CompleteCar
Search Ask Us Anything
Showing 381 - 390 results (out of a total of 614) found for "SEAT" in Ask Us Anything

What diesel auto car would suit by growing brood?

What options are out there for diesel auto car or SUV under 2.0 litres, that will take two bum boosters and an Isofix car seat? Without going for an MPV!

Mr D. Ryan, Limerick

Dee Ryan (Limerick)

Jul 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Dee,

Get yourself into a Skoda Yeti. Fab family car that. Three individual rear seats, which slide, tip, fold and remove. Should easily take your seating arrangement and they're brilliant to drive. 1.6 TDI is the best all round engine and it's available with the DSG automatic gearbox. Still a cracking car after all these years - reliable and high quality too.

What do you think?


How much is a 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI worth?

Hi, how much would a 2006 Golf GTI with DSG, leather seats, sunroof, 17-inch alloys and 102,000 kilometres on the clock be worth?

Noel Reville (Dublin)

Jul 2014 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

I'd say you're looking at a value of around €8-9,000 - less on a trade-in of course.


Evoque, GLA, 3 Series or Mazda CX-5?!

I'm driving a Audi A4 4 1.9 diesel and I will be trading in over the next few months. Mercedes-Benz has offered me best deal so far to buy a GLA 220 Urban model. I am also looking at 3 Series BMW Sport 318d, and the Range Rover Evoque and I looked at the Mazda CX5. I drove the Audi Q3 last year and I was very disappointed with the seats. Which of the above would you recommend? My heart would love the Evoque, but my head says it's not a German. I am a lady driver doing mostly motorway and around town driving. I would appreciate any opinion you may have.

Mary O Donnell (Clare )

Jul 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

OK, lots of options there. The Evoque is a really lovely car to be honest, but does suffer a bit from a too-harsh ride quality. Gorgeous to look at though.
The CX-5 is the choice from the point of view of reliability - Mazdas just don't break. Really good to drive too, but surprisingly thirsty. 
The BMW is probably the best of the bunch. Smooth, fabulous to drive, comfy and hugely economical. Worth trying the more affordable 316d too - not much of a performance gap and even better economy.
The GLA I'd avoid - not a bad car per se, but basically a more expensive A-Class with SUV pretentions. If you want a proper Mercedes look instead at the gorgeous CLA or the brilliant new C-Class. 

Let us know which way you go


What's up with my Passat's seat?

Hi guys,

Are you aware of any fault with the driver's seat in the Volkswagen Passat? I have a 2011 model and when my back shifts position when driving I can feel a panel in the backrest flexing/popping. It's extremely annoying and I was just wondering of you were aware of any other cases and if there's anything I can do about it

Brendan Cullen (Dublin)

Jun 2014 Filed under: seating

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

We asked Volkswagen's tech people about this:

"I've never heard of a complaint like this before, but I'm guessing it's something in the adjustable lumbar support feature fitted to the seat that may not be operating correctly or secured correctly. Depending on the specification of the car this may be manually adjustable or electrically adjustable.

Without any knowledge of the mileage or previous use of the car it is not possible to determine if this is manufacturer defect or from an outside influence.

We would recommend the car is brought to a main dealer for inspection and advise on recommended repair."

Sounds like good advice to us Brendan. Here's the Volkswagen dealer locator.

Let us know how you get on.


Can you recommend a car to fit three booster seats?

Hiya,

I need to get a car that will fit three booster seats. I currently drive a 2004 Renault Senenic so need to update. I've got about €9,000 plus whatever I get on a trade in. Can you recommend one?

Clare Redmond (Dublin)

Jun 2014 Filed under: child or baby seats

Expert answer

Hi Clare,

If you're looking for an MPV, I always tend to recommend a Toyota Corolla Verso. They're spacious, have plenty of room for boosters seats and the like and are very safe and reliable. If you get around €3k for your Renault, that should get you into a 2008 or 2009 Verso diesel.


Nissan Note or Almera?

I was thinking of buying a 2007 Nissan Note or Almera; what do you think?

Mark Blighe (Rathcormac)

May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

Of the two, I'd go for the Note. The Almera is a reliable old workhorse but it's about as dull as a car can get. The Note, by contrast, is nicer to look at, pleasant to drive and massively spacious and practical. There are a few things to keep an eye on though,  which is surprisingly given Nissan's reputation for reliability. Electrical gremlins, including needing a complete reset and reboot of the ECU, are not uncommon, while the folding rear seat mechanism can jam. There have been reports of problems with the diesel engines on early models too.


Is the Volvo S40 suitable for three children?

I'm thinking of buying a Volvo S40 as a family car; is it suitable? I have three children.

Linda

Linda Larkin (Dublin)

May 2014 Filed under: family car

Expert answer

Hi Linda,

That very much depends on the ages of the kids, as the Volvo S40 is really only about the same size as a Ford Focus (it's actually made on that car's platform). You won't easily get three booster seats across the back seat and the boot is ok an acceptable size rather than an impressive one.

For reference, I have two kids (three and a half and five and a half) and we have the Volvo V50, which is the estate version of the S40. It's just about big enough. If we had another kid I'd be looking at changing cars.

Hope that helps


Does an SUV suit my family needs?

Can you recommend a good used family SUV that won't break the bank and has good fuel economy and emissions? Main requirements are: it's spacious enough to fit two adults and three small kids comfortably, plus has lots of storage space for camping gear, buggies etc; cheap to run; readily available second-hand (2008 and later). I'm not planning any off-road trips so four-wheel drive isn't too important, neither is an automatic transmission, climate control or other such luxuries.

Eoin Cleary (Dublin)

May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

I hate to say it but an SUV may not be what you need. To get three kids in comfortably, you really need a car with three individual seats across the back and only the likes of the Land Rover Discovery or Toyota Land Cruiser have those - and they're big, heavy and expensive to run. 

 So you may need to look down the MPV route. Don't panic - it's not as bad as it sounds. Have a look for a nice Ford S-Max. Tonnes of room, extra seats in the (massive) boot and affordable running costs. 

That said, it depends on the age of your kids. If they're big enough to not need booster seats (or if only a couple of them still need one) that opens up your options a little. If you still fancy an SUV, try a Nissan X-Trail; spacious, reliable, good to drive.

Let us know what you go for

 


I'm thinking of buying a Mazda RX-8; what do you think?

I'm thinking of buying a 2004 Mazda RX-8; what do you think?

Anthony Mullally (Waterford)

May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Anthony,

Oh heck yes! The RX-8 has always been one of our favourite cars and it mixes high-revving rotary rear-drive fun with almost-practical four-seat space. There are actually very few, indeed hardly any, reported mechanical issues, and that's in spite of the poor reputation that rotary engines have in that regard. It will burn through a lot of oil though - they genuinely all do that, sir - so keep an eye on the dipstick and don't skimp on the good quality lubricants. There were also a few recalls, for leaking fuel pipes, cracked steering joints and cracked damper heat covers. Avoid anything that's been tweaked, tuned or messed around with and watch the handling in the wet - they can be staggeringly tail-happy.


What's the old SsangYong seven-seater like?

Looking for some feedback on a 2008 SsangYong seven-seater: 1.9 diesel, automatic.

Thanks

Darrell Tipper (Blessington)

May 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Darrell,

Generally speaking SsangYongs are very reliable (it's the upside of them being somewhat old-fashioned and mechanically simple), but the price you pay for that is them being really rather crude to drive and live with. Noise levels from the engine will be very high indeed, cabin quality will resemble that of a Toyota from the 1980s and the handling will be little short of terrible.


-->