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Hi there,

While two exhaust outlets certainly look better, the Tucson's is not purely cosmetic, though without speaking to the original project engineers it's difficult to know exactly why Hyundai used this design. The four exhaust ports are joined in one stream in the exhaust manifold, then split again towards the rear of the car. Each side has its own muffler too. Possible reasons for this are to package smaller, lower flowing mufflers, or to tune the exhaust in terms of sound and engine performance. Our money would be on the packaging.

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Hi Justin,

Two best choices here would be a Mazda6 2.0 TD from around 2003 or a Ford Mondeo Zetec diesel of similar vintage. As long as they're in decent nick, reliability shouldn't be a problem (the Mazda will do better than the Ford but not perhaps by the margin you might be expecting) and both are safe and spacious.

What do you think?

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Hi Elaine,

If you want to stay with a small car then can I suggest tracking down a nice Ford Fiesta? Your €8k budget won't quite stretch to a new EcoBoost model, but the older 1.25 petrol engine is still a sweet, economical and reliable unit.

If it's maximum economy you're after then you need to think of a small diesel. How about a Peugeot 207 1.4 HDi? Hard to track down but 65mpg is easy.

Better yet, you could trade up altogether. €8k should get you into a nice 2008 SEAT Leon 1.9 TDI - hugely reliable, spacious, economical and really good to drive.

Let us know what you think

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Hi Evelyn,

Actually, the Hyundai ix20 might be just the thing you're looking for. It's smaller and cheaper to run than a Golf, and that 1.4 diesel engine is very economical, and will actually prove more powerful to drive than the Golf. Others worth considering are the Citroen C3 Picasso or Ford B-Max, both of which can be had with either petrol or diesel power. Try a 1.0-litre turbo petrol B-Max actually - great fun to drive and you won't believe the power and performance Ford can get from its new downsized 1.0-litre engine.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Michael,

The official average economy for a 2005 1.9 TDI 105hp Golf is 53mpg, and assuming the engine has been reasonably well cared for down the years, I'd say you wouldn't have too much trouble matching that figure in day-to-day driving. As for switching to 1.4 petrol, it kind of depends on your driving style and habits. If you're doing lots of long journeys, especially ones with lots of motorway mileage, then diesel is a no-brainer. If your driving is mostly done at low speed, around town, for short hops then it might well be worth sticking with petrol. Basically, you need to get your pen and paper out and work out what mileage you do, and then compare the prices you're seeing for both the petrol and diesel versions of the cars you want. If the saving on the fuel isn't more than extra price of buying the diesel car, then it's worth considering sticking with petrol.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Swill,

They're largely excellent. The Tucson has very few reported recurring problems - in fact it has virtually none. Two things to watch for: the miles per gallon readout on the dashboard is configured in US miles per gallon, not European so there can be a confusing variance between what mileage the car says you're getting and what you're actually getting. Secondly, the Tuscon, while a fine car, comes from the last generation of Hyundais before the really, really good modern ones came along. So, it's still a nice enough car to drive but it can't match the refinement, handling or interior quality of its replacement, the ix35.

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Hi Joe,

Not half so bad as their reputation would have you believe. Keep a close eye on the gearbox (mostly fine but occasionally prone to being fragile) and carefully check to make sure that everything electric works as it should. Any doubts in that area and walk away - even minor electrical glitches can be wearingly expensive to fix. Engines, especially the BMW-sourced 3.0-litre straight-six diesel, are usually fine, as is Land Rover's own 3.6-litre V8 diesel, but make utterly sure that the car has a full and comprehensive service and maintenance history. Anything less than a full set of stamps should trigger a walk-away.

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Hi Tom,

The Citroen will be cheaper to run (it has a 1.6 diesel engine compared to the S-Max's 2.0-litre unit), but if you can afford the slightly higher tax and fuel bills, I'd go for the Ford. It's better built, more spacious and much nicer to drive.

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Hi Andy,

Well, they're two quite different cars. The Avensis is significantly bigger than the Focus, so if it's space you're looking for, that's the one to go for. To be honest, I think it's the Avensis to go for anyway. Assuming the prices are similar and condition and history are good, then Toyota's build quality and reliability is just that little bit ahead of Ford's, so its long-term longevity should be better.

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Hi Eric,

Yup, very. Saying that, the timing chains on the diesel engine can rattle and need replacing and there are reports (rare ones) of failing turbos. There were also some small wobbles with the ventilation system, so make sure the air conditioning and heater are working properly.

Other than that, it's a very solid bet.