Expert answer

Hi Karla,

That budget is plenty to find a decent automatic runaround that's big enough for the two of you and relatively cheap to keep on the road.

A few models that are worth looking into:

Ford Fiesta: plentiful, reliable, inexpensive to maintain
Honda Jazz: not so common, but exceptionally reliable and very spacious (also badged the Honda Fit if a Japanese import)
Kia Picanto: you'd get quite a modern one for your budget, though they are smaller than the above cars, and again, not so plentiful
Mazda Demio: this is a Japanese import, badged the Mazda2 here – nice car

There are loads of other options of course, but those are good starting points to begin your search. Sites like Carzone.ie have good search filters to allow you to put in your budget and an automatic gearbox.

In terms of general tips, we'd give you the following advice:

1 – Prioritise the condition and service history of a car over its age and mileage.
2 – If you decide on a particular make and model that you like, seek out different examples of it from various sellers and test-drive as many as you can so you get a feel for which one 'feels' best.
3 – Don't view a car at night or in the rain as that can disguise issues with it.
4 – I would suggest that a diesel car would be a bad fit for you unless you spend a lot of time on the motorway every day covering long distances – they can come with higher maintenance costs.
5 – Make sure you get an insurance quote for any car you are considering before you commit to it.
6 – If at all possible, bring a friend or family member with you when looking at cars, preferably one that has a bit of experience in such things. It's quite a daunting thing to do on your own for the first time.
7 – Ask to see the paperwork on any car you're serious about before you talk about the price.

Hopefully all that is of help. Don't hesitate to send us another question if you'd like more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Given what you said, we'd assume that there is no import duty or VAT in that price, just VRT and the NOx levy.

VRT is based on the CO₂ emissions band and the so-called Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). The latter is not the price paid for the car, but the value Revenue believes it to be worth after importation in Ireland.

And while the CO₂ emissions rating might be 187g/km, that is likely to be the old NEDC rating. Revenue 'uplifts' that to be comparable to the newer WLTP standard, which would put this Cayenne into the top band for VRT, at 41 per cent of the OMSP.

It's not easy to estimate what Revenue might say the OMSP is, as that's a rare car in that specification, but for example, if it said it's worth €30,000 in Ireland, then the VRT alone would be €12,300.

On top of that is the NOx levy, which can be really expensive for big old diesels. We'd estimate that could be just under €3,000 for the Cayenne S Diesel.

Unfortunately, therefore, the price you've been quoted to bring this car into Ireland isn't at all surprising.

Expert answer

Hi Rose,

I would expect it to be prohibitively expensive to open up the gearbox and replace parts of it, and I certainly would be worried about what else is going to go wrong in it. If you're intent on keeping the car, perhaps talk to your mechanic about replacing the gearbox instead of taking it apart. There is some risk in buying a second-hand gearbox, so ask about sourcing a reconditioned one with a warranty instead.

And yes, it always makes sense to replace a clutch if the gearbox is off in any case. Same for the dual-mass flywheel.

Expert answer

Hi Pauric,

I'm afraid your local motor tax office has it right. When a commercial vehicle is taxed for private use, it is done by the engine size, reverting back to the old pre-2008 system, even for a relatively new van such as yours. It has nothing to do with CO₂ emissions.

So a van with an engine of 1,401-1,500cc capacity does indeed cost €413 per year to tax for private use.

Read our Motor Road Tax Prices In Ireland Explained guide for full details.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

A diesel would probably continue to give you the best economy given your usage, but we'd worry about long-term maintenance for sure as modern diesels have expensive components that can get gummed or clogged up.

If you're willing to make that compromise, then you could do a lot worse than a 2018 Honda Civic 1.6 diesel. Lovely car. It also came with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, but it has known 'wet belt' issues so we would not recommend it.  

You could afford a 2019 Hyundai i30 with either a 1.6-litre diesel or a 1.0-litre petrol engine and that's a very good bet in terms of reliability. Same for the related Kia Ceed, though they're rarer.

Even less common is the Mazda3 of the same year. It's a lovely looking car, of great quality and though it comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, it's an efficient and reliable option.

If you liked your Peugeot, you could move up six or seven years to a newer 308, though best to stick with diesel if you are doing that as the 1.2 'Puretech' petrol engine can have wet belt issues like the Honda.

One of the last of the Renault Megane hatchbacks is another good option, available with petrol or diesel power depending on your preference.

The SEAT Leon is possibly our favourite find for you at this price point with good petrol and diesel engine options and great comfort. You can't ignore the Skoda Octavia for the same reasons, and it's even bigger.

Lots to think about there so come back to us and let us know if we're on the right track. We've only selected mid-sized hatchbacks, while there would be plenty of crossovers and small SUVs in budget as well.

Expert answer

Hi Francis,

Towing is certainly one of the strong points of diesel power with their low-down torque, but any hybrid with a big electric motor should be good too thanks to the instant-torque characteristics of the motor. For example, if you like the CX-60, Mazda does a plug-in-hybrid version with the same towing rating. You may find it difficult to find a non-plug-in hybrid to match the same rating though.

Come back to us with your budget and the weight you need to be able to tow, and we'll take a look around for other options for you. And let us know if you're willing to consider a PHEV.

Expert answer

Hi John,

The early Macan S certainly used a Porsche-developed engine, and even the later examples were hardly just Audi/Volkswagen engines with a different cover. 

Not that every engine Porsche has developed itself is reliable, but that V6 is generally solid so long as it has been maintained properly.

Expert answer

Hi Norma,

If you're selling it privately, and the mileage isn't too high for the year, then I'd suggest in the region of €6,000. Obviously you won't get that on trading in though.

Expert answer

Hi Haris,

It will be difficult to find a car that will fit two large rear-facing child seats and a booster in a single row without going for much larger vehicles. The alternative is an SUV with a third row, but that comes with compromises as well.

Anyway, searching within your budget, there are options. Large SUVs such as the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 would fit you all in, but at €25,000 you'd be buying relatively old ones with high mileage and likely high maintenance costs. Same for the BMW X5.

The Hyundai Santa Fe would be a better bet, as would the Kia Sorento or indeed the Nissan X-Trail. All of these are large SUVs and well-priced, reliable and decently equipped.

Finally, and I think this might be the best option, there's the Peugeot 5008. It has three separate seats in the middle row, so should fit all the kids in and you can fold away the rearmost seats to maximise boot space. There are petrol and diesel variants within budget with far lower mileage than the premium-badge options mentioned above.

You've not told us about any other preferences in terms of fuel, size of vehicle or anything, so come back to us if you want us to help narrow down the search further.

No matter what you decide, make sure you bring the child seats with you on any test drive and ensure they fit in properly.

Expert answer

Hi Rachel,

We'd certainly recommend the Tucson over the Kona. It's a larger, but crucially, more comfortable and refined vehicle. What's more, there are loads of them available in the classifieds within your budget - though we'd suggest seeking out one with the newer 1.6-litre diesel engine as it's a bit quieter and more efficient than the 1.7-litre.

What you might not know is that the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson share the same mechanicals, so it's worth taking a look at examples of both so you can choose which you prefer.

Note that most of these vehicles are front-wheel drive only, which is perfectly fine for driving on the road most of the time. Don't buy a four-wheel-drive one unless you reckon you need the extra traction and ability during winter months on slippery surfaces, as they are not as economical.

Both Kia and Hyundai have a great reputation for reliability, though the Kias were sold with a longer new-car warranty so there may even be a portion of that still active, depending on how old a car you go for and its mileage. Ask the seller about that.

Our top tip to buyers of used cars is to test drive several different examples from different sellers so you get a feel not only for which you prefer, but also for how good – or not – a given car is.