Expert answer

Hi Niall,

There are two answers to this question. There's the right answer and then there's the answer that you can afford. The correct answer is the Land Rover Discovery; still the only car we've driven that can climb Everest yet carry seven fully grown adults in luxury car comfort. Trouble is, they're expensive as heck to buy and run. 

So, assuming you need the sixth and seventh seats for only occasional, child-transporting duties, there's the Hyundai Santa Fe. It's big, comfy, surprisingly good to drive and with excellent reliability. Circa €8k should get you into a 2006 model.

How does that sound?

Expert answer

I'm not sure I'd recommend a pickup for you, as, until the very recent arrivals of the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger, they were all a bit crude and dreadful. They're commercial vehicles, not family cars. That said, if you want something truly rugged, then what about a Land Rover Defender 130 with a crew cab? Iconic looks and unbeatable toughness, but they can be expensive to buy and run.

Actually my recommendation would be to track down an old-shape Kia Sportage. It's surprisingly good at going off-road, comfy and decent to drive on the road and circa €8,000 should pick you up a good one, potentially with still a bit of Kia's famous warranty left to run. Not as stylish as the current Spprtage it's true, but invest in a sturdy rubber liner for the boot and you should have the ideal log-carrying device.

Hope that helps

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Hi Lisa,

With the help of SIMI we've found that the value should be €69,455 to help with your BIK calculations.

Hope that helps

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Hi Mark,

There is a known issue with the Freelander concerning the central locking that may cause this, which annoyingly requires replacement of the fuel filler flap motor, then the central locking system fuse (F25 (10A) in fascia fuse box/relay plate if you want to check that before doing anything else).

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Hi Paraic,

First and foremost is the running costs, but I guess they're on the same level as any large SUV-based commercial with an automatic gearbox - they're heavy on fuel and tyres, etc.

Other than that, while the Discovery 3 is proving to be more reliable than its predecessor, it's hardly the most dependable truck of its type. Some cars are perfect, but others have loads of issues, from the electrics to the air suspension and even to full engine failure.

Don't settle for anything less than a full service history and make sure you have the car checked out by someone that knows what they're looking at too.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Killian,

Bad news I'm afraid: this first generation Freelander was plagued with reliability problems. Saying that, Land Rover sorted most of the major issues by 2002. The 1.8-litre petrol engine is best avoided as it's susceptible to blown head gaskets, though the diesel alternatives are more durable. Otherwise, the issues come from the electrics (the windows in particular), the rear differential and the manual gearbox.

If you're still determined, take a close look at all those items and listen out for any unexpected grumbles through the transmission.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

This Range Rover is one of the better built cars from Land Rover in a while actually. Some early examples had issues with the automatic gearbox and water leaks, though these should have been well cured by 2005. Electrics and the sophisticated suspension system seem to be the biggest worries, and of course they're expensive to repair.

If you're serious about one, insist on a full, detailed service history, and invest in a professional inspection too.

Hope that helps.

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

We've spoken to Land Rover Ireland and, as we suspected, it has no plans to offer a commercial version of the new Range Rover. The previous model was never built as a commercial vehicle either.

Your only option would be to commission such a conversion, though we suspect that this would not make economic sense.

Sorry to not have better news for you,

Expert answer

Hi Joseph,

Both those cars are decent family motors, but go into it with your eyes open as large aging SUVs are expensive to run, service and repair. For the most part the Discovery and XC90 are reliable, though there are reports of some early examples of this Land Rover with (costly) air suspension and electrical problems. It's definitely worth getting a thorough professional inspection as offered by Cartell.ie as this should highlight any issues with the car you're considering.

Some XC90s have suspension, transmission and injector problems too - all expensive to fix. Don't be put off by this though, as these issues do not affect all examples sold.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

That's an interesting one and the decision will probably come down to your personal preference. The Discovery certainly has a higher 'status' and it is a very good car, but a newer, highly specified Galaxy might be the logical choice. Both cars are relatively reliable and highly comfortable. The Galaxy has more space and probably more equipment, but that depends on the Discovery you're looking at.

One thing to be aware of is that the Discovery is likely to have higher running costs, from fuel, tyres, servicing and insurance to annual road tax.

Bear all that in mind and then take the Discovery for a good long test drive before you decide - and don't be tempted by 'too good to be true' prices either. Get a Cartell.ie history check to make sure there's nothing dodgy about the car you're considering.

Let us know how you get on.