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I have up to €4,000 to spend on a reliable motor...

Hi lads. I'm looking for a reliable motor. I've €3-€4,000 to spend and was thinking of the following: Mazda6, Toyota Avensis or perhaps Skoda Octavia. I do 12,000-15,000 miles per year. What's your advice?

Thanks

Justin McElwee (Galway)

Apr 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Justin,

Go for the Mazda - really high quality and utterly lovely to drive (far more so than the other two) and ultra-reliable. There are lots out there so shop around to find one that's been really well cared for.


Can you advise me on buying an older Mazda MX-5?

I'm looking out for a Mazda MX-5, an old one, to have as an open top / second car for the summer (I'm a weather optimist!). What issues if any should I watch out for? Is there a major difference between the 'regular' MX-5 and the Jap import versions?

Peter Mack (Dublin)

Apr 2015 Filed under: classic cars

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

OK, first off the MX-5 is the go-to choice for an affordable convertible. Lots of them out there to choose from, they are reliable and solidly built, so there are few major problem areas to worry about.

Actually, the problems that do occur are usually more to do with maintenance than anything else. Check the convertible hood first for tears, splits, shrinking or mildew and mould. If there are any leaks, check for damage from water getting into the cabin, especially the electrical system - electric windows can easily pack up if the switches get leaked on to too much.

Check the alloys for corrosion and check that the rear-window demister is working - if there has been work done on the hood it can often be left disconnected. If the steering feels anything less than laser-precise and brilliant, suspect worn bushes, but it's not a big or expensive job. 

Check also for accident damage - MX-5s can be tricky in the wet for anyone not used to rear-drive and any prangs need careful attention and work to make sure that the structure of the car remains sound. Also, avoid anything modified or tinkered with like the plague.

As for differences between the Japanese market cars and our ones, they're in the details more than anything else. The basic mechanical stuff is the same, but JDM cars often came with things like proper mechanical limited slip differentials when European cars had viscous couplings, and equipment levels in Japan were usually higher. If you're thinking of buying a Eunos Roadster (the Japanese name for the MX-5) then it would probably be a good idea to get in touch with the MX-5 Owners' club who can help you out with details of individual models and special editions, and on parts availability. You can get them on http://www.mx5ireland.com

Best of luck and let us know how you get on


Any word on the all-new Mazda2?

Any word on the new Mazda2? will you be doing an Irish road test soon on it and has it officially been released in Ireland yet? Haven't seen that many on the road here.

Simon MacMahon (Dublin)

Apr 2015 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Simon,

It has just been launched here and we will have an Irish road test very, very shortly. In the meantime, will our pre-production review tide you over? Read that here.


Any issues with nearly new Mazda6s?

Are you aware of any issues with the Mazda6? I am thinking of getting a Platinum model , but am a little worried as there are a good number for sale (six- to nine-month old cars being disposed of so soon). Are the salesmen holding something back?

Many thanks

Sean in Limerick

Sean English (Limerick)

Mar 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

Certainly nothing we've heard of - Mazda generally has an enviable reputation for reliability and solidity so we'd be very surprised if a large number of 6s were being offloaded because of a fault. It's more likely to be the result of a major fleet or car hire deal. 


Tell me more about the 2009-2011 Mazda3.

2009-2011 Mazda3: reliable? Reasons to go for diesel over petrol model?

Dave C (Dublin)

Mar 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

Very reliable - a really safe choice. Only go for diesel over petrol if you're doing upwards of 15,000km a year. 


Any recurring problems with this hatch?

Are there any recurring problems with the Mitsubishi 2 model?

Elaine Marshall (Dublin)

Mar 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Elaine,

I think you might be getting two models confused, there. If you mean a Mazda2 then it's small, zippy, fun to drive and endlessly reliable. If you mean a Mitsubishi Colt then it's more spacious than the Mazda and also reliable but nowhere near as fun to drive.


How reliable is a new Renault (or Dacia), Fiat or even Citroen?

How reliable is a new Renault (or Dacia), Fiat or even Citroen?

Ok, not going to be many problems in first year or two, but I typically like to keep my cars for most of their life cycle, I feel I get most value for my investment that way. I know eight years ago (when I bought my last car) I was told stay away, as once a few years old all the electrical gremilins come out to play. I'm not brand loyal, in fact the more options I have the more likely I am to get a deal that suits me. But I do like trouble free motoring and currently drive a 2007 Toyota Avensis and it has never put a foot wrong.

Should I stick to the old reliables (i.e. Mazda, Toyota etc.) or are the new generation of Renault, Citroen and even Fix It Again Tony (Fiat) likely to be properly reliable over seven or more years? Also contemplating Kia (seven-year warranty sounds good to me).

Thanks for your time.

John Walsh (Waterford)

Feb 2015 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi John,

OK, there's good news and bad news here. The good news is that the four marques of which you've spoken have all really lifted their quality and reliability games. Renault especially has come on a long way since the dark, unreliable days of the early 2000s. While electrical gremlins are pretty much guaranteed further down the line, that's something you could equally say of any Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi.

Dacia tend also to make very reliable cars, in no small part because they're so simple and lacking in the sort of high-end electronics that festoon other models. The brand regularly features very high up in the European JD Power customer satisfaction rankings.

Fiat tends to do less well in those rankings, but much of that is down to a dealer network that's still trying to get its head around modern customer service requirements. The fact is that Fiats these days are no more or less well made or reliable than any other brand (mostly - more on that in a tic). Certainly, we know of many Fiat customers who've had trouble-free motoring for many, many years.

Citroen too has really lifted its game and the latest generations, such as the C4 Picasso and C4 Cactus are really well put together. Long term reliability is still an unknown of course for these new models, but in general, longevity seems to be on the up.

However, just as these Franco-Italian brands have improved, so too have the Japanese and Koreans. There is still a distinct gap in overall solidity between the Japanese brands (Honda especially) and everyone else. It's still the case that if you want genuinely trouble-free motoring, the Japanese are still kings, with the Koreans and Skoda hot on their heels.

That said, I reckon if you bought any Fiat, looked after it properly and made sure it was fully serviced to schedule, you wouldn't have any major problems.


What's a 2005 Mazda3 worth?

Hi, I have a 2005 Mazda3 Touring hatchback with 120k miles, some exterior damage but nothing major (three small dents), interior carpet in very poor condition. Would like to know how much I could hope to get by selling it or trading it in?

Thanks

Eoin O Donovan (Rosscarbery)

Feb 2015 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

I'd say probably around €3,500 to €4,000 if you sell it yourself or about €2,250 as a trade-in. That depends on the service history too of course, but it might be worth getting those small dents and the carpet seen to to try and bump up the value a bit.


Mazda3, Opel Astra, Renault Megane or Hyundai i30?

Hi, I'm changing to a mid-size car and looking at 2010/11, looking at Mazda3, Opel Astra, Renault Megane and Hyundai i30. Importance is safety, reliability and as much space as possible, also any midsize car that has some height in the driver's seat.

Eva Brady (Westport Co. Mayo)

Feb 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Eva,

All of the ones you picked there are quite low slung but they're also all comfy so shouldn't present any major issues with seat height. 

The Mazda and Hyundai are going to be the most reliable and generally I'd go for the Mazda, but you'll want to go for the 1.5 petrol (if you're doing short journeys mostly) or wait for the new 1.5 diesel as the 2.2 diesel is just too thirsty day-to-day.

http://www.carenthusiast.com/mazda/mazda3__2011__008.jpg


Is the Toyota Yaris the most reliable small car?

Hi again, just as a follow on from my last question, I was advised that the Toyota Yaris would be the most reliable small car I could get second hand; do you agree? If not, what else would you advise I look for?

Thank you :-)

Aoife Smyth (Westport Co. Mayo)

Jan 2015 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Aoife,

The most reliable small car? Pretty much, yep. I'd say the only others that match it are the Honda Jazz and Mazda2. The Volkswagen Group triplets - Polo, Skoda Fabia and SEAT Ibiza - would come close to that level of reliability too and the Nissan Micra's not bad either.


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