Expert answer

Hi Marietta,

I wouldn't like to pronounce absolutely on whether the Kuga is suitable for an elderly driver with arthritis.  Generally, Ford is very good at designing cars for elderly drivers, and was one of the first car companies to take limited joint mobility into account when designing the interior and access points. It would of course depend on which parts of the body your dad has the arthritis in, and how much it's restricting his mobility. I wouldn't be medically qualified to pass judgement on that.

Off the top of my head though, I would suggest that the Kuga might actually be a bit too tall, and require an up-and-in motion that may not be any easier than the down-and-in of the S40. I would have throught that a Ford C-Max, which is more between the heights of the Focus and the Kuga, would be a better bet. Easier to slide straight into. Worth a look anyway.

If you're trading in the S40, I'd reckon you should be getting offers of around €9,000 to €10,000, depending on the condition, history and which engine it's got.

Come back to us if you need more help.

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Generally the S40 is a solid enough car, but watch for leaky windscreen surrounds, some issues with faulty wheel nuts, vacuum pump failure leading to reduced braking power and, on the 1.6 diesel, problems with the exhaust gas recirculation valve.

Expert answer

Hi Dermot,

Generally the V50 is a solid enough car, but watch for leaky windscreen surrounds, some issues with faulty wheel nuts, vacuum pump failure leading to reduced braking power and, on the 1.6 diesel, problems with the exhaust gas recirculation valve.

We've not heard of any widespread turbocharger issues.

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

The 2.0litre diesel engine in the S40 is shared with the Ford Mondeo and it's a 140hp unit. A pretty good and robust one too, with few major reported problems, but watch earlier models for niggling electrical issues. 

There were also problems with leaky windscreen surrounds, some 2008 models had faulty wheel nuts, watch for ECU and fuel pump failures and brake issues because of a faulty vacuum pump.

Other than that, you might find the S40 slightly tight on legroom. It's a smaller car than the BMW 3 Series to begin with and Volvo compromised the cabin room further by allowing for more crush zones up front. So safer, but a touch more cramped if you've got long legs.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

There are no major recurrent problems to report on the Focus 1.6 TDCi. The nice thing is that the same basic engine design is also used by Peugeot, Citroen, Volvo and some MINIs so any potential issues tend to come to light pretty quickly. 

Just with that high mileage, make sure it's been serviced properly and on schedule, make sure the timing belt has been replaced and check for any electronic issues.

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Hi Willy,

For most people, the differences are cosmetic, though the Cross Country has its own suspension settings, including greater ground clearance. For now though, the only four-wheel drive model is powered by the top-of-the range petrol engine, so it's not likely to be very popular in Ireland.

We've driven both and, if you like the look of the Cross Country, there's very little compromise. It drives as well, is actually a little more comfortable, yet is nigh on identical inside. The regular V40 line-up starts at a lower price point though.

Hope that's of some help

Expert answer

Hi Bryan,

I reckon the mileage probably pushes down the potential trade-in value to under €8,000 and the fact that no-one sells bio-fuel anymore probably doesn't help. 

As for the Mondeo, there is a new one coming late in 2014, but the current model is still near the top of the class and you should be able to get some good deals on one.

Expert answer

Hi Helen,

Yeah, the V50 wasn't Volvo's finest hour when it came to reliability. Plenty of owners have never had a tap of trouble but we've heard reports of problems with the brake master cylinder, mysterious engine power losses, fuel pump and cooling fan failures, power steering and throttle pedal issues. Best thing to do is to check a car's history with the previous owner, if possible. If it gave them no trouble you could be on to a winner.

For the record, our Editor bought a 2006 version recently.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, it certainly is. Now, that comes with the caveat that it will be replaced by an all-new model nest year, but the current V40 is still pretty good — handsome, good to drive, comfortable, and well made. It is a little short on cabin space, though, which is worth remembering, and it lacks a good down-sized turbo petrol engine in the mould of Volkswagen’s 1.0-litre TSI as yet.

Here are a few reviews for you:

Volvo V40 D2 review

Volvo V40 T2 R-Design review

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

With that kind of criteria, and if you’ve driven your wife’s Prius and liked it, I’m minded to recommend the Lexus. The hybrid systems are related (although of course the Lexus is considerably more powerful and sporty), it’s well-equipped (most of what you want is on the standard equipment list) and with mileage of 10,000km a year, it should be just about ideal. Plus, it’s unbreakably reliable.

Here are a few reviews that might interest you:

Lexus IS 300h review

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo review

Volvo V40 review