Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

To be honest, I just can't recommend a Cross Polo. The standard Polo is a decent little car, albeit a bit slow and a touch noisy. Those problems just seem to be magnified in the Cross Polo though and then there's the fact that for all the plastic cladding and faux-SUV looks, it's just a more expensive Polo underneath and can't tackle mud any more capably than a basic 1.2 Polo Trendline.

So, my suggestion would be this. Either buy a standard Polo or, if you really need something small but with genuine off-road-snow-ice ability then search out either a Fiat Panda 4x4 or a Suzuki SX4 4x4.

Let us know which way you go.

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Hi Ruadhan,

That, I'm afraid, is a question with too many variable answers. Second-hand vehicle values are like stock market values - they go up and down and often rather unpredictably. There are a few rules of thumb, though...

1. It's got to be diesel. Yes, we (and others) have tried to educate the motoring populace that diesel power doesn't automatically mean better economy or lower running costs, but right now the market is diesel-crazy and if it doesn't sip from the black pump, it's not going to hold on to its value.

2. The lowest depreciating cars are, obviously, the most popular models. So the likes of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Santa Fe, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and so on will always hold on to their value the best. Check the list of the top-ten best-selling cars on the market - these are your depreciation heroes.

3. What about depreciation villains? Anything that the market doesn't trust, really. Estates tend to fare especially poorly, anything with a French badge is suspect and if it's Italian, forget it. You'll lose your shirt on any of these.

4. Spec is king. You can have the most in-demand car going but if it's painted bright yellow and has green seats, you're never going to shift it. So, to keep depreciation at bay, stick with dark metallics and subtle interior tones. Pale cabin colours tend to fare less well when it comes to wear and tear, so the market prefers blacks and greys on the inside too. If it's an executive car, it has to have an automatic gearbox. Anything with factory-fit air conditioning and Bluetooth telephony is looking good, leather is always helpful but other expensive toys don't always help a car hang on to its value.

Hope that's all of interest

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Hi Cahir,

Really, really good. Put it this way: when I had it on test, I actually asked Kia if I could hang on to it for a couple of extra days. Sharp steering, balanced chassis, spacious cabin (for a coupé) and really well built. 

There's a 1.4 or 1.6 diesel, but get the 1.6 as it's much better to drive, only costs around €1,000 more and there's no CO₂ emissions penalty.

Cracking car all round, really.

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Hi Charles,

Ah, the second-generation Avensis - the taxi drivers' friend. Hardly surprising you see so many on the rank of a Friday night, as they're dependable, comfy and spacious. 

This Avensis was from the last line of big family cars that came mostly as petrols, so the 1.8-litre VVTi engine is the most common. It's a good one too, economical and smooth if just a touch noisy by modern standards. The 2.0 and 2.2 D-4D diesels are rarer, noisier and have iffy clutches - one of the Avensis' few mechanical weak points.

Cabins are robust, hard wearing and massively spacious, which is all good, but listen for rattles from the steering column - not a major issue, more of an annoyance. 

Finally, check the suspension and steering for any wear and tear, they're the only other mechanical weak points.

Actually, this Avensis is also, somewhat secretly, rather good to drive - it used the same steering and rear suspension as the last-generation Celica coupé and while it's no hot-rod, it's better than you might think.

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Hi Michael,

I'd go for the Mazda above the Volvo every time in this case. The old S40 is much smaller and less spacious than the Mazda6 and the Japanese car is also excellent to drive. 

Mazdas are generally exceptionally reliable, but on the 2.0 diesel just watch for low oil pressure and a sticky manual gearshift. Both can be fixed but they are recurring problems. Check the air conditioning system for leaks too.

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Hi Noel,

Yes, unreservedly. One of the most reliable cars around and also comfy, nice to drive and, in the current version, really rather handsome too. The only issue has traditionally been a very limited engine range. On older versions, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrols were your lot, more recently there has been 2.0 and 2.4 petrols and a 2.2 diesel. Currently, only the 2.2 diesel (in 150- and 180hp forms) is on sale in Ireland. As long as that doesn't bother you, go right ahead.

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Hi Dolores,

The Fluence isn't one of our favourite cars, to be honest, as it's a bit dull to look at and drive, but in reliability terms it should be mostly OK. The 1.5 dCi diesel is pretty solid in that regard, and it's very economical. Just keep an eye on the electrics, as things like electric windows can give trouble. Other than that the only concern is resale value - it's an area where many previous Renaults have fallen down, so you need to be aware of that. If you're planning to trade it in for another Renault in a few years' time, you'll be OK, but switching to another brand could prove a problem when it comes to trade in.

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Hi Sean,

If the EGR valve is the problem then yes, replacing it will fix it. It's very difficult to successfully clean these things.

It might be worth bringing the car to another mechanic to get a second opinion before splashing out though.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Susan,

Wow, you're a glutton for punishment aren't you? You pretty much couldn't have picked two less reliable cars. The Discovery is best avoided. If you could afford to trade up to a third-generation model I'd say that's worth a go, as Land Rover was starting to get on top of its quality issues by then, but the old Series II is just bad news. Gearboxes go, electrics go and even the suspension can fail. I know what you mean about falling in love - it's happened to me too with old Land Rovers, but you're looking at a very high-maintenance partner there.

The Espace is a little better, but not by much. The diesel engines are very fragile - check for smoke, check for oil levels and if there are any signs of overheating, run don't walk away. Check anything with an electrical wire coming out the back of it too as it can all go wrong, although the electronic parking brake and electric windows are especially prone to wrongness. Also, keep an eye on the tyres. Espaces go through them like butter and 20,000km is about as much as you'll get out of a set.

If you really want a seven-seater that works properly, can I suggest either a Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Land Cruiser? Not as cool as the Discovery, but they won't let you down.

Expert answer

Hi Andy,

I take it you mean from an insurance point of view? No, late thirties shouldn't be a major issue as long as you have a decent no claims bonus. As far as the car is concerned, I think you need to box a bit clever here. The kids are only going to get bigger (trust me, I know...) and you'll need something with a decent boot and big back seats for increasingly long legs. So, get yourself a Skoda Octavia RS. They've been around since 1999 in original form, but you need to be looking at the second-gen model, from 2006 onwards. Go for that and you get a car with excellent handling, a terrific engine (the diesel one is more economical, obviously, but the petrol 2.0 turbo is still reasonable in terms of running costs) and the boot is as big and practical as you could possibly need. They're also solidly reliable. It's the thinking man's hot hatch.

What do you think?