Expert answer

Hi Aoife,

We asked Toyota Ireland what it thought would be reasonable oil consumption, and though you haven't told us the age of your car it was suggested that a rate of a quarter litre of oil per 1,000 kilometres was normal. Toyota suggested that, if you suspect there is an issue, bring the car to a dealer and as for an oil consumption test to be carried out.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Dan,

Hmmm. Generally for your mileage I would recommend a petrol car, but the bad news is that in your size bracket, petrol engines are a little thin on the ground. You could go for either a straight replacement for your Corolla by getting a Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D, which is a very fine car, or you could, as you suggest, branch out and snap up a Hyundai i30 1.6 diesel - again a very fine car and with that five-year warranty, a very tempting buy. 

But, with your mileage profile, I would suggest taking a good long look at petrol alternatives. The Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost is a terrific car with a great engine and well worth a look. That said it's a little tight in the back seats for two teenagers so I'd say the best all round bet is a Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI. It's more affordable than the diesel version, damn near as economical and has a big boot and lots of space in the back seats for those teenager-filled weekend runs. Great quality and reliability too.

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!

Expert answer

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

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

You're really comparing two quite different cars here. The Auris is a larger car than the Jazz, which is really more of a rival to the Ford Fiesta. Which means that the Auris is going to be more comfy and refined over a long distance, but if you're sticking mostly around town, go for the Jazz. There are no reports of the Auris' stop-start system causing any issues, but the Auris has been generating reports of problems with squeaky front brakes, slipping handbrakes and noisy gearboxes.

The Jazz, by contrast has generated no repeating fault reports and Hondas are usually incredibly reliable. Yes, parts can be a bit pricey for them (the Toyota would be cheaper to service and repair), but so few things go wrong that you probably won't need to spend much. Go for the Jazz so - it's sweeter to drive, has a cleverer interior and will probably prove more reliable.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Gerald,

It's possible that the alternator is 'overcharging' as it's called. Best to have the car checked over by an auto-electrician.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi there,

I'd go for the Hyundai. It's got a better engine, it's nicer to drive and the warranty is pretty hard to beat too. As for trade in on your Ford, I'd take a stab at around €6,000 to 7,000.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Samanta,

Well, you haven't specified what kind of car you need so I'm taking a bit of a stab in the dark here. If you were looking for a sports car, luxury saloon or a pickup; sorry...

But given as a good hatchback generally fits most needs, I'm going to be predictable and say go for a Toyota Auris. Not the most exiting car, perhaps, but reliable, long-lived and light on running costs.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

Both equally reliable but the Auris is by far the safer car. On the independent EuroNCAP crash test, it scored a full five-star rating while the Urban Cruiser managed just three. As an aside, the Auris is also a lot more sophisticated and comfortable to drive.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

It's probably worth around €9,000 to €10,000 depending on condition and mileage. The Kia Rio is an excellent choice but do bear in mind that it's a significantly smaller car than the Auris, so you are coming down in terms of cabin space and refinement.