissions figure, so you'll just scrape into the top end of Band B with a €280 tax bill.
How does that sound?
Which French MPV should I go for?
Which is the better car, a Renault Grand Scenic 3 or a Citroen Grand Picasso? I have a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe petrol and looking for one of these cars. I have €10,000 cash to add!
James Brady (Clonsilla)Sep 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi James,
Both are good, although French brands are never the most reliable, but of the two we'd go for the Picasso, simply because it's more stylish and strong second hand demand should keep your residual values shored up.
What's the Hyundai i40 like?
Is the Hyundai i40 Tourer a good buy? I am looking for large boot space, a comfortable drive for daily country roads and also regular trips to Dublin and some to Donegal. Would a Passat be better choice? I will be trading in my Renault Laguna.
Joan O'Loughlin (Wexford)Aug 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Joan,
We highly recommend the Hyundai i40 Tourer. It has a huge boot (though the Passat's is larger again) and is very comfortable. It's not easy to choose between the i40 and Passat at a fixed budget, so see what you can get for your money. The Hyundai, for instance, comes with a great five-year warranty from new and a high level of standard equipment. Its 1.7-litre diesel engine is also better than Volkswagen's 1.6-litre TDI equivalent, though the Volkswagen 2.0 TDI engine is better again if that's within reach.
Either way you're making a good choice and we'd recommend you test drive both cars to see which you like best.
What's the Hyundai Tucson like?
I'm considering buying a Hyundai Tucson 2.0-litre diesel. Is this a reliable motor? Are there any problems with them? What is fuel consumption like?
Mairead Glynn (Calverstown)Aug 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Mairead,
Typically for a Hyundai, there are no major problems to report with a Tucson. Just tread slightly carefully, as they were popular with hard working types such as builders etc. and many have lived hard lives as beasts of burden, so be alert for signs of excessive wear and tear. Otherwise, just make the usual checks for history and condition and you should be OK.
As for fuel consumption, you're dealing with both an older-tech engine (that 2.0-litre has since been replaced by Hyundai's new 1.7 diesel) and a tall-ish, heavy-ish SUV body. So you're probably looking at around 35-45mpg, rather than the 45-55mpg you'd expect from a newer model.
Which seven-seat crossover to go for?
Looking for a seven-seaters. Crossovers, maybe? Not Ford S-Max or Galaxy or MPVs. More Hyundai Sante Fe, Nissan Qashqai+2, Mitsubishi Outlander, etc. Any recommendations? Shame the 2008 crossover is compact and not seven seats like I need.
Roy Ferris (Killorglin)Jul 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Roy,
Have you considered the new Peugeot 5008? It’s basically a bigger version of the 3008, comes with seven seats as standard and prices start from €28k. Get one with the brilliant little 1.2 turbo petrol engine and you won’t go wrong. Read our review of that car here.