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Hi Eric,

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Hi Cathy,

We understand your fears about ex-hire cars, as they have a reputation of not being looked after by hire car customers. However, so long as it has been serviced according to the manufacturer's schedule and it's in good condition there's not much to worry about. Have the body work and underneath looked at by a mechanic and closely look for kerbed alloys etc.

With regards to the mileage, for peace of mind you can get an inexpensive history check through Cartell.ie. That will reveal if there are any discrepancies.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi Teresa,

There are a couple of problems with the Zafira diesel, mostly to do with the diesel particulate filter (it gets clogged and has to be replaced, which is expensive), the exhaust gas recirculation valve (which jams, and which means you need to replace it), and the dual-mass flywheel. On the inside, check for faulty central locking and rear seats that won’t lock into position when you lift them up out of the boot. Economy should be around the 40mpg mark, depending on how you drive it.

Ford Focus 1.6 diesels of similar age might have turbo trouble too (if the engine feels hesitant or down on power), and you need to listen for creaking steering racks, check for faulty air conditioning and listen for noisy suspension.

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Hi Klaudyna,

It’s a very tricky one to answer, but in general, for a mainstream hatchback that would have been 13 years old in 2011, I would think you’d be lucky to get much more than €1,000. 

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Hi Laura,

It kind of depends which Astra estate you mean. Assuming you mean the current one then the answers are yes (good looking, lots of space, lovely to drive and a really well-made cabin), and yes (either the 1.0 petrol turbo or 1.6 diesel are very economical, but you might notice that the fuel tank is a bit on the small side on longer journeys).

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Hi Martina,

At that budget your main choices, sticking with diesel for fuel economy reasons, are the Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi ASX, Opel Mokka and Skoda Yeti.

We're assuming you don't need four-wheel drive (correct me if I'm wrong), as the front-wheel drive versions of each car are always the most economical.

Here's the most economical version of each:

- Hyundai ix35 1.7 diesel 2WD: 5.3 litres/100km (53.3mpg): from €26,495

- Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel 2WD: 5.3 litres/100km (53.3mpg): from €26,590

- Mitsubishi ASX 1.8 diesel: 5.7 litres/100km (49.6mpg): from €25,950

- Opel Mokka 1.7 diesel 2WD: 4.7 litres/100km (60.1mpg): from €24,695

- Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline: 4.6 litres/100km (61.4mpg): from €25,320

We've left out smaller options as you specifically asked for mid-size.

The Skoda Yeti turns out to be the most economical of that lot and for us it would be between that and the Kia Sportage.

Best thing to do is go and test drive as many alternatives as you like the look of as it will come down to personal preference.

Let us know how you get on and come back to us if you need anything else.

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Hi Fintan,

OK, well you’re kind of cutting across class boundaries there — a Focus and a Mondeo are really quite different cars, with the Focus being smaller, cheaper and arguably more fun to drive, and the Mondeo being more expensive, but bigger, comfier and more refined. That goes pretty much the same for the Opel Astra and Insignia, or the Volkswagen Golf or Passat. So the first thing you need to work out is what you want, and what you need, and whether or not you need the bigger car, or if something more compact will do.

Of the brands you’ve mentioned, the VWs will probably do the best in reliability terms, with Ford being the most enjoyable to drive, and Opel falling somewhere in the middle, but you should also be considering the likes of the Toyota Auris and Avensis (best for reliability), the Peugeot 308 and 508 (stylish, good to drive) and the Mazda3 and Mazda6 (reliable and both very good to drive). 

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Hi Joe,

The current model? It’s a little too early to tell, as it usually takes several years before any major reliability issues come to light. So far, they seem to be solid, and for the most part they use tried and tested Opel engines and gearboxes, so as long as you buy one that’s got a full service history, we wouldn’t expect too many problems.

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Hi Emma,

I’d go for the Micra, as it’ll be the most reliable of the cars you’ve mentioned. A budget of €2,000 should get you a 2006-2007 model, and I wouldn’t be bothered about mileage — buy on service history and condition. Other good options are a Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz or, if you fancy a bit of driving fun, a Suzuki Swift.

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Hi Paul,

Do you mean the EcoBoost engine, versus the Astra’s 1.4 Turbo? It’s a very close match, especially if you’re looking at the current models. The Astra is exceptionally good to drive, and that 1.4 Turbo is a good engine too. The Focus’ EcoBoost three-cylinder engine is, theoretically, more economical, but it depends very much on how you drive it. The Focus’ chassis and steering responses are better than those of the Astra,  but then the Astra has the nicer interior. Depends where you priorities lie, really...

Read our Ford Focus reviews here

Read our Opel Astra reviews here