Expert answer

Hi Philip and thanks for this,

You make some good points here, but the main one I'd like to focus on is the uncertainty. It is, without a doubt, reducing car sales right now, as people don't know what to do, and all we can do is present the facts. They are this:

1 - There are many motorists in Ireland for which there is no economic alternative to a diesel car. Those that travel long distances day in, day out, could not use an electric car. Plug-in hybrids would be useless to them as well as they only return good economy when regularly charged up. The latest non plug-in hybrids are more economical than ever on a long run, but still not as cheap to fuel as a good diesel. And let's not forget, the majority of drivers are buying used, so there's very little choice in the used market for anything other than conventional diesel or petrol.

2 - For another large number of Irish motorists, petrol power would be perfectly fine. We've been saying for years that too many people have diesel cars because that became the default after 2008. Regardless of air quality and health issues, diesels come with higher maintenance costs, especially if they aren't used at higher speeds regularly.

3 - It seems to have been lost in the conversation that the diesel bans being discussed are not for all diesels, but for older diesels that emit much higher levels of NOx and other pollutants. 

4 - The Irish government needs to hurry up and let the country/industry know what it plans to do, for this uncertainty is killing the market full-stop, not just diesel power.

With all the above in mind, we will continue to help buyers choose a car based on their individual circumstances and for many that will still mean a diesel. For now.

I welcome thoughts and comments on this below. Would be great to get some feedback on what people think and whether they are holding off buying a car because of the uncertainty.

Expert answer

Hi Andy,

All three are good cars (and reliable too, with the Octavia at the top of the pile in that respect, the Mondeo second and the Insignia third). The Mondeo is the best to drive, and has the most interior space, but the Octavia actually wouldn’t be far behind, and has good seats. If cabin space is your thing, the Insignia comes off worst — it’s quite small in there, unless you’re talking about the new-shape model, introduced in 2017, which is actually very roomy.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Assuming this is the 2.0 TDCi diesel with 136hp, then the change interval is every 200,000 kilometres or every 10 years. Your car is getting close to that mileage now so it's well worth doing it a little early to be safe.

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Hi Jacqui,

I think, assuming price to be more or less the same, I’d go for the X-Trail. It’s a bit bigger than the Hyundai, can be had as a seven-seater (not all were, though, so make sure you check) and the 1.6 dCi diesel engine is a sweeter unit than Hyundai’s 1.7. Plus, and I know this is hardly the most important point, I think the X-Trail is nicer looking. 

Read our Nissan X-Trail reviews

Read our Hyundai ix35 reviews

Expert answer

Hi Kieran,

As a whole, the CX-5 is a really lovely car — great to drive, well made, roomy and good looking. The petrol version is a weak point, though. It’s just not torquey enough for a big 4x4, and it suffers in terms of both fuel consumption and refinement because of that. Stick with the diesel, unless all your mileage is in town.

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Hi Brian,

The diesel question is a particularly thorny one, mostly because we don’t have any firm guidance from the Government on what is going to happen with the taxation system. If anti-diesel taxes are brought in, then that will definitely have a serious effect on diesel used prices. For now though, all we can reliably say is that diesel is still popular outside the major urban centres and, for the most part, it’s still the best choice for the long-distance driver. I say most part, because hybrids are improving all the time and such cars as the Kia Niro and Toyota Prius are well able to manage better than 60mpg even on long motorway hauls, while a Lexus GS 300h, for example, is every bit as frugal in daily driving as a rival diesel product.

Expert answer

Hi David,

How about a BMW 320i? Not as powerful as your 330d, of course, but a really lovely engine, and pretty frugal for all those long journeys. Of course, if you’re buying a year-old car then diesel is still a viable option, especially if you’re racking those miles up, so another 330d could well be a good choice. It’s Euro 6 emissions compliant, so even if there are some penalties for diesel models coming down the line, it probably (fingers crossed) won’t be affected.

There are some other options, of course. How about a Lexus GS 300h? Big, comfy, great for long journeys, and 40mpg+, plus you’re future-proofing yourself with a hybrid (not a plugin). The IS 300h is also a good bet, but is a touch small on the inside, hence we’d possibly try and spend the extra to the the GS. Here are a few reviews to read:

Lexus GS reviews

Lexus IS reviews

Expert answer

Hi Dan,

Yes, it absolutely will be. Diesel values have fallen in the UK, but much less so here, although there is a little ‘softening’ going on. However, if you’re buying another Toyota, there will be promotional activities around hybrid models (not least since Toyota recently announced that it’s going to stop making diesel-engined passenger cars) so I don’t think you’ll have any issues. 

Expert answer

Hi Anne Marie,

Stop-start systems on cars will stop working for a variety of reasons, some of them outside your control, but if you think your SEAT still has a problem after looking through this list of possibilities, best bet is to get the car along to your nearest SEAT dealer to check it out:

- Ambient temperature too cold
- Ambient temperature too hot (unlikely in Ireland!)
- Battery in poor condition
- Driver's seat belt usually must be on
- Driver's door and bonnet usually must be closed
- Engine temperature is too low
- Climate control settings may force the engine to stay on

Hope that's of some help. This question by an Audi owner has proven very popular and is mostly applicable to your car too.

Expert answer

Hi Jonathan,

You've not told us the year, which is a key thing, here, as the current Avensis (first launched in 2009) uses a timing chain in its 2.0-litre diesel engine, but some versions of the previous version use a timing belt. The 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 116hp (engine code 1CD-FTV) made between 2003 and 2006 has a timing belt, for example, but the 127hp engine, made from 2006 to 2009 (code 1AD-FTV), has a timing chain.

The recommended change interval for the timing belt in that 1CD-FTV engine is 105,000 kilometres, regardless of time.