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Audi A3 TDI or Toyota Auris Hybrid?

Hi,

As our family is fleeing the nest, I am hoping to buy a new or nearly new slightly smaller and economical (possibly hybrid?) car. Changing up from a 2009 Toyota Avensis 2.0-litre high-spec diesel with 98,000km on the clock. Do about 15,000km per year mostly in the city and trips to Wicklow, and odd long trip to West Cork for pleasure.

Not sure if I should go for diesel again, or hybrid. Is hybrid risky and will the residuals drop as newer technology comes onstream? Offered €6K by Audi for my Avensis (poor!) against a brand new A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI diesel (net after discounts and trade in = €25K) or €10k by Toyota against brand new 1.8 Auris Hybrid Luna (€26,225 + €575 + €180 road tax + €575 metallic paint = €16,980). Love the look of the A3 Sportback, but in my heart think Toyota is more practical for a privately run car. I am paying cash so am conscious I might have this car a while, i.e. five years.

Do you think a new car is advisable, or good demo, and also will the Audi be expensive to run?  

Thanks,

Linda DJ, Dublin

Linda Dwyer Joyce (Dundrum)

Jun 2016 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Linda,

€6k is at the bottom end of 2009 Avensis trade in values and your Toyota dealer is possibly boosting your trade in a bit (€10k is definitely top end) to keep you in the family.

I think with 15,000km annual mileage you definitely don't need a diesel - you'll really struggle to make back the extra purchase cost in fuel savings and if you're not doing lots of long journeys you could run into problems with the particulate filter. The Audi wouldn't be expensive to run at all - they're reliable and frugal, but the servicing would probably be slightly pricier than for a Toyota.

As for the Auris Hybrid, I think it sounds like it might be just about right for you, especially as most of your mileage is around town and that's where it works best. You may find it hard to get the best economy out of it on that long run to West Cork, but the rest of the time it should be about right, and super-reliable too.

An ex-demo is always a good idea as you'll get it cheap with minimal mileage, but there are fewer of them around these days.

Relevant reviews on the site:

Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI review

Toyota Auris Hybrid review


Any advice for driving through Europe?

We're travelling to France in September on a motoring holiday in a MINI Countryman Cooper D. We'll be travelling into Northern Italy and possibly Switzerland. What advice can you give us about motoring in Europe?

Martin Moroney (Dublin)

May 2016 Filed under: miscellaneous

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Sounds like a lovely trip you have planned. First thing I suggest is check out the AA website and have a look at the items you are required to have in your car for each country. If you have a satnav system capable of displaying speed camera locations, then you must at least disable camera alerts.

Paris and Milan have low emission zones and road charging schemes in place and these apply to foreign registered vehicles too. So make sure you know your car's emissions rating and if you have to register your car to pay a congestion charge. All this info can be found on www.UrbanAccessRegulations.eu. But, to be honest, it is much better to park and ride into the big cities as parking can be a hard to find and the parking rules and regulations difficult to interpret, and we won't even mention the cost.

Also, you will have to pay toll charges in France and Italy, and you can usually pay for these with a credit card or sometimes cash, but not all tolls accept cash. Check out the tolls in France on the ASFA website and the Italian tolls on autostrade.it. Tolls are also charged in Switzerland, but you buy a sticker at the border that costs 40 Swiss Francs. Yes, Francs! Make sure you have Swiss Francs as they don't take Euros.

Apart from that, remember to always give way to the right and try to adapt your driving style to that of the locals, as scary as that may seem, especially if you drive in Paris!

Get satnav and make sure the maps are up to date and also buy a good road map. It is a great backup, especially if something happens to the satnav.

Also, try get off the motorways and drive on smaller, more scenic roads. There are some terrific driving routes in France, Italy and Switzerland. Make sure you find them and enjoy them and take lots of breaks to take photos and enjoy the surrounds. Bon voyage.


I just bought a Peugeot 3008...

Hi,

I just bought a Peugeot 3008 Active 1.6 HDi diesel with 35,000km on the clock. Paid €13,800 + trade in of 2005 Ford C-Max with 105,000km on the clock. Do you think I got good value? I've never had a Peugeot before; is there anything I should watch out for?

Is there a timing belt in it and if so when would this need changing?

Can I replace the climate control console with the nicer looking one that's in the Allure model?

Love your website!

Regards

Ben O' Connor

Ben O Connor (Dublin)

May 2016 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Ben,

That sounds like a pretty decent deal, and the 3008 – although it’s due for replacement later this year by an all-new model – is still a better than decent car.

As for the timing belt change, officially Peugeot says that the belt should last 10 years, or almost 250,000km, but to be honest we’ve always felt that that sounds way too long. I’d insist on a belt change every 100,000km at the most. Your car should be fine for now, but start thinking about it well ahead of the official schedule and beware – if the oil pump leaks on that engine it leaks onto the belt, potentially damaging it or causing it to slip.

You could, theoretically, change out the centre console for the ritzier Allure-spec unit, but even assuming you could find the part itself at a reasonable price, you’re looking at changing the wiring and climate control plumbing behind, which it probably going to work out prohibitively expensive. I’d say you’re looking at the thick end of €3k, minimum, for such a task. Hardly worth it.


What is the best way to pay for a car?

What is the best way to pay for a car?

Con Hegarty (Cork)

Apr 2016 Filed under: finance

Expert answer

Hi Con,

Cash. You get the best discounts and the minimum of fuss if you pay for the car up front. PCP plans are great (and hugely affordable), but only really work if you plan to trade your car in for a new one every three years. More traditional hire purchase is probably the best compromise – it’s more expensive than a PCP, but often easier to arrange than a personal car loan from a high street bank and at the end of the loan period you own the car completely.


Differences between the Audi A3 models?

What are the differences between an Audi A3 SE and an Audi A3 Sport, year 2012?

Alison Mccarter (Londonderry)

Feb 2016 Filed under: optional extras

Expert answer

Hi Alison,

Audi has never had a 'Sport' trim on the current A3, so I suspect if you've seen one advertised it's the seller getting confused and mis-labelling the S line trim. Over and above standard specification, the SE trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, nicer seat trim, front fog lights, rear floor mats, aluminium interior trim, a front centre armrest, extra map lights, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a colour display for the trip computer and an iPod connector.

S line gives you Xenon headlamps with LED running lights and LED rear lights, 18-inch alloys, black cloth headlining, Audi Drive Select (which means you can toggle between Sport, Normal, Comfort and Eco modes), a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel, sportier exterior body kit, bucket seats, S line logos everywhere and lower, firmer S line suspension.


What do you think of theft of modern cars?

I don't know if there is a limit on the number of questions one can ask but here's another! Nearly all of the top specc'd models have hands-free door opening and engine starting. In an article in Auto Bild magazine it said that these were easily subject to theft using specialised equipment. Only one brand foiled the thieves - Mercedes-Benz. I was wondering would you have any comment on this. It's very disheartening.

Philip Donegan (Ballina)

Feb 2016 Filed under: car theft

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

It is a problem, right enough, but while Mercedes security systems are good, they're not infallible, and any car is vulnerable to this kind of electronic attack.The only thing you can reasonably do is to stand as close to the car as possible when flipping the lock, so as to minimise the signal spread and make it harder to 'capture' the signal between the key and the car. If it's a keyless-entry car, keep the key as far away from the car as possible when it's parked up outside.

Beyond that though, the sad and unpleasant truth is that if a determined and well-equipped thief really wants your car, they're going to have it... Maybe consider getting a tracking device fitted, and police forces are generally advising going back to the more old-fashioned methods such as a steering wheel bar or a driveway post. Anything that makes the crooks' life harder is a good idea.

(Oh, and no limit to the number of questions either. We are generally inundated with questions so once you don't expect an instant answer we'll all be happy.)


What are the most reliable cars in Ireland?

I would like to know the 50 most reliable and least reliable cars sold in Ireland since 2012.

Brendan Walsh (Oldcastle)

Feb 2016 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

There is no specific market data for Ireland in this respect. The old rule of thumb still holds true - if you want ultimate reliability, buy a Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru or Mazda. You could probably pretty easily add Kia and Hyundai to that list too now.

The best I can do for you is to point you towards the results of the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study for the UK market in 2015. An independent research agency, JD Power ranks the various brands surveyed by problems per 100 cars - although it's worth remembering that those problems can range from minor electrical niggles to total engine failure, so you can't read everything into the stats. The last set of figures, ranked from best-performing to worst, were:

1. Skoda
2. Kia
3. Suzuki
4 Nissan
5. Mercedes-Benz
6. Toyota
7. Volvo
8. Volkswagen
9. Opel (Vauxhall)
10. Peugeot
11. SEAT
12. Mazda
13. MINI
14. Ford
15. Citroen
16. Renault
17. Honda
18. Fiat
19. Hyundai
20. Land Rover
21. Dacia
22. Audi
23. Jaguar
24. BMW
25. Alfa Romeo
26. Chevrolet


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:

Honda Jazz review

Skoda Fabia review

Ford Fiesta review


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:

Honda HR-V review

Jeep Renegade review

Peugeot 2008 review

Kia Soul review


I need a small, reliable commuting car.

Hello, looking for a small, economical, reliable car for commuting. I currently have a 1.0-litre Nissan Micra. I do 110km a day, 5-6 days a week.

What would you recommend?

Elaine Henry (Sligo)

Nov 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Elaine,

You're kind of on the cusp of being better off with a diesel with that kind of mileage. There are a few cars that are worth looking at. Sticking with petrol? Try a Honda Jazz - small but very spacious, and the 1.2-litre engine is pretty frugal. Want to go for a small diesel? Try a Volkswagen Polo. Want something a little more fun, but still very frugal (albeit not very roomy in the back)? Try a MINI Cooper D.


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