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Hi Laurence,

Well, to be honest, we don't often hear of any Lexus models suffering anything in the way of major component failure. Was there some major factor, such as physical damage to the batteries, or flooding or something like that? Batteries in hybrids and electric cars are always a concern when it comes to longevity, but Toyota has 15-year-old Prius still running around and their batteries are still working fine. Lexus claims that the batteries are designed to last the life of the car, so I'm suspecting that there's some other factor at play here.

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Hi Joe,

They're actually pretty nice to drive and don't seem to suffer too many reliability horrors. Electrical gremlins are the most common so check that everything with a wire in it works OK. That 1.6 diesel is good but it needs regular servicing by a pro and only put the highest grade of synthetic oil in it. If there are gaps in the service history, leave it. Also worth asking to see if the water pump has been replaced at some point. 

The suspension is a bit sensitive to any knocks too so listen out for any clonking noises and if the steering is anything other than smooth and precise, there's something up.

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Hi Denise,

No, you should be OK. Renault reliability and quality has come on a long way since the bad old days of the early 2000s. Check it out carefully and make sure it has a full service history.

Relevant review:

Renault Fluence Z.E. review

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Hi Peter,

OK, first off the MX-5 is the go-to choice for an affordable convertible. Lots of them out there to choose from, they are reliable and solidly built, so there are few major problem areas to worry about.

Actually, the problems that do occur are usually more to do with maintenance than anything else. Check the convertible hood first for tears, splits, shrinking or mildew and mould. If there are any leaks, check for damage from water getting into the cabin, especially the electrical system - electric windows can easily pack up if the switches get leaked on to too much.

Check the alloys for corrosion and check that the rear-window demister is working - if there has been work done on the hood it can often be left disconnected. If the steering feels anything less than laser-precise and brilliant, suspect worn bushes, but it's not a big or expensive job. 

Check also for accident damage - MX-5s can be tricky in the wet for anyone not used to rear-drive and any prangs need careful attention and work to make sure that the structure of the car remains sound. Also, avoid anything modified or tinkered with like the plague.

As for differences between the Japanese market cars and our ones, they're in the details more than anything else. The basic mechanical stuff is the same, but JDM cars often came with things like proper mechanical limited slip differentials when European cars had viscous couplings, and equipment levels in Japan were usually higher. If you're thinking of buying a Eunos Roadster (the Japanese name for the MX-5) then it would probably be a good idea to get in touch with the MX-5 Owners' club who can help you out with details of individual models and special editions, and on parts availability. You can get them on http://www.mx5ireland.com

Best of luck and let us know how you get on

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Hi William,

They're generally very solid cars, A4s, and the fact that this one comes with a full service history bodes well. The weak points are the electrics (so check to make sure that everything with a button or a wire works properly) and the cooling system (so try and go for a good long test drive and let the engine heat up properly to see if the radiator is doing its job). 

On the dynamic front, there's no doubt that a BMW 3 Series is a more engaging drive, but the Audi's robustness and practicality make it a very sensible second hand buy.

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Hi Martina,

Neither car suffers from any major recurring mechanical maladies, although both can develop minor electrical system issues, especially with the stereos. 

Being as they're basically the same car, it's entirely down to personal preference as to which one you should go for. As the Kia still has warranty left to run, that would be a good bet but check with the Hyundai's seller - there may be a warranty option there too.

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Hi Liam,

Generally speaking it is reliable, but there are a couple of things to keep an eye out for. Electrical problems can usually be traced to an engine management system fault. It can often be fixed by a software update but sometimes the whole black box will need replacing. 

Rear seat folding hinges can jam and door locks can give trouble too. Oh, and if it's an SVE model beware of tyres - they're an odd specification and can be hard to source. 

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Hi Dave,

Well, it's been a few years since we drove one... The RX4 was Renault's idea of an SUV based on the practical family friendly Scenic. It had higher ride height, plastic bash-panels and permanent four-wheel drive. 

If you're thinking of buying one check the electrical systems very carefully and also check the suspension, as it could be very fragile. The cabin is a weak point too with disintegrating trim. Also, as it's a practical 4x4, check for abuse at the hands of builders and the like using them on sites.

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Hi John,

OK, there's good news and bad news here. The good news is that the four marques of which you've spoken have all really lifted their quality and reliability games. Renault especially has come on a long way since the dark, unreliable days of the early 2000s. While electrical gremlins are pretty much guaranteed further down the line, that's something you could equally say of any Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi.

Dacia tend also to make very reliable cars, in no small part because they're so simple and lacking in the sort of high-end electronics that festoon other models. The brand regularly features very high up in the European JD Power customer satisfaction rankings.

Fiat tends to do less well in those rankings, but much of that is down to a dealer network that's still trying to get its head around modern customer service requirements. The fact is that Fiats these days are no more or less well made or reliable than any other brand (mostly - more on that in a tic). Certainly, we know of many Fiat customers who've had trouble-free motoring for many, many years.

Citroen too has really lifted its game and the latest generations, such as the C4 Picasso and C4 Cactus are really well put together. Long term reliability is still an unknown of course for these new models, but in general, longevity seems to be on the up.

However, just as these Franco-Italian brands have improved, so too have the Japanese and Koreans. There is still a distinct gap in overall solidity between the Japanese brands (Honda especially) and everyone else. It's still the case that if you want genuinely trouble-free motoring, the Japanese are still kings, with the Koreans and Skoda hot on their heels.

That said, I reckon if you bought any Fiat, looked after it properly and made sure it was fully serviced to schedule, you wouldn't have any major problems.

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Hi Gerard,

Not the most exciting car in the world, but they're pretty solidly built. Be careful of electrical gremlins and any clonking noises from the suspension means a car is to be avoided. The diesel engines can burn rather a lot of oil so check the levels and beware of any rough running. The 1.8 petrol is adequate but 1.6 is underpowered and consequently very thirsty.