Expert answer

Hi Jim,

I'd say you're just on the cusp of switching from petrol to diesel, but the 1.2 turbo petrol Qashqai is an excellent car, and on paper you should be able to get good enough economy out of it to not need to pay the extra for the 1.5 dCi diesel. Maybe ask your Nissan dealer if you can take one for a 48-hour test, to see exactly how good the economy is on your usual driving routes.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi John,

Not bad, but a car that's somewhat feeling its age now. Hardly surprising, as it's due for a mid-life facelift - something that was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The 1.5 dCi diesel engine is decent, but the petrol version somewhat less so and the least said about the Nismo version the better. Quality is excellent and it rides and drives well, but I'd either wait for the new one, or save up and get a more capable Qashqai.

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Hi Michael,

If it's short trips and city driving then you're probably better off with the petrol model. It's significantly cheaper than the diesel version, which gives you plenty of budget to buy fuel and pay the slightly more expensive road tax. One word of warning though - from personal experience it can be almost impossible to move on a Mk1 petrol Qashqai when the market is so diesel-obsessed. Several people I know have had to take a bath on second hand value when it came to trading in a first gen 1.6 petrol Qashqai so you need to be aware of that. The new 1.2 petrol turbo version should by rights fare better because it's so efficient but with the market still being diesel mad, you need to be careful.

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Hi Bernice,

I've always thought the Nissan X-Trail to be something of an underrated star of the compact SUV segment. It's good to drive, massively spacious and well made. 

As for towing, it has a maximum capacity of 2,200kg, but that's for a braked trailer. Obviously, if you're on a category B driver's licence that could potentially put you over the maximum 3,500kg gross vehicle limit, so be aware of that.

As for brakes, you shouldn't have any trouble so long as you don't load over that 2.2-tonne limit.

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Hi Ruadhan,

That, I'm afraid, is a question with too many variable answers. Second-hand vehicle values are like stock market values - they go up and down and often rather unpredictably. There are a few rules of thumb, though...

1. It's got to be diesel. Yes, we (and others) have tried to educate the motoring populace that diesel power doesn't automatically mean better economy or lower running costs, but right now the market is diesel-crazy and if it doesn't sip from the black pump, it's not going to hold on to its value.

2. The lowest depreciating cars are, obviously, the most popular models. So the likes of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Santa Fe, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and so on will always hold on to their value the best. Check the list of the top-ten best-selling cars on the market - these are your depreciation heroes.

3. What about depreciation villains? Anything that the market doesn't trust, really. Estates tend to fare especially poorly, anything with a French badge is suspect and if it's Italian, forget it. You'll lose your shirt on any of these.

4. Spec is king. You can have the most in-demand car going but if it's painted bright yellow and has green seats, you're never going to shift it. So, to keep depreciation at bay, stick with dark metallics and subtle interior tones. Pale cabin colours tend to fare less well when it comes to wear and tear, so the market prefers blacks and greys on the inside too. If it's an executive car, it has to have an automatic gearbox. Anything with factory-fit air conditioning and Bluetooth telephony is looking good, leather is always helpful but other expensive toys don't always help a car hang on to its value.

Hope that's all of interest

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Hi Leo,

It's always very difficult to analyse such things from afar so we'd advise you bring the car to a good mechanic. It could be something stuck in the tyre or brake disc, it could be a damaged tyre, it could be a worn wheel bearing or something in the transmission.

Best of luck getting it sorted

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Hi John,

I'm afraid without knowing the year of your S40 it's impossible to give you an idea of the value but I would suggest trading it in rather than trying to sell it yourself - it saves an awful lot of hassle and heartache. As for what to get, try either a Skoda Yeti or a Nissan Qashqai. Both are as reliable as they come, comfy and with a higher (but not too high) seating position. And both are spacious enough that when those reared kids start dropping off the grandkids for a weekend, you'll have room in the back...

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Hi Thomas,

If you get €500 I'd say you'd be doing well.

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Hi Susan,

Nothing at all really, and if you're picking a Micra then you should be on a winner, reliability-wise. Fleet cars are often a better bet than private cars simply because their service history should be full and all major maintenance done on time and schedule. Will it have had a harder life than a private car? Possibly, but just have a careful check over for signs of excess wear and tear and if you're concerned, walk away; plenty more out there.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Thomas,

It's very hard to tell I'm afraid, as some people (and indeed dealers) baulk at the idea of a Japanese import, regardless of the car's actual condition and history. It's basically a knee-jerk reaction, but that's essentially what a marketplace is - a series of knee-jerk reactions leading to a consensus. Anyway, I reckon you're looking at a value of around €1,000, give or take.