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Hi Seamus,

If you mean the current-shape C-Class then we've heard no horror stories. Electrical issues are common, but they tend to be small irritants rather than a major problem. Just make sure you buy it with a full service history, preferably a Mercedes dealer history. 

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H Paula,

OK, big, big caveat first: we haven’t seen the car and don’t know the car so we can only talk in generalities. Off the top, that sounds like a really good buy, Anything that comes with a fully stamped up service history is off to a good start, and if it’s just passed the NCT then that’s another good sign. The MkII Focus was always a well-built car (always sold well in Germany, which is never a bad sign), but the 1.6 TDCi diesel has a couple of weak points — the water pump and oil pumps can be delicate, and it needs a steady diet of high-grade, preferably synthetic, oil to stay healthy. As this one has a full history, then it’s probably going to be fine, but it’s worth bearing in mind anyway.

The only thing that gives us pause is the price. €5,900 is pretty cheap for a 2010 Focus, even if it’s quite a basic one. Mid-range price for a car like that is normally closer to €7,000 or even €9,000. So the question is why so cheap? Obviously, it could just be priced low for a quick sale, but it’s worth keeping that question in mind when you’re inspecting the car and its paperwork. Make sure you get a history check done by the likes of Cartell.ie before you buy and let us know how you get on.

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Hi Derek,

OK, you haven’t told us the year of your Mazda so that makes it a little hard to value, but seeing as it’s the 1.8 petrol I’m going to guess that it’s around 2006-2007. If so, then I’d say that the €4,400 trade-in offer is actually pretty good.

As to what car to get, if you’re looking for a small hatch then it’s very hard indeed to look past the Volkswagen Golf. It’s one of the world’s best-selling cars for a reason, and as long as you buy one with a full service history and keep it looked after, you should get plenty of years of reliable service out of one yet.

Ditto for the mechanically identical SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia. The Opel Astra GTC is a fine car in many ways — handsome, good to drive, decent quality, but it was hamstrung by poor diesel engines (other than the range-topping 2.0-litre) and unless you’re looking at the 1.4 petrol turbo model, it’s possibly not the best purchase.

The Focus is definitely a good buy, and that TDCi diesel is frugal to run, but you just have to be slightly cautious about diesel power right now. If you’re not doing big miles, you’d be better off with a petrol car.

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Hi Eileen,

It will depend on the service history, but probably about €7-8,000 as a trade-in.

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Hi Declan,

With accident damage, it's always hard to tell as it will depend on how bad the original damage was, how well it was repaired and if you have the original bills and receipts for the work. In really good condition,  that car might be worth €1,200, but with damage it may only make €500 or so. 

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Hi Willie,

It will depend on the condition and service history, but it should be worth somewhere in the region of €6-7,000 as a trade-in.

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Hi Peter,

It should be worth in the region of €6-7,000 as a trade in. 

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Hi Tony,

To be honest, we've never heard any major horror stories about the Insignia, and in general it seems to be a mostly reliable car. There are reported issues with the central locking and alarm system, and persistent leaks in the boot, but aside from that, as long as you buy one with a full service history, you should be fine. 

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Hi Paul,

The biggest issue is the infamous N47 diesel timing chain problem. The engine was designed with a zero-maintenance timing chain, mounted at the back of the engine, which then proved prone to (costly) failures. Most will have been fixed or replaced by now, but it’s still something to be cautious of. The rest is mostly irritating electrical issues, but just make sure you don’t buy one without a very full service history.

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Hi Jennifer,

I'd be a bit concerned about the three-month warranty. For a car that's only just run out of its original manufacturer's warranty, that seems a bit mean.

There's no need to worry about a cam belt as the 1.4 petrol engine is chain-driven, as are the 1.4 and 1.6 diesels. The water pump should be fine too - there are occasional reported issues with it and the thermostat, but they seem to be pretty infrequent. As long as the car has a full service history it should be fine.