Expert answer

Hi Amy,

It sounds like there are a few things wrong here. If the engine management light is on then the garage really needs to plug the car into a diagnostic machine to find out exactly what it is. A mechanic can't just guess. It needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.

If your coolant was gone then the engine would seize up and stop running. You should get plenty of warning of that with the coolant temperature gauge or warning light. If it's not blowing hot air (assuming the engine is warmed up properly, as that's where the heat comes from) then it sounds like an issue with either the thermostat or the heat exchanger.

Overall, I think you need to take the car to a different mechanic and go through all these issues with them.

Best of luck.

Expert answer

Hi William,

In general, Renault has picked its reliability game up over recent years,  but we would still advise a little caution. Electrical problems are quite common, especially with the windows and the engine management system, so buy carefully and make sure that it comes with a full service history.

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Hi there,

There were two slightly differing versions of the first generation pro_cee'd 1.6 petrol when it comes to CO₂ emissions. The version running on 16-inch alloy wheels records 145g/km, while the one on 17-inch wheels emits 148g/km. It makes no major difference, as both will fall into Band C for motor tax, with an annual bill of €390. In terms of fuel economy, there's also a slight difference, with the 16-inch wheel version doing a claimed 46mpg, while the 17-inch one is slightly worse off at 44mpg. Resale values for these cars seem to be holding up quite well, with asking prices for a 2011 model hovering between €11,000 and €14,000.

Hope that helps

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Hi Stella,

OK, the good news is that your Yaris is an in-demand model and values for cars from around that era are holding up well because of the scarcity of new car sales since the financial crash. I'd hope that you'd get around €8,000 for it, but let's play safe and assume you get €7,000 and you can add your €1k to that. That opens up an entire world of MINIs to you, and not just old models - you should be able to get into the second-generation post-2006 model, which is noticeably more refined and well made. I'd suggest trying to track down a nicely specced 1.6 Cooper and enjoy the heck out of it. As a MINI owner myself, I can tell you that they're great fun to drive and not quite as impractical as you might think.

Now, reliability. There's no two ways about it - Toyotas are staggeringly reliable and break very rarely. MINIs aren't bad, not bad at all, but they're just not quite as bank-vault solid as the Japanese car. Buy carefully, make sure you get one with a full and complete service history and you should be fine. Regular servicing isn't too pricey (about €190 for a normal service) and fuel economy should be pretty good too.

Hope that all helps

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Hi Des,

Yes, the 2008 1.6-litre petrol Mondeo does indeed have a timing belt. It should be replaced every 100,000 miles/160,000km or every eight years.

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Hi Noel,

'OK' just about sums it up. The Captiva was never up to much to be honest - it's spacious and rugged and that's about where it begins and ends. Acceptable to drive, plain grey cabin and that 2.4 petrol engine will prove ridiculously thirsty.

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Hi Peter,

You're really comparing two quite different cars here. The Auris is a larger car than the Jazz, which is really more of a rival to the Ford Fiesta. Which means that the Auris is going to be more comfy and refined over a long distance, but if you're sticking mostly around town, go for the Jazz. There are no reports of the Auris' stop-start system causing any issues, but the Auris has been generating reports of problems with squeaky front brakes, slipping handbrakes and noisy gearboxes.

The Jazz, by contrast has generated no repeating fault reports and Hondas are usually incredibly reliable. Yes, parts can be a bit pricey for them (the Toyota would be cheaper to service and repair), but so few things go wrong that you probably won't need to spend much. Go for the Jazz so - it's sweeter to drive, has a cleverer interior and will probably prove more reliable.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Susan,

Cracking car the i30, and an excellent purchase. Just avoid the petrol engined ones - there are reports of persistent misfires and even full-on engine failures. And if you're buying a car that's still under Hyundai's five-year warranty (which it might just be) then make sure that it has a full main-dealer Hyundai service history with completed routine inspections - or the warranty will be invalid. Also keep an ear out for squeaky interior trim - not a serious issue, but they do seem prone to it.

Expert answer

Hi Jimmy,

Try a Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI petrol. It's massive inside and has a huge boot, and it can easily reach 50mpg in daily driving, with around 900km to a tank possible.

Expert answer

Hi Donagh,

All of the cars you've listed there will be both a lot more reliable and much more economical than your 407, but potentially your best bet is to stay within the Peugeot dealer network where you'll most likely get the best deal on your trade-in. The new 308 is looking pretty impressive, comes with a five-year warranty and Peugeot's build quality has come on a long way since the 407...

Let us know which way you go