Expert answer

Hi John,

Yup, a small diesel sounds like it should be ideal for you. Depending on what kind or size of car you need I'd recommend either a MINI Cooper D 1.6 (small and sporty), Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi (slower, but more spacious), Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D (similar to Opel but probably more reliable) or that old favourite the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion (ultra economical). Or, if you need more space how about a Skoda Octavia Combi estate 1.6 TDI or a Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi?

Help us with your needs and we'll narrow that down a little!

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Hi Vittorio,

Oooh. Aargh. Ummm. God, this is actually a real toughie as I utterly adore both cars and they're both ideal picks. 

OK, I'll lay out the pros and cons and you'll have to make your own mind up from there.

The Octavia will likely prove to be the more reliable in the long term and is much more spacious and practical than the Beemer. The 320d, by contrast, is much sweeter to drive thanks to all the usual BMW rear-drive balance and it does have a nicer interior. 

To be honest though, I'd grab either with both hands and not let go. See which one you can find that's in better condition or is better value.

Let us know what you decide

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Hi Paula,

Yup, you're onto a winner there. A lot of motoring writers get a bit sniffy about the Nissan Micra, but actually it's a car with which there is very little wrong. That third generation model that you're talking about is actually probably the best one of all, with a nice, comfy, spacious interior, a peppy little 1.2-litre engine and a chassis that's actually more entertaining to drive than you would think. Of course, the automatic gearbox will sap a little bit of power, but as long as you're not entering any traffic light Grands Prix, you'll be fine. Reliability simply shouldn't be an issue as the Micra has always been conspicuously well built. Just check carefully to make sure it's been serviced regularly and that the oil for the automatic gearbox has been changed regularly too.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Danielle,

An updated Polo is indeed imminent, but from what we've seen it won't be a massive change from the current car, certainly in terms of styling, and the only major mechanical change will be the addition of a new 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine. While that will probably make for an enticing drive, it's a sad fact that the current 1.2-litre Polo is a touch sluggish to drive, and the mechanically similar SEAT Ibiza has some refinement issues. On that basis, we'd go for the Rio - it's neatly styled, comfy, well made and lively to drive. And it comes with that seven-year warranty. It's a tough package to beat.

Let us know how you decide in the comments below.

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Hi Nicola,

Probably the best bet for you is to simply cross the Toyota showroom and get yourself into a Corolla. It and the Auris are pretty much mechanically identical, but the Corolla has a much bigger boot, albeit it's not a hatchback, so perhaps not quite so versatile as the Auris. Or, if you're considering buying new (or at least nearly new), why not check out the Auris Sport Tourer estate? Nice car, big boot, reliable, can't go wrong.

Let us know which way you go in the comments below

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Hi John,

The lowest price seems to be around €24k, but I'd expect to pay a little more than that on average - say between €26k and €27k for one from a main dealer with low mileage.

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Hi Gerry,

As ever, predicting a second hand value is a tricky thing, but I'd say start between €5-6k for a trade in, and see how you get on.

Let us know in the comments below

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Hi Eileen,

First up, we believe you mean rear-wheel drive cars. All BMWs (up to a new one launching later this year anyway) send their power to the rear or all wheels, and most Mercedes-Benz models do as well (though that's slowly changing). So, what's the 'problem' with rear-wheel drive? The stories you are referring to probably started off when we had those particularly long icy winters a few years ago. Many drivers of rear-drive cars found themselves stranded when others sailed past. This is down to lack of traction.

In a front-engined, rear-drive car there is very little weight over the driven wheels so in very slippery conditions it can struggle to put its power down. Most normal cars (i.e. not executive or sporty) are front-engined and front-wheel drive, where the weight of the engine over the wheels helps in low-grip conditions. Saying all that, sales of BMWs and Mercs etc. with rear-wheel drive are very high in countries that consistently have much worse weather than us, but the difference is that they habitually change over to winter tyres for a fixed portion of the year. These have a massive effect.

Back in Ireland, BMWs and Mercs are bought in relatively large numbers due to their status and image, yet they're not as expensive as they used to be. Most of the time here the lack of rear traction is not an issue, though some drivers don't like the feel of a rear-drive car in wet conditions. They're no less safe though, especially the latest models with all their driver aids.

Personally, I prefer rear-wheel drive, but I'd advise all buyers to try a range of cars to see what they like.

Hope that helps you understand those stories a little!

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Hi Brian,

Well, when you say 'super car' that would suggest that money is no object so...

Your choice is slightly limited as there aren't yet any full-on mid-engined diesel supercars, but there are three German powerhouses in the shape of the BMW 640d Gran Coupé, the Audi A7 3.0 TDI Bi-Turbo and the Porsche Panamera Diesel. (There's also the new Maserati Quattroporte diesel, but it pales in the power and torque race a bit.)

Of those the BMW is the best - frugal and well under the 225g/km limit but damn near as quick point to point as an M5. 

If budget is an issue, just grab yourself an E60 BMW 535d. Wheelspin in third gear in that one...

Come back to us if you'd like help narrowing it down a little

Expert answer

Hi Nappa,

It depends. A sume of €4,000 is a small amount of money to pay for what was a truly cutting edge car when it came out, and an especially rewarding car to drive. But it’s also a very complex car, which is now 15 years old, so you need to buy very carefully, don’t buy anything that doesn’t have a full service history and be prepared to spend to keep it maintained and serviced.

As for diesel costs, it depends on how you drive, where you drive and how far you drive, but around 30mpg is what you should expect in terms of fuel economy.