Which new car for 10,000km a year?
I have a BMW 520i (manual, petrol) since 1998 and it has served me well. I am considering changing to a new car and am thinking about the following: BMW 3 Series GT, Lexus IS or the Volvo V40. I have driven my wife's car, a 2011 Toyota Prius 1.8 and like the automatic. I am keen on having a rear camera and parking sensors, plus Bluetooth, leather upholstery, satnav, metallic paint, cruise control and climate control. I do about 10,000km per year.
Can you please advise what you would think might suit my needs.
Regards
Pat Rice
Patrick Rice (Greystones)Jun 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
With that kind of criteria, and if you’ve driven your wife’s Prius and liked it, I’m minded to recommend the Lexus. The hybrid systems are related (although of course the Lexus is considerably more powerful and sporty), it’s well-equipped (most of what you want is on the standard equipment list) and with mileage of 10,000km a year, it should be just about ideal. Plus, it’s unbreakably reliable.
Here are a few reviews that might interest you:
Tell me about DPFs and short journeys...
How far do you need to drive a Hyundai i30 to help the diesel particulate filter regenerate, and how often does it perform this action? If you only do mainly short journeys are you better of with a petrol engine?
Jan Taylor (Lincoln)Jun 2013 Filed under: DPF issues
Expert answer
Hi Jan,
Yes, if you’re doing fewer than circa 20,000km a year then you are indeed better off with petrol. If it’s the new-shape Hyundai i30 you’re talking about, the good news is that it does come with a deeply impressive 1.0-litre petrol turbo T-GDI engine, which is a belter. As for the particulate filter on the diesel, generally speaking a 25-30min run along the motorway, in fourth gear (at 120km/h where permitted), will do the job when it comes to keeping it clear.
What is the value of my 2007 Ford Focus?
What is my 2007 Ford Focus worth with 156,000km on the clock? Timing belt just done, three new tyres, front wheel bearing right-hand side done, thinking of trading in or selling private.
Pat Haran (Athboy )Jun 2013 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
I'd say you're looking at a probable value of between €5,000 and €7,000 with that kind of mileage. Trading in probably the better route, unless it's a diesel you're selling. Private buyers just don't seem to want to know about petrol cars at the moment.
Let us know how you get on.
Why didn't you mention depreciation in the petrol-diesel research?
Just wondering if the petrol versus diesel debate should have taken into account the depreciation of the cars in addition to the other costs shown. I would imagine that certain cars would definately sell better if they were diesel (Most Audis and Volkswagens) than if they were petrol. What do you think?
Brendan Sweeney (Buncrana)Jun 2013 Filed under: diesel
Expert answer
Hi Brendan,
We're acutely aware of this, which is why we mentioned depreciation and other costs in our notes at the end of the article (here it is if anyone else is interested). Predicting future values of current cars is a black art that we'd rather not take part in!
Saying that, diesel cars currently hold their value a little better, but we suspect that may change in time, with the advent of more efficient petrol technology, plus, potentially, lower bills as a car gets much older. Along with all that of course is that fact that petrol cars will become very rare soon following our new car buying habits of the past four to five years.
Thanks for getting in touch.
Would it make sense to buy an old model petrol Kia Sportage?
Would it make sense to buy an old model 2010 Kia Sportage 2.0-litre petrol with less than 20,000 kilometres on the clock? Asking price is €13,000. What kind of mpg should I expect (most of my driving is out of town)?
Patrick Glen (Dublin)Jun 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
The official fuel figure for the Sportage petrol model of that era was 27mpg, but we'd expect you will probably do a little lower than that, most likely around 25mpg. It's not terrible, and you have to play that off agains the extra that a diesel model would cost, but it's not exactly economical. Then again, with a bit of practice and technique, you may be able to do better.
Other than that, it makes entirely good sense. Sportages are rugged and pleasant to drive and very practical too. One thing; the price seems a touch high, although that could have to do with there being a dearth of good 2009-2010 used cars around in general, as well as the very low mileage.
How economical is the petrol Opel Zafira?
I have been offered at a very good price a 2001 Opel Zafira: low mileage. very clean, engine looks and sounds good and very dry, i.e. no sign of oil. No NCT, thouhg assured that with two new back tyres and a back window wiper it will pass.
My question is, how are these cars on petrol?
Bill Heffernan (Gorey)Expert answer
Hi Bill,
Is that the 1.8-litre engine? If so, then it had an official fuel economy figure of 32mpg. I say ‘had’ because that’s a 16-year-old car and a huge amount is going to depend on how well it’s been looked after. Generally speaking, I’d say that you should expect around 25mpg from it around town, and maybe 35mpg on a longer run.
Is this Touran good value and likely to be reliable?
2008 Volkswagen Touran with DSG for €8,500: is it good value and is it reliable?
Peter Evans (Castlemaine)Jun 2013 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
Generally Tourans are pretty well made and the cabin in particular is very rugged indeed, a major consideration if you're going to be hauling kids around in the back of it. There are some reports swirling around on t'internet of gearbox issues, with some owners reporting that the DSG gearbox has failed when driving at speed, with literally explosive results. Other than that, it's the usual electrical niggles and some issues with the fuel injectors and pumps on the diesel engines. As for value, if it's a petrol version, you might pick a 2008 model up for around €7,000-8,000, but if it's a diesel, expect to pay more like €11,000-12,000.
Let us know how you get on.
When does a new Ford Mondeo arrive?
When is the all-new Ford Mondeo due in Ireland? In the meantime, what changes are Ford making to the current model?
Martin Barrett (Ballina)Jun 2013 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
Ford is due to update the Mondeo next year, in line with the facelift given to the (all-but identical) Ford Fusion model in the US last year. It won’t be a massive change, but there will be things such as tweaked lights, some new colours and options, the latest SYNC3 infotainment system and some interior upgrades to try and boost the cabin quality.
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine will be upgraded to 140hp, while the 1.5-litre EcoBoost (possibly the best engine option for the Mondeo, overall) will see a boost to 180hp. It’s just possible that Ford may introduce an ST version too, using the 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 engine from the US Fusion.
As for an all new model, that’s probably at least four years away at the moment.
Hold onto my Saab or change it?
I have a 2005 Saab 95 (2.0t) petrol automatic with about 136,000km on the clock. It just failed the NCT on emissions with "smoke". It is apparently a problem with the turbo (burning oil) and between that and a few other more routine issues it looks like about €1,200 to sort. The car seems to be running well otherwise, but I'm worried that there might be other issues around the corner.
That's the background - my question is, should I hold onto it and get it fixed or... bite the bullet and go for a change?
J B (Dublin)Jun 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi James,
I’m tempted to say yes, simply because the car is going to be worth very little if you go to sell it or trade it in without that work being done. True, the cost of repair in this case is probably about what the car is worth, but if you still love it (and it sounds as if you do) then I think it’s worth having a go at maintaining it.
True, there’s always the danger of more trouble down the line and it’s impossible for us to quantify how likely that is, but put it this way — the €1,200 you’ll spend on it now will be a fraction of the cost of chopping it in for something new, so if there are bigger problems in a year’s time, you won’t have cost yourself too much.
Any info on the next Toyota Corolla?
Any information about the next-generation Toyota Corolla?
Barbara Smyth (Co Wicklow)Jun 2013 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Barbara,
Yes, it’s due to arrive in 2019 (and will probably be shown off at next year’s Geneva Motor Show in February) and will be based on the same TNGA chassis as you’ll currently find under the Toyota Prius and CH-R. It will definitely use the same new 1.5-litre petrol engine as installed in the updated Yaris, and will also get the 1.6-litre diesel bought-in from BMW and already being used in the Avensis and Verso. There is likely to be a hybrid version too, but that’s not guaranteed as yet.