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Hi Andrew,

Simple answer: Ford Focus 1.4. Not the quickest Focus ever (only 75hp) and perhaps not as classy as the rival Volkswagen Golf, but they're well made, reliable, exceedingly good to drive (that Jackie Stewart-tweaked suspension will teach you all you need to know about driving dynamics) and spacious enough to pack in all you need for Electric Picnic next year. That's what you young people do, right? Lots out there to choose from so be picky, find a good one in a nice colour and tart it up with some nice alloys. You won't go wrong.

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Hi Emer,

If you're spending around €10k and want the car to last for a decade, I'd say your best bet is to buy nearly-new and go for one of the Volkswagen small car triplets - the Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo or SEAT Mii. All three are genuinely brilliant cars, mechanically quite simple (which means reliable), safe, fun to drive without being fast and really quite cool. Should keep your student drivers happy.

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Hi Christopher,

I think what you need here is a car of medium height, not low slung like a hatch or tall like an SUV, but in the middle, so that it's easy (apologies for being indelicate) to get your bum on the seat and swing your legs in more easily. A tall hatch, essentially. So perhaps have a look at a five-door Ford C-Max, or possibly a Honda Civic or Volkswagen Golf Plus. They usually present an easier entry-exit setup than something more low and rakish. Try a few out and see what works best for you.

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Hi Alan,

By 2006 that 1.9 TDI engine was nearing the end of its life, and so had most if not all of its earlier issues (injector problems, air sensor failures) ironed out. As for the flywheel, yes there does seem to be an issue with it occasionally, but the way to tell is to listen to the engine, getting your head as close as safely possible to where the gearbox is located. If you hear a rattle, or feel an obvious vibration, it's probably the flywheel.

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Hi Martina,

Both cars you've chosen there are pretty much neck and neck in every area, bar one. The Passat is arguably a little more 'premium' in its feel, the Mondeo is better to drive and we'd say a touch better looking (though obviously that's subjective!).

Both are impressively well built and have excellent reliability credentials. The area that separates them is quite simply fuel consumption. The Mondoe's 2.0 TDCi engine will be a bit more usefully grunty than that Passat's 105hp 1.6 TDI unit, but the Volkswagen's engine will prove to be a lot more economical. You should be able to average close to 60mpg in the Passat, which should be around 5-10mpg better than the Mondeo will manage. To illustrate it, we once managed to drive from Galway to Glasgow, back to Galway and up to Dublin on one tank in a Passat 1.6 TDI.

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Hi Ronan,

The officially quoted fuel consumption figure for the Passat B6 model with the 1.4 TSI 122hp engine was 7.5 litres per 100km (or 39mpg) combined, with the urban and extra urban figures working out at 10 litres/100km (28mpg) and 6.1 litres/100km (46mpg).

Hope that helps.

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Hi Erin,

Well, I have to put my hand up and declare an interest. I own a MINI , a Clubman Cooper D, and it's fab. Fun to drive, funky to look at and super-economical (it averages better than 55mpg). So I'd say if you're interested in a MINI, go for it. 

Just make sure anything you're looking at buying has a full service history. Don't forget that these are small BMWs with plenty of complex bits and need to be cared for accordingly. It's worth looking at MINI's 'cherished' second hand programme, from franchised dealers, which a gets you a two-year warranty and a full check over.

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Hi Paddy,

Well, with that kind of budget to shop with you're well into the price range for most compact 1.6 diesel hatchbacks, and I'm talking new (or nearly new if you're looking to maximise the bargain). 

So I'd recommend going for one of Volkswagen's new trio of compact cars, the Golf, Octavia or Leon (sadly the Audi A3 is probably out of your price range).  All three are excellent, solidly build and share the same frugal 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine. Of the three, I'd suggest going for the Leon as it gets you the best all round car, but the classiness of the Golf or the practicality of the Octavia are equally strong draws. Can't go wrong with any of them really.

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Hi Sarah,

Tricky one this. It's very, very hard to find an MPV of any size that can take lots of people and their cargo at the same time. 

I think you might be best going for either a Fiat Multipla or a Honda FR-V. Their two-rows-of-three seating allows you to seat six (albeit the front centre passenger had better be someone small and/or young) and they still have usefully big boots behind.

Otherwise, you need to go up a size and maybe even think about a compact minibus. A Mercedes-Benz Viano or Volkswagen Caravelle perhaps. There's also the option of a Chrysler Grand Voyager, which has a bit more room than the standard model, but I'd suggest you try it with a full load of people and wheelchair before buying, just to make sure you'll all fit.

Hope that helps

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Hi Anna,

There seems to be a shortage of Beetles out there, especially the diesel model, so that's keeping prices high. You could pay as much as €4,500 for a good one, maybe a bit less with some committed haggling. Perhaps a trip to the UK is in order, where there are a lot more Beetles to choose from?