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Hi Michael,

I'd say, as a trade-in, you'll make somewhere in the high-thirties, probably €36 to €37k.

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Hi Nick,

It is a good buy as long as you're not planning to do big miles in it - it's a good bit less economical than the diesel you see, so regular long journeys aren't a great idea. The old Sportage is a good thing though - simpler and more rugged than the current version, and very practical. With four-wheel drive it has decebt off-road ability too, if that's any use to you. No major reported problems or unreliability black spots - just make sure it has a full service history.

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Hi Christian,

I'd say you should get in and around the €27,000 mark for it.

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Hi Stu,

Not necessarily. Mileage is, to be honest, more or less irrelevant. It's all down to the condition of the car and its history. If it comes with a full service book, showing every stamp and receipt, and it's clearly been looked after and cared for then it should be fine. 

Just check to make sure that all the electrics are OK and that the cabin doesn't show obvious signs of abuse. Might be worth getting someone to look at the engine too - that 1.6 diesel has a fragile water pump and is prone to 'sludging up' with deposits of old oil. Worth getting it flushed and have the oil changed.

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Hi Simon,

If say it's best avoided. Mercedes E-Classes from that generation were notoriously troublesome and if this one is already giving bother then it's probably not going to stop even if you get those items fixed. Find one that's been cared for, with a proper service history, and you might be OK. 

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Hi Philip,

It's basically the same as any other Golf (well built and slick to drive, but make sure the diesel engine has had all its services done)  with a chunkier, sportier body kit. For those looking for GTI styling without the insurance and running costs, it's a good choice. 

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Hi Caroline,

How hard? How long is a piece of string? You're pitching it about right, in terms of price, but to get rid of it quickly you just need to stick to some rules. Make sure the paperwork and history are all present and correct, make sure the service history is up to date, have the car professionally cleaned inside and out and then make sure you advertise it both nationally and locally, with good quality photos and a clear, simple description of the car. 

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Hi Matt,

Check the steering and suspension for any sagging or any nasty knocking noises, and make sure that the car has been back in to have an engine ECU upgrade - that should have been carried out as part of a recall. Other than that, the engine needs regular checks for oil level and regular oil changes too. If that hasn't been done, the car has been neglected and you should leave it.

Make sure it comes with a full service history.

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Hi Kevin,

There are a couple you can try, such as golfmk7.com or forums.vwvortex.com, but you need to be aware that the people on forums are not necessarily experts. Take any advice with some level of caution.

Your better bet is to sit on your dealer's head (metaphorically) to get the problem solved. It's not a case of their word against yours - don't take that kind of crap lying down. The garage's job is to sort your problem and you shouldn't pay a cent to them until the problem is fixed to your satisfaction. Quote the Sale Of Goods And Supply Of Services Act at them. They're the experts, so a shrug and a "we can't replicate the problem" isn't good enough.

If you're still having problems, tell us the name of the garage. Volkswagen Ireland guards its reputation for after-sales service fervently so it'll also be interested to hear about this. 

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Hi Tom,

We asked Skoda about this one and here's the response:

The manufacturer recommends a replacement interval of 90,000 kilometres (note, not miles) or six years for air filters (whichever comes first). It feels that the quality of the genuine filter is sufficient for this duration.

However,  at service, a technician will carry out a visual inspection and may recommend an earlier replacement if they feel it necessary.  This would depend on the environmental conditions the car encounters.

Hope that's of interest