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Hi David,

A well-made car the Astra, and quite sweet to drive. Just watch for leaky boot seals letting water in (a fault the Astra shares with the Insignia) and dodgy cruise control that disengages without warning. That 1.7 diesel is economical enough but it's dog rough on the ears and has a habit of stalling when you go to pull out of a junction. Have a try of the 1.3 diesel before you buy - it's a slightly sweeter unit.

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Hi Stephen,

Yes, as long as it's a reputable dealer. Make sure that they take care of all the re-registering, paying the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and getting the car inspected by the National Car Test people. If they're trying to fob any of that off on you, walk away - it probably means that there's something dodgy in the history of the car. If you have any doubts, get a history check done by Cartell.ie - that should uncover anything untoward in the car's background.

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Hi Michael,

It kinda depends on the spec of the cars in question. If, for instance, it's a 2.0 160hp Insignia versus a 110hp 316d, then go for the Opel. If it's a 320d, then go for the Beemer.

Come back to us in the comments if you'd like more help.

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Hi Paul,

I presume you're talking about the 'new' 9-5 - the last car Saab launched before everything went pear-shaped? It's a little hard to tell on the reliability front how good or bad they are, simply because there are so few on the ground. That said, all of the mechanical and chassis parts are shared with the Opel Insignia, and that's a car that has proved very reliable, bar the occasional electrical niggle. 

I know what you mean about the shape and style - you're talking to a long-term Saab fan here, and the 9-5 was an especially nice car, massive for the money (practically Mercedes-Benz S-Class sized for the price of a BMW 3 Series) and, in the fine Saab tradition, had a huge and comfy interior. It's also pretty decent to drive, not BMW good perhaps, but nice all the same and the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine should prove very frugal.

It is a bit risky, I suppose, but a risk I reckon might just be worth taking. Might be worth taking out an aftermarket warranty mind, just in case...

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Hi Anne,

Electrics mostly - everything from the electric windows to the alarm system can give trouble, but also check in the boot for water getting in as the boot seals can be a bit dodgy on early models.

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Hi Tirziman,

Mostly pros, few cons. Mondeos are very well made and reliable and while the 1.6 TDCi engine is no ball of fire, it is very economical. You should get well over 1,000km from a full tank. 

The only cons are down to the age of the design. Compared to the likes of the Volkswagen Passat, Hyundai i40 or Opel Insignia the cabin is starting to feel rather old-fashioned but that's about it.

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Hi Michael,

Insignias are quite well built (they are German, after all), but seem to be prone to electrical gremlins. Check to make sure that all the buttons and switches work as they should and if anything doesn't, walk away. It's not unusual for the alarm to start sounding for no apparent reason, so be aware of that. Early models also had suspect boot seals that could let in rain, so have a careful check in the boot for any signs of dampness.

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Wow, how much detail do you want? Here goes...

Saab 92 - the first Saab on sale. Two-stroke engine made it a bit impractical.

Saab 96 - like a 92 that real people could drive. Sweet V4 engine. Lots of rallying success.

Saab 99 - the first truly modern 'big chin' Saab. Gorgeous outside and in and with tearaway turbo engine. Fab.

Saab 900 - a highly developed 99, stayed in production for ever. Lovely convertible version.

Saab 9000 - some say it's not a proper Saab as it shared a platform with Fiat/Alfa/Lancia. Ignore them, as it's lovely, big, comfy and solidly built.

Saab 9-3 - the first General Motors Saab. Opel Vectra-based. Lovely cabin but flaccid chassis.

Saab 9-5 - bigger Saab but also Vectra-based. Better than you'd think but major reliability issues.

Saab 9-3 - second-gen 9-3 was based on the 2002 Vectra but not actually much better. Handsome estate version though.

Saab 9-5 - massive second-gen 9-5 was based on the Opel Insignia, really rather good and, sadly, the last car Saab ever made.

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Hi Peter,

Electrical problems seem to be the big issue. Make sure that everything, absolutely everything works properly. Alarms can go on the fritz too, going off for no reason. Clutches, diesel particulate filters and boot water seals can also go, so keep an eye out for those.

Hope that helps

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Hi Francis,

Can I suggest then chopping it in for another Hyundai, this time an i40 Tourer? It's massively spacious so you won't (aside from the seat height) feel like you're trading down. It's also very comfy and, with your long-haul runs and high-ish mileage in mind, hugely economical. Drive the 1.7 115hp CRDi version gently and you should top 60mpg. 

If you don't fancy another Hyundai, then picking a similar estate from the Ford Mondeo, Opel Insignia, Volkswagen Passat or Peugeot 508 ranges should do the job just as well.

Let us know what you end up doing