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Hi James,

It has its good points — comfort and an economical engine chief among them — but tread carefully, as the old 308 just didn’t have the build quality and reliability of newer Peugeot models.

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Hi Tony,

No, no such car exists. They all, when a problem occurs, need a trip to a diagnostic rig. Of the three you’ve mentioned though, the Octavia is by far the best, and yes even better than the Jetta with which it shares its mechanical bits and pieces.

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Hi Wayne,

Depends on the age and on the condition. The 1.5 dCi diesel is a pretty solid engine (look for turbo problems though) and if a Scenic is properly cared for and serviced on the button, they can be fine. Beware of electric gremlins on older cars and don’t buy anything that doesn’t come with a full service history.

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Hi Pat,

They're generally quite solid, but there are a few crucial checks to make. Alternator belts can wear and make a horrible screeching noise when they do. The HDi engines need an additive put in at 60-80,000-mile intervals. A heavy clutch pedal may mean clutch failure is imminent. There are diesel particulate filter issues - if the DPF light comes on and stays on, run the car at medium revs in a low gear for several kilometres to try and heat up the exhaust enough to burn out soot from the DPF. If that doesn't work, it's an expensive part to have replaced. Dual-mass flywheels can get warped and cause a juddering effect. A lumpy idle or excessive exhaust smoke may mean that the exhaust gas recirculation valve needs replacing. 

Inside, the radio and its LED screen can be fragile while, if the air conditioning isn't puffing hard enough, it usually means that the pollen filter needs emptying. Underneath, watch for the front suspension being out of alignment and for excessive tyre wear - 407s were always quite hard on their tyres. A groaning power steering system means the pump needs replacing too.

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Hi Ger,

We always did have a big soft spot for Saabs in general, but the sad fact is that the last-gen 9-3 was neither a great car in and of itself, nor especially reliable. The 1.8t petrol engine was, at least, a little better than the diesel options in terms of reliability, but it’s probably going to be troublesome. Definitely don’t buy one that doesn’t have a full service history, and don’t pay too much for it either. I reckon €4,000 would be top value.

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Hi Patrick,

It should be fine, as it was the four-cylinder diesel that was troublesome on the E60 5 Series, and the straight-six engines are pretty solid. Just make sure that it has a full and complete service history and, if there are any gaps in the maintenance, walk away.

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Hi Gerard,

I’ll take it that you mean the last-generation Civic 1.6 iDTEC diesel? If so, it’s a terrific car. The looks of both the outside and cabin won’t be to all tastes, but it has a truly brilliant diesel engine (frugal, but refined and powerful too), tonnes of space in the cabin and boot, sharp handling and quality that means a well-cared for one will last for half of forever. A cracking purchase. Read our review of the Honda Civic 1.6 here.

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Hi Keith,

No, it's not a waste of time at all. It's almost always better value to keep and fix an existing car rather than pay the cost-of-change to upgrade to something newer. That said, if you're convinced you need a better solution, then you won't do better than to go for one of the many car-vans on offer now. The Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo are the best known versions, but there are also similar models available from Fiat, Volkswagen and Peugeot.  My personal pick would be the Fiat Doblo, fitted with the 1.6- or 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines. You'll find the cabin surprisingly comfy, it's quite pleasant to drive, very economical and good on tax and massively spacious in the back. There's even a seven-seat version available if you want to be really popular at the school gate.

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Hi Michael,

They’re pretty solid, but watch for issues with the 1.6-litre diesel engine (exhaust filter, water pump, turbo) and the ignition and central locking system. Make sure it has a full and complete service history and don't ignore the warning lights.

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Hi Chris,

Very economical — you should expect better than 50mpg. Reliable? Not so good — you should expect lots of electrical problems, and check the engine carefully for any turbo issues.