Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus?
Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus?
Centrepoint Autos Ltd (Athlone )Jan 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi there,
Easy: Golf. Or Focus. They're both good.
Need a little more? OK, the Golf (and I'm talking about the models currently on sale) is a touch more sophisticated and a little more spacious and if you're really nit picking then it has a better 1.6 diesel than the Focus.
It's also true to say that the Volkswagen 1.2 TSI petrol is a slightly better engine than Ford's 1.0-litre turbo EcoBoost, but here the gap is much narrower.
The Focus has it won with dynamics though - even though the Golf is nice to drive there's just no beating the Focus' steering feel and response and its chassis balance.
So, honest answer? Golf. Or Focus. They're both excellent.
Further reading:
Ford C-Max or Honda Civic?
Living in a rural area with bad roads, which car would be most suited for lady driver: Ford Focus diesel (131 plate) or 2012 Honda Civic petrol?
Rosarie Tiernan (Westport)Jan 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Rosarie,
Go for the Civic. It might be slightly more thirsty but Civics are indestructible so it'll cope with the roads.
Is the 2003 Ford Fiesta a reliable second car?
I am looking to buy a used car and was looking at a 2003 Ford Fiesta LS 1.4. But I have since heard from a friend that they give a lot of trouble. Should I look for something else and if so any recommendations appreciated. It will be a second car so won't be doing much mileage.
Evan Lynam (Tullamore)Jan 2015 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Evan,
We haven't heard of any major issues but with a 12-year old car you can never be too careful. What does break on Fiestas of this age, petrol or diesel, is the water pump so listen for creaks and groans from the engine at tickover and make sure the engine doesn't overheat at idle with the car's heating turned off.
Check for damp carpets (the cause is usually leaky pollen filters) and make sure the steering is light, accurate and direct - slack or poor response is the sign of a rack on the way out.
Is this trade-in deal on a nearly new Octavia good?
Hi there.
I am thinking of purchasing a second hand (132) Skoda Octavia Elegance 1.2 petrol with 17k miles on it from a main dealer. I currently drive a 2001 Opel Astra (127k miles), which is due for taxing this month. The whole deal including trade-in comes to €16.6k net.
My annual mileage is circa 11,000 so I am wondering if the petrol version is the best option and if the price of the deal is reasonable in your opinion. I would welcome your advice as I have to make a decision in days.
Regards, John from Charleville.
John Rafferty (Charleville)Jan 2015 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi John,
Yes, I'd say you're onto a good one there. Obviously, a well used 14-year old Astra isn't going to come with a bundle of trade-in value attached, so I think the price looks pretty fair for the Octavia, especially given the low mileage. Honestly - we see press cars with higher miles than that!
As for the petrol/diesel side of things, I think you'll be fine in the 1.2 TSI. At 11,000 miles a year you're well within the bracket to keep burning petrol rather than switching to more expensive diesel (more expensive to buy the car, not the fuel of course) and the good news is that the 1.2 TSI engine is exceptionally frugal. In fact, I once drove one for 200km before I realised that it wasn't diesel, so slow moving was the fuel gauge. In my defence, it was late and I was tired...
Would a high-mileage, private Octavia be ok?
Hello there, would a Skoda Octavia (1.4/1.6 petrol 2005-2007) be worth buying? Especially with a higher mileage of 150,000km and more? And would it be risky buying from a private seller? Dealers are dear...
Thank you very much for your answer
Rasti
Rasti Jevcak (Ennis)Jan 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Rasti,
I'd say that kind of mileage puts you just over the tipping point for diesel, but if you must insist on petrol then go for the 1.6 - that 1.4 is so underpowered that you have to work it hard to get any performance out of it, and that really hurts the fuel consumption. As for buying privately, just keep your wits about you. The Octavia is a solidly reliable and well made car, which lowers the risk, but don't accept anything without immaculate paperwork and a proper, fully-stamped service history. None of this my-brother's-a-mechanic-and-he-looked-after-it rubbish. Worth getting a history check (from the likes of Cartell.ie) and maybe an AA inspection too. Be especially wary of cars with outstanding finance still owing on them.
How much to change a Toyota Corolla's clutch?
How much should I pay to have the clutch changed in my 2003 1.4 petrol Toyota Corolla?
Kieran Maher (Clonmel)Dec 2014 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
We're assuming that you'll be bringing a car of that age to an independent garage. Prices vary a lot obviously, but one garage we know in Cork quoted us €400 all in, including the parts. Hopefully that gives you something to work to.
How much biofuel is in our diesel?
How much biofuel is in the diesel sold at petrol stations?
Thanks
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Dec 2014 Filed under: diesel
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
It varies from station to station and supplier to supplier, but the standard for all Irish fuel is E5, which allows for (but doesn't specify) a five per cent mix of bio-derived ethanol in petrol. Ask at your local station to be certain though.
Fuel-stretching killed my BMW - what will I do?
Hi, we have a 2005 BMW 116i that ground to halt last week and turns out to be its dodgy petrol that caused the problem (i.e. petrol stretching ). We have been quoted anywhere from €1,500 to €4,000 to fit a new engine. At this stage would we be better to try and sell it as is or try and get it fixed as it has been a very problematic car.
Also thinking of buying a2006 Hyundai Coupé: what do you think?
Ruairi Mc Carthy (Mullagh Co Cavan)Dec 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ruairi,
I hate to say it, but selling it as it is might not garner you very much. The second hand market is about reliability, reliability, reliability so any car that's already got a troubled history is going to be hard to shift.
You might actually make more money breaking the car for parts, given the high cost of new parts to BMWs.
As for the Hyundai, it's a fine car but you might find it a bit impractical after the BMW. Would you consider a nicely-specified Golf instead?
Can I obtain ethynol-free petrol in any garage?
Can I obtain ethynol-free petrol in any garage or have all petrol suppliers added it ?
Joe McCann (Naas)Dec 2014 Filed under: classic cars
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
I presume you're asking this from a classic car point of view? The bad news is that pretty much all petrol sold in Ireland conforms to E5, or in other words has been blended with a five per cent mix of bio-source ethanol - alcohol derived from plants. The good news is that there's no evidence that running an older engine on E5 has any unpleasant effects. If the car has already been updated to accept unleaded petrol then you should be fine. The only issues arise when the car is left standing for a long time with the fuel sitting in the tank. Then the ethanol and petrol can separate, which can cause corrosion in the tank and/or fuel lines.
Is the diesel Hyundai Tucson 4x4 more economical?
How economical is the diesel 4x4 Hyundai Tucson compared to a petrol one?
Karen Hyland (Meath)Expert answer
Hi Karen,
The official claimed figures (and I'm assuming you mean the two-wheel-drive variants here) are 35mpg for the petrol model and 40mpg for the diesel. That sounds like a close run thing, but it depends on your driving. If you're doing mostly short, around-town hops, then the petrol will do better. For lots of long journeys, get the diesel.