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Hi Cormac,

Go with the Octavia or the SEAT - both are comfy for long journeys, frugal on diesel as long as you go for the 1.6 TDI and both should work out a little bit cheaper to service and run than the Golf, if only fractionally. It's worth shopping around to see if anyone has any inclusive service or extended second hand warranty offers on the go - both can save you a fortune further down the line.

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Hi Dermot,

Really nice car the Insignia. Good looking, nice to drive and good quality. The 2.0 CDTi 163hp diesel engine is the one to go for, although if your pockets are deep enough you could try tracking down the vanishingly rare 2.0 SRi Turbo 265hp 4x4...

If you're buying used, check everything electrical for any problems and especially check the central locking and alarm system. Check the boot too for any sign of water getting in past the rubber seals. Other than that, as long as you get one with a full service history, you should be fine.

Opel Insignia 2.0 CDTi review

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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.

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Hi Brendan,

X5. Yes, it's bigger, heavier and (on paper) thirstier than the Lexus, but it's also far nicer to drive, more spacious and actually, in the real world, probably a little more frugal than the RX 450h. The Lexus' only advantages are lower motor tax and the fact that it will be more reliable long-term than the BMW, but if you buy the Beemer with a  full service history and look after it properly, you shouldn't have any major problems.

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Hi Mary,

Not necessarily. The rule is never buy on mileage, buy on condition and history. Does the higher mileage car have a more complete service history? Does is have fewer owners? Does it come with a warranty? Does it look and feel as if it's been better cared for? If the answers to those are all yes then the higher mileage car could actually be the better one. It's about much more than simple mileage.

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Hi John,

Yeah, €12k sounds about right for a 12-reg Insignia diesel, as long as it has a full service history and is in good nick. I'd be looking to knock a good bit off if it's as far back as an 09, though.

Sadly, you're not going to get much for the Laguna - it's a car the trade just doesn't like much, so even if it's in exceptional condition, you'll probably get €1,000 to €1,200 at best.

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Hi Siobhan,

There's nothing wrong with buying a UK import but you do need to keep your wits about you. Make sure you get a proper history check from Cartell.ie to make sure that it's not being sold with outstanding finance owing, or that it was written off or that it has been clocked. Then make sure that it has a full and complete service history. Then make sure that the dealer has re-registered the car and paid the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). There are strict time limits on doing so, so it's their responsibility and don't be fobbed off with any excuses on that score. Is it worth getting a mechanical inspection? Yes, definitely but maybe try the AA rather than just a mechanic friend.

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Hi Joe,

They're actually pretty nice to drive and don't seem to suffer too many reliability horrors. Electrical gremlins are the most common so check that everything with a wire in it works OK. That 1.6 diesel is good but it needs regular servicing by a pro and only put the highest grade of synthetic oil in it. If there are gaps in the service history, leave it. Also worth asking to see if the water pump has been replaced at some point. 

The suspension is a bit sensitive to any knocks too so listen out for any clonking noises and if the steering is anything other than smooth and precise, there's something up.

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Hi Niall,

I wouldn't unless it has an utterly perfect service history and has been cared for with the softest of kid gloves. At that point in its history, Mercedes was going through a massive engineering and reliability hiccup and at that price level you're probably buying something that's not been properly looked after at some point in its life. Avoid.

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Hi Denise,

No, you should be OK. Renault reliability and quality has come on a long way since the bad old days of the early 2000s. Check it out carefully and make sure it has a full service history.

Relevant review:

Renault Fluence Z.E. review