Timing belt or chain on the Nissan X-Trail?
I have a 2004 Nissan X-Trail petrol. Are these fitted with a timing chain or a timing belt?
John O'Leary (Greystones)Jun 2014 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi John,
That car should have a timing chain.
What trade-in value should I get for my Nissan Almera?
What trade in value am I looking to get for a 2004 Nissan Almera Sport? It has an NCT until September and 76,000 miles on the clock. Very clean car.
Louise O'Brien (Greystones)Jun 2014 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Louise,
Not a huge amount I'm afraid. Although your car is at the lower end of the mileage spectrum for an Almera of that age, you're still only going to get about €3,500 if you sell it yourself and probably only around half that if you trade in.
Nissan Note or Almera?
I was thinking of buying a 2007 Nissan Note or Almera; what do you think?
Mark Blighe (Rathcormac)May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
Of the two, I'd go for the Note. The Almera is a reliable old workhorse but it's about as dull as a car can get. The Note, by contrast, is nicer to look at, pleasant to drive and massively spacious and practical. There are a few things to keep an eye on though, which is surprisingly given Nissan's reputation for reliability. Electrical gremlins, including needing a complete reset and reboot of the ECU, are not uncommon, while the folding rear seat mechanism can jam. There have been reports of problems with the diesel engines on early models too.
Does an SUV suit my family needs?
Can you recommend a good used family SUV that won't break the bank and has good fuel economy and emissions? Main requirements are: it's spacious enough to fit two adults and three small kids comfortably, plus has lots of storage space for camping gear, buggies etc; cheap to run; readily available second-hand (2008 and later). I'm not planning any off-road trips so four-wheel drive isn't too important, neither is an automatic transmission, climate control or other such luxuries.
Eoin Cleary (Rathcormac)May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
I hate to say it but an SUV may not be what you need. To get three kids in comfortably, you really need a car with three individual seats across the back and only the likes of the Land Rover Discovery or Toyota Land Cruiser have those - and they're big, heavy and expensive to run.
So you may need to look down the MPV route. Don't panic - it's not as bad as it sounds. Have a look for a nice Ford S-Max. Tonnes of room, extra seats in the (massive) boot and affordable running costs.
That said, it depends on the age of your kids. If they're big enough to not need booster seats (or if only a couple of them still need one) that opens up your options a little. If you still fancy an SUV, try a Nissan X-Trail; spacious, reliable, good to drive.
Let us know what you go for
What problems should I look for in used Renault MPVs?
Which seven-seat Renault is most reliable or what problems should I look out for when buying used?
Mark Dempsey (Kildare)May 2014 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
The more recent versions of the Renault Grand Scenic are at least reasonably reliable, and the commonly-seen 1.5-litre diesel engine is a sold enough old lump, and well proven in various Nissans and Renaults. The recurring nightmare is that of electrical problems. Renaults, older ones at any rate, just seem to eat through their cabling and wiring and everything from electric windows to engine management and injection problems can crop up. Buy very, very carefully if you're looking at anything older than 2008.
How much is my Nissan Note worth?
What price should I ask for a Nissan Note, 2007, 55,000 miles?
Hector Roger (Cork)May 2014 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Hector,
With that kind of mileage, I'd say your ballpark is in the €5-6,000 range.
Can you help us choose a new car for the family?
Hi, we're looking at buying a newer car. Our budget is around €6,000. We've got a baby and toddler so interested in estates or people carriers. Are there any in particular you would recommend or advise to avoid? We want one as low maintenance as possible. We've also got a 2000 Ford Focus Estate with 114,000 miles on the clock. How much could we expect as a trade in?
Thanks!
Sharon Roberts (Cork)May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Sharon,
I always think an estate is better for a two-kid family, rather than going for the styling and dynamic compromises an MPV forces upon you. A good idea for that kind of budget might be to upgrade to a more recent Focus Estate. A budget of €6k would get you a high-ish mileage 2008 version with the 1.6-litre diesel engine, which will cost you buttons to run - an easy 58mpg.
It's spacious and comfy and as long as you like your current Focus you won't go wrong. Looking for more of a change? How about a Kia cee'd SW 1.6 diesel EX? Again, cheap to run, really reliable and lots of room in the boot for buggies etc. A cracking family car, that one. Fancy something a bit more rugged? Maybe try a Nissan X-Trail, front-wheel drive with the 150hp 2.0-litre diesel engine. A really terrific car that, but obviously it will be more expensive to run than a smaller estate.
As for trade-in on your Focus, I'm afraid I wouldn't expect too much. Probably only about €1,000 to €1,500.
How reliable are the new Dacia Logan cars?
How reliable are the new Dacia Logan cars?
Kellie The Great (Dublin)May 2014 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Kellie.
Generally speaking, they should be OK. All the mechanical bits are old, proven Renault and Nissan parts, and thanks to the fact that Logans are pretty well shorn of equipment, there's not that much that can go wrong. Dacias also come with an optional five-year warranty, which should put your mind at rest.
However, it's worth pointing out that the Logan estate we tested recently had a wonky driver's door, putting some doubt over the quality of the assembly and the German TUV (the national safety and quality testing organisation) rates the Logan as having a 13 per cent fault rate. Now, that figure is only a guideline and it does encompass the old Logan (the one that was never sold here) as well, but just for comparisons, the TUV rates a Ford Fiesta at a 4.8 per cent fault rate.
In other words, they're probably fine, but try and make sure you buy one with lots of warranty left, just in case.
Why is my Almera running so badly?
I have a 2004 Nissan Almera 1.5 hatchback. The car is losing power; it seems ok in fourth and fifth gears, but in first, second and third it's a joke, it just crawls along. What could be the problem? When put up on the diagnostic machine, nothing shows up.
Breda Morton (Portarlington)Apr 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Breda,
This really sounds like a valve timing problem to us and that may not be detected in the diagnostics computer. Bring the car to a mechanic and ask them to check the timing. This could take them an hour or so.
Let us know how you get on
Nissan Qashqai or Toyota Corolla Verso for fuel economy?
Which car is more fuel efficient: Nissan Qashqai or Toyota Corolla Verso Luna, both 2008?
Helena McCarthy (Limerick)Expert answer
Hi Helena,
I presume you mean the diesel versions of both cars? If so, according to the official figures, a Qashqai 1.5 dCi diesel will return 54.3mpg on average, while a Corolla Verso 2.2 D-4D will return 44.8mpg.
Hope that helps