I'd like a sporty car from 142-152...
Hi guys,
I currently drive a late 2012 Audi A3 (new model three-door 2.0 TDI). It's a great car, but I'm in a position to upgrade and I want something that has a bit more oomph on the road and is a bit bigger. I have a good 45-minute commute each way to work and I have friends and family all over the country so I need a diesel for all the miles I'm covering.
I'm looking at purchasing second hand, probably cars registered from 142 - 152. I'd love a BMW 420d M Sport, but they can be pricey and I have heard from a few people that used BMWs can be far from reliable. I have considered sticking with Audi, but I have found that Audi cars from this time period (A4/A5) are a bit underpowered and poorly equipped for the money. Is there anything you can recommend? I find myself only looking at German manufacturers, but I can get over badge snobbery if I found something I really liked.
Thanks guys
Pearse
Pearse McDonagh (Waterford )May 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Pearse,
Would you consider a Lexus? A hybrid engined IS 300h saloon looks good, is good to drive, isn’t German, is frugal and will be so reliable you can pass it onto your grandkids.
Alternatively, a BMW 420d Coupe makes a great buy, and they’re not THAT bad on the reliability front, but it’s a good idea to buy one from a BMW main dealer, as it will come with a very comprehensive two-year warranty.
Well worth looking at a Mercedes C-Class C 220 d coupe too — not as slick looking as the BMW, but with great quality and a really lovely chassis. The Volkswagen CC (four-door coupe on a Passat chassis) is also well worth a look, and what about a Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel, which is a saloon, but looks slinky enough to be a coupe?
What's good about the Toyota Prius?
Good and bad things about the Toyota Prius hybrid?
Mihails Grigorjevs (Dublin)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mihails,
Good: economical if you drive it right (i.e: gently), well made, incredibly reliable, roomy, comfortable, cool gear shifter.
Not so good: not pretty, not fun to drive, thirsty if you try and drive it quickly, lots get used and abused as taxis, not good for motorway work (unless you mean the current model).
Read our review of the 2017 Toyota Prius here
New Honda CR-V or Nissan X-Trail?
Hi,
I have a recommendation question. I'm wondering which of the following cars I should consider? I have always driven Toyota and currently have a RAV4 D-4D. I'm considering a change and have the following in mind: Honda CR-V ES or Nissan X-Trail SV. I do 50,000km in two years and purchase new. I want something that will be a good trade-in against a Toyota should I revert to the brand in two years' time again.
Thanks
Stephen Fox (Galway)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Stephen,
Either would be good as a trade-in and it’s actually pretty hard to separate them out in that sense, as Hondas are generally considered to have higher levels of quality, but the X-Trail comes with seven seats and seven-seaters are currently much in demand. Both are good cars, but we’d come down on the side of the Honda, which is better to drive, and better built.
New Opel Mokka X or similar crossover?
Hi,
I'm considering buying the new Opel Mokka X or similar sized, height and priced car. What would you recommend? I've even considered the Dacia range, but maybe its false economy with them?
Thanks
Simon
Simon McCormack (Straffan)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Simon,
The Mokka is quite nice, and a bit of an underrated car actually, but we reckon the best car in this class is the Suzuki Vitara, which is affordable, genuinely rugged, reliable and quite nice to drive. Handsome too. The Dacia Duster is actually a terrific machine — you have to allow for a rough and ready interior and an unrefined driving experience, but for the money it’s nigh-on impossible to beat.
Hyundai i10 or i20 to buy new?
I want to buy a car, though which to buy? The top Hyundai i10 petrol model or Elite i20 petrol 1.2?
Akshan Jain (Jmmu)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Akshan,
Well, they’re very different cars that do different jobs. The i10 is best used in town, where its compact size and agility make it a good choice. It’s fine on main roads too, but the i20 will obviously be bigger, more comfortable and more refined on longer journeys.
Thinking of buying a SEAT Ateca 1.4...
Hi guys,
Thinking of buying a 1.4 TSI petrol SEAT Ateca and trying to find a report on the engine configuration. I recently had a test drive in one and at one stage the engine indicated on the dash '2-cylinder mode' - not sure how that works!
Any direction on understanding this would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Robert
Robert Smyth (Wicklow)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
Great choice. We published our Irish road test of that very car only last week and it's a good option for those that don't need diesel. The 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine features something called Active Cylinder Technology (ACT), which automatically shuts down two of the engine's four cylinders when the car is cruising or the engine is on light load. This saves fuel and is nothing to worry about in the least. By displaying when the engine switches into that mode it educates the driver as to when the car is being driven in its most efficient mode.
Anything else specific you need to know, just shout.
Best small car for value and reliability?
What is the best small car on the market with respect to value and reliability?
Made;eome O'Sullivan (Limerick)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Maddy,
If it's reliability you want, you need to buy either Japanese, Korean or Czech. That means Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Skoda, Kia, or Hyundai.
The Honda Jazz is really good, exceptionally roomy and smooth to drive, but it is pricey. Now, that higher price includes a lot more standard equipment than in rivals, but it's a hurdle to get over. On the whole, it would be our choice with the Toyota Yaris and Skoda Fabia tied second and the Kia Rio and Hyundai i20 bringing up the rear.
If you're buying new, it's also potentially worth waiting for the new SEAT Ibiza, which is very roomy, well made and nice to drive.
How noisy is the 1.0-litre Skoda Octavia?
Is the Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI petrol noisy if you maintain 120km/h on the motorway? Is the interior cabin quiet at both low and high speed?
Thanks
Graham Whelan (Cork)Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Graham,
Quite the opposite, actually. The 1.0-litre TSI engine is quieter at speed on the motorway than the diesel alternatives. It's nearly always quieter in fact. It's a very smooth and refined engine and one I'd throughly recommend in this car.
Have you seen our Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI review?
Have you reviewed the Hyundai Tucson?
Reviews of the Hyundai Tucson?
Carol Moore (Cork City )Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Carol,
Sure thing. We've tested two different versions of the current Hyundai Tucson:
Hyundai Tucson 1.7 diesel Executive review
Hyundai Tucson 2.0 diesel 4WD auto review
We've also pitched the Tucson against its two closest rivals in a unique three-way test if that's of interest:
Which SUV for kids with €30k to go for?
Good morning guys,
I need some advice on cars or SUVs! I am looking for a family vehicle as I have three kids under five. So that means car seats. I have a bad back so I need height and I need boot space for a buggy. My budget is €30k and I already have a Renault Grand Scenic that does the job, but is ugly to be honest. I live in Kildare and do drive on bad roads. I do have an option to buy in the UK and bring the car over, as well.
Can you recommend anything?
Thank you
Donna
Donna Phelan (Maynooth )Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Donna,
The current Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are both just about wide enough to take three child seats across the back, or you could try the SEAT Ateca or Volkswagen Tiguan too (this has the widest back seat of all those). The Skoda Kodiaq is brilliant, but it’ll be outside your budget if you want a diesel, or, if you can hang on until the summer, the new Peugeot 5008 is coming, which has three ISOFIX points in the back, and should come in for under €30k.
Relevant reviews: