CompleteCar
Search Ask Us Anything
Showing 681 - 690 results (out of a total of 857) found for "Petrol" in Ask Us Anything

I need a small car to carry a bike please!

What is the best small-engined car for carrying a bike? I looking to buy my first car so am conscious of insurance costs.

Sue Murphy (Dublin)

Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Right, tough combination this as I'm assuming you want to be able to carry the bike inside the car, rather than on a boot-mounted carrier. If you're going down the carrier route, then you won't go wrong with one of the old favourites like a Fiesta, Corsa or Punto.

If, however, it's space inside you need then you need to go a little left-field. How about a 2006 Renault Modus 1.2 Dynamique? True, Renaults of that age aren't the most reliable of cars, but the 1.2 petrol engine is a well-proven unit and the space inside the Modus is not to be sniffed at. Plus it's one of the safest cars you can buy. All that and we found one listed at only €3,950 from a dealer.

What do you think?


When to change an Opel Astra's timing belt?

When should the timing chain/belt be changed on a 2007 Opel Astra?

Eddie Hall (Cootehill)

Mar 2013 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Eddie,

You've not told us what engine you mean, so here's a list of the most common engines. Note that timing chains don't have a change interval and they should last the life of the engine if scheduled oil changes are carried out and all else is well.

 - 1.2-litre petrol: timing chain
 - 1.3-litre CDTi diesel: timing chain
 - 1.4-litre petrol: timing chain
 - 1.6-litre petrol (both turbo and NA): timing belt - change every 150,000km or 10 years
 - 1.7-litre CDTi diesel: timing belt - change every 150,000km or 10 years
 - 1.8-litre petrol 125hp: timing belt - change every 90,000km or six years
 - 1.8-litre petrol 140hp: timing belt - change every 150,000km or 10 years
 - 1.9-litre CDTi diesel: timing belt - change every 150,000km or 10 years


Audi A5 or BMW 3 Series Coupe?

Hello,

I am looking at buying a used car at the moment. Trying to decide between an Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series Coupe. The 2.0-litre diesels look like the sensible option. I would like low mileage, but don't want anything newer than 2008 really. I would get M Sport if I end up going for BMW, but S line not so important for the A5. Max budget is €25k.

I'm interested in your general opinion of both cars. Would you have a preference? Is there anything in particular that I need to watch out for? Better engine options keeping in mind the tax, resale etc? I only do about 10k miles per year...

Thanks in advance, John

John O'Connor (Celbridge)

Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi John,

At 10k miles a year, to be honest, you’d be better off going for a petrol model as you’re just not going to get the fuel savings out of a diesel to justify the extra cost, plus you might be running into issues with exhaust filters. Of the two cars, the BMW is without question the nicer to drive, and it has a fractionally more spacious interior than that of the Audi. The Audi is seriously well-made though, so from a reliability point of view, we’d probably give that one the nod. Just make sure you buy one with a full, preferably main dealer, service history.


Looking for frugal, comfy, automatic car...

Hi, could you advise me? I am looking for a economical automatic car that is comfortable for long driving.

Thanks

Eileen

Eileen McCarthy (Tipperary)

Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Eileen,

A lot here depends on what kind of car, and indeed what size of car, you’re looking for. There’s a huge choice out there, and most models now have at least the option of an automatic gearbox. Overall, it’s as ever hard to get away from the trusty VW Golf in cases such as this. A 1.6 TDI diesel or 1.2 TSI petrol with the DSG automatic gearbox would seem ideal.


What is the value of a 2002 Volvo V70?

What is the value of a 2002 Volvo V70 with a petrol engine?

John Kenny (Dublin)

Mar 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi John,

I'm afraid we'd need to know a little more, such as condition, mileage, which of the petrol engines is it (2.0- or 2.4-litre?), etc.

A rough estimation would be between €3,000 and €4,000.

Come back to us if you'd like us to narrow this down.


Does my dad's car need a new ECU?!

Done the pedal test on my dad's 2001 Opel Astra (it was running slow and drinking petrol) and got the codes p1122, p1120 and p1155; we were told these are to do with the car's computer and will cost in the region of €1,000 to replace the computer and reprogram. Is this correct or is it easily fixed?

Maebh Bushe (Dublin)

Mar 2013 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Maebh,

Codes P1122 and P1120 relate to the accelerator pedal position sensor, but we can't find P1155. It should be possible to just change the accelerator pedal assembly rather than the whole computer going on that information, unless P1155 means something else entirely of course.


How much on trade-in for my VW Golf?

How much can I get for trade-in of a five-door 2000 VW Golf, 1.4 petrol, 115,000 miles, NCT expires in May? Great car, just too small for the family. They're selling online for €1,500-€2,000, but I want to trade in. How much can I expect to get for a Golf?

Thanks!

Louise Byrne (Dublin)

Mar 2013 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Louise,

There are a number of scrappage schemes around, so depending on what you’re trading in against, that could be boosted up to as much as €4,500.


What's a good medium, auto SUV?

What's a good small/medium size SUV that has reasonable tax and fuel consumption, but is also automatic? It's for my wife so not a Nissan Qashqai, too common; Kia Sportage, build quality not too hot; and VW Touran is just too boring.

Any suggestions welcome, but has to be auto.

Eoin Heaney (Ennis)

Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

Have you tried the new Peugeot 3008? Great-looking, good to drive and comes with an (optional) six-speed auto. The 1.2-litre 130hp petrol turbo engine is the one to go for. Alternatively, you could try and grab a run-out Skoda Yeti (always one of our favourites and built like a tank), or have a look at the Toyota C-HR Hybrid, which is striking to look at and really good to drive. Here are our relevant reviews:

Peugeot 3008 review

Skoda Yeti review

Toyota C-HR Hybrid review


Should I go for a Skoda to replace my Golf?

I currently drive a 2009 Volkswagen Golf and am looking for something a bit bigger. I'm six-foot five and my problem is that, with the driver's seat in the correct position for me, you cannot fit our rear facing baby seat, or the first forward facing seat behind me. The only option is to place them on the passenger side, which leaves my older daughter sitting behind me, with her knees in my back, resulting in pins and needles for her and and an uncomfortable drive for me. The other issue is that the frame of the buggy takes up all the boot space, leaving no space for the weekly shop, or for luggage etc. I know the Skoda Superb has miles of leg room, and boot space but are there any other cars I should be looking at? I have always driven diesel and would prefer to stick with it, so I think 2009 would be best in terms of tax and getting two years before the next NCT. A lot of the Skodas on Carzone.ie seem to have huge mileage; what would you consider excessive for a 2009 car?

John Maher (Ennis)

Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi John,

The Skoda Superb or Octavia would have been our first suggestions. The Octavia hasn't quite as much rear legroom as the Superb, but it's still better than the Golf's - and the boot is huge. High mileages on diesel Skodas are nothing to worry about so long as it has a proper service history and is in good order. Taxi drivers regularly do hundreds of thousands of kilometres. Avoid high mileage DSG automatic gearboxes, but otherwise they are really robust. So long as the history and price are good I'd not worry about buying one with over 150,000 kilometres on the clock.

One last thing to consider: if you do less than 20,000 kilometres a year a petrol car may suit you better. They're generally cheaper to buy and better suited to low mileage use. They're also quieter!

Hope that helps, but do come back to us if you need more assistance and have a budget in mind so we can narrow down the search for you.


What's the Peugeot 207CC like?

Are there any  common problems with the Peugeot 207CC? Do they have a timing belt or chain? What is mileage like to be?

Dolores Lunders (Dublin 15)

Mar 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Dolores,

They’re pretty shoddy, to be honest. The alternators are troublesome, as are turbos on both petrol and diesel models. Head gasket trouble is common, and the timing chain on the 1.6 petrol needs regular checking. Electrical problems are common and the roof mechanism on the CC model is spectacularly unreliable, often getting stuck half open or closed. The timing belt/chain question rather depends on which engine you’re talking about, but economy will work out at around 35mpg for the petrol models, or 45-50mpg for a diesel.


-->