Expert answer

Hi Mairead,

Pajeros are exceptionally rugged and reliable cars, as Mitsubishis tend to be. It’s an excellent tow car, with a maximum braked towing weight of 3,500kg, but if you’re towing something that big, remember that you will need a BE category licence if the weight of the car and trailer combined is more than 3,500kg.

Expert answer

Hi Ronan,

Thankfully the potential glitch list on XC90s seems to be pretty small, especially if you go for the diesel engine and the Asin-Warner automatic gearbox. Apparently most XC90 problems relate to the petrol engined versions, running a GM gearbox.

Make sure that the timing belt has been changed at 100,000-mile intervals. Check for outer-shoulder tyre wear caused by suspension mis-alignment. The top suspension mounts can be weak on the early models, but as the one you're looking at is a 2008, you should be OK, as Volvo replaced many under warranty. Wheel bearings can wear, so listen for rumbling noises and the brakes pads and parking brake mechanism are both prone to early wear.

Hope that helps; let us know how you get on.

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Hi John,

Interestingly, you haven't given us a budget to work with here, so that means a whole world of possibilities looked to be opening up, and then you hit us with the sub-2.0 clause, which instantly shut them down again.

So how about these for some suggestions:

Kia Sportage: you'll get a 2.0-litre diesel 4x4 auto for €35k and it's as stylish and good to drive as you could wish for.

Want something a bit more premium? How about an Audi Q3? Very stylish, but a bit more pricey. €41k gets you a 2.0 TDI quattro.

Finally there's the new Ford Kuga. Bigger and more practical than either of the other two mentioned, you'll pay €43k for a 2.0 TDCi diesel with Powershift auto.

What do you think?

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Hi Sean,

According to the official figures, the comparison in terms of combined fuel economy is this: the 520i gets 28.8mpg, the 525d gets 36.2mpg and the Lexus IS 250 gets 31.0mpg. A clear win for the diesel 5 Series there, but it's worth remembering that these figures are taken from laboratory samples and you may have to knock off as much as 25% to get the real-world driving figure.

Hope that helps

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Hi Kay,

Quite a rare car that. In fact, we can only find a handful of other MINI One autos from that year for sale, which means your value should be in the region of €11,500. Possibly a little less if you're trading it in.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

OK, so what you need here is something spacious (kids, even just the one, take up a heroic amount of space, as you know), something economical for all that annual mileage and something comfy so that your buttocks survive all that mileage. I think you should stay with the current rough size of car, as some of the best bargains can be found in the mid-size saloon segment.

First up is a Volkswagen Passat. Ideally, you'd get the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion version, a car in which we once managed to drive from Galway to Glasgow and back on one tank of fuel. Or, what about a Ford Mondeo? You'll easily get a 2.0 TDCi model for that money, and there are very few cars quite so comfy on a long journey. Even BMWs and Mercs can't always match the Mondeo for seat comfort.

Of course, if you fancy the high life, and are prepared to compromise on space a little, then there's the BMW 3 Series. You'll get a 320d or 318d for that kind of budget, but shop around to make sure you get one in a dark metallic, with leather and preferably an automatic gearbox.

Finally, there's the Mazda6. Bit of an unsung hero of this segment, it's brilliant to drive, spacious, good looking and you should be able to track one down with Mazda's excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine under the bonnet. Reliable as it gets, it should chomp through your annual mileage with nary a worry. Find the even more handsome estate version if you can.

Come back to us if you need help narrowing this down.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

The low mileage on your car really helps, as most examples of the 325i on sale have considerably more on the clock. I'd say you're looking at a value of between €13,000 and €16,000, depending in spec, colour and whether or not your car has an automatic gearbox. A dealer will most likely pitch you about €12,000 on a trade in.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Simon,

You've picked a car from a changeover year, but with that mileage I'm going to assume it's the older generation model you're talking about. If so, check the door handles for loose fit and make sure it has had a cambelt change at 130,000km. If it's a diesel make sure its oil has been regularly topped up (A4s seem to burn a lot), if it's the Multitronic auto then make sure the gearbox oil has been changed every 60,000 kilometres or so.

Other than that, engine sensors can fail and drop the car into creep-home mode, so make sure your test drive takes in a lot of different driving styles and speeds. Check the diesel particulate filter (drive for a steady 16 kilometres at 2,500rpm and if the DPF light on the dash doesn't go out then it needs replacing). Listen for noisy steering racks on full lock. A knocking noise from the front suspension could be a worn-out anti-roll bar too.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Frank,

This is a pretty solid buy in general, though insist on one with a decent service history and do a thorough check of the car. Electrics can have gremlins in them so check each and every switch and button. Likewise, if it's automatic, walk away if the gearbox is very jerky and holds onto the gears for a long time even when you've not got your foot down. Watch out for knocking in the suspension too, as that could mean costly repair bills.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Derek,

We're assuming you mean large boot space when the rear-most seats are folded down when it comes to the seven-seat models, but come back to us if not. Seven-seat cars are your best/easiest option for fitting three car seats in.

The first car we found in the classifieds that might suit you is Citroen's C4 Picasso. It's a brilliant MPV and with a little negotiation you should be able to afford a 2008 model with the economical 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine. We're not big fans of the 'EGS' automatic gearbox, but give it a go and make that decision for yourself. The five-seat version (not called 'Grand') is good too if you can live with that many seats.

Ford's C-Max and S-Max are worth a look too. The latter is a good deal bigger, but the former is economical and well priced.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the Opel Zafira, though we have readers who swear by them. There are loads on the market too so shop around for one that suits.

Others to look into might be the Toyota Corolla Verso and Volkswagen Sharan and Touran.

Let us know if you need help narrowing down the search.