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Hi Auden,

Assuming that the condition is good and the history is all up to date, I'd say you could expect around €4,000 on a trade in.

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Hi Nicola,

The best we can suggest is to have a good long ring around and a trawl through t'internet I'm afraid. Clearly, a car with GT in the title and 140 horses under the hood is going to flash alarm bells with any insurer when you give them your age. Quote Devil seem to be a good starting point for young driver insurance these days, but with a car that grunty you're going to be getting big quotes wherever you go, especially as you're still on a learner licence.

So, shopping around, lots, is really your only option. Either that or trade in the Golf GT and get a 1.0 Micra...

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Hi Keith,

Sadly this story is all too common these days. Many components of a modern diesel car are not designed for low mileage use and this should be explained to buyers by the dealers, though in fairness, buyers right now still think they should have diesel, even if the don't do high mileage. I'm not blaming the dealers.

We wouldn't call it a defect, as such, more a limitation. To prevent such things happening again we'd recommend low mileage diesel drivers to regularly take their car for an extended motorway run holding the revs higher than normal (using a lower gear). This should help prevent the build up of deposits in components like the EGR valve and even in the particulate filter in the exhaust.

It's a shame you didn't know to do that before being hit with this expense.

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Hi Veronica,

Depending on the condition and history, I'd say about €13-14,000.

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Hi Nicky,

OK, I think you have a couple of options here. First off, assuming you have a friendly, trustworthy mechanic who looks after your Yaris, it's worth having a word with them to find out how much life they realistically think is left in it and how much money you'll need to spend to keep it going. If the omens are good in that respect, then there's nothing wrong in the slightest with sticking with what you know and keeping your current, faithful steed.

If it's a poorer prognosis then I'd suggest sticking with what you know and simply upgrade to a newer Yaris. The model that's just been replaced was a fine car, sturdy as ever and really quite nice to drive. You won't go wrong. As an alternative, have a look at a Honda Jazz. They are usually a little more expensive than an equivalent Yaris but are more spacious inside and a little more technically advanced, so well worth a look.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Ann,

I'm afraid the CT 200h's residual values aren't that great. The general buying public is still a bit suspicious of hybrids (the popularity of the Prius notwithstanding) and the CT's poor day-to-day fuel consumption marks it down relative to the likes of the rival BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. 

It's also quite cramped inside, with tiny rear seats and an almost useless boot. If you're looking for a classy small hatch, better stick with the Audi A3 or save yourself even more and get a nicely specified Volkswagen Golf.

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Hi Gus,

Around the €12,000 mark should get you a nicely specified 1.6 TDI, probably in Comfortline spec. That's the best one to go for, although if your annual mileage isn't that big, you could consider the also-excellent 1.4 TSI petrol version.

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Hi Robert,

Depends on the problem and depends how it was fixed. If the entire ECU has been replaced then the problem is unlikely to recur. If it was repaired then there's always the possibility that it will. Also, worth remembering that electrical or electronic issues often get the blame for deeper mechanical problems. If the issue recurs it could be worth investigating other possible causes.

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Hi John,

I'm going to be predictable and say you should get a Volkswagen Golf. A budget of €3k would definitely get you a MkIV 1.9 TDI model and you may even just scrape into a MkV, which would be even better again. Just track down one that's been looked after and serviced regularly and you should be fine.

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Hi Brian,

That's a little bit tricky at the moment as there isn't currently a 'Match' spec Golf in Volkswagen's range. The current Mark VII Highline Golf though is the ritziest Golf you can buy short of getting a GTI or GTD. Over and above a standard Golf, you get things like 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel, front fog lights that include a cornering function, auto headlights and wipers, sports seats and nice trim on the seats and dash.

When the last Mark VI Golf Match was around, it included (for a relatively small extra outlay over a standard car) such items as automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, USB and iPod connectors, a digital radio, a trip computer and alloy wheels. The current Golf probably won't get a Match version for a year or two yet but keep an eye out for when one arrives as it will probably be quite a good bargain.