Toyota Avensis 1.6 petrol or 2.0 diesel?
Toyota Avensis 1.6 petrol v 2.0 diesel? Annual mileage of 9,000 miles and typical journey 5-10 miles. I'm buying new and likely to keep for 5-7 years. My existing car is petrol, driving on country roads. What do you advise?
John Crowley (Cork)May 2013 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi John,
With that kind of mileage, I think you should go for the petrol Avensis. Yes, it’ll be a little higher in tax costs, but you’ll get it for less than the diesel, and have lower maintenance costs.
Audi Q5, BMW X3 or Range Rover Evoque?
I'm thinking of buying a mid-sized SUV and have narrowed my choice down to a BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the Range Rover Evoque. The Range Rover has the pedigree, but to be honest, I'm not going to do serious off-roading, I just want to cope with difficult weather conditions that sometimes crop up down the country and drive on the odd muddy track. Also, I understand the mpg figures quoted for the Evoque are a bit optimistic and to be honest, I can't but feel that the Evoque looks a bit girly!
The BMW ticks a lot of boxes, but seems a bit dated. I'm leaning to the Q5; it looks the part, has a decent engine, recent upgrade and seems to be a good all-rounder. Can you give any advice on choosing between the three? Also, I'm thinking of going automatic and again I was wondering if you had any advice in that department?
Martin Moroney (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
You're in an enviable position and, before going into more detail, we'd be very happy with any of those cars as an ownership proposition.
Personally, I'd be sorely tempted by the Evoque. There are plenty of colour and wheel options to change its appearance to your liking, it's much more of an occasion inside and it drives like a hot hatch (the chassis is very much road-biased, though it does well enough off-road when needed). Admittedly, certain versions of the BMW and Audi may be more economical, but I'd look at it very closely.
When the current BMW X3 came out it really took a leap forward from its predecessor in terms of comfort, quality and refinement, but between that and the Audi Q5 I may too be swayed by the fact that the Audi has had a more recent update. I also prefer how the Q5 looks. There's very little between them depending on which engines you're looking at.
The best advice is to go test drive each car for as long as possible, paying close attention to the specifications of the test cars.
In terms of automatic gearboxes, unless you're looking at a petrol Q5 (which I doubt!) or the high-performance SQ5 TDI model (fantastic) then the only option is the dual-clutch S-Tronic unit. This helps with efficiency and allows the driver more control when he wants it, but is not as smooth as a traditional torque converter gearbox, as fitted to the Evoque and BMW. They're both smooth systems, but the eight-speed item in the BMW is the most impressive, managing to minimise fuel consumption increases.
Hopefully that's of help, but come back to us if you need more
Would a BMW 520d suit me for low mileage?
Would the new shape 2010 BMW 520d with 100,000 miles on the clock be a bad buy? I do very small mileage.
Frank Cronin (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Frank,
The new-shape BMW 5 Series is a fabulous car, especially if it has the right equipment, such as a leather interior, etc. The 520d is nothing short of fantastic when new, though we've heard reports that this 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine can have expensive problems as it gets older - especially if oil maintenance is not adhered to strictly. If the one you're looking at has a detailed service history then there's less worry.
However, if you do very small mileage we'd question why you're going for a diesel car at all. The fuel economy might be tempting, but you should look around and see what petrol models you can get for your money too, as modern petrol engines are improving in terms of fuel economy and emissions - and they're generally cheaper to buy and maintain. They're also quieter and far better suited to low mileage use.
Let us know how you get on
How reliable is the Volkswagen Polo 1.0?
How reliable is the Volkswagen Polo 1.0-litre petrol? Cost running this basic car?
Erwin Meurs (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Erwin,
Ignition coil packs and excessive oil consumption on higher-mileage cars seem to be the only major faults, but then again basic Polos were so stingily equipped that there's nothing much to go wrong. Watch for engine wear though - it's an underpowered car and you need to rev the nuts off it to get any decent performance, with consequent wear and tear issues.
Keep it in town, at low speeds, where it was designed to work, and it should be cheap to run, with very cheap insurance too.
How economical, safe and efficient is the Nissan Note?
How economical, safe and efficient is the 2008 Nissan Note petrol manual? Thinking of buying one.
Rachel Barry (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Rachel,
There only seems to be one specific problem with the Note and that's with the air conditioning system, which can spring a leak and drop water into the foot well. Unnoticed and left alone that can lead to mould forming in the car and a distinctly smelly cabin.
Other than that, the Note is built in the same Sunderland factory (in the UK) that makes the Qashqai and Juke - and used to make the Micra - so quality is of a very high level.
View on the 2008 Saab 9-3 1.8t?
What is your view on the 2008 Saab 9-3 1.8t Linear Sport?
Ger Cuddy (Laois)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Ger,
We always did have a big soft spot for Saabs in general, but the sad fact is that the last-gen 9-3 was neither a great car in and of itself, nor especially reliable. The 1.8t petrol engine was, at least, a little better than the diesel options in terms of reliability, but it’s probably going to be troublesome. Definitely don’t buy one that doesn’t have a full service history, and don’t pay too much for it either. I reckon €4,000 would be top value.
How reliable is the 2005 BMW 530i?
How reliable is the 2005 BMW 530i petrol?
Patrick Gannon (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
It should be fine, as it was the four-cylinder diesel that was troublesome on the E60 5 Series, and the straight-six engines are pretty solid. Just make sure that it has a full and complete service history and, if there are any gaps in the maintenance, walk away.
A towbar for my Focus or buy a Citroen Berlingo?
Should I buy a Citroen Berlingo (or similar) or put a towbar onto my 2000 Focus? I need something to carry lots of trees/logs for firewood. Is it a waste of money putting a towbar on my 13-year old Focus 1.6 petrol saloon and purchasing a trailer or would a three-seat van be better value and more economical? I have two small kids so I need something to carry them and all their gear also (for school runs etc.). Or would some sort of pick-up or SUV suit me better? Motor tax, fuel economy etc. are all factors to consider, thanks
K C (Cork)May 2013 Filed under: towing
Expert answer
Hi Keith,
No, it's not a waste of time at all. It's almost always better value to keep and fix an existing car rather than pay the cost-of-change to upgrade to something newer. That said, if you're convinced you need a better solution, then you won't do better than to go for one of the many car-vans on offer now. The Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo are the best known versions, but there are also similar models available from Fiat, Volkswagen and Peugeot. My personal pick would be the Fiat Doblo, fitted with the 1.6- or 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines. You'll find the cabin surprisingly comfy, it's quite pleasant to drive, very economical and good on tax and massively spacious in the back. There's even a seven-seat version available if you want to be really popular at the school gate.
How reliable is a mid 2000s VW Passat?
How reliable is an early to mid 2000s Volkswagen Passat saloon?
Stephen Cullen (Roscrea)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
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.
Should I have been given a 12-month warranty?
I recently bought a 1.4 petrol Volkswagen Passat and the main dealer where I bought it gave me a six-month warranty. Should I have been given a 12-month warranty?
Kevin Mc German (Cork)May 2013 Filed under: warranty
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.