Expert answer

Hi Ciaran,

Yes. We like the Insignia and it does a pretty good impression of an Audi A4 for a lot less money. As with any long-run mass-produced car, keep an eye out for faults and while the Insignia is well built, gearbox and steering issues are not unheard of. The 2.0-litre CDTi diesel engine is the best one to go for, especially in ECOFlex form as it's in Band A for road tax and if you can track down one of the gorgeous and practical estates. you're on to a winner.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

At that kind of mileage, you really should be going for a petrol. A 320i has plenty of poke, is very refined and nice to drive, and has decent fuel economy and emissions. 

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Hi Alanna,

Anything pre-2008 with a petrol engine is pretty hard to shift on these days, sadly, so I'd reckon you're looking at a value of possibly as little as €5,500 for the Mazda3 at the moment. To get the best from it, I'd suggest staying within the Mazda family (a Mazda dealer will usually give you a better trade-in on a Mazda than will another dealer) and trade up to a Mazda6 Estate. Loads of space, brilliant to drive, reliable and, with the 2.2-litre 129hp diesel, very economical too. SUV? Do you live up a mountain or at the far end of a rutted dirt road? No? Then you don't need one - stick to the family car market and the Mazda6 size class (which also includes cars like the Toyota Avensis, Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Opel Insignia) is  where you'll get the best bang for your buck.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi David,

It's a pretty solidly built car the A4 Cab, but just avoid the 1.8T petrol engine as apparently it gives no end of trouble, and watch for clogging fuel fillers on the diesel models if you're doing low mileages. Clutch problems are also not unheard of, and check carefully for any signs of oil leaks in the engine bay. The good news is that because it has a folding cloth (not steel) roof there are no reported problems with an overly-complicated roof mechanism.

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Hi Alanna,

If you like the Mazda, then it would be well worth considering an upgrade to the current-shape Mazda3 with the 1.5-litre SkyActiv diesel engine — it's smooth, refined, very economical and with the usual Mazda reliability. A lovely car. Also worth considering are the Honda Civic 1.6 iDTEC diesel or Kia cee’d 1.6 CRDi.

A few reviews for you:

Mazda3 review

Honda Civic review

Kia cee'd review

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

At just 1,500km per year it's highly likely that a petrol car would be better suited to your needs. Diesel cars are usually more expensive to buy in the first place, and new petrol cars are much closer to their diesel counterparts than ever before in terms of fuel economy and tax so in your case the balance tips in favour of petrol. On top of that, diesel cars are designed to be driven at higher speed regularly and they don't take well to a life in town.

Recently we did a piece of research in conjunction with Cartell.ie looking into this very thing. Read the results of the research here.

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Hi Dorothy,

OK, the official schedule for changing the timing belt is 60,000 miles so if the one you're looking at hasn't had it done, it's on serious borrowed time. Other than that, they're very reliable, one of the most solidly built cars you can buy. We've heard reports of intermittent issues with the electric sliding side doors and some problems with the infotainment system, but the main mechanical package is pretty tough. In 2010, the Carnival got upgraded to the full Kia seven-year warranty, so that just shows you the faith Kia has in it.

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Hi Roisin,

Basically, yes, Ibizas (SEATs in general) tend to be very solidly reliable and that little 1.2 diesel is pretty economical. One word of caution though: it's also pretty noisy and if you're doing big mileage every week, that could become tiresome. It might be worth taking the same budget and having a look for an approved second hand Leon, with a decent warranty, with the far superior 1.6 TDI diesel.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Eamonn,

Well, have you seen the weather? That's one good reason...

There was always one major problem with the 207 CC and that was its roof. Better looking and more neatly integrated into the design than that of the preceding 206 CC it may have been, but it's heavy, complicated and was prone to failure on early models, often becoming stuck in the half open, half closed position. Apparently that early foible has been sorted since by various fixes, but it's still a worry for any 207 CC owner.

Apart from that, it's also not very practical (the rear seats are next to useless and the boot is very small when the roof is folded away) and it was never exactly affordable, so perhaps all of that explains its relative rarity in Ireland. On the upside, it's quite nice to drive, it's comfy and reasonably mechanically robust, and for the sake of a relatively small outlay, you do get the same type of folding steel roof that Mercedes-Benz and BMW buyers get to boast of.

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

Your first choice there is a bit of a hard one to argue with. The Mazda3 is impressively well built, hugely reliable and, in saloon form, not only has a big, useful boot but also manages to look better than the five-door hatch on which it's based. The downside is a dour, plain cabin but that €6,000 budget should, with a little haggling, get you into a 2007 1.6 TD diesel model. No, you won't get the benefit of the cheaper post-2008 tax, but for those occasional runs up to Mayo, you'll be saving yourself a whole lot of fuel.

Hope that helps