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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.

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Hi Fiona,

Depends; are you doing lots of long motorway miles? In which case get the 1.9 TDI. If you're doing mostly short hops, especially urban, then get the 1.4 TSI. 

Unless of course you're talking about two specific cars, rather than in general. In which case go for the one in the best condition with the fullest service history.

Does that help?

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Hi Barbara,

If the C-Max is in good condition and has a full service history, go for that one. It'll be more reliable than the Renault.

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Hi Rory,

Full service history? Then you could be looking at around the €7,500 mark. Not a full history? Then probably more like €6,000.

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Hi Lynda,

Yup, by and large Suzukis are very reliable and if you're going to get a Vitara, then the petrol model is the one to go for - Suzuki's record with diesels is patchy at best until quite recently. There are no major reported recurring problems but just make sure that the previous owner has had it serviced properly - the service intervals are quite short and many owners have been tempted to skip scheduled services. Walk away from anything that doesn't have a full and complete history.

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Hi Eoin,

Yes, it's a fine purchase as long as you go in with your wits about you and make sure that it's got a full service history. Any expensive German car without one is effectively worthless... That generation 3 Series was pretty robustly built and was less technically complex than later versions, so there's less to go wrong.

If it's the 2.5 straight-six petrol you're looking at, then it's a reliable unit, and well-proven, but watch carefully for any signs of water leaks or head gasket trouble. If it's had cooling or head trouble in the past, it's very likely to happen again and you could be looking at an engine swap. If it's the 2.5 diesel you're looking at, check for any white smoke from the exhaust or lumpy power delivery, which could indicate turbo problems.

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Hi Kevin,

Generally speaking it's the E-Class that followed, the 2002 onwards model, that gave all the trouble, and the generation you're looking at doesn't give quite so much bother. As far as we can gather, the E200 K should be a reasonably rugged engine, but the crucial thing to note is to make sure that it has been serviced on time every time, by someone who knows what they're doing, and that you continue to do so when you own it. If there's no service history, or a patchy one, walk away.

Also watch for rust bubbling up under the front wings and make sure that the front suspension bushes were replaced at 60,000 miles. In that generation of car, I wouldn't necessarily expect the diesel version to be any more or less reliable.

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Hi Michael,

Right, the base spec is going to be harder to sell on again, so you're better by far going for the S line as long as you can live with the firmer ride. 

In terms of the difference between the cars in mileage and warranty - it's down to condition and history. If the 80k car is in as good nick, and has a full service history, then there's nothing to worry about and you can always buy an aftermarket warranty to keep yourself covered.

Let us know which way you go

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Hi Tina,

Well, it all depends on what kind of car you want. Trading in your old Golf and adding €7,000 probably gives you a budget of between €8-9k and that, thankfully, means the world is your motorised oyster.

 If you want to be sensible, you could just stick with what you know - there are plenty of 2008 Golf 1.9 TDI models around in your price range and there are few cars that are better to be honest. Plenty of Focus, Astra, Auris and Kia cee'd options around too if you fancy a change. 

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Hi Sharon,

Not too much, no. C4s of that era are generally quite reliable, you just have to check for electrical glitches (which can affect the speed limiter and cruise control most commonly) and check the cabin for pieces of trim working loose. Other than that, assuming the car has a full and complete service history, you should be OK.