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Hi Paul,

I presume you're talking about the 'new' 9-5 - the last car Saab launched before everything went pear-shaped? It's a little hard to tell on the reliability front how good or bad they are, simply because there are so few on the ground. That said, all of the mechanical and chassis parts are shared with the Opel Insignia, and that's a car that has proved very reliable, bar the occasional electrical niggle. 

I know what you mean about the shape and style - you're talking to a long-term Saab fan here, and the 9-5 was an especially nice car, massive for the money (practically Mercedes-Benz S-Class sized for the price of a BMW 3 Series) and, in the fine Saab tradition, had a huge and comfy interior. It's also pretty decent to drive, not BMW good perhaps, but nice all the same and the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine should prove very frugal.

It is a bit risky, I suppose, but a risk I reckon might just be worth taking. Might be worth taking out an aftermarket warranty mind, just in case...

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Hi there,

Incredibly reliable, seem to be consensus. So much so that there are simply no reported regular or common problems. Just do the usual checks for service history and condition and you should be fine. As for petrol vs. diesel, the funny thing with the Tucson is that the diesel version isn't actually all that economical compared with the petrol, so if your mileage is low and you can get a petrol one for less than a diesel one, it could be worth considering.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Janice,

Yes, but perhaps not the most economical in the class. Going on personal experience, a Mercedes-Benz E 200 or E 250 CDI will average in the high forties mpg whereas a BMW 520d or an Audi A6 2.0 TDI should easily get over the 50mpg barrier in everyday driving.

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Hi there,

Generally speaking SsangYongs are very reliable, not least because the older models tend towards the crude and simple end of the scale. On the Actyon just keep an eye out for sticking transmissions (or lumpy changes if it's an auto) and fragile cabin trim. Oh, and for a diesel car it's not very fuel efficient - you'll be lucky to break 30mpg in daily driving.

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Hi there,

Opel Ireland doesn't have an exact date, but can confirm that it'll be here by the end of the summer.

Are you in the market?

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Hi John,

Yup, a small diesel sounds like it should be ideal for you. Depending on what kind or size of car you need I'd recommend either a MINI Cooper D 1.6 (small and sporty), Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi (slower, but more spacious), Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D (similar to Opel but probably more reliable) or that old favourite the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion (ultra economical). Or, if you need more space how about a Skoda Octavia Combi estate 1.6 TDI or a Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi?

Help us with your needs and we'll narrow that down a little!

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Hi Audrey,

Go for the Tiguan and go for four-wheel drive if you can find a good one within your budget. That first generation Kuga didn't age well at all (interior feels very cheap and nasty now) and the last time I drove a four-wheel drive version I struggled to get better than 35mpg out of it. By contrast a 4Motion Tiguan should easily crack the 40mpg barrier in everyday driving, has a lovely cabin and is crackingly good to drive.

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Hi Felicity,

Go for the diesel. By personal experience I can tell you that it's close to impossible to sell a Mk1 Qashqai with a petrol engine. It's a fine car and potentially the better buy for in-town use, but the market wants diesel, so follow the market.

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Hi Jackie,

It should be pretty solid, although if it’s the 1.9 TDI diesel then they can suffer from fuel injection and air mass sensor issues. Also, with a car of that age, you’ll need to check everything (literally everything) to make sure it’s working OK. If it’s in good condition and comes with a full service history though, then it should be fine.

Expert answer

Hi Ambrose,

Yup, that figure is correct. There was a model year change in 2012 that saw the emissions of the 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine fall from 135g/km (Band B2) to 120g/km (Band A4). Mind you, the difference in annual motor tax is only €80 so it's not a huge thing. There were some other minor tweaks in terms of equipment between the 2010 model year and the 2012 version, but nothing major - the core of the car is still the same and for the sake of that €80 gap in the tax bill, you may well be able to argue yourself a better deal on the older model.

Hope that helps