Expert answer

Hi Eric and thanks for the question,

Our advice would be to have this car thoroughly checked out mechanically. It sounds fine, but don't buy it if you yourself plan to rack up say 20,000km a year and bear in mind that it's not going to be worth a lot when you go to sell it in a few years, so I hope you're getting a good deal.

Also, it's worth getting a Cartell.ie history check to confirm its mileage and that it was not used as a taxi.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Well, far be it from us to slag anyone’s car off, but that does smell a bit fishy. Have you done a history check on the car with Cartell.ie? Or checked out the mileage? That 2.2-litre engine can develop the most appalling overheating issues, which can banjax the entire cylinder head, so tread cautiously and try and find out how much work has (or hasn’t) been done. 

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Hi Vinnie,

If we’re talking about petrol 318i and 320i then there’s not an enormous difference — it’s the same 2.0-litre petrol engine, with either 130hp or 150hp on offer. Obviously the 320i’s a bit quicker, but not by all that much, and the 318i is economical if you drive it gently. Reliability is decent, and you don’t have to worry about he timing chain issues that afflicted diesel models, but at that age make absolutely sure that you’re buying a car with full service history. 

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Hi Niamh,

It depends — do you want diesel or petrol? Any small-to-medium car with a 1.4 to 1.6-litre diesel engine is going to be very, very economical (e.g. the Toyota Auris, VW Golf, Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia), but if you want a petrol engine, the choice is a little different. Here, we’d be looking at the Volkswagen Group cars (Golf, Leon or Octavia) with the 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre TSI petrol engines, which have excellent economy, or a Peugeot 308 with the 1.2-litre PureTech engine.

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Hi Killian,

Bad news I'm afraid: this first generation Freelander was plagued with reliability problems. Saying that, Land Rover sorted most of the major issues by 2002. The 1.8-litre petrol engine is best avoided as it's susceptible to blown head gaskets, though the diesel alternatives are more durable. Otherwise, the issues come from the electrics (the windows in particular), the rear differential and the manual gearbox.

If you're still determined, take a close look at all those items and listen out for any unexpected grumbles through the transmission.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi there,

The only automatic Yaris sold is the 1.33-litre petrol model with the 'Multidrive' gearbox. On the official combined cycle it returns 55.4mpg - or 5.1 litres/100km.

Hope that helps.

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Hi Sindy,

That really does depend on which version of the TT you're trading in and which model MINI Coupé you're interested in. The MINI line-up includes petrol and diesel options with power ranging from 122- to 192hp. None of them are slow, but if your TT is a turbocharged petrol version then you'll need the MINI Cooper S Coupé at least to keep up. The Cooper SD is virtually as quick as well and way more economical.

In terms of comfort, the Audi TT generally is more comfortable than the MINI. The latter has harder suspension settings. However, that does again depend on the model you're looking at, as the lesser Coupés ride on smaller wheels, which enhance the ride quality.

Come back to us with the specific models if you'd like more comment.

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Hi Mossy,

Generally speaking, yes, Subarus tend to attract very loyal buyers who, once they try one, never go back and stick with the brand for years after. They are a little odd, compared to other models, so try one out before you decide. The flat-four engines are very smooth, but short on torque, and therefore you need to work them harder for the performance, which can hurt fuel economy. The interiors also look and feel very cheap. The big upsides though are reliability (Subarus, if looked after properly, simply don’t break) and the four-wheel-drive system, which is a major benefit on bad roads and in the winter.

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Hi Claire,

Purely in terms of the technical definition of power, yes, the 1.2 TSI 105hp Golf has the same power as a 1.6-litre TDI diesel with 105hp. However, something called torque is more important to everyday driving, and the diesel has a good chunk more of that. That will mean the diesel will feel quicker without the need to put your foot down, i.e. how most people drive.

Expert answer

Hi Laura,

It kind of depends which Astra estate you mean. Assuming you mean the current one then the answers are yes (good looking, lots of space, lovely to drive and a really well-made cabin), and yes (either the 1.0 petrol turbo or 1.6 diesel are very economical, but you might notice that the fuel tank is a bit on the small side on longer journeys).