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Hi Sandra,

The only persistent issues with the Insignia are electrical problems that can effect everything from the door locks to the alarm system. Usually these are just minor problems that can be fixed, but occasionally the problem is in the wiring loom itself and that's a much bigger deal. Check and make sure all the buttons work and also check the boot area for any dampness - the boot seals can leak and allow in water. For a 2.0-litre diesel Insignia, I'd be disappointed if you couldn't get it to do 50mpg in everyday driving.

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Hi F D,

In my experience the clutch bite point can vary between different examples of the same car so I wouldn't read anything into that, especially as your own car will change slowly over time as the friction disc of the clutch pack wears.

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Hi Tony,

There are some nice Ford Fiesta automatics around, usually with the 1.4-litre petrol engine that should fit your needs rather nicely.  Or better yet, what about a Honda Jazz 1.4 ES with the CVT automatic gearbox? We found one online for just over €16k and it's a cracking car - high quality, reliable, spacious and with a terrific 1.4-litre engine.

Let us know what you think

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Hi F D,

I'd say on a trade in you'd probably get between €12-13k.

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Hi Sebastien,

If the seller has no receipts whatsoever for parts or anything then we'd be very wary, especially as that car has way below average mileage for the year as well. It's not a personal trust thing here; you're investing in a car, and if it goes wrong you can be sure the seller won't want anything to do with it.

You could have the car inspected thoroughly by a mechanic or the AA, etc, but even so, we'd have serious doubts.

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Hi Colm, 

We asked Opel about this and this is what was said:

"It technically could be done, but it would be cost prohibitive to have the unit retrofitted on the Insignia. We used to provide an aftermarket system, but the likes of Parrots are better and is what we would recommend. As always we would advise that the customer takes the car to an Opel garage and they will recommend the best type of Bluetooth set to get and some garages can arrange that for the customer. If the customer needs to find his nearest dealer tell him to check out www.opeldealersireland.ie"

Hope that's of some use to you

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Hi Sean,

It's a tough question to answer, this one, simply because different wheels and tyres can make an enormous difference to ride quality. As you say, French cars tend to fare very well in this regard and I think the most comfortable car I have driven in recent years was a top-spec Citroen C5 with the traditional Citroen hydra gas suspension, which just felt as if the road surface wasn't there. As you say, French cars can have their reliability issues, but the C5 was always pretty well screwed together.

Of the other options, both the Ford Mondeo and Opel Insignia are good bets, especially if you can avoid any cars that have been specced-up with big wheels and low profile tyres. Go for nothing bigger than a 17-inch wheel with at least a 55-profile tyre - wheel and tyre combos make a huge difference to ride comfort,

Of course if you want the ultimate in ride comfort, then track yourself down a Jaguar XJ6 saloon from the mid-eighties. Best ride quality of any car ever. I can't vouch for the reliability though...

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Hi Tim, 

We asked Opel about this and this is what was said:

"It technically could be done, but it would be cost prohibitive to have the unit retrofitted on the Insignia. We used to provide an aftermarket system, but the likes of Parrots are better and is what we would recommend. As always we would advise that the customer takes the car to an Opel garage and they will recommend the best type of Bluetooth set to get and some garages can arrange that for the customer. If the customer needs to find his nearest dealer tell him to check out www.opeldealersireland.ie"

Hope that's of some use to you

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Hi Gabriel,

Well, it depends on two things - who's doing the offering and what kind of history comes with the car. If it has a full service history and is in good nick, and the vendor is someone you can trust, then it could be a good buy - Astras are generally robust and quite pleasant to drive too. If you have even the slightest doubts though, get an AA inspection. It's not expensive, and it could save you a bundle of cash and hassle in the long term. Any reputable vendor, even a private one, who's selling a decent car should have no objections to the AA calling round to check the car out. If they do, you know it's a bad 'un so can walk away.

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Hi Noel,

I actually quite like the Mokka; it's good looking, has a pleasant interior and is quite good to drive. However, I'd hold off on buying one until the new 1.6-litre diesel engine comes on line. The current 1.7-litre is an ancient design, noisy and rattly and prone to stalling at low speeds. Avoid that and wait for the new engine if you can, or if you're only doing low mileage, consider the excellent 1.4-litre turbo petrol unit instead.