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Hi Kieran,

Yes, turbocharged petrol engines do often have exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems and dual-mass flywheels, but they are far less likely to cause problems due to, respectively, the different exhaust gases and the torque characteristics of the engine. Added to which, petrol engines work at lower combustions pressures and with less vibration than diesel engines so there's a little less wear and tear to worry about.

No, turbocharged petrol engines don't have particulate filters as, for now, they're considered 'clean' enough not to need them. That will change in the coming years, however.

Finally, the low-down-power thing is simple physics. Most turbocharged petrol engines and their diesel counterparts are pretty close on top-end power numbers (generally grouping around the 110-120hp level), but the difference you're talking about is torque - turning force, that low-down lugging sensation. Some of that is down to turbo design and the fact that a heavier diesel engine can accept higher turbocharger pressures, but most is simply down to the fact that diesel burns from compression ignition, which generates more torque and makes the engine feel more muscular at lower rpm. 

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Hi Mairead,

162 Simple Logic was, simply, Honda’s list of special offers for the 162 registration period, which included some extra equipment offers and discounted Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance rates. The offers are being repeated for the 171 registration period, as it happens, called 171 Simple Logic.

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Hi Martin,

Unfortunately, this being Ireland, there's little (nothing actually) in the way of a central database for these things so the only thing is to shop around. I know - I sound like Mary Harney... PCP is, like any form of finance, wildly variable depending on your deposit, your trade in, your credit score and more. The advertised rates are, as ever, based on a theoretical perfect version that may or may not exist in actuality. Think of them like Ryanair seat prices... 

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Hi Aden,

You could be better off asking your accountant or your bank manager about that one. It's true that the recent fall in the value of Sterling has made buying an import far more enticing, but it's still easy to get caught by hidden bank charges and commission rates when converting currencies. We have had very good experience with transferring money through TransferWise, an online company set up by the people who created Skype, but you'll need a pre-existing Sterling account for that. 

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Hi Peter,

Sounds like an excellent choice. Our Editor, Shane, has driven the Sportback on its international launch recently and rates it. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is a little sharper to drive, but the new A5 has caught up some in the dynamic stakes, added to which it's truly gorgeous inside and out. Here are links to his test drives:

Audi A5 TDI Sportback review

Audi S5 Sportback review

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Hi Ray,

If you're buying a new car, then no. There were no changes to the VRT rates announced in the budget so there'll be no difference in rates in January. 

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Hi William,

Clearly your car is still under warranty so if you think the vibration is "severe" then you should get it back to the dealer for a look. They'll soon sort it out if it is indeed a problem such as a fauly engine mounting.

We've not had any other queries of the same nature on the Qashqai and we've always found the 1.5 dCi engine relatively smooth.

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Hi Gerry,

I think it's well worth considering a new Octavia, not least because the PCP rates are very tempting and it insulates you from any depreciation (which is pretty mild on an Octavia at any rate - it should retain at least 50 per cent value after three years). Used ones are good too, of course, but it's tempting to have that shiny new one with a full three-year warranty.

As for trims, well spotted - Skoda did indeed shuffle around its trim levels so that Ambition, which used to be the lowest spec, is now actually a well-equipped mid-range. It's worth going for as it comes with items like nice alloy wheels, a 5.8-inch touch screen for the stereo, multi-function steering wheel and Bluetooth.

Read our Skoda Octavia L&K review here

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Hi Amanda,

You may get lower labour rates at an independent garage, but we rang an Opel dealer to get a starting point. If it's the front crankshaft oil seal then it'll be about €170 (1.5 hours), but the rear seal is much more expensive to replace as the gearbox needs to be taken out and put back in, which is estimated at 5.5 hours of work. That costs about €580.

In both cases, those prices include VAT, labour and parts, but there might be a small bit more to cover topping up the oil.

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Hi Cormac,

It's a bit of an odd system actually. In basic form, the Civic Tourer comes with a torsion bar suspension (old-fashioned and not very sophisticated, but space-efficient and cheap to make) and 'passive' dampers and springs. Spec it up though, and it comes with adaptive electronically controlled dampers, supplied by suspension expert Sachs. These can be switched between Comfort, Normal and Sport modes that basically translates as Soft, Medium and Firm. You won't notice a huge difference between the three modes, to be honest, but you will notice that an adaptive damper-equipped Civic does feel better balanced to drive, and rides more comfortably, than the standard car. That's because the rear dampers are constantly adjusting their stiffness and reaction rates to cope with the road. The odd part is that the adaptive dampers are only on the rear suspension, not on the front. Presumably this is for cost reasons, but it does lead to the occasionally odd sensation that the car is somehow hinged at the rear...