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Hi Jules,

You could be on to something there alright. The 9-3 is generally a pretty reliable car, although you have to watch carefully for things like engine ECU problems (if it's slow to fire up or runs sluggish then walk away) and gearbox and clutch issues. 

As for parts - there is definitely a price difference. A quick trawl of the listings over at micksgarage.ie will show you that, for instance, a replacement front wing for the 9-3 will cost you €114 whereas the same part for a contemporary BMW 3 Series will only set you back €70.  That's not the case right across the board for all parts but there is definitely a premium charged for Saab bits.

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Hi Elaine,

We'd suggest you up your tyre pressures all round by 2psi if you're going to be carrying that many more people, but as we don't know what type of car you have it's best to follow the manufacturer advice. There's usually a diagram showing the correct ratings either inside the fuel filler flap or on one of the front door frames - visible with the door open only.

It's not unusual for tyre fitters to recommend putting a higher pressure in your spare, but really we'd say that's too high. Stick to 40psi if it's a spare that's not easily accessible and checked often, as it will likely lose pressure over time. If, however, it's easy to get at, keep it at the right pressure and check it monthly.

Hope that all helps

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Hi Josephine,

Our database shows that, if your car is fitted with 195/55 R15 V 85 sized tyres then the correct average pressure is 2.1 bar or 31 PSI. 

This information should be displayed on your car somewhere - either inside the fuel filler flap or on the door frame when you open the door. 

Hope that helps

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Hi John,

To be honest - no. The current Micra is a long way from Nissan's best effort so I think the €4k trade in bonus could be put to much better use elsewhere. Perhaps consider trading up to a Pulsar? Or better yet, wait a year. Nissan has an all-new Micra coming out next year and judging from the Sway concept car it showed last week at the Geneva Motor Show, it could well be a cracker.

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Hi Anish,

It's very difficult to assess issues such as this without sitting in the car, but I would say that it doesn't sound like anything to worry about, certainly not if it was a once off. Try to repeat it and if you're still worried then bring the car back to the dealer and show them what's happening.

It sounds to me like you just caught out the electronics controlling the gearbox.

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Hi Luke,

That light means that something somewhere in the engine that affects the emissions has gone wrong. It really could be anything and may not be really noticeable to the driver. It's still worth having the car checked with a diagnostics reader at some stage, as it could be doing long-term damage. Also, it won't pass its NCT with that light on.

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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 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 Ed,

OK, we've been on to Renault about this and they say that the charge for Glacier White on the website was an error and has since been corrected, so you shouldn't be charged for it. If an extra charge does show up on the bill, give your dealer hell as it shouldn't be there. If he/she doesn't give you any joy, get on to Renault's head office about it.

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Hi James,

I'd say between €8,000 and €10,000 depending on the condition and history. Lower end if it's a trade in, a little higher if the service history is immaculate.