Expert answer

Hi David,

The Mondeo has proven to be very robust and there are no major issues to worry about - so long as the car has been serviced regularly. Ensure that the engine runs smoothly and that there isn't any 'blue' smoke coming from the exhaust. Big expenses include windscreen replacement and changing the rear suspension bushes.

Overall though it's a reliable car.

Hope that helps.

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

If you have owned a BMW 5 Series before then you might want a change. The 6 Series is a good car, but like anything else in BMW land when it gets a little older repairs can start to become expensive when things go wrong. I personally wouldn't go near one unless it had a full set of BMW service history stamps and unless I could budget another few thousand for things that might go wrong.

This one here is in a main BMW dealer so will have all the right history and paperwork and is pretty nicely equipped too. It is a little over budget, but I would be shocked if they weren't flexible on a 3.0-litre petrol car these days! The mileage on that example is also very low for the year. These cars have great handling and are usually generously equipped too. Remember though that it will cost quite a bit to run, both in terms of road tax and petrol costs.

Now, for alternatives. You did mention Lexus and the GS 450h hybrid is a wicked car. It is very, very fast, superbly equipped and comfortable. It will be ultra reliable too. You could have this one here, a 2007 model, for €25,950 and it would be a superb car to own. It actually does pretty decent fuel economy too. I'd prefer this to the 6 Series myself.

Or, you could enter Porsche ownership and have the brilliant Boxster S like this example in Galway that has the better engine and comes from a good home. Again, ignore the sticker price, as it is a buyers' market right now. I think you should own a silly car once, so unless you have cots and prams to carry about, I'd be tempted by the Boxster. It isn't going to annoy anyone any more than the 6 Series is.

The UK can be a minefield, but we wouldn't ever rule it out and I myself have bought cars there. What I would say is that the more research you do (and use history checks like motorcheck.ie) the easier it is.

As regards buying new, well you are likely to only afford something pretty dull and I think that you would not be too pleased coming out of a 5 Series. You seem to like interesting stuff.

If it was me, out of that lot I'd probably have the Boxster, but if I needed more practicality, the Lexus.

Hope, this helps. Feel free to come back for more odd suggestions.

Expert answer

Hi Patricia,

Buying a car from the UK can be cost effective. I have done it twice myself and certainly saved money. But like any car purchase you really need to make sure that you do your homework properly and exercise lots of caution. The more you can do in terms of a background check on your car the better.

We would advise you to avoid buying privately in the UK as this could prove riskier. Buy from a main dealer, where there is a proper warrranty and usually a full service history. You are still likely to save money yet there will be greater piece of mind.

Services like MotorCheck.ie offer a very thorough check on UK cars too, so they are worth spending a few Euro on for some added piece of mind. The actual purchase itself isn't really very complicated. You just need to factor in some additional costs like a flight over and a ferry back and then you need to have a good idea of how much you will be paying for the car in Vehicle Registraion Tax (VRT) when you import the car. You can pretty much do this down to the last cent these days on the Revenue on-line calculator.

Research is key; do this and you can perhaps not totally avoid risk, but certainly reduce it.

Expert answer

Hi Marc,

In general this car sounds like a decent, safe buy, especially as it has the reassurance of a full service history and a new NCT. Mercedes instigated a model update in 2006 so it would be interesting to know if your car is the last of the first generation of the first of the second. The updated cars are better all-round and feature more safety equipment as standard.

The early cars are known to have had a few electrical issues, with recalls in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. None were major problems, but it's worth checking this car's details with Mercedes to find out if it was affected and if the repairs were done.

Other than that, the E-Class is mechanically robust, so just take the time to try every electrical switch and device for yourself.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Tonya,

Our advice on all used car purchases is that if something seems fishy then just walk away. A service history is important for peace of mind and of course we'd urge you to use a SIMI registered dealer when possible.

All that aside, the price seems quite low in comparison to others of similar age and mileage on the market. Especially when the mileage is so low.

Take a read through our guide to watching out for clocked cars here.

I understand your need to get value for money and if you're happy with the car perhaps get a mechanic to look it over, or a proper check by someone like the AA.

Finally, carry out a car history check. It's relatively cheap to do and gives you extra peace of mind. Just pop the car's registration into the box on the bottom left of this page.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

It's not always easy to tell if a car's clock has been tampered with, even for an expert. Reputable dealers can just as easily get caught out as the rest of us so they cannot guarantee the mileage for you.

However, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the chances of getting caught out.

1 - If a car has been clocked by a real amateur they may leave some telltale signs behind, such as scratched trim around the fixings of the dashboard or misaligned numbers on the clock itself. Bear in mind of course that there may be a genuine reason for these things too.

2 - Don't just skim through the service history. Check it in detail and note the dates of any service stamps and the corresponding mileages. If a pattern is strangely broken it may suggest something awry. Obviously not all cars will have a full service history, but the more documentation available the better. That includes things like old NCTs.

3 - Double check the mileage when you actually come to collect the car. A sneaky trick is to wind back to clock for initial viewings and then, just before the buyer collects the car, wind it forward again.

4 - Look for wear and tear on the seats, steering wheel, carpets and pedals. If any of these are badly worn it means that many kilometres have passed under the wheels. It's a good idea to look at as many examples of the same car as possible so you get a feel for the average condition.

5 - If you're serious about a specific model it could pay dividends to do a full history check. On the left-hand side of this page is a link to MotorCheck.ie, which provides a comprehensive check for a modest fee.

6 - Never be afraid to walk away. If something doesn't feel right, then look elsewhere.

Hope that helps.

Expert answer

Hi Arthur,

I assume you mean a second-hand Skoda Octavia, of the 1998 - 2005 generation. The problem reported relates only to the 20-valve 1.8-litre petrol engine. Its timing belt is prone to snapping if it isn't changed on time and this can wreck the engine. However, if a car has a full service history, including timing belt changes, there should be no reason to worry about it.

We'd rather have the diesel engine, but I don't believe it will be easy to find in Ireland on conjunction with an automatic gearbox.

If you need to know anything else please just pop a comment in the box below this answer.

Thanks

Expert answer

Hi Rob,

You could price your Avensis at about €11,500 - €12,000 as a private sale, but there are quite a lot about, not with mileage that low admittedly, but you should expect to drop a little lower to sell. You should get something similar against a new or used car as a trade-in, bearing in mind you would get a decent discount off something anyway. Remember, look at the cost to change rather than fixating on how much your car is worth.

Expert answer

Hi Bernadette,

That is a very good question. Your car is now worth around about €7,000. That is a rough approximation going on what you've said and it is what you would be offered as a trade-in, so it would depend on what you wanted to spend on top of this.

But what I would say is that your car is low mileage for the year, so you would get more for it now as a trade-in than if you waited a year or so when the mileage will start to go against it.

This year is proving a very good one to do a deal, especially with all the discounting that is underway, so you could decide to capitalise on that. If finances allow then you probably should go for it now.

Conversely, you could get another five years service out of your Corolla without it missing a beat.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Sorry to tell you that the 156, as much as we love them, have not proven to be very reliable. The Driver Power Survey (carried out in the UK, but usually relevant to the same cars sold here) continuously ranks the Alfa 156 near the bottom for reliability. On closer scrutiny the much talked about electrical problems seem to be niggles rather than serious issues, though blown head gaskets and water leaks have been reported too.

As with any second-hand car, go for the example with the best service history, and make sure with the 156 that it had its 60,000-mile service done at the right time.

Same advice with the 146 really with regards to service history. It's especially important that it has had regular, on time timing belt changes so if there's no history showing this then look elsewhere. Smoky engines are a giveaway to expensive future bills, as are groans and creaks in the suspension. As with the 156, electrical niggles have been widely reported, though it seems that some cars have them and some don't...

In summary, if reliability is the most important aspect of this car purchase to you, then we'd not recommend either of these cars, but if you're already sold on the idea of one of these Alfas then we'd suggest you veer towards the 156.

Hope that helps.