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Hi Barry,

I think this sounds more like a tyre issue than anything else. Is there a possibility that the car is on cheap, aftermarket, tyres? If so, get them replaced with a set of something decent — Michelins or Bridgestones. Going for xDrive would help, of course, as the extra bit of traction is never a bad thing, but it does add (slightly) to your running costs because of the weight and the extra frictional losses.

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Hi Mary,

That version of the Soul, with the automatic gearbox, has CO₂ emissions of 155g/km, so it’ll cost you €390 a year to tax. VRT on import shouldn’t be too steep — probably around the €1,800 mark depending on optional equipment, but bring it in quick — if you leave it until after January 1st you’ll have to pay the extra NOx tax, and that will add €1,975 to your import bill...

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Hi Pat,

It probably depends more on the year than the mileage, but I’m going to assume with 100,000 miles on the clock, it’s probably a 2015 model? If so it should be worth around €12,500, or about €10,500 as a trade in. 

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Hi Ben,

Ambition is the Skoda Fabia’s mid-level trim, one up from a basic Active. Prices for the cheapest Fabia Ambition start at €17,000 and standard equipment includes 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, leather multi-function steering wheel, front and rear electric windows, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connection, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear reading lights and an umbrella stashed under the front passenger seat.

A €19,900 Style upgrades all that with extra toys such as 16-inch alloy wheels, manual air conditioning, rear parking sensors, keyless ignition and entry, automatic headlights, a front centre armrest and height adjustable seats. 

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Hi Brian,

Different versions of the same car can have different equipment levels, which can affect the weight of the vehicle and therefore its emissions. Equally, different model years can have different engine specifications (even if the basic bones of the engine are the same), which can affect the CO₂ rating. Or, of course, one could have a manual gearbox and one an automatic, which can have a major effect on the CO₂ levels.

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Hi Felix,

Looking at the 2.0 TDI automatic model at the start of the 2011 generation A6, there are a couple of known issues with the gearbox. The first is with the hydraulic accumulator, which may cause juddering. This potentially needs to be replaced to eradicate the issue. A separate issue comes from the transmission control module that can lead to error codes appearing on the dashboard - it requires reprogramming most likely.

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Hi Aaron,

Not necessarily. Officially the emissions-based taxation system came into force from the 1st of July 2008. Everything registered after that date is automatically on the CO₂-based system. For cars registered between January 1st and June 30th 2008, it’s a little different. Initially, they would have been taxed on the old engine capacity system, but if the tax cost would have been lower under the CO₂ system, then the car should have been switched over at first renewal. If it hasn’t been switched by now, it probably means that it’s more affordable to tax on the old capacity system, so has been left on that one.

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Hi Martin,

The price looks reasonable — about in the middle of the road for a 2015 A4, so the true value will depend on the car’s specification and its overall condition. A figure of 72,000 is a very reasonable mileage if it’s in miles (and if it is in miles check to see if the car was imported from the UK — that’s not necessarily a problem but you’d want to be a little more wary about its history if it is an import) and exceptionally low if it’s in kilometres. If it is 72,000 kilometres, rather than miles, I’d actually be slightly suspicious of that figure, as it may have had the clock turned back.

Audis are well-made, and generally very reliable and that 2.0-litre TDI engine is solid, but make sure that it’s had its software recalibrated to reduce its pollutants (the changes that were mandated after the diesel scandal became public) and make sure that it has a full and complete service history — these are complex cars that need looking after, so if there are any gaps in the service record, I’d walk away; there are plenty of other A4s out there.

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Hi John,

OK, that’s a slightly tough set of criteria, but I think we’ve found some winners. How about a Honda Insight Hybrid? Ultra-low CO₂ means ultra-low tax, it’s auto, Hondas run for ever, it’ll do 50mpg easy and there’s just about enough space for a family of three. Your budget gets you a 2010 model.

If you need something smaller, there are automatic Nissan Micras around for that sort of money, but you might find them a bit small for the wee one. Fancy something posh? You could try a 2010 Mercedes C 180 Estate, which we found, but the tax on that will be a bit higher. Something newer? A Skoda Fabia Combi estate from 2012? Reliable and tonnes of space in the boot. Cracking car.

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Hi Ashfaque,

We've not heard of a widespread issue with this in the i40, to be honest. If you're sure there's no way you could be accidentally shifting it into manual mode yourself, then the best advice is to bring the car along to a good mechanic to have it checked over. It may be best to bring it to a Hyundai dealer.