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Hi Gary,

The surprising answer is, kinda, yes. If you're talking about the first and second generation Puntos, they are actually surprisingly robust. As with any Italian cars, watch all the electrical items like a hawk, but these cars pre-date the massive explosion in in-car gadgetry, so there are fewer things to go wrong. Engines, especially the 1.2 FIRE, are almost unburstable (just make sure the timing belt is changed regularly) and the bodies are strong and not prone to rust.

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Hi Conor,

We've heard of a few electronic glitches (faulty cruise control, sticky electric handbrakes), but other than that, the A6 seems to be built to the usual solid Audi standards. As always, if you're looking at a high mileage one, remember that this is a complex, expensive car so make sure it has a full service history and appears to have been cared for.

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Hi Sophie,

It's a bit tricky to say. There's no question that the 2002-2012 Range Rover was a massive improvement over its dreadful predecessor when it came to reliability and solidity but there are legions of potential problems - everything from minor electrical niggles to full-on major component failure. Fragile areas seem to be the gearbox (perennially a Land Rover weak spot) and the air suspension. The engines and bodies are solid as rocks though. Make utterly sure there's a full LR service history.

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Hi Sophie,

The engine and gearbox in the Commander are actually old Mercedes parts (Mercedes owned Chrysler at the time) and they're pretty robust as long as they've been serviced properly. 

The problem is that Chrysler-Jeep build quality wasn't the best back then so you can expect lots of small, niggling problems especially with the electrics and cabin trim. For a big seven seater, the Commander is also appallingly cramped inside.

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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.