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Hi Mattie,

Mechanically, yes, the 206 is pretty good. That 1.1 engine dates back to the old 205 so is well proven and has few major issues. With 206s the things to watch for are electrical issues and bits of the cabin coming off in your hands. As long as you're not pounding up and down the motorway every day, economy should be just fine and with its sharp steering and entertaining chassis I'd say it's an ideal starter car - a great introduction to what makes for good handling and ride.

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Hi Kevin,

Not great I'm afraid. The current Espace, which dates back to 2003, is based on the same platform as the second generation Laguna and suffers the same problems. So expect lots of electrical issues (not great on a car with an all-digital dashboard) and the electric windows are especially fragile. Front tyre wear is also an issue, and we've heard reports of collapsing front suspension and a tendency for the exhaust system to give problems, especially with the catalytic convertor.

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Hi Mark,

The most common fault with that generation Clio was with the bonnet catch that could fail and allow the bonnet to fly open when driving! Worrying that, and it never triggered a full recall, although Renault did offer to inspect and repair cars for free - make sure the one you're looking at has had that done. Engines are pretty solid, but watch for electrical issues with the windows, the CD player and the engine immobiliser. There are reports of cold starting problems, usually because of a faulty air pressure sensor and the cable-operated gear shift can give problems too. If you have difficulty selecting a gear, then the gearbox is on its way out. Cabin trim is pretty fragile and you need to watch for problems with the brake servos and front suspension arms.

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Hi Tony,

Er, not very I'm afraid. Yes, underneath it's essentially an old Honda Civic, so those bits are pretty solid but the build quality coming out of Rover's now dead-and-gone old Longbridge factory was never especially good, and you need to be very wary of electrical issues, rain seals, poor quality cabin trim and rust creeping in, especially underneath. Plus, if it's the 1.4-litre petrol, that K-Series engine was always a lovely little powerplant to drive, but it had a plastic inlet manifold that can warp and there's also the all-too-common head gasket failure. Tread carefully!

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Hi Darragh,

Well, there's both good news and bad news. The good news is that the W124 is from an era when Merc built its cars properly, so they're as rugged as the day is long. 

The downside is that this is now a very old car so literally anything can be wrong with it. Ignore any sewing-machine noises coming from the engine - that's just a classic Merc trait and nothing to worry about. Blue smoke from the exhaust is bad news though and could be the piston rings on the way out. If it's an auto then check to make sure there's no hesitation selecting a gear or kicking down. The cabin should stand up to wear and tear pretty well, and there's not much in the way of complex electronics to go wrong but check all the internal systems, like dials, air conditioning and electric windows, to make sure they're in good health. 

With an older car like this, it's always a good idea to get in touch with the owners' club who will be a font of advice and help.

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Hi Alan,

We'd definitely advise you to go straight to Skoda on this one.

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Hi Amanda,

Pretty good, but all Mercedes models of that era suffered major problems with the electrical systems (especially the instrument displays) and some braking issues too. It's a complex car so perhaps get in touch with the Mercedes Club of Ireland to get a better handle and some friendly advice.

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Hi Ebere,

Pretty good actually. Watch for wayward electrics, and the exhaust gas recirculation valve can give problems. As with any car equipped with a diesel particulate filter, watch for that getting clogged if the owner has only been putting up low speed, short journeys on the clock.

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Hi Brian,

Wow, I hardly know where to begin. If you're looking at a car with little or no history then you are taking a major leap into the unknown. Essentially, you're going to have to check everything, including major mechanical checks for items like timing belts, head gaskets and gearbox issues. BMWs of that era are generally pretty tough but beware ageing electrical systems and don't assume that if there are no warning lights on the dash that there are no underlying problems. 

If possible, get the car to a BMW dealer to be checked on a diagnostic system to see if there are any hidden maladies. 

Seriously though, tread carefully. If a car has no history, there's generally a reason why. Normally we'd recommend leaving it well alone.

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Hi Ben,

Watch for faulty exhaust cats, failing electrics (especially the electric windows), fragile suspension mounts and bushings, disintegrating cabin trim and cracked engine mounts.