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Hi Greg,

Yup, they're a good 'un. Ford's reliability record has been steadily improving over the past few years and there are no major reported issues for that generation of Focus. Just watch that a recall to fix a leaking fuel return pipe has been completed and, of course, make sure the car has a full service history. Oh, and as many of these cars will have begun life as company cars, that can mean that they've been well cared for and serviced regularly, but it can also mean that they've been abused by uncaring owners. Check carefully.

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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

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Hi Justin,

Two best choices here would be a Mazda6 2.0 TD from around 2003 or a Ford Mondeo Zetec diesel of similar vintage. As long as they're in decent nick, reliability shouldn't be a problem (the Mazda will do better than the Ford but not perhaps by the margin you might be expecting) and both are safe and spacious.

What do you think?

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Hi Eddie,

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Hi Patrick,

I really like the S80 - a lovely big comfy thing, ideal if you're doing lots of long journeys and that 1.6 diesel engine is super efficient; you could get up to 1,500km from a tank of fuel. 

Reliability shouldn't be a major issue once you make sure that the car has a full service history. Like any executive saloon there's a lot of electronic toys in there and if it's been well cared for, there's less chance of them going wrong. Keep an eye on the service schedule to make sure that the engine has always been topped up with the highest grade of oil and if it feels down on power or sluggish when accelerating, it's most likely the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve.

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Hi Ben,

I'm presuming you mean the 508 saloon? Really good actually. The 2.0 HDi engine is smooth and very economical and the chassis and steering on the car are top-notch. It's a very underrated car, the sort of thing that makes long cross country journeys a breeze.

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Hi Thomas,

Normally we'd recommend Carzone.ie, but selling any second hand car of that age can be tricky. Have you tried something more local? If you have a good local newspaper that's worth a try or even putting a card in your local supermarket. Local solutions are often the best.

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Hi Brendan,

Good choices, all of those, if you're looking for a more affordable 3 Series alternative. The new-shape Mazda3 (the one that's only just been launched) seem to be especially excellent, and with Mazda's reliability you won't be spending too much on repairs or maintenance down the line. The Golf is always a safe bet too, although if you're used to the saloon shape it may be worth having a look at the little-seen Jetta - an underrated gem, that car. Or, alternatively, you could try the Audi A3 Saloon, which I reckon is the best compact sports saloon around at the moment.

See how you get on and let us know which one you go for.

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Hi Vittorio,

You've got it all answered yourself there. The BMW's overall residual value will indeed be slightly better, but, long term, the Mazda should prove to be much more reliable and rugged. Both are excellent to drive. The BMW's classic rear-drive chassis is slightly the superior, but the Mazda's muscular steering feel and firmly sprung chassis makes it one of the best front-drive saloon chassis around. 

Nothing major to watch for on either - just make sure there's a fully stamped up service history and check the BMW carefully to make sure that all the electrical bits work and that it's been topped up with high grade oil at each service. Both cars may have been driven hard by previous owners (many will be ex-fleet) so check carefully for thinks like uneven tyre wear or noises from underneath that indicate worn or out-askew suspension.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Jean,

Tricky to say, I'm afraid, as the trade-in value offered by a dealer has as much to do with their business model and circumstances as it does with any intrinsic value in the car. It also of course depends on the car you're trading it in for. If it's something that's sticking to their forecourt, they'll be more keen to offer you a good deal to get shot of it. Values for a 5 Series like yours seem to vary from around €27,000 at the high end to low-twenties for higher-mileage models. You can knock off around €1,500 - €2,000 from that for the dealer to build in a margin and defray any costs of preparing the car for sale, so your trade-in should range from around €20,000 to €25,000, but that's a best guess and nothing more.

Try and have a ring around (or better yet, a drive around if you have the time) to various dealers and try and get them to give you a rough idea of what they'd give you for the car.

Do let us know how you get on,