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Hi Mary,

Your Citroen is going to be worth circa €2-3,000 so you're probably looking at a budget of around €12,500 to €13,000. That'll get you into a 2012 or 2013 Hyundai i30, depending on the dealer and the offer.

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Hi Joe,

They're both pretty similar to be honest, although at the moment the Corolla is only available as a four-door saloon and the Pulsar as a five-door hatch.

Both are solid, reliable, unremarkable workhorses. If you're looking for excitement, sexy styling or dynamism, you've come to the wrong place - but both major on space (the Pulsar in particular has massive space in the back seats), comfort and simplicity.

The Corolla's diesel engine lags a bit behind the Nissan's in terms of performance, but other than that, they're pretty closely matched and seeing as both will probably be endlessly reliable you can safely choose according to your taste.

New, Corolla prices start at €20,995 and Pulsar prices start at €19,995.

Relevant reviews:

Nissan Pulsar review

Toyota Corolla review

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Hi P J,

The current model Nissan Qashqai, introduced at the beginning of 2014, is a really cracking choice - well made, frugal and nice to drive. Go for the 1.5 diesel if you do big miles, or the 1.2 petrol turbo if you're mostly doing short hops around town.  As for your Octavia, I'd say you could expect to get around €5,000 as a trade in, depending on the dealer and your car's condition and history.

Finance or cash? Easy: if you can afford to pay cash, do it. You'll be able to argue yourself a decent discount up front and you won't be paying any interest. As for finance, PCP offers are tempting and very good value, but they kind of rely on you coming back in three years' time for another car. If that's not your plan, then a personal Credit Union or bank loan could actually work out better value overall. If you have a financial advisor they can give you more detailed advice than I, and check out the CompleteCar.ie Guide to Car Finance for more information.

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Hi Liam,

That's a tricky car to track down, as, at that time, the (small capacity) petrol E 200K was the more popular model. I've not been able to find a 2002 model E 200 CDI on sale at the moment, so your best bet is to try contacting nearby Mercedes-Benz dealers and see if they'll let you know if one turns up as a trade in - or start searching the UK market.

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Hi Andrew,

Well, of the posh-badge brigade, my personal favourite is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class - it's supremely comfy, beautifully made and really satisfying to drive, but, to be honest, you couldn't go wrong with any of those cars, it really is down to personal taste.

Your other question is an interesting one though. If you can live without the posh badge, and aren't quite so worried about driving dynamics, then a Skoda Superb is pretty much unbeatable. Same mechanical make up as the Audi but far bigger and way better value. Try a Ford Mondeo or Mazda6 if you want something with a keen chassis or a Toyota Avensis if you never, ever want it to break.

Some relevant reviews for you:

Updated BMW 320d review

New Audi A4 2.0 TDI review

Jaguar XE review

Mercedes-Benz C-Class review

Volkswagen Passat Highline review

Skoda Superb review

Ford Mondeo review

Toyota Avensis review

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Hi David,

There's no set warm-up time, as it depends on a number of factors, such as the ambient air temperature, how the car is being driven and which ancillaries are turned on. In general, diesel engines take longer to warm up than petrol (though the car makers are working on changing that) too.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your Mokka.

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Hi Terry,

They're very solid but you do need to keep an eye on a few areas. The rear suspension can be troublesome so listen for clonks or knocks. Check the front carpets for dampness from a leaking windscreen. Interior trim and electrics can be fragile while the clutch can give problems, but usually smells strongly before it goes.

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Hi John,

I'd say in and around €7,900 as long as it comes with a full service history.

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Hi John,

Your Focus is probably going to be worth about €17,000 as a trade in, maybe a little less. New Focus prices start from €20,295.

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Hi Kevin,

I reckon it's priceless - best thing Toyota's ever made and entirely indestructible. As for value, probably around the €6,000 mark if it's in really good shape.