Expert answer

Hi David,

The SEAT Toledo and Skoda Rapid are basically the same car, but with different badges. There’s no close relationship to the Jetta (other than minor systems and bits and pieces under the skin). Actually, the underpinnings are a combination of old Golf and old Polo bits, mixed and matched together. They’re decent cars — reliable and roomy — but not the most sophisticated. You’ll have to put up with a narrow cabin, slightly crude rear suspension and a fair bit of noise inside. If you’re doing 30k a year, you’re probably best off with the 1.6 TDI diesel. You should easily squeeze 55mpg out of that.

Read our Skoda Rapid reviews here

Read our SEAT Toledo reviews here

Expert answer

Hi David,

The short version is, I’m afraid, you’re going to struggle. Small cars such as that don’t generally sell well with diesel engines, as the petrol variants are very economical already, and the diesel versions are much more expensive. We’ve found one on Carzone.ie (a 2005 VW Polo TDI),  but that was literally the only one we could find on sale that fits the bill. You might want to consider upgrading to a larger car — there are lots of diesel Golfs etc around in your price range.

Expert answer

Hi there,

It depends on your driving style, and on where you do most of your driving. If you’re in town all the time, and stuck in stop-start traffic, then it could be worth tracking down a Toyota Prius or a Honda Insight hybrid, bot of which should sip fuel in such circumstances. If you’re up on main roads and motorways all day long, then diesel is still a good idea. A VW Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion would be a solid bet for maximum economy then, although if you fancy something a little more stylish, a MINI Cooper D (with the 1.6 diesel engine) will crack 60mpg on a long run.

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

We contacted Volkswagen in relation to your question and 'officially' there does not seem to be a simple solution.

Thankfully there is the unofficial way of doing things and this is something we have experience with having swapped the sports seats in a Mk IV Golf for Recaros from the GTI. A quick search of a certain well-known online auction site reveals that Alcantara sports seats are available, but the shipping costs can prove prohibitive - unless you live near the seller of course.

Our advice would be to contact a large car dismantlers like http://www.traynors.co.uk/ or http://www.eddietorrensinternational.com and see if they have the parts you require. The actual fitting of the seats is just a case of undoing a few bolts and clips with the only problem you might encounter being the possibility of the airbag wiring loom not matching up. This is a simple fix for any auto electrician though and should not cost much to rectify.

We hope this helps.

Expert answer

Hi Paula,

Despite appearances, the CrossPolo is less than 30mm taller than the regular Polo hatchback. We don't expect it to be significantly different to the Polo on the road.

We've not yet driven this car, though we're due to within weeks so keep an eye on the site and if anything changes we'll let you know.

Expert answer

Hi Meenesh,

It's highly likely that this points to a fairly minor issue, though it's impossible to diagnose from here. You most definitely should not buy this car until the reason for the light being on is found and the problem fixed. Most decent mechanics and garages will have diagnostic equipment to hook up to the car, which will tell them what's causing the light to come on. 

Insist that the seller does that before you commit to anything. If they do get it sorted out, make sure the engine check light still comes on when the ignition is turned on, but then goes out when the car is started, as an unscrupulous seller could just remove the bulb!

Best of luck

Expert answer

Hi Cian,

We don't profess to be van experts, so we put this question to Gerry Murphy, a jury member on the Irish Van of the Year panel. His response is:

"The Volkswagen Transporter is a popular choice and owners are generally very loyal to the brand so repeat purchases are common place. Buying a used van is a little more complicated than buying a used car. As with any commercial vehicle, what the van was used for previously will tell you a lot about it. Did it tow a trailer? Was it used in the construction industry - often carrying heavy loads - or was it used to deliver flowers or light goods around a city?

A close look at the interior and cargo area for wear and tear will tell you how the van was treated. Also, vans that are owned by private members of the public are often better treated than vans that come from a fleet. As with any vehicle check if it has a service history. This is essential.

As for the Transporter, you don't say what year it is but there are things to look out for. Check that the area around the turbocharger is dry and not showing any signs of leakage. Also look under the vehicle from the rear and check that there are no signs of damage to the coil springs especially if the van pulled a trailer in its previous life."

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Roger,

We put this one to Volkswagen Ireland. It was confirmed that Park Distance Control is available for the 2005 Passat saloon (B6), with part number "3C0 054 630". It includes a control unit, four sensors, a sound generator and connecting wires. Best bet is to contact your local Volkswagen dealer for a price. We believe the sensors can even be painted to match the colour of your car.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Yvette,

The measurements are:

• Length: 3,987mm
• Width: 1,698mm
• Height: 1,488mm
• Wheelbase: 2,469mm

Hope that helps.

Expert answer

Hi Jimmy,

We've done some ringing around for you based on extra information you provided us with (2010 Volvo S40 1.6 diesel). First of all, you can't do anything about different brands charging different amounts; that's a fact of life. We talked to several Volvo dealers around the country to compare pricing and they all quote similar amounts to the numbers you gave us. It seems expensive for the first service for sure, but at least you know it's standard across the network.

While we didn't ring every dealer in Ireland, we did get a quote from Bandon Motors (www.bandonmotors.com) that was much cheaper for the first service - though the same after that. Best bet is to ring all the Volvo dealers you are within easy driving distance of.

Of course, failing all that you could take the car to a non-Volvo garage, but I'm guessing you'd like the main dealer stamp in your service history.

Let us know how you get on.