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Hi Keith,

It really just depends on two things; her driving style and habits and what kind of condition the car is in. If it's in good nick, her average mileage is quite low and she's able to maximise the economy from that engine, you may just be better off spending a little bit of money getting the car thoroughly serviced and spruced up and sticking with it. If though her mileage is creeping up or you feel that the car is starting to age then it could well be worth trading in for a newer Passat. The current model is essentially the same car, but updated and re-skinned and the 1.6 TDI diesel gives it terrific economy.

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Hi Terry,

We don't actually have insurance groups for cars in Ireland; it's down to the driver and their experience and claims history when it comes to setting the price. If it helps, that model varies from Group 18 to Group 21 in the UK depending on whether it has the 109- or 115hp version of the 1.6-litre diesel engine.

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Hi Pamela,

I'd say you'd get between €1,750 and €2,500 for it as a trade-in. Perhaps a little more, considering that it has quite low mileage for an 11-year-old-car.

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Hi Fiona,

Though Mitsubishi has in the past used a Volkswagen Group TDI engine, this 1.8-litre unit is its own in-house creation.

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Hi Dermot,

If you mean actually physically swapping out the engine and plumbing in a diesel then I wouldn't recommend it. Diesel engines are much heavier than their petrol counterparts and most car makers tweak the suspension, brakes and steering to allow for that fact. Putting a diesel lump in where a petrol one was could upset that delicate balance. Also, it's an enormous amount of expense and hassle to do so, when you could just trade in for a similar model with a factory-fit diesel.

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Hi Carmel,

There were many versions of the Clubman sold here though we suspect you're talking about one of the diesels. Also, to be clear, these figures are for the 'R55' model, discontinued in 2013.

Diesels:

- MINI One D Clubman (manual): 103g/km - Band A3 - €190 per year

- MINI Cooper D Clubman (auto): 138g/km - Band B2 - €280 per year

- MINI Cooper D Clubman (manual): 103g/km - Band A3 - €190 per year

- MINI Cooper SD Clubman (auto): 141g/km - Band C - €390 per year

- MINI Cooper SD Clubman (manual): 115g/km - Band A4 - €200 per year

Petrols:

- MINI Cooper Clubman (manual): 129g/km - Band B1 - €270 per year

- MINI Cooper Clubman (auto): 152g/km - Band C - €390 per year

- MINI Cooper S Clubman (auto): 150g/km - Band C - €390 per year

- MINI Cooper S Clubman (manual): 137g/km - Band B2 - €280 per year

- MINI John Cooper Works Clubman (manual): 167g/km - Band D - €570 per year

- MINI One Clubman (auto): 152g/km - Band C - €390 per year

- MINI One Clubman (manual): 129g/km - Band B1 - €270 per year

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Hi Mag,

If it's newer than 2008 then that car's tax is based on its emissions. It's it Band C, at €390 per year. If it's older than that and based on engine size then the annual tax is €951.

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Hi Ruairi,

As with any folding hard top cabrio the first and most important thing is to check the roof carefully for any problems, leaks, wear and tear. They can be fragile so you want to make sure that everything's working right. 

Secondly, all that roof stuff is heavy (which is why the Eos is so clumsy to drive) so you need to be checking for excessive wear and tear on suspension, tyres, steering etc. 

As for engine, there's no point in going for the 2.0 turbo engine from the Golf GTI as the Eos's porky weight kills the performance. Better to just accept you'll be slow and go for the 1.4 TSI or 2.0 TDI diesel instead.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Marie,

Assuming this is the 2.2 CRDi diesel model then officialy it's every 100,000 miles (160,000km) or every two years.

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Hi Patrick,

I really like the S80 - a lovely big comfy thing, ideal if you're doing lots of long journeys and that 1.6 diesel engine is super efficient; you could get up to 1,500km from a tank of fuel. 

Reliability shouldn't be a major issue once you make sure that the car has a full service history. Like any executive saloon there's a lot of electronic toys in there and if it's been well cared for, there's less chance of them going wrong. Keep an eye on the service schedule to make sure that the engine has always been topped up with the highest grade of oil and if it feels down on power or sluggish when accelerating, it's most likely the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve.