Expert answer

Hi Alanna,

If you like the Mazda, then it would be well worth considering an upgrade to the current-shape Mazda3 with the 1.5-litre SkyActiv diesel engine — it's smooth, refined, very economical and with the usual Mazda reliability. A lovely car. Also worth considering are the Honda Civic 1.6 iDTEC diesel or Kia cee’d 1.6 CRDi.

A few reviews for you:

Mazda3 review

Honda Civic review

Kia cee'd review

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

Your first choice there is a bit of a hard one to argue with. The Mazda3 is impressively well built, hugely reliable and, in saloon form, not only has a big, useful boot but also manages to look better than the five-door hatch on which it's based. The downside is a dour, plain cabin but that €6,000 budget should, with a little haggling, get you into a 2007 1.6 TD diesel model. No, you won't get the benefit of the cheaper post-2008 tax, but for those occasional runs up to Mayo, you'll be saving yourself a whole lot of fuel.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Colette,

We'll work from official figures here. Mazda quotes 4.3 litres/100km (65.7mpg) for the Mazda3 fitted with its 115hp 1.6 diesel engine. That applies to all versions of the five-door hatchback and four-door saloon the diesel engine can be had in.

Hyundai, meanwhile, quotes 4.1 litres/100km (68.9mpg) for its 110hp 1.6-litre diesel engine - in manual guise - so that car wins by a nose.

We wouldn't expect there to be much in it for the average driver though, as the Mazda has a little more performance (specifically torque), which means that the driver has to try a little harder in the Hyundai to achieve the same speeds.

Expert answer

Hi Eamonn,

Honda is justly famed for the reliability of its cars and you shouldn't experience any major problems. The paint on some Civics can be a bit on the thin side, which means that, where it wears, you can actually get a bit of surface rust appearing, which will need attention. Engine management system glitches can lead to a drained battery if the car is left sitting for a week or two as well. Other than that, there seem to be no other major issues. 

Compared to a Focus, you'll find the ride and handling a touch flat-footed, as Honda went with a cheaper torsion bar rear suspension, but it should compare very favourably to a Mazda or Toyota - Hondas generally feel noticeably more 'premium' than either of those brands.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Bartlomiej,

Well, it kinda depends what you mean by SUV. If you mean large, the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V etc, then it's probably best to wait until the new 1.6-litre, front-wheel drive version of the Honda arrives later this year, as that will be a big, spacious SUV that has emissions of under 120g/km, although the lack of four-wheel drive might not appeal.

If it's the smaller ones you're looking at then I'd suggest a Skoda Yeti. It bridges the gap, size-wise, between the very small Nissan Juke and the large stuff like Mazda's CX-5 and the Kia Sportage. Go for the 1.6 TDI Greenline version and you'll have a spacious, rugged, practical family car with Band A4 tax (€200 a year) and it should do a pretty steady 50mpg most of the time.

Want something a bit more flash? The MINI Countryman, with its 1.6-litre diesel engine, is super-frugal, but you do need to spend a bit on options to get the right look.

It may also be worth waiting a couple of months until the new Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 arrive on sale, as both should prove very affordable to run.

Expert answer

Hi David,

We reckon the Impreza (and what a cracking car that was) should be worth between €2,000 - €3,000 to you, but getting a dealer to take it as a trade-in could be tricky - at least if you want to get the best price for it. It basically depends on the dealer in question. You might be better off going through the Irish Subaru Drivers' Club (http://www.isdc.ie) and seeing if one of its members is in the market for a car like yours. Subaru's appeal is still something of a niche thing and preaching to the converted may help you get a better price.

Whatever, it'll be worth it to get your hands on an RX-8. It's still one of the most fun, and coolest, cars we've driven in years and the day it went out of production (just recently) left more than a couple of damp eyes around here. Remind us to tell you some time about a late run across a deserted North Wales to catch the Hollyhead ferry in a 192hp RX-8...

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

OK, so what you need here is something spacious (kids, even just the one, take up a heroic amount of space, as you know), something economical for all that annual mileage and something comfy so that your buttocks survive all that mileage. I think you should stay with the current rough size of car, as some of the best bargains can be found in the mid-size saloon segment.

First up is a Volkswagen Passat. Ideally, you'd get the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion version, a car in which we once managed to drive from Galway to Glasgow and back on one tank of fuel. Or, what about a Ford Mondeo? You'll easily get a 2.0 TDCi model for that money, and there are very few cars quite so comfy on a long journey. Even BMWs and Mercs can't always match the Mondeo for seat comfort.

Of course, if you fancy the high life, and are prepared to compromise on space a little, then there's the BMW 3 Series. You'll get a 320d or 318d for that kind of budget, but shop around to make sure you get one in a dark metallic, with leather and preferably an automatic gearbox.

Finally, there's the Mazda6. Bit of an unsung hero of this segment, it's brilliant to drive, spacious, good looking and you should be able to track one down with Mazda's excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine under the bonnet. Reliable as it gets, it should chomp through your annual mileage with nary a worry. Find the even more handsome estate version if you can.

Come back to us if you need help narrowing this down.

Expert answer

Hi Claire,

Depending on specification, history and condition we'd suggest you advertise this for €5,500 and be ready to accept a little less for cash. It's trickier to estimate the trade-in price, as dealers will all have their own agendas. If they don't particularly want your car they'll not give you a good offer, but conversely if they're keen to sell the car you're looking at they may be more generous. The only way to know for sure is to go to a few garages and ask them.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Dino,

It’s actually a very common engine, the PSA DV4 unit, also shared with Ford, Volvo, Peugeot, Citroen and MINI. It’s a four-cylinder turbodiesel, usually with 110hp, although some later versions had 115hp.

Expert answer

Hi Colm,

Of the ones you’ve suggested, I’d say that the Octavia is the best bet, not least because a Mazda6 or Toyota Avenisis with a 1.8-litre engine is going to be at the very bottom of the range. Your budget should get you an Octavia with the 1.2 TSI turbo petrol engine (which is actually a better choice than a naturally aspirated 1.6 or 1.8) and probably with a 131 numberplate.

Yes, you might have to swallow a high-is mileage, but as long as you get one with a full service history, that shouldn’t be a major issue as the Octavia is a reliable car. Other models worth considering are the Toyota Corolla, VW Jetta, SEAT Exeo (if you can find one) and Honda Civic.