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Hi Sharon,

Quite different cars - the Insignia is bigger and plusher and feels, as it should, a lot more sophisticated. That said, the Jetta is comfy and has a massive boot, and is ruggedly reliable too. That old 1.9 TDI is a rattly old thing though. If they're similar on price, spec, history and condition, I'd say the Insignia shades it.

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Hi Philip,

There are some very good options here actually. Both the Land Rover Discovery Business and the Mitsubishi Pajero Executive have full five-seat, leather-and-everything cabins, but their boots are big enough to qualify for commercial VRT and motor tax (assuming you can demonstrate that your business needs a commercial vehicle). The Land Rover Defender can be had in similar layout but if you want something really rugged then go for the Volkswagen Amarok pickup, which matches comfort with utility. There's also the Toyota Hilux crew-cab and Mitsubishi is about to launch a new L200 pickup later this summer.

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Hi Michael,

Well, if you can't afford to insure anything bigger then a turbo's a no-go. Legally, you have to inform your insurer of any modifications made to your car, and if an increase in swept capacity is a no-go then no insurer is going to let you strap on a turbo.

A K&N filter or similar would be fine though and should readily be available for an Almera. While you're at it, why not put the turbo budget to a proper service, some high-quality oil and new tyres? All far better options for improving performance and nothing that will bother your insurance provider.

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Hi Patrick,

SIMI only starting receiving that information from 1995 onwards so Revenue holds the data, which might make it difficult to access. The best bet is to get a history check with Cartell.ie, as that will show if the bike has been imported.

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Hi Peter,

That us a very tough choice to have to make. Both are excellent - the Qashqai won the Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP) Car of the Year award last year and trust me, we're a tough bunch to please. It's very good to drive, frugal and very comfy. Practical too, of course.

The Passat would probably be the better choice if you are doing lots of long motorway miles though - that 1.6 TDI engine is astonishing economical (I once did Galway-Dublin-Belfast-Glasgow-Dublin-Galway on one tank in one) and they're very comfy for long journeys. Both are about equally reliable, which means they're both pretty solid but don't accept anything that hasn't a full service history.

On the safety front, the 2014 Qashqai (that's the current shape model) got five stars on the EuroNCAP crash test, with an 88 per cent score for adult occupant protection, 83 per cent for child occupant, 69 per cent for pedestrian protection and 79 per cent for safety assist (which is a measure of how many electronic driver aids are fitted as standard).

The Passat achieved similar scores - five stars overall, 91 per cent adult occupant, 77 per cent child occupant, 54 per cent pedestrian protection, and 71 per cent safety assist.

Further reading:

2014 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi review (on Irish roads)

2010-2014 Volkswagen Passat EuroNCAP safety results

2014 Nissan Qashqai EuroNCAP safety results

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Hi Barbara,

It's always cheaper overall to stick with the car you've got and repair it, unless we're talking about an old Ferrari or something...

I'd say a new timing chain could keep your Micra going for a good long while yet but if you really want to change to something new then your best bets, in terms of similarly sized cars, are the Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo or SEAT Ibiza.

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Hi George,

I would tread very, very carefully indeed. The engine can be a big trouble spot with dodgy turbos and inconsistent power delivery. Watch for  excessive smoke (black or white), check the oil carefully and if it shows even the slightest sign of overheating, head for the exit.

Clutches can go pretty easily, so make sure the gearshift is working alright, and everything electrical is to be assumed broken until proven otherwise. They eat tyres too, and uneven wear is a sign of impending suspension doom. Also, a lot of Espaces tend to get used as ersatz delivery vans when they get past a certain age and price point so check carefully for signs of wear and tear in the cabin.

Basically, you should probably avoid it and track down a similar vintage Volkswagen Sharan or Hyundai Trajet instead.

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Hi John,

Yeah, that's not bad actually. The 206 has long been popular as a starter car or for those looking for something small and cheap to run. Just have a good check that anything electrical is working properly and make sure that the cabin is all holding together - its fragile in there. Also make sure that the central locking and heating systems are working properly. 

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Hi Diarmuid,

It's a close run thing, but I'd go for the Passat. I reckon it'll work out just a little more economical than the Mondeo, and it has a nicer, comfier, more 'premium' edition. Mind you, I'm basing that on the assumption that you're going to be on the motorway a lot. If it's twisty roads, then it's Mondeo all the way...

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Hi Laurie,

Well, I'm assuming that, as you have a Rio, you won't want to see your price tag or running costs rise by too much, so how about a Skoda Fabia Combi estate? Similar in size and running costs to the Rio, but with a massive boot that should easily take your golf clubs (although you should bring them on the test drive to make sure they slot in OK - better safe than sorry). 

If the Fabia is still too small and you want to stay within the Kia family, then what about a cee'd SW estate? Masses of space, frugal 1.6 diesel engine and you should get a decent deal on a one- to two-year old example, still with lots of that nice full-sized Kia warranty to run.

Let us know how you get on