Expert answer

Hi Denise,

The minutiae of equipment specs are something of a mystery, but thankfully we know some helpful chaps at Volkswagen Group Ireland and they told us that:

"The Sports Pack adds 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and tinted windows to the Comfortline.

If a customer was to opt for a standard Highline over the Comfortline with Sports Pack, they would get the following additional standard equipment:

Interior

Leather multi-function steering wheel

Sports seats incl. Alcantara/Global upholstery

"Piano Black Mesh" decorative inserts

Carpet mats, front & rear

Ambient lighting

Exterior

Deep Red tail-light clusters

Electrically folding exterior mirrors

Additional chrome mouldings on front grille

Functional

Auto-dimming rear view mirror

Auto headlight activation

Rain sensor

Fatigue Detection

Please note that tinted windows come within the Comfortline Sports Pack, but are not standard on Highline. These can be added to the Highline as an option individually or as part of the Highline Sports Pack."

Does that help?

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

A price of €400 sounds entirely reasonable to us.

Always pays to shop around of course!

Expert answer

Hi Aidan,

I'd suggest either a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi, a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI or a Kia cee'd 1.6 CRDi. All of them fall into your price bracket, all are well built, reliable and economical and all are comfy for a lengthy daily commute. You won't go wrong with any of them and there are plenty of each available so shop around and be choosy.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

I'd say around €18-19,000.

Expert answer

Hi John,

They're going at that spec and mileage for around €19k in dealerships, so knock around €1,500 to €2,000 off that and see how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

I would unhesitatingly recommend the Hyundai - it's a cracking car and very economical too. If you're looking to shop around a little, then I'd say have a look at the Ford Mondeo - it's ageing, but still a very impressive machine. The Volkswagen Passat is also worth a look.

Come back to us if you need more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Grainne,

I'd say you can expect to get about €8,000 and €9,000 as a trade-in value for your Corolla, although that could vary quite a bit from dealer to dealer. As for the cars you're looking at, a diesel Golf or Octavia would probably be ideal for the type of driving you're looking at doing, but if it's refinement you need, then I'd go for the Volkswagen over the Skoda - there's not a lot in it, but the Golf is that bit quieter.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

Hmmm. Well, spotted. The Sharan has indeed disappeared from Volkswagen price lists in Ireland (much as has the S-Max and the Galaxy from Ford's) and we're awaiting a call back from Volkswagen Towers as to its fate. The good news is that SEAT's definitely still selling the identical Alhambra, and that's a crackingly good car. You do need to go for the top spec Exclusive DSG model if you want to get an automatic version though.

Next year, Ford will be launching an all-new S-Max, which might be worth holding on for, while Renault's surprisingly still-good Espace (a touch old school but very, very comfy) is still just about on sale, and there's always the Chrysler Voyager. And then there's the Opel Zafira Tourer, a more direct rival to the S-Max than anything else. There's a 2.0-litre CDTi diesel automatic for €34,495 and it's almost as good as the S-Max to drive.

What do you think?

Update:

Just an addendum to this: Volkswagen Ireland has confirmed that the Sharan is no longer available, not even to individual order. 

Presumably, if you really, really want one your local Volkswagen dealer could get hold of one for you, but why go to the hassle when the cheaper, better-equipped Alhambra is there?

Expert answer

Hi Au,

In terms of trade in, you're probably only looking at a value of around €1,500 or so. You might just break the €2,000 barrier if you try and sell it privately, but selling private is never easy. If you love your Leon  then can I simply suggest trading up to a newer one? If you go for a 2009-on second generation Leon, with the 1.6 TDI diesel engine, then you'll have a superbly economical car that will cost you only €200 a year to tax. You already know how robust and reliable SEATs are, so I don't need to remind you of that, but it's worth pointing out that the second-gen Leon was better to drive and more spacious than your current car. My dad has had three now and won't have anything else, so that recommendation is as good as it comes.

Mind you, it could be worth holding fire for a week. The Budget's coming up next week, and there's just a chance that the Society of the Irish Motor Industry's (SIMI) 'Swappage' plan, to give those trading in six-year-old-or-older cars €2,000 off the price of a new one could get approved, and if so then it may be worth trading up to an all-new Leon, which is simply one of the best cars out there. It's even, whisper it, a bit nicer than the Volkswagen Golf...

Here's the latest on the Swappage plan

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, that engine was fitted with a particulate filter from 2004 onwards.