What's the trade-in value of a 2009 Mazda3?
The trade in value of 2009 Mazda3 saloon 1.6 petrol please.
Pat Tierney (Dublin)Aug 2015 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
I'd say somewhere between €7,000 and €7,500.
Why does the Opel Vectra have poor resale value?
Why does the Opel Vectra have such poor resale value?
Moza Walsh (Galway)Aug 2015 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Moza,
Simple - lots of them about, and they were replaced by a much better, more desirable model (the Insignia). Besides, the youngest possible Vectra is now seven years old, and family-size saloons are not known for holding on to their value. A 50 per cent retained value after just three years is a rarity in that class.
Mazda3, Skoda Octavia or Toyota Corolla?
Hi guys.
I currently drive a Volkswagen Golf (2007) and am looking to upgrade to accommodate a growing family (two young kids). I've narrowed my selection down to Mazda3 (saloon), Skoda Octavia, or the Toyota Corolla. Space is a main concern.
Any advice?
Cheers, Ronan
Ronan Murphy (Carrigaline)Jun 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Ronan,
Go for the Octavia. The Mazda3 is nice to drive and incredibly reliable and the Corolla is about as reliable and unbreakable as a granite rock, but the Octavia has the best interior space and reliability is generally excellent, so go for that. Case in point: once spent two consecutive weekends hauling my young family from Dublin to Waterford to visit relatives. First weekend with a Ford S-Max, second with an Octavia (this would have been 2006) and the Octavia carried the same amount of luggage as the S-Max...
Relevant reviews:
Do I need an MPV to fit in three child seats?
I have two kids aged three and five, a third coming in October. I would prefer not to have get an MPV. Is there any saloon or crossover SUV for about €30k new that will take the three child seats across the back row?
Thanks. Pat Kennedy
Pat Kennedy (Cork)Jun 2015 Filed under: child or baby seats
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
Crossover SUV? Only one at that price level; the Skoda Yeti has three individual seats across the back. However, while the outer two slide and their backrests tilt, it's not by enough to squeeze in larger booster cushions/seats with a rear-facing baby seat. Perhaps with particularly slim seats it may be possible, but otherwise we'd suggest not. Bring the seats to a Skoda dealership to try it for yourself though.
Estates generally don't have the width any more to take three seats abreast in the back, but there are conversions available (from EP Mooney in Dublin) that will allow a conventional estate (or any car for that matter) to take as many as four child safety seats.
Otherwise you're looking at larger SUVs or at the least, a compact MPV.
What is the scrap value of a 2001 Toyota Corolla saloon?
What is the scrap value of a 2001 Toyota Corolla saloon?
Jerry Hough (Nenagh )Jun 2015 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi Jerry,
It depends. If you roll it up to a Nissan, Peuegot or Opel dealer in the next few weeks, then it could be worth as much as €4,500 off a new car. As a pure scrap value, at a breakers, it depends entirely on the condition of the car and the various parts that can be stripped from it.
Thinking of buying a 2007 Peugeot 407.
Thinking of buying a 2007 Peugeot 407. Full service history and Cartell.ie report available, 48k miles on the clock. NCT to May 2017. Cost is €3,900. This seems low. Am I missing something and why are used Peugeots cheaper than other cars of same year?
Aiden Watkin (Dublin )May 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Aiden,
No, you're not missing anything. French cars, and big French saloons in particular, always suffer staggering depreciation and the 407 is not a car that's especially loved by the used trade.
There's nothing much mechanically wrong with them but make sure you check that all of the electrical bits and pieces are working, and check the cabin for loose or ill-fitting pieces of trim. Then check the suspension, especially at the front, for any damage. Listen for clonking or knocking noises and check the tyres for signs of uneven wear.
What Toyota should my dad upgrade to?
Hi all,
Firstly, thanks for your help back in 2011! We actually bought one of the two cars whose links you sent to me as suggestions! I think I'll be in touch shortly for my own car needs but for now I'm asking for advice for my dad. He is an avid Toyota or Nissan man and currently has a 2008 Corolla 1.4-litre (basic model I think) with 157,000km on the clock. He was initially planing to stick with the Corolla and move up two or three years and his main requirement is that he wants air conditioning in the next car. He spoke to a local second hand car dealer who told him that the equivalent Corolla won't have air conditioning, but that the Auris would, that it has the exact same interior space and only difference is that obviously it is hatchback. Does that point about the air conditioning etc seem right to you?
What would be a rough guide to trade in the 2008 and move to either an Auris or Corolla 2010, 2011 and 2012 models? From what I can see there was a new model Auris released in 2012 and if so would it be worth stretching to that? Any other suggestions of make/model welcome too if you don't mind. He does average to slightly-above-average mileage each year, mostly rural with probably one or two long drives every month so any advice on petrol vs. diesel would be great too.
Thanks again. Enda, Dublin
Enda Lowry (Dublin)May 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Enda,
Yeah, he's definitely better off with the petrol version, not least because Toyota's 1.4 diesel is not the best, but its 1.33 petrol is a cracker. You might need to do some digging to track one down though - they're thinner on the ground on a 2010 plate than the diesels.
Now then, Auris versus Corolla. Yup, they're the same size inside. The boot on the Auris is a little smaller but then it's also more versatile thanks to being a hatchback. The point about air conditioning is probably right - standard spec on Toyotas tends to be quite stingy and Corolla saloons are basically built for emerging markets (no, seriously, we're the only Western European nation that still sells them) so tend to be even more basic again.
I'd say you'll need to find about €3-4k to finance the upgrade from a 2008 Corolla to a 2010 or 2011 Auris.
Relevant reviews:
Toyota Auris review (2013)
Toyota Auris review (2010)
Toyota Corolla review (2013)
Toyota Corolla review (2010)
What's the old Citroen Xsara like?
Any bad reviews on a low mileage Citroen Xsara, coupe and hatchback-saloon? Looking at 2002 to 2006 with 1.4-litre petrol engines.
Tony Shannon (Dublin)May 2015 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Tony,
Not a bad old lump, the Xsara, but watch for failing clutches, sagging suspension and dodgy electrics. Actually, you could be better off tracking down a well-cared for ZX hatch - they're a little more mechanically robust, and they're much more fun to drive than the Xsara, especially the desirable Volcane.
Should I consider a higher-powered Audi A4?
I'm considering buying an Audi A4, 2009-ish. In everyday driving terms, what's the difference between 118bhp versus 136bhp/143bhp?
Dave
Dave L (Dublin)Apr 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Dave,
Quite a bit actually - that 120hp diesel is pretty underpowered in a car as bulky as the A4 and you'll probably notice it most in fuel consumption. You'll have to work it so hard to keep up with traffic that you'll find it quite thirsty. Upgrade to the 140hp if you can.
Relevant reviews:
Audi A4 2.0 TDI 140 review (quattro model)
What is a 1997 Volkswagen Polo Saloon worth?
What is a 1997 Volkswagen Polo Saloon worth with the 1.4 engine and just 55,160 miles on the clock?
Catherine Elkin (Dublin)Apr 2015 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Catherine,
Not much I'm afraid - probably about €700 to €1,000.