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Hi Ruairi,

Both are excellent vans, and neither has any major specific reliability issues, but they’re both 13 years old now so you’ll need to check them out carefully for any problems. Basically, I think the best advice is to buy whichever one comes with a full and complete service history. 

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Hi Jack,

The 1.6 HDi diesel engine is pretty good (although you have to keep an eye on the water and oil pumps, and make sure it gets a diet of high-quality oil at service time), but the Peugeot 307 itself always had a reputation for poor electrics and cheap cabins, so tread carefully. 

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Hi Alex,

Literally none. If it’s coming with a full service history we’d bet the heating money on it, to be honest. Honda makes massively reliable cars, so as long as this one’s been looked after and you look after it yourself, you should expect no major problems. 

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Hi Conor,

There is a good bit of variation in XK values, so a lot will depend on what kind of service history it comes with and what sort of shape it’s in. Low value seems to be around the €9,000 mark, but a really nice one could make upwards of €13,000. 

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Hi Cathy,

We understand your fears about ex-hire cars, as they have a reputation of not being looked after by hire car customers. However, so long as it has been serviced according to the manufacturer's schedule and it's in good condition there's not much to worry about. Have the body work and underneath looked at by a mechanic and closely look for kerbed alloys etc.

With regards to the mileage, for peace of mind you can get an inexpensive history check through Cartell.ie. That will reveal if there are any discrepancies.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi Joe,

This Range Rover is one of the better built cars from Land Rover in a while actually. Some early examples had issues with the automatic gearbox and water leaks, though these should have been well cured by 2005. Electrics and the sophisticated suspension system seem to be the biggest worries, and of course they're expensive to repair.

If you're serious about one, insist on a full, detailed service history, and invest in a professional inspection too.

Hope that helps.

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Hi Paul,

These have both a chain and belt set up. The belt (known as a 'wet belt') is immersed in oil to reduce Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) and is recommended to be changed before 200,000 kilometres or ten years, whichever comes first. As the belt is immersed in oil, it is imperative that the vehicle is serviced regularly and correctly (every 20,000km or once a year) to ensure the longevity of the belt.

Hope that helps

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Hi Clare,

I think your best bet is a circa-2007 Honda CR-V. Masses of space inside, incredibly reliable and really very pleasant to drive. It is a 2.2-litre diesel, but it has economy every bit as good as a rival 2.0-litre unit. Just make sure you get one with a full service history.

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Hi Tommy,

First of all a quick list of possibilities we found on Carzone.ie that we would consider wise buys:

- Audi A4 - Good to drive and plenty about, though you'd have to look at 2005 - 2007 within your budget. Not all that spacious either.

- Audi A6 - Hugely spacious and comfortable, but again you'd have to settle for an older car with higher mileage, which could bring unexpected costs.

- BMW 3 Series - Most examples at this price are 2005-2007. Economical diesels and great to drive, but we'd worry about potential bills - and not as spacious as non-premium brands.

- BMW 5 Series - We'd be sorely tempted by this 2005-2007 model as it's such a great car. Seek out a low mileage example with a full service history and a warranty though.

- Citroen C5 - Comfy big car with decent specification and well-proven diesel engines. Not a huge number on the market, though at least you could afford a 2008 car.

- Ford Mondeo - One of the default options here. It's big, comfortable, good to drive and there are loads and loads about. Relatively cheap and easy to maintain too.

- Honda Accord - Relatively unknown here, but the 2.2-litre diesel engine is a gem and the car is very reliable and comfortable. Look for a post-2008 one to keep your tax bill down.

- Mazda6 - This is probably the car we'd put our own money on. Go for a post-2008 diesel example in a decent specification. It's spacious, well-equipped and great to drive. Reliable too.

- Toyota Avensis - Your budget might get you one of the last of the old models from 2009, though taxi drivers tend to snap these up as well. Make sure you check the history and mileage with Cartell.ie.

- Volkswagen Passat - Plenty about and it's a spacious and comfortable car, but there have been a few niggles with the electrics that'd steer us elsewhere.

There you have it. Come back to us if you'd like more help narrowing down your search.

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Hi Eric,

Yes, very decent indeed. Check the engine carefully for turbo issues (watch for excessive smoke or sluggish power delivery), but with a full service history, that sounds like a good bet to us.