Expert answer

Hi Alanna,

Anything pre-2008 with a petrol engine is pretty hard to shift on these days, sadly, so I'd reckon you're looking at a value of possibly as little as €5,500 for the Mazda3 at the moment. To get the best from it, I'd suggest staying within the Mazda family (a Mazda dealer will usually give you a better trade-in on a Mazda than will another dealer) and trade up to a Mazda6 Estate. Loads of space, brilliant to drive, reliable and, with the 2.2-litre 129hp diesel, very economical too. SUV? Do you live up a mountain or at the far end of a rutted dirt road? No? Then you don't need one - stick to the family car market and the Mazda6 size class (which also includes cars like the Toyota Avensis, Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Opel Insignia) is  where you'll get the best bang for your buck.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi James,

Short answer is that it will be really expensive to get insured on anything at the age of 20. Sorry, but it's the way of the world and all us old geezers have been through it. 

The best advice I can give you is to shop carefully around and check out some of the specific young driver policies that are now available. It might be worth swapping the Passat for something a bit smaller and with a smaller engine too, if that's possible.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Mim,

By and large, yes. The 1.6 FSI engine was actually pretty peachy to drive, if rather underpowered. As with all underpowered cars, watch carefully for signs of abuse and hard-running by drivers frustrated with the lack of oomph. 

It seems to be a very solidly reliable car, but there are some reports in owner forums of problems with the cam belt tensioner repeatedly failing and needing to be replaced at almost every major service, while there are also some reports that the direct fuel injection system means that the inlet valves can become sticky with carbon deposits. That seems to be about it, though.

Expert answer

Hi Dermot,

That’s kind of an open-ended question because it depends hugely on whether you want to get into a PCP deal (which effectively makes you come back in three years’ time to trade in for a new car), an old fashioned hire-purchase agreement (which doesn’t, but is more expensive per month than the PCP), or whether you want to go with a bank or credit union loan. It also depends on your own circumstances and, substantially, on the car you’re looking at buying.

As an example, Volkswagen is currently offering 3.9 per cent APR interest on a  PCP deal on a new Polo hatchback, but just 0.9 per cent on the larger Tiguan, Golf and Passat. Or even 0 per cent on the Jetta. Alternatively, you can get a very sharp 0 per cent Hire Purchase deal on a new Kia cee’d, which is an excellent car for not a lot of money.

To be honest, almost every car maker is currently offering some pretty decent deals, so it comes down to what you want and what you can afford. Come back to us with more detail and we'd be happy to help.

Read our guide to Different Car Finance Options in Ireland

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

I've always had a bit of a soft-spot for the current C5. No, it's not as sharp to drive as a Mondeo or Passat, but it's a lovely, comfy car with tremendous long-haul refinement. Pick of the bunch is the 1.6 HDi diesel model and you should get an easy 50mpg out of it.

As for faults, check for a chuffing sound from the engine when it's running, as that could indicate that the fuel injectors are in need of replacing. Make sure it's had a cambelt change and watch for diesel particulate filter warning lights, which indicate that it needs a good long run at high engine speed to burn the collected diesel soot out of the filter. Suspension problems are quite common - usually worn ball-joints or bushes. Other than that, they're pretty solid.

Expert answer

Hi Jack,

Depends — do you want one? If so then yes. It’s a decent car, well-built, fine to drive, roomy and reliable. Just make sure you get one that’s been looked after properly, is all.

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

The Sport only has minor trim differences on the Passat — it’s not a separate model, just a slightly sportier-looking body kit and some extra equipment on the inside. Essentially, there’s no difference at all.

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

At the time, they were very reliable and solidly built, but I’d be slightly wary now, especially if it’s a car with patchy service history. The diesel models develop problems with both the injection system and the air mass sensor, while the 1.6 petrol was underpowered and consequently has to strain to push the car around, leading to excessive wear and tear (especially to the front driveshafts).

The good news is that there aren’t too many fiddly electronic system to go wrong, but check the car over very carefully and if there are too many holes in the service record, walk away.

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

As discussed via email, as you knew from the outset that a six-month warranty was included and you never queried it then there doesn't appear to be be anything you can do after the matter. It's up to the individual seller/dealer/garage how much of a warranty to offer I'm afraid.

Hopefully your car will prove reliable in any case.

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

OK, so what you need here is something spacious (kids, even just the one, take up a heroic amount of space, as you know), something economical for all that annual mileage and something comfy so that your buttocks survive all that mileage. I think you should stay with the current rough size of car, as some of the best bargains can be found in the mid-size saloon segment.

First up is a Volkswagen Passat. Ideally, you'd get the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion version, a car in which we once managed to drive from Galway to Glasgow and back on one tank of fuel. Or, what about a Ford Mondeo? You'll easily get a 2.0 TDCi model for that money, and there are very few cars quite so comfy on a long journey. Even BMWs and Mercs can't always match the Mondeo for seat comfort.

Of course, if you fancy the high life, and are prepared to compromise on space a little, then there's the BMW 3 Series. You'll get a 320d or 318d for that kind of budget, but shop around to make sure you get one in a dark metallic, with leather and preferably an automatic gearbox.

Finally, there's the Mazda6. Bit of an unsung hero of this segment, it's brilliant to drive, spacious, good looking and you should be able to track one down with Mazda's excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine under the bonnet. Reliable as it gets, it should chomp through your annual mileage with nary a worry. Find the even more handsome estate version if you can.

Come back to us if you need help narrowing this down.