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Hi Aidan,

Parts probably won't be a problem for the immediate and medium term, especially because so much of the car was mechanically shared with the Opel Insignia, but otherwise it depends on how the long-term reliability pans out and that's something of a mystery. There were so few sold that it's hard to get a handle on whether or not things actually go wrong on them.

On the upside, all of the Insignia bits underneath are decent quality and shouldn't give any major bother; on the downside Saab's reliability record with the preceding 9-5 was patchy to say the very least. It's a bit of a gamble to be honest, but as old-school Saab fans, we'd say it's worth a punt and let us know how you get on.

Here's our latest review of the Saab 9-5 as a new car by the way.

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Hi Chelsea,

This is not all that unusual on modern cars and is usually nothing to worry about. Take the oil dipstick out, clean it and put it back in. Then take it out again and inspect. If that has anything other than clean oil on it then walk away.

With a car that new you'd hope the dealer will throw in a warranty in any case so ask about that too.

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Hi Michael,

As long as the repair is carried out by an accredited main dealer, and you keep all the receipts, any effect on the value of the car should be negligible. A few photos (before and after) and perhaps a letter from the garage itemising all of the work done and parts replaced probably wouldn't do any harm either. As with any car, the more paperwork you can show a potential buyer that demonstrates you've been taking care of the car, the better.

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Hi John,

Yup, and it's best avoided - a truly nasty, rattly old thing with an annoying tendency to stall at junctions. Go for the petrol-powered Chevrolet Cruze and you'll be much happier.

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Hi Niamh,

You shouldn't have a major problem as long as you look after the car and keep the service history up to scratch. Opels are perennially popular second hand buys, so while the badge means you won't get the value retention of, say a BMW or an Audi, there should always be a reasonably willing audience out there for one.

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Hi David,

A well-made car the Astra, and quite sweet to drive. Just watch for leaky boot seals letting water in (a fault the Astra shares with the Insignia) and dodgy cruise control that disengages without warning. That 1.7 diesel is economical enough but it's dog rough on the ears and has a habit of stalling when you go to pull out of a junction. Have a try of the 1.3 diesel before you buy - it's a slightly sweeter unit.

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Hi there,

Both Corolla and Mazda3 would be good choices, but it's worth having a good look for a Honda Civic too. Best to max out the reliability factor when buying on a budget...

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Hi Stephen,

Yes, as long as it's a reputable dealer. Make sure that they take care of all the re-registering, paying the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and getting the car inspected by the National Car Test people. If they're trying to fob any of that off on you, walk away - it probably means that there's something dodgy in the history of the car. If you have any doubts, get a history check done by Cartell.ie - that should uncover anything untoward in the car's background.

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Hi Michael,

It kinda depends on the spec of the cars in question. If, for instance, it's a 2.0 160hp Insignia versus a 110hp 316d, then go for the Opel. If it's a 320d, then go for the Beemer.

Come back to us in the comments if you'd like more help.

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Hi Michael,

Depends which model you're talking about. The basic 87hp 1.4-litre petrol Astra returns an official 51.4mpg, while the 100hp version returns... Um, exactly the same. Meanwhile, the 140hp 1.4 Turbo Astra does 47.9mpg. If you mean the old-shape 1.4i Astra, that does an official 44.8mpg.