A towbar for my Focus or buy a Citroen Berlingo?
Should I buy a Citroen Berlingo (or similar) or put a towbar onto my 2000 Focus? I need something to carry lots of trees/logs for firewood. Is it a waste of money putting a towbar on my 13-year old Focus 1.6 petrol saloon and purchasing a trailer or would a three-seat van be better value and more economical? I have two small kids so I need something to carry them and all their gear also (for school runs etc.). Or would some sort of pick-up or SUV suit me better? Motor tax, fuel economy etc. are all factors to consider, thanks
K C (Cork)May 2013 Filed under: towing
Expert answer
Hi Keith,
No, it's not a waste of time at all. It's almost always better value to keep and fix an existing car rather than pay the cost-of-change to upgrade to something newer. That said, if you're convinced you need a better solution, then you won't do better than to go for one of the many car-vans on offer now. The Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo are the best known versions, but there are also similar models available from Fiat, Volkswagen and Peugeot. My personal pick would be the Fiat Doblo, fitted with the 1.6- or 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines. You'll find the cabin surprisingly comfy, it's quite pleasant to drive, very economical and good on tax and massively spacious in the back. There's even a seven-seat version available if you want to be really popular at the school gate.
Can you tell me the cheapest SUV in terms of running costs?
What new four-door SUV is cheapest to run in terms of fuel, tax, insurance and tyre wear?
Bartlomiej Talik (Saggart)May 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Bartlomiej,
Well, it kinda depends what you mean by SUV. If you mean large, the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V etc, then it's probably best to wait until the new 1.6-litre, front-wheel drive version of the Honda arrives later this year, as that will be a big, spacious SUV that has emissions of under 120g/km, although the lack of four-wheel drive might not appeal.
If it's the smaller ones you're looking at then I'd suggest a Skoda Yeti. It bridges the gap, size-wise, between the very small Nissan Juke and the large stuff like Mazda's CX-5 and the Kia Sportage. Go for the 1.6 TDI Greenline version and you'll have a spacious, rugged, practical family car with Band A4 tax (€200 a year) and it should do a pretty steady 50mpg most of the time.
Want something a bit more flash? The MINI Countryman, with its 1.6-litre diesel engine, is super-frugal, but you do need to spend a bit on options to get the right look.
It may also be worth waiting a couple of months until the new Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 arrive on sale, as both should prove very affordable to run.
What's the best second-hand SUV from 2005-2007?
What is the best second-hand SUV with seven seats from between 2005 to 2007?
Niall Warren (Galway)May 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Niall,
There are two answers to this question. There's the right answer and then there's the answer that you can afford. The correct answer is the Land Rover Discovery; still the only car we've driven that can climb Everest yet carry seven fully grown adults in luxury car comfort. Trouble is, they're expensive as heck to buy and run.
So, assuming you need the sixth and seventh seats for only occasional, child-transporting duties, there's the Hyundai Santa Fe. It's big, comfy, surprisingly good to drive and with excellent reliability. Circa €8k should get you into a 2006 model.
How does that sound?
Can you recommend a new automatic SUV?
Hi - in choosing a new automatic SUV to buy, what make / model would you recommend. Where possible, engine size to be less than 2 litres (1.9 fine) for insurance purposes. Indifferent as to petrol / diesel
John McCormack (Galway)Apr 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi John,
Interestingly, you haven't given us a budget to work with here, so that means a whole world of possibilities looked to be opening up, and then you hit us with the sub-2.0 clause, which instantly shut them down again.
So how about these for some suggestions:
Kia Sportage: you'll get a 2.0-litre diesel 4x4 auto for €35k and it's as stylish and good to drive as you could wish for.
Want something a bit more premium? How about an Audi Q3? Very stylish, but a bit more pricey. €41k gets you a 2.0 TDI quattro.
Finally there's the new Ford Kuga. Bigger and more practical than either of the other two mentioned, you'll pay €43k for a 2.0 TDCi diesel with Powershift auto.
What do you think?
Any list of SUV-class commercials?
Where can I find a list of new SUV-class commercials currently being offered in the Irish market?
I G (Shannon)Apr 2013 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi there,
There is no one-source fixed list, so it depends on whether you mean proper two-seat commercial versions or the ‘tax-dodge’ five-seaters with commercial status. Of those second category, they’re becoming thinner on the ground as the tax loophole closes, but Mitsubishi still offers an ‘Executive’ version of the Pajero, Volkswagen offers a version of the Touareg and you can get a dealer-converted version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. There are also independent convertors who can alter a great many larger SUVs to ‘business’ status with five seats intact, but obviously you’ll want to shop around and find the best and most reputable.
When does the Renault Captur arrive?
When is the Renault Captur expected to hit the showrooms in Ireland?
Patrick King (Shannon)Apr 2013 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
Renault Ireland tells us that we should be able to test one in July, so that's likely to coincide with the cars arriving in dealers as well. We'll be at the international launch of the car this week.
In case you missed our earlier news item here it is: Stylish new Renault SUV on the way
I need to replace my Focus and I need to carry logs
What to replace my 2000 Ford Focus 1.6 petrol saloon with? It's starting to rattle a bit and it's only doing 35mpg plus high tax for an old car. I recently purchased a stove and need a lot of timber to supply it. I have been loading up the boot of my Focus with timber logs, which is not ideal (I don't want to pay a few hundred Euro on getting a tow bar fitted as the car isn't worth it). A few bits starting to give trouble - steering linkage, engine missing sometimes, timing belt due, NCT due, four new tyres etc. I only do about 10,000km a year, live in the country (rough roads, potholes etc), two young kids. I was thinking about a 4x4 SUV or pick-up to cover both transporting kids around and for the timber work, or should I look for a more economical car with a towbar? I want to come up a few years (maybe stretch to 2008 for low tax).
Sorry it's a bit longwinded but any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks
K C (Cork)Apr 2013 Filed under: towing
Expert answer
I'm not sure I'd recommend a pickup for you, as, until the very recent arrivals of the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger, they were all a bit crude and dreadful. They're commercial vehicles, not family cars. That said, if you want something truly rugged, then what about a Land Rover Defender 130 with a crew cab? Iconic looks and unbeatable toughness, but they can be expensive to buy and run.
Actually my recommendation would be to track down an old-shape Kia Sportage. It's surprisingly good at going off-road, comfy and decent to drive on the road and circa €8,000 should pick you up a good one, potentially with still a bit of Kia's famous warranty left to run. Not as stylish as the current Spprtage it's true, but invest in a sturdy rubber liner for the boot and you should have the ideal log-carrying device.
Hope that helps
Audi Q7, BMW X5 or Toyota Land Cruiser?
Hi,
We are looking at buying a 2007 Audi Q7, BMW X5 or Toyota Land Cruiser with around 60,000/70,000 miles on the clock. We need four-wheel drive and seven seats. Are there any reliability issues with these SUVs? What would you recommend?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks
S Walsh (Waterford)Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Siobhan,
The Audi should be pretty solid, but make sure you buy with a full service history. Ditto the BMW, but they do occasionally have turbo issues, so watch for that. The Land Cruiser is basically indestructible, and if it’s reliability you’re looking for is definitely the best of the three.
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:
How to work out a 2009 SUV's tax?
Where can I find out the current tax rate on a 2009 SUV? All I can find is the band rates, but how do I find out what rate the car is to begin with? Found two websites and two different rates for the same car. Plus dealer told me another rate...
Grainne Flynn (Ennis)Mar 2013 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Grainne,
Well, if you could tell us the exact make and model you’re looking at, we can tell you. All motor tax rates since 2008 are calculated on the CO2 emissions of the car (unless it’s a commercial version) and that can be affected by everything from the engine to the gearbox to items of trim and equipment. The more detail you can give us, the more precise an answer we can give. For reference, read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained guide.