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Hi Carmel,

Yes, it appears there is. The problem seems to occur with the hose that connects the throttle body to the intercooler. If a split or crack develops in that, it leads to a loss of turbo efficiency and a drop in engine power. The problem can be intermittent or sometimes more pronounced. There also seems to be a more complicated problem with the solenoid that controls the turbo.

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Hi Carmel,

They're not bad, but watch for intermittent electrical problems, especially the starter motor and alarm and locking mechanisms. The dual-mass flywheel on the diesel models can be problematic too, while the rain seals around the boot can occasionally channel water straight into the boot when you open it.

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Hi FD,

We asked Opel Ireland for advice on this one for you and here's the response:

"Unfortunately this is the only colour we offer in the centre console.  If the customer would like to paint it then it's best to consult a good body shop as they would be able to advise best on whether to paint it or not.  Our Opel dealers do not carry out body shop modifications so we cannot directly recommend one; however if the customer wishes he can contact his local Opel dealership and discuss the options with them."

Hope that's of some help

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Hi there,

The Meriva's pretty robust but there are a few reported problems. Most seem to do with the interior, which is not made of the highest quality plastics, and which develops a lot of creaks and groans over the years of use. Not much can be done about that, unfortunately. A more serious issue is to do with the steering. Power steering pumps can fail and it seems to be a recognised issue. There was a recall but not all cars, or indeed the entire problem, may have been fixed. Also watch for faulty timing chains on the 1.4 petrol.

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Hi Cindy,

I would go for either the Skoda or the Opel. The Skoda 1.9 TDI is very economical (50mpg should be pretty easy) and Skodas are well built and reliable. 

The only downside is that if it's pre-2008, it'll have a high rate of tax. That's something that the Opel with the 1.3 CDTi engine avoids, and it's still very economical, albeit slightly less so as you'll have to work the smaller engine a bit harder to keep up with the flow of traffic.

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Hi Michael,

If depreciation is your primary concern, then it’s best to go for a Toyota, which in general has the best reputation for retained value in the Irish market. An Auris is the same size as a Golf, and while it’s not as interesting to look at, it’s not at all bad to drive, and hugely reliable too.

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Hi Tom,

Bit of a tricky one to answer, that, simply because the Mokka hasn't been around for very long. It was only launched late last year. However, there are a couple of extrapolations we can make. First off, the Mokka's a new design, so there are bound to be one or two teething issues. Small niggles are likely, especially with such things as the electronics. Still, Opels are generally pretty well made. That's backed up by the fact that the Mokka uses proven hardware. The design of its 1.7 diesel engine dates back more than two decades, so any bugs should have been well and truly ironed out by now, while underneath the Mokka is essentially a Corsa hatchback, and again that's been around for a few years now without developing any major reliability issues. 

In other words, we can't say for definite yet, but it should be fine.

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Hi Hugh,

Should be fine. Vauxhall in the UK is confident enough to offer a lifetime warranty on the same model, as long as the servicing is carried out at a main dealer, on schedule. As long as the history is on the button, you should be fine.

Expert answer

Hi Jackie,

Yes, it is highly likely that a 2008 bumper would fit your 2007 Corsa. The gearbox has no bearing on it, but if the 2008 donor is from a three-door model it's worth comparing them as closely as possible.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Yes, it should be. OK, so we're talking about a 12-year old car so literally anything could go wrong, but that generation of Astra was sturdy, certainly compared to the rather poor previous generation. The 1.4 petrol (I'm assuming that's the model you are looking at) is robust and quite sporty to drive and because it was never especially loaded with equipment in the first place, there's less to go wrong now. Just tread carefully, make sure there's at least some evidence of previous servicing and if it looks damaged or abused, walk away.

We can't comment on specific cars without seeing them for ourselves and likewise if you need a history or finance check we recommend you go to Cartell.ie.