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Hi Alan,

Well, that's 67,000km a year so we'd call that pretty high mileage. To say the least. Get the diesel. You're going to need it.

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Hi Padraig,

As trade-ins, the Ford will be worth between €1,500 and €2,000 depending on condition while the Polo would be right down to around €500 to €750 as a trade in.

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Hi John,

I reckon you should get between €13-14k for your Golf as a trade-in (depending on whether it's petrol or diesel). Hyundai ix35s do indeed hold their value, not least because they're a very in-demand car. Obviously, a 2011 or 2012 model will still be under its original five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which should give you some peace of mind. Better yet, we've been unable to unearth any horror stories on the ix35 - aside from some recurrent problems with the built-in media system (stereo, reversing camera etc) they're exceptionally solid.

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Hi Claire,

I'd go for the Leon. The Focus is a fine car, don't get me wrong, but the Leon is (as you point out) better looking, SEATs have incredibly good build quality and reliability (we've had four SEATs in our family and from personal experience there's barely been a day off the road between any of them) and the Leon is really good to drive too. Cracking car, you won't go wrong.

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Hi Mike,

It depends which engine and year you mean. Here are a few examples:

o 1.6 petrol - 2003 to 2005 - 80,000 miles (128,000km) or every eight years

o 1.7 CDTi - 2010 to 2012 - 100,000 miles (160,000km) or every six years

o 1.7Di or 1.7 DTi - 2004 to 2005 - 100,000 miles (160,000km) or every ten years

o 1.8 petrol - 2003 to 2010 - 60,000 miles (96,000km) or every six years

Hope that covers the model you're interested in

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Hi John,

To be honest, it's a little hard to tell. The A3 Saloon hasn't been out long enough for us to get a solid handle on its resale values but we can work from a couple of basic assumptions:

 1. Yes, diesel is currently more highly valued than petrol.

2. That won't always be the case - now that the mad post-2008 scramble for diesel has subsided buyers are starting to get wise to the value of petrol power again, helped by improved engine tech.

3. An Audi, any Audi, will likely have stronger residual values than most other marques so you're already ahead of the game.

So I guess the answer is yes, your depreciation will be a little sharper on petrol than on diesel but I suspect it won't be by very much. Fret not and just enjoy owning one of our favourite current cars. 

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Hi Martin,

I'd say you're looking at a trade-in value of between €5-6,000.

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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 Bryan,

The fuel gauge should not visibly go down over such a short drive, no matter how fast you're going! If there's a fuel leak then it's a big one to cause that, so start up the car in neutral with the handbrake on in a safe location (in the dry preferably) and get out and look underneath for any signs. If there is one we recommend turning off the car and having it towed to a garage for a repair.

However, it may well be that the gauge or the sender unit in the fuel tank are themselves faulty and it could be an inexpensive fix. Either way you should bring the car back to where you bought it (assuming it was a trade sale and not a private one) and insist they accompany you on a drive so you can demonstrate the problem. If there's a warranty in place this kind of thing should be covered.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Dave,

Really highly to be honest. Big, spacious, comfy and very well made. The S80 isn't as sharp to drive as a BMW 5 Series, but it's reliable and incredibly comfy. The only wrinkle here is that the FlexFuel engine isn't the best - it's thirsty and there's nowhere selling the biofuel for it anymore. Unless your mileage is low, it's worth seeking out a 2.0-litre diesel model.

Let us know how you get on