Expert answer

Hi Solomon,

It depends. Have you serviced the car lately? Have you had the radiator inspected or have you made sure that the coolant levels are topped up  properly? The 75 does have a reputation for having faulty inlet manifolds that can cause overheating and head gasket failure, but regular maintenance can help you sidestep these issues.

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Hi John,

Well, you haven't mentioned a specific model so it's a little hard to tell. In 2005, Alfa was making the 147, 159, GT Coupé, Brera and Spyder - all of which fall into classic recent Alfa territory. That is, more reliable than their reputation would have you believe, but less reliable than the industry best of Honda and Toyota. In other words, if you're contemplating buying one, make sure it's been properly well cared for in the past, has a full service history and decide now that you're not going to be put off by minor electrical malfunctions and tantrums.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Joseph,

It's impossible to diagnose such a thing from afar I'm afraid. Any decent mechanic should be able to try several things without having to resort to diagnostics. I'd suggest you take it to another if your current one is giving up...

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Hi Paolo,

If you're selling it yourself, I'd say about €2,200, but it'll have to be in exceptional condition for that money, with a full and unblemished service history. You'd be lucky to get half that as a trade-in though.

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Hi Stephen,

Well, according to the official figures, you should be getting 55mpg on average. If you're not getting that, or something near it, then you need to consider a few possibilities:

Are your tyres up to the correct pressures? Has the car been serviced lately, and given an oil and filters change? Are you carrying around lots of extra weight in the car or have you got a roof rack or roof box on top?

If none of these helps, maybe you need to take a look at your own driving style. Lighter throttle openings, earlier gearshifts, a bit more anticipation - that sort of thing.

Hope that's of some help

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Hi Colin,

I'd say it's worth between €3,500 and €4,500 on a trade in, maybe as much as €5,000 retail if it's in exceptional condition.

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Hi Mike,

No, parts shouldn't be too pricey as all vans are supposed to be quick and cheap to fix. We haven't heard of any reliability scares and Peugeot vans tend to be pretty solid. The only concern would be on condition - vans, especially ones owned by companies rather than owner operators, tend to get dog's abuse so check it over carefully before you buy, and make sure it has been serviced properly. 

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Hi Mirian,

There's just nothing good about any of that. Bad enough that it happens at all, worse still that you're coming to the end of your pregnancy - as you say, you just don't need that kind of hassle.

The problem is a recurrent one on the Meriva, and seems to stem from a good old manufacturing fault. As far as I can tell it dates back to at least 2011, but in spite of repeated calls from owners and even a stinging piece on the BBC consumer show Watchdog, General Motors has failed to issue a recall for the problem.

For the moment, the best thing I can suggest is that you press your Opel dealer to give you a loan car, NOT A MERIVA, for the duration of the rest of your pregnancy, so at least you have peace of mind. Some car dealers like to try and duck the issue, but under the good old Sale Of Goods And Supply Of Services Act (otherwise known as your statutory rights) you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. Clearly, if the steering column has already been replaced, repairing it hasn't worked so you're looking for one of the other two.

If you feel up to tackling the dealer, then simply don't let yourself be fobbed off. Stand your ground in the dealership and don't be afraid to kick up a massive fuss. After all, can you imagine worse publicity for any business than to have a heavily pregnant woman, in tears, talking to local and national media about the issue? If they try spinning your head with tech-talk, just put your hand up and say "I don't care about the technicalities, I paid for a car that would work and I want this one to work, or a suitable replacement." Keep using that phrase and don't back down whatever you do.

In fact, let us know when you're planning to go in and perhaps one of the CompleteCar.ie team could come with you as backup. In a consumer-centric world, where recalls are in the news every day, this kind of behaviour is utterly unacceptable so don't you go accepting it.

Please do let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Jay,

I'd say you should track down a nice, well-cared for BMW 520d Touring. Make sure the turbo is giving proper power and don't accept anything without a full and complete service history. Might be worth a trip to the UK to find one as Tourings are thin on the ground here.

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Hi Marguerite,

Check all the electrical systems very carefully and when you take a test drive, let the engine sit and idle for a while with one eye on the temperature gauge - they've been known to suffer from static overheating issues. Check all the floors and carpets for any dampness (the roofs and the driver's door can leak) and make certain it has a full and complete service history; that little three-cylinder turbo engine is highly strung and needs careful maintenance. If it's been skimped on, walk away.