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Hi F D,

The new Ford Focus is expected to begin deliveries here in Ireland from July of this year, although that was a provisional date given to us at the preview of the car last month, so that date could move back by a month or so. The new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine sounds like it will be a great choice for the new Focus, and should be available straight away in 150hp guise - there will also be a 180hp version. If you're planning on getting one of the new versions straight away, I'd advise paying a visit to your local dealer soon, as allocations are likely to be small when the car first goes on sale. 

Hope this helps.

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Hi Rosemary,

According to the official figure, you should be getting 33mpg. Bear in mind though that this is almost a ten-year old car, so its performance in terms of fuel economy may have tailed off. Nothing a good service and oil change wouldn't fix though, along with some decent new tyres.

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Hi Elaine,

If you want to stay with a small car then can I suggest tracking down a nice Ford Fiesta? Your €8k budget won't quite stretch to a new EcoBoost model, but the older 1.25 petrol engine is still a sweet, economical and reliable unit.

If it's maximum economy you're after then you need to think of a small diesel. How about a Peugeot 207 1.4 HDi? Hard to track down but 65mpg is easy.

Better yet, you could trade up altogether. €8k should get you into a nice 2008 SEAT Leon 1.9 TDI - hugely reliable, spacious, economical and really good to drive.

Let us know what you think

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Hi Martin,

Ah, a split answer this one: Honda replaced the Civic in 2006 with a new model, so I don't know precisely to which one you're referring. If it's the older model, there are almost no major problems. As long as the car has been serviced on schedule (and preferably by a Honda main dealer or independent Honda expert) you should have no troubles at all.

If it's the newer, space-age-looking Civic you're talking about then there are a few minor niggles to check for. The dashboards can get a touch squeaky and rattly, the fuel filler cap can stick shut and the wraparound front lights can get condensation or water building up in them.

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Hi Evelyn,

Actually, the Hyundai ix20 might be just the thing you're looking for. It's smaller and cheaper to run than a Golf, and that 1.4 diesel engine is very economical, and will actually prove more powerful to drive than the Golf. Others worth considering are the Citroen C3 Picasso or Ford B-Max, both of which can be had with either petrol or diesel power. Try a 1.0-litre turbo petrol B-Max actually - great fun to drive and you won't believe the power and performance Ford can get from its new downsized 1.0-litre engine.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Gerry,

There are so many things that could cause this we'd recommend you bring the car to a qualified mechanic - and soon before damage is done to the engine. Coolant puddles under the car after it has been idle for a while point to a leak in the cooling system (pipework, radiator, etc.) and white smoke coming out of the exhaust suggests something more serious.

Either way, get it looked at without delay and let us know how you get on.

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Hi Michael,

The official average economy for a 2005 1.9 TDI 105hp Golf is 53mpg, and assuming the engine has been reasonably well cared for down the years, I'd say you wouldn't have too much trouble matching that figure in day-to-day driving. As for switching to 1.4 petrol, it kind of depends on your driving style and habits. If you're doing lots of long journeys, especially ones with lots of motorway mileage, then diesel is a no-brainer. If your driving is mostly done at low speed, around town, for short hops then it might well be worth sticking with petrol. Basically, you need to get your pen and paper out and work out what mileage you do, and then compare the prices you're seeing for both the petrol and diesel versions of the cars you want. If the saving on the fuel isn't more than extra price of buying the diesel car, then it's worth considering sticking with petrol.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Alan,

Hachis are notoriously hard to price as there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. Gone are the days of cars being sold fresh off the boat for €12,000 - €13,000, but they still do command more of a premium than other cars of the vintage. The most important consideration of the AE86 is not the presence of a rebuilt engine but the lack of rust. Sill, floorpans and inner arches are all prone to rust and these are the first places prospective buyers will be interested in. There is also the UK/Ireland vs Japan consideration with original European cars being that bit rarer and more coveted than their Japanese cousins. All things considered somewhere between €7,500 - €8,500 seems to be the going price with some exceptional cars going for closer to €10,000.

Hope this helps.

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Hi Dawn,

Well, according to the official figures, a 2008 Yaris 1.4 D-4D should give you about 62mpg. But, it's a car you're probably going to have a deal of trouble tracking down as few will have been sold here in the first place because of the price premium over the 1.0 and 1.3 petrol versions. A 1.0 petrol Yaris won't be quite so economical on a long run, but the fact that it will be easier to find and cheaper to buy may well outweigh that.

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Hi Noel,

For a 2011 model year Aveo, running the 1.2-litre petrol engine, you should be getting 51.4mpg on average.