Expert answer

Hi Dave,

Oil is the key here. Honda's first-ever diesel engine, the 2.2 i-CDTI unit fitted to the Accord, has always been a cracker - smooth, silent and powerful, but it needs a regular dose of high-grade oil and the problem here is that there's no warning light on the dashboard to tell you that the oil level is dropping. There is a conventional oil pressure light, but if that starts flashing it may already be too late. So, check that the engine is running smoothly and not spewing out clouds of dirty smoke and then check the oil level to make sure it's not down at the bottom of the dipstick. Then get used to checking it yourself, regularly.

Hondas of course have a tremendous reputation for reliability and being beautifully built and the Accord is no exception. There is one minor wrinkle though and it involves the engine's dual-mass flywheel. We've heard plenty of horror stories about the flywheel giving trouble. Excess noise, a slipping clutch or even the car popping out of gear can all be signs that the flywheel is giving gyp. Now, we have heard from various sources that this is an issue for the Accord and the 2.2 diesel engine, but in fairness, when we raised it with Honda Ireland, they told us that it has seen no pattern of issues, and its warranty claims don't show up any persistent problems.

Probably still worth taking your time to check though.

Expert answer

Hi Lizzy,

Well, for a start, you're looking at two different segments here. The 3008 and Qashqai are much larger than the Juke, which is really quite a small car, especially on the inside. So, if you're regularly carrying large people or large loads, then I'd cross that one off your list. It's a little hard to say exactly how reliable any car is, but a good indicator is the result of the JD Power customer satisfaction survey. The most recent one, done in the UK last year, showed that Nissan was in the top ten for reliability and satisfaction while Peugeot finished in the bottom four.

Take from that what you will.

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

We asked Volvo Ireland about this. Here's what we were told:

"The Volvo XC90 will be launched at the Paris Motor Show in early October 2014. We expect first deliveries of the car in early 2015.

We expect to have prices confirmed in time for the Paris Motor Show.

Please contact your local Volvo Dealer to be kept updated on the latest news.

www.volvocars.ie/findadealer

There is also a link on our website to keep the customer updated on any XC90 information that gets released: http://www.volvocars.com/ie/all-cars/all-new-volvo-xc90/pages/keep-me-updated.aspx "

For your information Andrew, we'll be at the global reveal of the XC90 on August 25th if we can help you answer anything else.

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

Apparently those figures aren't so easy to come by... We asked Cartell.ie, the vehicle records experts, for a little help. The most recent indication we have, based on results for the first four months of 2014, compared to the first four months of 2013, shows all non-trade sales are up 14.4%, all transactions into trade up 26.4%, all transactions out of trade up 22.9%, all import transactions up 24.5%, and trade to trade transactions are up 28.1%. The total increase all transactions for the period of 19.2%.

More information on that data can be found in this news story

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

We asked Volvo Ireland this for you and here's the response:

"The Volvo XC90 will be launched at the Paris Motor Show in early October 2014. We expect first deliveries of the car in early 2015.

We expect to have prices confirmed in time for the Paris Motor Show.

Please contact your local Volvo Dealer to be kept updated on the latest news.

www.Volvocars.ie/findadealer

 There is also a link on our website to keep the customer updated on any XC90 information that gets released:

 http://www.volvocars.com/ie/all-cars/all-new-volvo-xc90/pages/keep-me-updated.aspx"

Hope that helps

Expert answer

FULL DISCLOSURE: Cian is known to us at CompleteCar.ie through the medium of Twitter. Friend of the show, you might say...

Hi Cian,

Given that we know you I'm half-tempted to steer you into some hilariously disastrous classic car cul-de-sac, then sit back and watch the carnage unfold. However, I know you've already been there and done that so I won't.

Instead, I'm going to go out on a major limb, put my journalistic reputation to the test and recommend an Alfa Romeo. Yup, an Alfa. Your budget should get you into a 2007 or 2008 159 1.8-litre petrol MPI version. The 159 was always a ruggedly built car and while it's still occasionally prone to the classic Alfa electrical glitches, it's also probably the most all-round reliable car ever to come out of Milan.

It's also utterly gorgeous. reasonably spacious and really very good to drive. True, the 1.9 diesel would be more economical but it doesn't sound as good as the petrol. Enjoy, and let us know if anything goes explosively pop!

Expert answer

Hi Sean, 

We asked Audi in this case and it has a timing belt. The change interval should be shown in your user manual.

Expert answer

Hi Trevor,

It would seem not. Certainly it was the case some years back when car makers often 'de-contented' (i.e: stripped out) their cars to help compensate for Ireland's staggering levels of vehicle taxation, but the situation seems to have stabilised now.

 According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, to whom we spoke about this, the last official EU survey on pre-tax prices carried out in 2011 showed that the gap was, in some cases, still there, but was narrowing.

In a statement, the EU said that "The Commission continues to monitor the competitive situation on the new cars market, as well as the markets for spare parts and repair and maintenance, in cooperation with National Competition Authorities. The Commission is committed to safeguard competition in this sector and will not hesitate to take the necessary enforcement action if problems arise."

Basically, the changes in the tax system in Ireland since 2008 have meant that we're much more in line with the rest of Europe than was once the case.

Now ask us about the post-tax price...

Expert answer

Hi Claire,

Generally speaking the reliability record of the Fabia is pretty impressive and you shouldn't suffer any major problems. There are reports of the occasional 'nightmare' car where just everything seems to go wrong, but they appear to be few and far between. In terms of fuel economy, beware the 1.2. It's a very underpowered engine, and you have to thrash it hard to keep up with the flow of traffic, especially on the motorway, so it might be worth shopping around for a 1.4 depending on what kind of driving you'll be doing with it.

Expert answer

Hi Graham,

It depends which model you are referring to. Our records show the following:

- RAV4 2.0 VVT-i (petrol) automatic: 212g/km - Band F, €1,200 per annum

- RAV4 2.0 VVT-i (petrol) manual: 202g/km - Band F, €1,200 per annum

- RAV4 2.2 D-4D (diesel) manual: 173g/km - Band E, €750 per annum

Come back to us if it's something else and we'll look into it.