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Hi John,

Only. If. You're. Very. Lucky.

Actually, they're not that bad - probably the best car that Rover ever built, but then you need to place that statement in the context of some of the build quality horrors they did turn out... And besides that, the youngest possible 75 turned 10 this year. The oldest ones are almost old enough to vote by now.

You need to watch for some specific problems. If it's got the 1.8 turbo petrol engine, avoid it - they overheat and do their head gaskets and at that point you may as well just throw the engine away. The 2.0-litre V6 petrol is lovely and smooth but complex and expensive to maintain. The BMW-sourced 2.0-litre diesel is the best powerplant, but it does develop turbo problems and they're heavy on the transmission. You also need to check for worn, saggy suspension and rusty brake pipes.

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Hi Shaun,

Yes it would - there is no difference.

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Hi Philip,

It's basically the same as any other Golf (well built and slick to drive, but make sure the diesel engine has had all its services done)  with a chunkier, sportier body kit. For those looking for GTI styling without the insurance and running costs, it's a good choice. 

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Hi Eidin,

Our information shows us that the only post-2007 Hyundai i30 engine with a timing belt is the 2.0-litre CRDi diesel. All others should have a chain.

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Hi Larry,

It depends on whether the car in question has an automatic gearbox or a manual. The current 4x4 RAV4 powered by the 2.2-litre diesel engine has a maximum (braked trailer) capacity of 2,000kg with a manual gearbox, or 2,240kg with an automatic.

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Hi John,

If it's a lack of trouble you're looking for, you need to be buying Japanese or Korean. So have a look at a Toyota Auris, Honda Civic, Hyundai i30, Kia cee'd or Nissan Pulsar. All of those should do annual mega-miles without trouble or complaint.

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Hi Pat,

Depends which model and engine you're talking about. The best TDI diesel front-wheel drive version officially returns 64.2mpg (4.4 litres/100km), while the petrol models (RS variant aside) use as much as 6.6 litres/100km (42.8mpg).

As always, few people will ever achieve the official figures, but it gives you something to compare the Q3 with its rivals.

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Hi John,

If its reliability you need get a Honda. Either a Civic with the 2.2 or 1.6 diesel will do nicely and you should get 60mpg from it. 

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Hi John,

If you're buying an Irish car then you'll be very limited in terms of choice. The vast majority of 2010 Ford Focus on the roads in Ireland are powered by the 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine, in either 90- or 110hp states of tune). It's not a bad engine with a great performance-to-economy ratio and low road tax. Be aware though, like many engines of this type, it's only really suited to average annual mileage of 20,000km and above - or the majority of its time on a fast-flowing road/motorway. The reason is that its diesel particulate filter (DPF) can clog up and it can be expensive to remedy. There are other components in the engine itself that also gum up if the car is used predominantly for low-speed driving.

Other engines in the 2010 Focus are the 1.8 TDCi diesel and, for low-mileage drivers, the 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol units. All of these are much rarer. The 1.8 isn't quite as susceptible as the 1.6 diesel to issues, but it's less economical. If you're sure that diesel suits your needs then seek out a 1.6.

Hope that helps

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Hi Irene,

Engine size means less than it used to, especially when comparing a petrol engine to a diesel one. That Hyundai will be more economical and cheaper to tax than the 1.4 petrol Golf from 2008. Saying that, if most of your driving is in town there won't be a big advantage for the diesel, but it should still use less fuel overall.

A larger car such as the i40 is likely to be a bit heavier on things like tyres, but it's newer than your Golf so shouldn't need tyres for a while. 

Hope that all helps