Safety of occupants in third row of seats
Hello
I am looking at buying a second hand seven seater. When I was checking the compatibility of my car seats with the seven seaters I had in mind (Ford S-Max, VW Touran and Citroen C4) the car seat manufacturer recommends not putting any car seats in the third row.
On further investigation it seems when the third row is in use the safety of people (i.e mostly kids as most adults would not sit in third row) is very poor. Can you shed any light? Besides going for the bigger seven seaters like the Ford Galaxy (which is out due to budget reasons) is there any seven seater safer in this regard? Am I overthinking this, is this the case with most five seater cars or is the boot space a big plus if a car is rear ended?
Linda Keane (Meath)Mar 2011 Filed under: safety
Expert answer
Hi Linda,
I can totally understand your concerns. Anyway, to start, here are all the EuroNCAP reports on the cars you were looking at so you can have a good look at them.
Ford S Max / VW Touran / Citroen C4 Picasso
The placement of ISOFIX seats often dictates where child seats should go and in a lot of MPVs there is still only two and these are usually in the outer two seats of the second row. We answered a question on this recently.
This article by JD Power and Associates is good. As regards the rear row, the information is a little unclear on whether there is a greater danger to be in the rear seats in a rear impact, but it is something that we will investigate further. The strength of the modern MPV at the rear is pretty impressive though and as long as the child is front facing they are well protected.
Newer VW Passat or older BMW 3 Series?
Hi Shane & Paddy,
I am looking at changing my car. I've a 2002 BMW 318Ci with 106,000 miles on the clock. It has Bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel, alloys, cruise control etc. Due to on-street parking it has some damage to the rear driver's side panel and the alloys need to be dipped to look their best. We have a baby on the way so need something with back doors.
I have looked at a 2007 2.0-litre Passat saloon: 90,000km, leather interior, heated seats, cruise control and Bluetooth and the garage is asking €11,950. I also saw a 2005 BMW 320i SE saloon with leather seats, cruise control etc. and they are asking €11,950 too. I was also thinking of looking at Audi A4s but haven't yet.
Assuming I can get approx €5,000 for my current car then €11-12,000 is the total budget. Should I do the repair work on the damage and alloys now to improve value? Can you recommend someone?
What can I expect to get for private sale and trade-in? What would you recommend as replacement? We do mostly city driving with a country trip once a month or so. Petrol or diesel? Head says newer Passat but I like driving the BMW and think the Passat / A4 might be less enjoyable to drive.
Sorry for all the questions!
Thanks. Enda
Enda Lowry (Dublin)Mar 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Enda,
This was a long one, so I thought I would answer by video. Click on the link to see the answer!
Will I buy a new Corolla under scrappage or a used one?
Hi,
I am reviewing replacing my 1998 Toyota Avensis with a diesel/low tax model as I have a daily commute of 60 miles. Option A is to go for a Corolla diesel under the scrappage scheme or buy second-hand from around 2007/08. Is the scrappage real value and what is the best scrappage deal avaialble? Or is a second hand model a better option if I can trade in my avensis?
Pat Cuddy (Ennis)Mar 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
For a start, looking at the prices of 1998 Avensis models, you would most likely be better off going with the scrappage scheme. You can get €3,360 off the price of a new Corolla, which is much more than you could hope to get for either selling your 1998 Avensis privately or trading it in against an older second-hand model. The cheapest new Corolla you can get is from €17,775 with scrappage.
If you decided on a 2007 or 2008 model then you might get €2,000 for your 1998 Avensis. The 2008 Corolla diesel would cost you €14,750 and a 2007 model would cost you €11,995 or perhaps €9,995 with your Avensis. Obviously these are our estimates on values.
The choice depends on your budget, but if you want to keep your overall costs down then I think the 2008 model would probably be your best bet because you would avail of the new tax system and you could perhaps sell a 2008 model on again easier. If you have access to the money though, you might just want a brand new car!
Can you recommend an MPV as a second car?
Can you recommend an MPV as a second car?
Reilly Sean (Longford)Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Sean,
It really depends on your budget and how many seats you need, but you can't go too far wrong with something like a Ford C-Max, Mazda5 or Peugeot 5008. These are probably the best around at the moment. If you need more room, then a Ford S-Max or Galaxy is your best bet. But come back to us if you need a more detailed response and can give us an idea of your budget.
I hope this helps.
What car has three ISOFIX points?
Hi
We hope to trade in our 2005 Skoda Octavia during the summer for a car that has three isofix points in the back. We would prefer not to get a seven-seater as we don't need that many seats. Our wishlist would include the three isofix points, a big boot to accomodate a double buggy, low tax and fuel efficiency. We have been looking at the Peugeot 307 SW. The trade in value of our present car seems to be in around the €5,000 mark. We can afford to add another €,5000 to that.
Any advice greatly appreciated! Many thanks.
Feena Farrell (Kilcock)Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi there Feena,
The Peugeot 307 SW would be a good solution for you and it is great value and cheap to run. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is the best-seller in that model, is fuel-efficient and has low road tax. You would get one for within your budget alright. My sister has driven one for the last few years and apart from some loose bits of trim it has been a very solid car. Unfortunately there are only two ISOFIX points in the centre row.
Absolutely brilliant is the Fiat Multipla. Is it a little on the unusual side, but has a really clever 3+3 layout that your kids will really enjoy. The difficulty is that there are only two ISOFIX points in this too.
A little bit of research seems to suggest that there are normally only ISOFIX on the outer seats in the second row of a car. There are exceptions though, with the latest Renault Scenic (late 2009 on) having three ISOFIX points in the second row of seats. But this is outside your budget.
The Citroen C4 Picasso can take three ISOFIX seats across the rear and this might be a little bit outside your budget too, but perhaps you could haggle a little. Here is an example of one.
However, I reckon the solution for you is a Honda FR-V, which has three ISOFIX points across the six seats and it is a really good car. It only came as a petrol model early on, but if you don't do too many miles it should be okay. Here is one from 2006 within your budget.
Hope that helps.
What will I get to replace my SEAT Ibiza?
I'm looking to spend around €20,000 on a new diesel. What's the best option? I have an 02 SEAT Ibiza, but I'm afraid it won't last much longer. Is it best to do a cash deal and scrap the car independently?
Mairead S (Limerick)Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mairead,
I guess it depends on how bad your Ibiza is. You will generally get a better deal as a cash buyer, but it will also probably cost you money to get rid of your Ibiza if you bring it to a scrap yard. Sadly you don't qualify for scrappage. but there are lots of good offers around, especially from the likes of Renault, who will give you a great scrappage price on a car eight years old or over. You could have any Renault Mégane within your budget. We recently drove the GT Line version of the Mégane and it looks great with tons of equipment including a built in TomTom navigation system.
The Mazda3 diesel is €19,995 and you get air conditioning, Bluetooth, cruise control and alloy wheels as standard and it is a cracker of a car. I think given your budget that this would be an excellent choice. It has low emissions too, so annual road tax is just €104.
Feel free to come back to us if any of these suggestions don't work.
Help me choose a commercial vehicle with extra seats.
Hi,
Can you help me choose a van with a second row of seating (for a child seat mainly) and a seperate payload area? I need a diesel vehicle that I can tax as a commerical and something that is not too ugly or uncomfortable. Budget is approximately €5-10,000.
Gerard Allister (Dublin 20)Feb 2011 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Gerard,
That is a bit of a hard one. To be honest I would probably be looking in the direction of a pick-up truck and a Mitsubishi L200 would be the one I would go for with your budget. You would have to add a cover or find one with one, but something like this could really work.
Or if you needed a van, then this Renault Master could be ideal. It is within your budget and has lots of seats!
I need a good car for commuting in England. Can you help?
I'm moving to England and will have a 100-mile round-trip commute each day. I currently drive a 2006 Ford Mondeo Platinum 1.8-litre petrol, but will be selling that. What would be the best diesel car to buy with a budget of around £3,000 sterling?
Jonathan Kelly (Dublin 20)Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Jonathan,
You should be able to stay with your Mondeo in the UK, from 2005-2006 with a diesel for around that budget. Obviously there is much greater choice in the UK and lots might be high mileage but don't necessarily let that put you off because some of these might be cars that lived on motorways and as such won't have lived very hard lives.
We found a 2006 Mondeo Estate with 112,000 miles in the classifieds for £3,000 and it was a private sale and that could do a very nice job for you.
Should I buy at an auction?
I am a 24-year-old man looking for my first car. I am looking for something of medium size, medium to small engine and a solid car. I was just wondering is it a good idea to go to car auctions or are they a bit of a gamble. Or what could you recommend with a budget of a maximum of €4k?
John Doheny (Kilkenny)Jan 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
The auctions have got a lot better than they used to and they are much more popular than ever because essentially it cuts out the middle man. Some auctions such as Merlin now offer a warranty with the auction car so that does take the total risk out of buying. Generally if a car is in an auction there is a reason - it is either a car that someone is trying to get rid of in a hurry; it could be a bit of a heap; or more recently you could find that it is a car that has been repossessed by the banks. These later ones can and often are perfect. By all means give the auction a go, but firstly as an observer. It is easy to get carried away by the auction experience as it can be quite a thrill.
In general, I would say that if you are buying a slightly larger car for a small budget then make it Japanese. It might not be sexy but something like a Toyota Avensis or Corolla will provide you with the most trouble free motoring for your budget.
Something like this could do a good job - it's a Corolla 1.6 petrol. It isn't exciting, but neither are large repair bills. Here is the newer shape Avensis with higher mileage but this could be a decent buy.
I wouldn't really stray much further than these if you want a decent solid car.
I hope this helps.
When did diesel particulate filters come?
Could you tell which were the first diesel cars on the Irish market to be fitted with diesel particulate filters (DPF) as standard or even as an option? We're looking for a 6-8 year-old car and would like to consider a diesel for cheaper running costs, but a DPF is a must because of our concerns over how diesel soot particulates can cause asthma. Preferably at least medium sized or mini-MPV.
John Cradden (Celbridge)Expert answer
Hi John,
This one took a little bit of research, but according to Peugeot, it was the first to market a car with a diesel particulate filter in Ireland with the 607 saloon. Then in 2002 Peugeot introduced the DPF on its 307 2.0-litre HDi model. They came into general use around 2005 onwards. Ford told us that its cars came with DPFs from then on.
I am not sure of your budget, but perhaps a Ford Focus C-Max diesel would make sense? This car would be a top choice for you.
I hope this helps, but come back to us for more information if needed