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Hi Sean,

Stephen McDonnell from Volkswagen Ireland contacted us with some really useful information on this. Apparently the sensors themselves are quite robust, but they can be fooled into thinking the level is low by poor quality coolant. So, if there's more water than coolant in the car it may not register properly. Likewise, if there's oil in the water it could throw up a strange reading.

So, the advice is to have a look at the quality of the coolant and ask the buyer when it was last changed.

It could still be the sensor, but it's more likely that the above is the reason for the warning light.

Hope that helps,

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Hi Eoin,

We are always very pleasantly surprised by that 1.4 TSI engine in the Golf or indeed the Passat. On paper it looks like it could be a bit weedy but it really is good. Now, it doesn't feel fast as such, but it isn't sluggish. 

It is a seven-speed DSG in the 1.4 with 122hp. Fuel consumption is 5.9 l/100km (or 47.1mpg). 

The Golf has better fuel economy with the DSG gearbox than with a manual and there is no penalty in terms of performance figures: 0-100km/h takes 9.5 seconds and they both have a top speed of 199km/h. 

I love the DSG gearbox, though it isn't cheap to buy.

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Hi Mick,

Yes we have driven the 120hp 1.4-litre TSI in the Passat and we are just heading off to drive the new one in Barcelona as we write this. Believe it or not, this engine copes quite well with the Passat's bulk. It is by no means a rocket and doesn't really have the torque of the diesel models, but it certainly copes quite well. 0-100km/h takes 10.5 seconds and the top speed is 203km/h. Fuel economy is 8.6 l/100km and CO₂ emissions are 157g/km.

Is there anything else you'd like to know?

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Hi Cyril,

The Passat has had more than its fair share of reliability issues. There have been a total of seven recalls on the current model since 2005, but they were over different builds and won't have affected all cars. You can get full details of all of these from the VOSA website in the UK. There appears to be a recall for the clutch on later models, but we have also heard of reports of there being problems with the automatic handbrake and the power steering, while clutch judder on cars over 70,000 miles is not uncommon. 

This is certainly a car that has had issues, but it would not put me off buying one. There are lots of alternatives, but it depends on what you want. There are lots of good used Audi A4s around, though it is quite a bit smaller than the Passat; and obviously as they get older the repairs can get more expensive. I'm not sure if you would prefer petrol or diesel, but here is a low mileage 1.6-litre example at a SIMI dealer for €15,995. 

Something like this full-spec Mondeo X Diesel for €16,900 would be great. This is a gorgeous car and while quite discreet, would be great to drive.

I quite like this Mazda6 too. This is a very underrated car and the diesel model is a cracker. Let us know a little more about your budget and your needs and we can give you more considered advice. Just pop the details in the comment box below.

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Hi Jimmy,

A quick scout around suggests that it should be possible to buy either of those two cars for about the same price on the scrappage scheme so we'll take price out of the equation.

In terms of economy, emissions and performance, the cars are well-matched too and both are well-equipped as standard.

However, the Passat is a significantly bigger car and it feels it, with more room for passengers and a significantly larger boot. It hence feels like you're getting a lot more for your money in the VW.

Hope that helps.

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Hi Frank,

You are likely to get up to €6,000 for your Grand Punto as a trade-in. Having spoken to you via e-mail we know that you have a budget of around €8,000 - €10,000 on top of this.

A car like the Mazda3 saloon with an automatic transmission would make a great choice, as it would be more than suitable for the small mileage your wife does and even though it is a petrol engine it won't cost a lot to run. Here is an example that should be well within budget.

If you wanted something that is a little bigger and more comfortable, then you could have a 2008 Volkswagen Passat automatic within budget. Here is a 2008 one on sale in Naas.

Another good choice would be a Honda Civic saloon automatic, which would be ultra reliable. This model would be well suited to your wife's needs.

I know that you didn't mention an SUV, but if your wife suffers from mobility problems, it can be a lot easier to get in and out of a higher vehicle and this Suzuki Vitara could be great, as it comes with an automatic transmission and has plenty of space for the grandkids too.

Out of all these, my hunch is that the Mazda3 would make the best buy for your needs. I hope this helps. Feel free to come back to us if we haven't quite hit the mark!

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Hello Dan, here is one just like yours with similar mileage and it is retailing at €31,000, so you might offered a little less than this as a trade-in, perhaps around €29,000. This is our best guess. 

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Hi Michael,

We found an identical car to yours with the same mileage for sale for €8,950. You probably won't get offered that much as a trade in, but you could have an overall budget of about €17,000.

In terms of the Mazda6, that is a really good car and there weren't too many of the diesel models sold initially. The petrol models sold in higher numbers initially because they were cheaper than the diesel ones at the time.

You would pay about €16,950 for a 1.8-litre petrol model like the one we found here at a SIMI dealer.

Here is another excellent one in Cork, for €16,900.

Diesel models cost quite a bit more, with a 2008 model at a SIMI dealer costing closer to €20,000.

For the mileage you do, you could get away with a petrol model without totally breaking the bank and you certainly won't save in fuel costs by spending the extra on the diesel model. Granted, road tax will be higher on the petrol.

You could probably get into a 2008 Passat BlueMotion with your budget and that too would be a good car. Yes, I've heard of some occasional issues with the latest Passat, such as a problem with the power steering and with the electric parking brake, but they have been pretty well dealt with by Volkswagen.

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Hi Daniel,

We can't give you an accurate price on what your car would be because really you should look at the cost to change, but you could probably expect to get about €12,000-€13,000 as a trade-in against a new or used new model of the Passat.

Make sure you shop around.