Current value of a 2012 Opel Insignia?
Current value of a 2012 Opel Insignia Elite 2.0-litre diesel automatic with 70,000km in very good condition?
Barry O'Gorman (Monaghan)May 2017 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Barry,
As a trade-in, it’s going to be worth in the region of €8-10,000.
I'd like a sporty car from 142-152...
Hi guys,
I currently drive a late 2012 Audi A3 (new model three-door 2.0 TDI). It's a great car, but I'm in a position to upgrade and I want something that has a bit more oomph on the road and is a bit bigger. I have a good 45-minute commute each way to work and I have friends and family all over the country so I need a diesel for all the miles I'm covering.
I'm looking at purchasing second hand, probably cars registered from 142 - 152. I'd love a BMW 420d M Sport, but they can be pricey and I have heard from a few people that used BMWs can be far from reliable. I have considered sticking with Audi, but I have found that Audi cars from this time period (A4/A5) are a bit underpowered and poorly equipped for the money. Is there anything you can recommend? I find myself only looking at German manufacturers, but I can get over badge snobbery if I found something I really liked.
Thanks guys
Pearse
Pearse McDonagh (Waterford )May 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Pearse,
Would you consider a Lexus? A hybrid engined IS 300h saloon looks good, is good to drive, isn’t German, is frugal and will be so reliable you can pass it onto your grandkids.
Alternatively, a BMW 420d Coupe makes a great buy, and they’re not THAT bad on the reliability front, but it’s a good idea to buy one from a BMW main dealer, as it will come with a very comprehensive two-year warranty.
Well worth looking at a Mercedes C-Class C 220 d coupe too — not as slick looking as the BMW, but with great quality and a really lovely chassis. The Volkswagen CC (four-door coupe on a Passat chassis) is also well worth a look, and what about a Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel, which is a saloon, but looks slinky enough to be a coupe?
Belt or chain for SsangYong Korando?
Does the SsangYong Korando 2.0 diesel (2013) have a timing chain or belt?
David Brown (Melbourne. Vic.)May 2017 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi David,
It’s a timing chain.
Petrol or diesel Ford for an M50 commute?
Hi,
My workplace is in Blackrock and I live in Lucan, so it takes around 25 to 30 minutes to get to the work and I work only three days a week, which makes my annual mileage around 10,000km. I am getting a good deal on a Ford diesel car. Should I go for diesel or not? Cost of diesel engine is not the concern; I am worried about DPF and servicing costs as my annual mileage is not much, but whatever km I am going to drive would be M50.
Kind regards,
Naseem
Naseem Mian (Lucan)May 2017 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Naseem,
If you’re driving the M50 a lot, it probably depends what time of day… Post-10am or pre-4pm and you’d probably get up enough speed to be able to keep the DPF clear and so it wouldn’t be a problem, even with the relatively low mileage. If you’re stop-start driving and not getting into a proper heat cycle, then no, go for petrol instead. Ford has that brilliant little 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine.
Anything to look for on 09 BMW 5 Series?
Thinking of buying an 09 BMW 5 Series M Sport (2.0 diesel), the E60 model. Any advice or things to look out for? Mileage is circa 75k.
Thanks
Paul O'Neill (Dublin)May 2017 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
The biggest issue is the infamous N47 diesel timing chain problem. The engine was designed with a zero-maintenance timing chain, mounted at the back of the engine, which then proved prone to (costly) failures. Most will have been fixed or replaced by now, but it’s still something to be cautious of. The rest is mostly irritating electrical issues, but just make sure you don’t buy one without a very full service history.
How to calculate this SEAT's VRT?
I'm thinking of buying a 2016 1.4 petrol SEAT Alhambra up north, but I cannot find out the cost of the VRT. I have been told that I need to bring it in first so they can calculate the cost, which I cannot take a chance on. It is not on the VRT calculator and I have made phone calls only to be told they cannot give me estimate...
Pamela Keane (Roscommon )May 2017 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Pamela,
Yes, this seems to be a very silly oversight by Revenue (possibly they’re a bit petrol-blind because of the preponderance of diesel imports). The VRT on an equivalent 2.0 TDI Alhambra would be in the region of €6,700, so given the 1.4 TSI’s higher CO2 rating, we’d put around another €1,000 on that for safety’s sake and that should put you in roughly the right ballpark.
Beware though — even once you bring it in for an inspection, you might get some odd valuation simply because there are few, if any, 1.4 Alhambras already in Ireland for them to base a valuation on. It might be a good idea to approach some SEAT dealers and ask them to give you a rough valuation of the car so as you can back yourself up if you have to query Revenue’s OMSP prediction.
Thinking of buying a SEAT Ateca 1.4...
Hi guys,
Thinking of buying a 1.4 TSI petrol SEAT Ateca and trying to find a report on the engine configuration. I recently had a test drive in one and at one stage the engine indicated on the dash '2-cylinder mode' - not sure how that works!
Any direction on understanding this would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Robert
Robert Smyth (Wicklow)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
Great choice. We published our Irish road test of that very car only last week and it's a good option for those that don't need diesel. The 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine features something called Active Cylinder Technology (ACT), which automatically shuts down two of the engine's four cylinders when the car is cruising or the engine is on light load. This saves fuel and is nothing to worry about in the least. By displaying when the engine switches into that mode it educates the driver as to when the car is being driven in its most efficient mode.
Anything else specific you need to know, just shout.
How does this Hyundai ix20 sound?
Hi folks,
Thinking of buying a 2012 Hyundai ix20. Has mileage of 105,325 miles/169,500km, NCT due date: March 2018, fully serviced and three-month warranty and the price is under €7,000. Is this a good buy? Should I be concerned about timing belt and water pump?
Thanks
Jenn
Jennifer Harte (Cork)May 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Jennifer,
I'd be a bit concerned about the three-month warranty. For a car that's only just run out of its original manufacturer's warranty, that seems a bit mean.
There's no need to worry about a cam belt as the 1.4 petrol engine is chain-driven, as are the 1.4 and 1.6 diesels. The water pump should be fine too - there are occasional reported issues with it and the thermostat, but they seem to be pretty infrequent. As long as the car has a full service history it should be fine.
Keep or sell our diesel BMW X1?
I have a 2011 BMW X1 xDrive automatic with 85k kilometres on the clock. When purchased it was for longer drives but now journeys are short and local, less than 10 miles, with the occasional 50-mile motorway trip. We are trying to decide if we keep it and take the hit on preventive maintenance on timing chain, EGR and maybe DPF or trade in on a petrol or hybrid SUV. Trade in values seem low - €13k. What would be your opinion - keep or sell?
Thanks!
Ciara Collins (Dublin)May 2017 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Ciara,
It’s always tempting to trade in a car that’s starting to look expensive, but for the most part, it’s almost always more economical to keep an existing car going, even if it does need regular servicing. In fact, that regular servicing is the key to all of this — keep it looked after and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t provide years of service yet. As you point out, the diesel filter needs longer journeys to keep it from clogging up, but a regular circa 20-30km run at motorway or main road speeds should be enough.
How noisy is the 1.0-litre Skoda Octavia?
Is the Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI petrol noisy if you maintain 120km/h on the motorway? Is the interior cabin quiet at both low and high speed?
Thanks
Graham Whelan (Cork)Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Graham,
Quite the opposite, actually. The 1.0-litre TSI engine is quieter at speed on the motorway than the diesel alternatives. It's nearly always quieter in fact. It's a very smooth and refined engine and one I'd throughly recommend in this car.
Have you seen our Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI review?