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Would you advise me to downsize to a Yaris or Auris?

How much is my 2006 Toyota Corolla five-door worth? It has alloy wheels, the 1.4-litre engine, was recently serviced, has an NCT until 3/16 and has 89,000km on the clock. One lady owner. I am thinking of downsizing to a Yaris or Auris. What would you advise?

Bernadette Tobin (Dublin)

Apr 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Bernadette,

You're most likely looking at a value of between €5,000 and €7,000 for your Corolla. If you're looking to trim your running costs then downsizing to a Yaris could be a good idea. You just need to do your sums carefully to make sure that the cost of upgrading (the price of the new car minus your trade in) isn't more than what you could potentially save in terms of petrol and road tax over the same period. 

Choosing an Auris isn't downsizing - it's the car that replaced the hatchback Corolla and is the same size. The only way it could save you money is if you went for the diesel version and that would only work if you're doing big mileages - 15,000km a year or more.

So, with that in mind, it may be worth looking at simply keeping your current car. A mileage of 89,000km is barely run in for a Corolla and it may be worth looking at simply getting your existing car serviced, valeted and maybe updated (new alloys? a nicer stereo?). It may work out cheaper in the long run.


Toyota RAV4 or Mazda6?

I am looking at either a 2005 Toyota RAV4 or a 2006 Mazda6; how do the cars compare in terms of reliability and fuel efficiency in particular? Both are petrol models.

Emer Fennell (Dublin )

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Emer,

Both are excellent in terms of reliability (they are after all a Mazda and a Toyota), but it's the Mazda that will be more fuel efficient. Simple physics really; while there's not much difference in the overall weight, the RAV4, being an SUV, is taller and therefore less aerodynamic. Unless you need (and I mean REALLY need) the RAV's extra ground clearance and rough road abilities, then a Mazda6 (especially the estate one) should prove a reliable, spacious and enjoyable ownership prospect. 

Let us know which way you go


Will I replace my Mazda3 with a Nissan Qashqai+2?

Which would you reccomend for a high mileage driver with two small children? I wish to trade in a 2007 Mazda3 1.6 petrol for a diesel. Cars I was looking at include the Volkswagen Jetta, Ford Focus saloon, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Qashqai +2. I like the look of the Nissan Qashqai + 2 and I think the two extra seats may be useful for kids' friends etc, but are running costs high?

In general are MPVs less fuel efficient? Would the Toyota 1.4 diesel be a lower powered car then the one I currently have? How reliable are Volkwagen Jettas? I was hoping to go for something one or two years old with low mileage as I will be doing a lot of miles. I have had quotes of €3,500-4,500 for my own on trade-in as there are 175,000km on the clock.

What would you reccomend?

Alanna Mangan (Newbridge)

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Alanna,

I reckon the Qashqai +2 might be the best one to go for. The extra seats are pretty small but the boot on the +2 is simply massive when they're folded flat, so that's helpful when you're lugging around two small ones and their various chattels. Don't worry about running costs too much - the Qashqai looks like an SUV but it's really a hatchback with attitude and the 1.5 diesel engine is reliable, economical and has reasonably low emissions too.

That Toyota 1.4 diesel you mentioned would indeed be much less powerful than your Mazda's engine - it's about 20hp down and noticeably so. Volkswagen Jettas are indeed reliable, but I reckon that the Nissan would be slightly more so, so make that your first choice.

Let us know how you get on


Is the 2004 Skoda Octavia a good buy?

Is the 2004 Skoda Octavia a good buy?

Penny Kinsella (Glengarriff)

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Penny,

I'm assuming you mean the second-generation Octavia, introduced that year? If so, they're a pretty solid car but one that needs a few checks. If it's the 1.4 petrol, have the cam belt inspected. They need doing every 60,000 miles anyway, but the 1.4 has a history of belt failures so it's important to make sure that the one on the car is sound. Check the cabin for rattles or loose trim, check the boot floor for damp carpets (the rear screen wash bottle can leak) and if it's a diesel check for any juddering or poor acceleration, which can be a sign that the dual-mass flywheel is giving trouble. Also, check again for damp carpets in the main cabin, which can be a sign that the door seals are leaking.


What's the Honda FR-V like?

What's the Honda FR-V like?

Gillian Counihan (Cork)

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Gillian,

Yes, it's really good. I've always liked the idea of a six-seat MPV with two rows (I'm also a Fiat Multipla fan) and the FR-V is just excellent. They're really reliable, spacious (even if that front centre seat is a touch cramped) and really quite nice to drive. Nothing major goes wrong with any regularity but just check the cabin for signs of family abuse beyond the call of duty. One downside - there's no compact diesel option, just the 2.2-litre diesel unit. That means you're much more likely to end up with the 1.8 petrol.


Petrol or diesel for the Peugeot 407?

What's the better engine in the 2006 Peugeot 407, petrol or diesel?

Jim Byrne (Cork)

Mar 2014 Filed under: diesel

Expert answer

Hi Jim,

Diesel, every time. Peugeot was going through a long period of making good diesels and duff petrols back then. The 1.6-litre diesel is the one to go for - not the most powerful, perhaps, but with excellent economy and enough punch to keep the 407's kerb weight on its toes.


What's the Honda FR-V like?

What's people's opinion on the 2008 1.8-litre petrol Honda FR-V? How is it on fuel etc, and are there any major issues with it?

Pam Sullivan (Cork)

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Pam,

It's pretty close to brilliant as a second hand purchase - there are no major reliability or warranty issues to report on the FR-V. The only things to really look for are obvious signs of damage or abuse on the inside (they are used as family transport, after all) and the outside (they're wider than most cars so check for bashed panels or kerbed wheels). That 1.8 won't be the most economical engine ever, but it probably won't break the bank as long as you're not doing lots of long motorway miles.

Let us know how you get on


I need a newer car with lower running costs. Help!

Hi,

I am currently driving a 2002 Peugeot 307 three-door 1.6 petrol with 63,000 miles on the clock. Having a son now makes the three doors pretty impractical and the car is expensive to run. I was taken in by Renault's recent ad campaign for the 'Carculator'. It compares all your outgoings on your car with the costs of running a brand new Renault. The problem is, although I could probably purchase say a new Mégane for about the same money per month as my current outgoings on the Peugeot, this involves a deposit of about €6-7k. The Peugeot is only worth about €1,500-2k at best in trade in and I don't have that much extra cash to throw at it.

This got me thinking though, I should be able to purchase a 2-3 year-old car that is substantially cheaper to run and still be able to make repayments on a loan. My current costs on the Peugeot are €514 on tax, about €900 on petrol to cover 4,500 miles annually, approx €600 on servicing plus it needs two new tyres at €130, and €55 on NCT. This comes in at €2,200 for the year. This is where I would like your help. I am sure there are cars that would cost €800-900 a year to run including all these costs, which leaves me with €1,300-1,400 to cover loan repayments for the year.

Can you suggest a car with low tax, far better fuel efficiency, low servicing costs that won't need an NCT for a few years and that with a €2k trade-in, will have relatively low monthly repayments over say five years? I know it's asking a lot but with your knowledge of the market, I hope there might be some possibilities for me.

Thanks,

Rowland (Dublin 5)

Rowland Crawte (Raheny)

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Rowland,

OK, there are a lot of parameters to go with here, but the basics are that you need a car that's cheap to buy (so it can't, sadly be too new), has affordable running costs and won't break down every time it rains. I reckon that gives you a choice of three or four key models: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla or Auris, Kia cee'd or Hyundai i30.

Have a shop around and you should be able to find several of those all well within your purchase price range, while they all have efficient engines and excellent reliability records. In the case of the Kia and the Hyundai, they also have lengthy warranties, which, even if there's none left on the one you buy, at least means that they're more likely to have been looked after. My personal choice would be the Honda. Track down a nice 1.4 petrol Civic and I don't think you'll look back.

Let us know how you get on


Which insurable starter car should I go for with €3,000?

Hi, I have about €3,000 to spend on a starter car. Most of my driving would be on the weekends sight-seeing. Insurance would be a factor with the engine size. The 1.4 petrol Golf seems to the most reasonable with insurance.

Thanks

Gary Fitz (Dublin)

Mar 2014 Filed under: insurance

Expert answer

Hi Gary,

Very, very hard to go wrong with a Golf for your starter car. Cheap to buy and maintain, but if you get a nice one, clean it and care for it, it'll look every bit as classy and desirable as a brand new one. The 1.4 has all the performance of a slow moving glacier, but that's probably why the insurance is so cheap. It's also worth having a look for a nice 1.4-litre MINI One, if only for the sheer fun of the thing, or if you wanted to be really, really sensible (and shave even more off the insurance) you could track down a 1.0-litre Toyota Yaris.

Let us know how you get on


Is the Chevrolet Cruze's engine the same as the Astra's?

The Chevrolet Cruze Diesel now has a 1.7-litre engine: is this the same as used in the Opel Astra?

John

John Delaney (Mountmellick)

Mar 2014 Filed under: diesel

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yup, and it's best avoided - a truly nasty, rattly old thing with an annoying tendency to stall at junctions. Go for the petrol-powered Chevrolet Cruze and you'll be much happier.


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