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Showing 1071 - 1080 results (out of a total of 1464) found for "diesel" in Ask Us Anything

Toyota Avensis or Nissan Tiida?

What is the best car to go for in 2008, Nissan Tiida or Toyota Avensis? Both are diesel for around €8,500.

Denise Bradford (Dublin)

Jul 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Denise,

Go for the Avensis, by a country mile. Both cars are solidly reliable but the Avensis is bigger and comfier. The Tiida's only advantage is that it came with standard Bluetooth, but that's easily remedied with an aftermarket kit for the Avensis.

Let us know what you do


How reliable is the Renault Fluence

How reliable is the Renault Fluence and are there any hidden faults that we should know about? We are thinking of buying a 2010 model.

Albert O'Connor (Listowel)

Jul 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Albert,

Generally speaking, it should be fine. In fact, depending on which options the original owner ticked on the sales form, it may even still have a couple of years worth of warranty to run. Most of them are fitted with the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine, which is a proven and rugged design. It's also very economical, which is a bonus.

As ever, with any French car, watch the electrical systems like a hawk. Renaults are prone to throwing an odd warning light at you, which could be something major about to go bang, or it could just be a faulty warning light. Either way, pounce on any potential issue and get it sorted, quick. Watch for the diesel particulate filter clogging up too if the previous owner has only been doing low-speed, around-town mileage.

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


Should I swap my petrol Mazda6 for a diesel one?

My Mazda6 is 1.8 petrol model: 2005. 230,000km, very good condition serviced regularly, trouble free. It's a sedan. What is the approx current value of it? I drive 25,000km approx per annum. Would it be advisable to change to a 2.2 Mazda6 turbodiesel?

Regards

Diarmuid Mc Sweeney (Charleville CoCork)

Jul 2013 Filed under: diesel

Expert answer

Hi Diarmuid,

With that kind of mileage, I'm afraid the value just plummets and that's notwithstanding the fact that the Mazda6 is reliable and very well built. I'd say you're looking at a value of around €2,500 to maybe €3,500.

As for changing, with that kind of annual mileage I'd say it could be well worth looking at changing for a newer diesel model. The 2.2 diesel Mazda 6 is a bit of a favourite around here, really good to drive with good economy. Just get the calculator out and do your sums carefully to make sure that you'll be saving money in the long run. With the cost of changing your car, it can be worth looking at spending money on your existing car, giving it a good going over and a tune-up, which can both prolong its service life and improve the fuel economy.

Hope that helps


Can you help me choose a seven-seater please?

Seven-seaters: can you give me a full list of the possibilities in Ireland and the tax on each model pre- and post-2008? It's so hard to decide! Any recommendation?

Aideen Ni Chieilleachiar (Cork)

Jul 2013 Filed under: family car

Expert answer

Hi Aideen,

Wow. That's a request, and frankly, space and time simply don't permit. So I'll boil it down to the two best options for pre-and-post 2008. Pre: Toyota Corolla Verso. Spacious, simple and very reliable. A very hard car to beat.

Post 2008? Ford C-Max (the current model). Perhaps not as utterly reliable as the Toyota, but solidly built, spacious and with an excellent and efficient 1.6 litre diesel. Good cars, both.

Is that enough information for now?


Is there a duff year for the Toyota Avensis?

Did Toyota have a problem year with the Avensis?

JOE ROSSITER (ENFIELD)

Jul 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

Not really, no. You may be thinking of the case of the massive recall, back in 2010-2011, where millions of Toyotas were recalled across the globe to fix supposed 'unintended acceleration' problems (in the US) and sticky brake pedals (in Europe). Generally speaking, it was a lot of fuss over nothing.

The Avensis, and this goes for any Avensis model, is as close to a paragon of reliability as you can get. The only common issues are an exhaust gas recirculating valve failure on turbodiesel models, and a cold-starting issue on the same. Essentially, it's a very hard car to go wrong with.


Why is the Opel Cora more expensive than the Meriva?

Is the 2004-2005 Opel Meriva a good car? I find it strange that the smaller Oper Corsa (of same year/mileage) is more expensive in the classifieds.

Maria Ferrari (Sligo)

Jul 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Maria,

The simple reason for Merivas being worth less is that they're just not as in demand as the mechanically similar Corsa. The Corsa has always been popular with learner drivers and first time car owners so its values hold up. The Meriva, as a compact MPV, just isn't as popular so its prices are softer.

As for reliability, like all Opels it's decently well made, but being a mass-market car, there are issues. The most serious of which is a persistent power steering failure, which prompted a recall, so make sure any car you're looking at has had that done. Other than that, watch for fuzzy engine management systems, broken turbos on the diesel models, fragile cabin trim and timing chains that need too much attention at low mileages.

Hope that all helps


What do you think about the SsangYong Rodius?

Is the SsangYong Rodius 2.6 diesel a reliable car and roughly how much would I pay for a 2005 model?

Nuala Murtagh (Dublin)

Jul 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Nuala,

Mostly yes, they're fine. The engines and gearboxes are essentially old Mercedes-Benz items and they're pretty long lived and can rack up mega mileages. What you've got to watch for are cabin trim (which is spectacularly fragile and can often come off in your hands) and electrical gremlins. Essentially, if it's on a Rodius and its got a wire in it, it can go wrong, so check carefully to make sure that everything electric is working and budget for running repairs in the future. Expect to pay around €3,500 to €4,000 for a 2005 version, but they're pretty thin on the ground.

Hope that helps


How do you rate the Lexus IS 220d?

How do you rate the 2008 Lexus IS 220 diesel? How much approx should it cost?

Myra Reynolds (Carrick-on-shannon)

Jul 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Myra,

You should be paying anything from as little as €8,000 to as much as €15,000 depending on condition, mileage and history. As for reliability; are you kidding? It's a Lexus and about as likely to break as a sundial.

All we would say is that, as with any modern premium-brand car, there are a lot of complex systems under there that all need to be properly cared for, so if you don't see a full set of authorised Lexus dealer stamps in the service book, run, don't walk, away.

Hope that helps


How reliable is the 2008 Opel Combo?

How reliable is the 2008 Opel Combo 1.3 diesel?

Robert Lindsay (Sligo)

Jul 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

A very solidly built van, the Combo, and that Fiat-GM 1.3 diesel is long-lived and has been around long enough to have had most of the kinks worked out. Just watch for timing belt guides shifting out of position, leading to possible belt failure, and the exhaust gas recirculation valve in the turbo getting sticky.

Hope that helps


Renault Grand Scenic: worth a look at a 2010 model?

Hi, how reliable is the Renault Grand Scenic? Is it worth buying year 2010? Is it true that the engine in the Scenic is the same as in Nissan's Qashqai?

Priscilla Nkosi (Shannon)

Jul 2013 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Priscilla,

If it's either the 1.6 petrol or the 1.5 diesel then yes, it's an engine shared with the Nissan Qashqai (and sundry other Nissans and Renaults) and is generally pretty solidly built and reliable. 

With Renaults, it's the peripheral systems you have to watch. Major items like the engine and gearbox usually go on just fine but electric components (especially windows in the past), exhaust systems, cabin trim and such like can all be fragile. Check carefully and make sure there's a full service history.

Best of luck


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