Expert answer

Hi Tim,

You should be fine with the 1.0 — it has 70hp, so overall performance will be very similar to that of your old Polo. You’re right though — it's not quick.

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Hi John,

OK, well I have a few bits of good news for you. First off, there are lots and lots of classic American cars to choose from that are already on this side of the Atlantic. Whether it’s a Mustang or BelAir, Corvette or Chrysler that you fancy, chances are you can find one without going the import route.

The second thing is that there is excellent spares and parts backup for most of the major models, and you can get yourself off to a good start by joining the Classic American Auto Club or similar.

The final bit of good news is that, being based in London, you are positively surrounded by major classic car dealers and experts, many of whom will have American cars in stock. Maybe start with someone like Classic Chrome in Mortlake and see how you get on.

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Hi William,

Yes, the Q5 and the BMW X3 are both solidly reliable and good to drive, but if your budget is around the €40k mark, can I suggest instead shopping for a Honda CR-V or Kia Sorento? Not only would both of those be more reliable, long-term, than either of the German cars, for your budget you’ll also get a brand new one, and the 1.6 i-DTEC Honda is very economical. Some reviews for your consideration:

Audi Q5 review

Audi Q3 review

BMW X3 review

Honda CR-V review

Kia Sorento review

Expert answer

Hi Yvonne,

It’s going to be very hard to find a car that’s taller but not bigger overall. Most car makers cluster around the same size and dimensions within a given class, so unless you go for a larger car altogether, you’re unlikely  to find anything else that is more than a few millimetres different either way.

Your best bet might be to have a look at the Opel Mokka X, which is similarly sized to the 2008, but a little bit higher in its ride height. Why not go and check out out and see if it suits?

Relevant reviews:

Ford EcoSport review

Peugeot 2008 review

Opel Mokka X review

New Peugeot 3008 review

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Hi Pau,

It's a fabulous car, really - low slung, gorgeous, great to drive and just about practical enough for everyday use. Not cheap to run, though, and don't dream of buying one without a copper-bottom service history. Worth considering a 535d as well - similar performance and handling, but much more affordable. Read our most recent review of the 640d below (admittedly in Gran Coupe guise - but same applies for the most part):

BMW 640d review

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Hi Cathal,

You are indeed entitled to a refund, but not immediately. Under the Sale of Goods and Supply Of Services Act, if a product is “not of merchantable quality” then you are entitled to a repair, replacement or a refund. It will be up to you and the dealer from whom you bought the car to discuss which of these will be the case, and most dealers will try at least to repair the car at first, as obviously that’s usually the most cost-effective route from their perspective.

You can demand a refund and nothing else, but I’d make sure you have a good solicitor on your side before doing that as technically if the dealer is offering you a repair then they are fulfilling their duties under the act.

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Hi Karen,

I wouldn’t be cautious as such, but you should make sure that they will stand over any issues that the NCT flags up. Obviously, if it flies through the test then there’s no problem, but don’t let them try and fob off any issues on you. If they’re selling the car to you, in whatever form, they should be prepared to back that up. If they won’t do so, ask why they’re happy to sell the car, but not to stand over its quality.

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Hi Cathal,

The Qashqai is a reliable car, as are pretty much all Nissans, but the Corolla will still have the reliability edge. If reliability is ultimately your priority, then go for the Corolla. That said, if you really want the Qashqai, as long as it comes with a full service history and you keep it regularly serviced, we wouldn’t expect to see any major issues occur.

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Hi Anthony,

The thing is, it shouldn’t make a difference, but it probably will. Our advice to buyers, and it’s the sensible advice, is to basically ignore the mileage and concentrate on the paperwork. If a car comes with a thick sheaf of service book stamps and receipts showing that it has been properly cared for, then the mileage is more or less irrelevant. A well cared for car with huge miles will always be a better car than a low-miles one that’s been abused.

Unfortunately, not everyone listens to us and so, yes, high miles or kilometres can still be an issue. I think the best thing you can do is to go and have a chat with your local dealer and see what they say. If your car is impeccably kept and serviced, then they may say that mileage will only be a minor factor and you can keep the car you’ve got for a bit yet. If they say otherwise, then it may be time to swap.

Expert answer

Hi Colm,

They’re not bad, but there’s a reason that they’re cheap. Nonetheless, the Megane is a decent and solid car and reliability and quality are far, far better than was once the case with Renault.

I would be very wary of buying without a complete and full service history though, and with the 1.5 dCi diesel engine you need to keep an eye out for a blown turbo (symptoms include black or blue smoke, sluggish power delivery) or engine management system issues (surging or uneven running).

The real reason that they’re cheap though is because, in 2009-2010, Renault Ireland pursued an aggressive strategy of heavy discounting to try and grab as big a slice of the market as possible. It was the classic stack them high sell them cheap idea, and while it racked up some impressive sales figures, it did some terrible damage to residual values. At this stage, the worst of the depreciation will have been and gone, but remember if you’re buying it cheap today, you’ll be trading it in cheap when you’re finished with it.

READ: 2009 Renault Megane review