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Hi John,

Nothing major to worry about although there are a few electrical glitches - the keyless ignition system (if fitted) can give trouble, as can the hands-free locking and unlocking (again, it was an option). There have been isolated reports of the 2.0-litre diesel engine cutting out unexpectedly too. Check the interior trim carefully as well - Mondeos often rack up big mileage and while the mechanical bits are sold, the cabins can suffer from abuse - look for collapsing seats or disintegrating trim.

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Hi Sandra,

The only persistent issues with the Insignia are electrical problems that can effect everything from the door locks to the alarm system. Usually these are just minor problems that can be fixed, but occasionally the problem is in the wiring loom itself and that's a much bigger deal. Check and make sure all the buttons work and also check the boot area for any dampness - the boot seals can leak and allow in water. For a 2.0-litre diesel Insignia, I'd be disappointed if you couldn't get it to do 50mpg in everyday driving.

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Hi Dan,

Of all the ones you've mentioned there, I'd actually have a long, hard look at the Volkswagen Jetta. True, it's not the most exciting car of all, but with the 1.6 TDI diesel engine coupled to the DSG automatic gearbox, you should be able to squeeze terrific fuel economy out of it: 55mpg should be easily do-able, perhaps even the sunny side of 60mpg. It's sweeter to drive than you'd think too, really comfy and built like a tank.

What do you think?

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Hi Aidan,

Personally I'm a sucker for the E-Class Estate. In fact, if my Lotto numbers came up I think it would be the first car in my dream garage - right alongside the 911 GT3 and the Twisted Defender...

That 250 CDI diesel is an excellent engine too. A touch noisy, but very economical and if it's practicality you're after, the E estate's boot is a massive 700-odd-litres. Spacey. 

The S-Class is still a cracking car of course but it's thirstier, more expensive to fix when it goes wrong and far less useful than the E-Class.

Let us know what you decide do go for.

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Hi Tommy,

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Hi Tom,

You really may as well flip a coin to be honest. Under the skin they are basically identical. The Kia is arguably better looking and has the longer seven-year warranty, but then the Hyundai's five-year warranty is an unlimited mileage one - useful if you're racking up high miles. 

It comes down to personal preference other than that

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Hi Brian,

Generally speaking, the Sedona should be as close to utterly reliable as is possible. A 2008 model will still have up to a year's warranty left on it, which is reassuring, and the only repetitive niggle we can find with them is that the electric sliding side doors can have a mind of their own and you will probably often have to resort to manual control. Kia dealers don't seem to be able to locate the source of the problem, for some reason. 

We have heard reports of a few 'Friday afternoon' cars that have had troubles with clutches, brakes, air conditioning and gearboxes, but these seem to be very rare indeed.

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Hi Dave,

Really highly to be honest. Big, spacious, comfy and very well made. The S80 isn't as sharp to drive as a BMW 5 Series, but it's reliable and incredibly comfy. The only wrinkle here is that the FlexFuel engine isn't the best - it's thirsty and there's nowhere selling the biofuel for it anymore. Unless your mileage is low, it's worth seeking out a 2.0-litre diesel model.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Deck,

There seems to be a bit of split in S-Max ownership between those who have solidly reliable cars and those who keep suffering annoying niggles. Electrical faults are surprisingly common, and can range from knackered windscreen wipers to a fault that drains the battery over the course of a couple of days. Other have complained of some loose-fitting interior trim, especially around the doors. Keep an eye out too for clonking noises coming from the steering, stiff brake pedals or the diesel engine cutting out mysteriously.

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Hi Fionn,

You see, if we could answer that then we would have cracked the deep and dark mysteries of car depreciation and possibly time travel. In which case this would be written from the deck of our yacht, moored in the Caribbean. But it's not, so the short answer is we don't know. Fifty per cent depreciation over the first three years is the normal rule of thumb for most cars, and a 5 Series diesel would drop in value a little slower than that. So a five-year old one would probably be worth just under half of what it cost when new, assuming it's in perfect condition and has a full service history.

Hope that's of some assistance!