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Hi Aidan,

Hyundai Ireland quotes 6.0 litres/100km, which is 47.1mpg.

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Hi Mark,

Right, obviously it's always a bit of a scare when you slip on the road and damage your car, and it's natural for the reaction to be "I'd better get a 4x4." Hang on though, because there are 4x4s and 4x4s... First off, the Tuscon. According to the official figures, the 2.0-litre diesel 4x4 Tuscon does 39mpg while the 2.0-litre petrol model does 35mpg. We'd bet that you'll struggle to match those figures on the road and will instead get around 30mpg on average. Also, 4x4 Tuscons are a little tricky to track down in Ireland.

So, as an alternative, why not consider a Skoda Octavia 4x4? You know you like the car, the all-wheel drive system is just as good at finding traction as any big SUV's and the lower, lighter body means you won't pay as heavy a fuel consumption penalty. We've found one for sale on Carzone for just over €10k, so they're not even too expensive.

Worth a look, at any rate.

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Hi John,

A lot. Sorry, but that’s just the very harsh truth for you. If you’re a new driver, or worse are aged under 30, you’re going to pay an absolute fortune. If you can, trade down to a 1.0-litre car as that will help a little and definitely find yourself a good insurance broker to help you find the best possible deal.

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Hi Michael,

This question arrives at a timely moment as I've just stepped out of a brand new Polo 1.4 TSI test car. I'd have to say that it's a long, long, loooooong way ahead of a 2000 model year Polo, fine car though that was at the time. I had always felt that the Polo was a little bit of the also-ran of the Volkswagen range, but I think that this latest round of updates, especially on the inside, finally make it feel like the mini-Golf it always should have been.

It's nice to drive, comfy and that 1.4 turbo petrol engine is a gem, giving almost-diesel-like economy but proving revvy and willing when you want to get going. A far cry from the too-sluggish 1.2 petrol Polos of old. So, yes, upgrade - my take is that it's well worth it.

Here's our first drive of the new Volkswagen Polo for reference

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Hi John,

Yes, by and large Golfs are well enough built to withstand years of abuse, but then this is an older car so there are some areas to check...

Make sure the cambelt has been changed, check that the water pump is working (quick warm up from cold, but no issues with holding the temperature at idle), listen for noises from both the front suspension and steering, check that the air conditioning (if fitted) is working OK and make sure that the gearbox (manual or auto) is shifting cleanly.

Oh and avoid the FSI petrol model - they don't like regular 95RON unleaded petrol.

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Hi Sean,

A nice car, and that price looks very sharp, but tread carefully. The 2002-onwards E-Class gave Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes owners no end of trouble, with anything electrical or electronic being exceptionally suspect. Now, the good news is that the 2006-on version of that E-Class was significantly revised and a whole lot better, but still check every single button and electrical connection to make sure it's all working properly. Make sure too that the gearbox and rear suspension are both working smoothly and not making any untoward noises - both are weak areas.

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Hi Eddie,

The Insignia is a fine car but you'll find it's not as spacious as your old Passat. Still, it's arguably more handsome and sharper to drive, but you have to make sure all the electrical bits are working properly.

As for the value of your Passat, you haven't given me a specific year but I'm going to guess it's around 2006-2007 in which case you're looking at around €5,000 as a trade in, but don't be surprised if you get offered less - cars with big petrol engines (even efficient ones) are forecourt poison right now.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi William,

Both of those are really good options, but with that budget there are some others worth considering. Given your low mileage, you might want to take a look at (shock, horror) some petrol alternatives. Both the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage are plentiful on the second-hand ground with petrol engines and they're well worth considering.

From personal family experience, I can tell you that a CR-V with the 2.0-litre VTEC petrol engine gets a sold 38mpg in daily use and has been close to faultlessly reliable. Or, if you need an occasional seven-seater, the second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe falls within your budget and is a cracking car, well worth a look.

What do you think?

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Hi Bernard,

They're a solid old thing, the Corolla, and not at all bad to drive, it may surprise you to learn. Just check a few small things. There were recalls for brake, airbag and gearbox faults that should have been carried out, so make sure they were. Small niggles occur and apparently condensation building up in the rear lights - potentially causing a short-circuit - is one of them so check for that. Otherwise, you can pretty much bask in Toyota's legendary reliability and solidity.

A good buy, that one.

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Hi Claire,

The revised Polo is now in Ireland, so we assume you mean that one. The 1.2-litre TSI petrol model is in Band A3, costing €190 to tax. That's the case whether it's manual or DSG automatic and for both three- and five-door body styles.

The only 1.4-litre Polo on the Volkswagen Ireland price list is the TDI diesel. It's available in 75- and 90hp guises, in both three- and five-door bodies and with a DSG automatic for the higher power unit. It doesn't matter which of all those you buy, they're all in Band A2, costing just €180 per year to tax.

Hope that helps, but please do check out our first drive of the revised Polo here as well.