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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.

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Hi there,

I'd say a ballpark trade-in figure of €6-7,000. Funny thing - Vauxhalls tend to be worth slightly less than their identical Opel cousins in Ireland. Nothing anti-British about it; it seems to be that Opel's Germanic image lifts it a rung or two higher in our estimation.

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Hi Paul,

I presume you're talking about the 'new' 9-5 - the last car Saab launched before everything went pear-shaped? It's a little hard to tell on the reliability front how good or bad they are, simply because there are so few on the ground. That said, all of the mechanical and chassis parts are shared with the Opel Insignia, and that's a car that has proved very reliable, bar the occasional electrical niggle. 

I know what you mean about the shape and style - you're talking to a long-term Saab fan here, and the 9-5 was an especially nice car, massive for the money (practically Mercedes-Benz S-Class sized for the price of a BMW 3 Series) and, in the fine Saab tradition, had a huge and comfy interior. It's also pretty decent to drive, not BMW good perhaps, but nice all the same and the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine should prove very frugal.

It is a bit risky, I suppose, but a risk I reckon might just be worth taking. Might be worth taking out an aftermarket warranty mind, just in case...

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Hi there,

Opel Ireland doesn't have an exact date, but can confirm that it'll be here by the end of the summer.

Are you in the market?

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Hi Anne,

Electrics mostly - everything from the electric windows to the alarm system can give trouble, but also check in the boot for water getting in as the boot seals can be a bit dodgy on early models.

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Hi John,

Yup, a small diesel sounds like it should be ideal for you. Depending on what kind or size of car you need I'd recommend either a MINI Cooper D 1.6 (small and sporty), Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi (slower, but more spacious), Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D (similar to Opel but probably more reliable) or that old favourite the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion (ultra economical). Or, if you need more space how about a Skoda Octavia Combi estate 1.6 TDI or a Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi?

Help us with your needs and we'll narrow that down a little!

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Hi Tirziman,

Mostly pros, few cons. Mondeos are very well made and reliable and while the 1.6 TDCi engine is no ball of fire, it is very economical. You should get well over 1,000km from a full tank. 

The only cons are down to the age of the design. Compared to the likes of the Volkswagen Passat, Hyundai i40 or Opel Insignia the cabin is starting to feel rather old-fashioned but that's about it.