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Hi Sharon,

Not too much, no. C4s of that era are generally quite reliable, you just have to check for electrical glitches (which can affect the speed limiter and cruise control most commonly) and check the cabin for pieces of trim working loose. Other than that, assuming the car has a full and complete service history, you should be OK.

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Hi Gerard,

Check the air conditioning to make sure it's working - that seems to be a perennial A6 weak point. Also make sure that the engine has had a regular top up of oil - they do get through a bit between services. Check everything electrical too especially if any of the warning lights on the dash are on. ECUs (Engine Control Units) are also a bit fragile so take a long test drive with lots of hard acceleration and check for any drops in power.

Hope that all helps

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Hi Declan,

While the second generation Freelander is a heck of a lot better off in reliability terms than the woeful first-gen, there are a few things to watch for. Check all the electrical systems as these are the most common areas to go. The stereo, headlights and airbag warning lights can all give up on you, so keep an eye on them. Check the bumpers for damage as they can be hideously expensive to fix, and check the clutch and gearbox carefully for smooth, quiet action as these are perennial weak points. Finally, check the engine for excessive oil consumption - it can be a warning sign that something big is about to go pop.

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Hi Sean,

A nice car, and that price looks very sharp, but tread carefully. The 2002-onwards E-Class gave Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes owners no end of trouble, with anything electrical or electronic being exceptionally suspect. Now, the good news is that the 2006-on version of that E-Class was significantly revised and a whole lot better, but still check every single button and electrical connection to make sure it's all working properly. Make sure too that the gearbox and rear suspension are both working smoothly and not making any untoward noises - both are weak areas.

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Hi Eddie,

The Insignia is a fine car but you'll find it's not as spacious as your old Passat. Still, it's arguably more handsome and sharper to drive, but you have to make sure all the electrical bits are working properly.

As for the value of your Passat, you haven't given me a specific year but I'm going to guess it's around 2006-2007 in which case you're looking at around €5,000 as a trade in, but don't be surprised if you get offered less - cars with big petrol engines (even efficient ones) are forecourt poison right now.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi John,

Nothing major to worry about although there are a few electrical glitches - the keyless ignition system (if fitted) can give trouble, as can the hands-free locking and unlocking (again, it was an option). There have been isolated reports of the 2.0-litre diesel engine cutting out unexpectedly too. Check the interior trim carefully as well - Mondeos often rack up big mileage and while the mechanical bits are sold, the cabins can suffer from abuse - look for collapsing seats or disintegrating trim.

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Hi Sandra,

The only persistent issues with the Insignia are electrical problems that can effect everything from the door locks to the alarm system. Usually these are just minor problems that can be fixed, but occasionally the problem is in the wiring loom itself and that's a much bigger deal. Check and make sure all the buttons work and also check the boot area for any dampness - the boot seals can leak and allow in water. For a 2.0-litre diesel Insignia, I'd be disappointed if you couldn't get it to do 50mpg in everyday driving.

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Hi Eitvydas,

The first generation A-Class had shockingly poor reliability and while the second generation version was an improvement, we'd still be a bit wary. Electrics and suspension are your biggest areas for problems so check everything over carefully and don't even think of getting one that doesn't have a full and complete service history. Apart from that, they were also a little odd to drive - feeling rather like a gigantic shopping trolley in their vague and uncertain way they trundle along. Also, basic versions came with no air conditioning and had rubbish ventilation so hot days are a bit of a chore.

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Hi Brian,

Generally speaking, the Sedona should be as close to utterly reliable as is possible. A 2008 model will still have up to a year's warranty left on it, which is reassuring, and the only repetitive niggle we can find with them is that the electric sliding side doors can have a mind of their own and you will probably often have to resort to manual control. Kia dealers don't seem to be able to locate the source of the problem, for some reason. 

We have heard reports of a few 'Friday afternoon' cars that have had troubles with clutches, brakes, air conditioning and gearboxes, but these seem to be very rare indeed.

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Hi Chris,

The thing to bear in mind here is that the engine rarely has to directly power the wheels; most of the time it operates (at set optimum speeds) to turn the generator and charge the battery pack. Other than that, when it does power the front wheels it's at specific speeds in particular conditions, for which we assume it has been calibrated. The addition of a CVT may well enhance the situation, but it would add another chunk of weight to an already heavy vehicle.

Electric motors don't need a continuously varying gear ratio to operate efficiently.

You can read our drive of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV here