New Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester or BMW X3?
Hello,
I have a 2004 Honda CR-V 2.0-litre petrol that I want to change next year. One of the three cars I have in mind is the new diesel CR-V because they are so reliable. My CR-V has 112,000 miles on the clock and a blown light bulb has been the most trouble it's ever given.
The second car is a Subaru Forester because again it's reliable and roomy.
My final choice is a new model BMW X3 because of less tax. I have test driven one and liked it a lot. Could you give some advice please?
Sharon Ryan (Limerick)May 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Sharon,
Those are three good choices. Obviously given the fact that you have had such great history with the Honda CR-V then it could make sense to get another one, but the CR-V doesn't really offer wonderful value. The cheapest one is a fiver under €40,000 and you can pay up to €50,000.
Honda CR-V
When you compare the BMW X3 to this, which is such a brilliant SUV, the CR-V looks expensive. We drove the BMW X3 last Christmas and it proved itself to be outstanding. Naturally you will have to spend closer to €50,000 to get a decent X3.
BMW X3
There is a problem at the moment with the X3 in that they are in very short supply, so there is a waiting list. Granted you are not taking delivery until January next year so perhaps you will have plenty of time then. Get the 20d rather than the 18d if your budget allows and choose the four-wheel drive ('xDrive') version too.
The last car you mention is the Subaru Forester and this is the best value car you choose. It is very good but certainly not as refined as either the CR-V or the BMW X3. Have you ever considered the Subaru Outback? That costs around €42,000 and it would be a better choice than the Forester in our opinions.
Subaru Forester
All of that taken into account Sharon, I would have the BMW X3 all day long. It is superb and miles better than the old one. But we would suggest that you will need to get your order in early because the waiting lists are long.
I hope this helps!
VW Passat or BMW 530d with my €10,000?
I have about €10k to spend on a car; should I buy a 2.0 TDI Passat (07-08) or a BMW 530d (04-05)? I do a lot of driving and really would love a BMW but I'm worried about problems that may come with big mileage.
John Woods (Limerick)May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
I can see why you would want to go for the 530d, but don't. There is no such thing as a cheap BMW and buying a used one like this can be very costly. They become moneypits when they get older and this means that the servicing costs will be hugely expensive. When things go wrong, which they will, you will be left with a massive bill. Also, since that car would be taxed on the old system, you will have over €1,300 per year in road tax.
The Passat might not be perfect, but you are likely to be getting a car that will be much cheaper to run. I hate to rain on your parade with regard to the BMW, but if you are on a tight budget they are the wrong car to buy (I am a former owner so can vouch for this) so perhaps the Passat, while not as sexy, would be a more prudent choice.
Torn between Octavia and Lancer
I'm stuck between the Scoda Octavia Greenline and the Mitsubishi Lancer diesel? Both are costing me about the same with scrappage etc. HELP me decide!!!!! I have test driven both and the Mitsubishi has much better performance but the Octavia is much better on the running cost!!
Cormac Breathnach (GALWAY)May 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Cormac,
We drove the new Lancer recently here and as we pointed out, the performance is better than nearly all of its rivals at the same price. It drives really well, and will be reliable, but we felt that the interior felt a little bit dated. The Octavia is, as you will have figured out from your roadtest, very good too. I can't see where there would be a massive difference between the running costs, aside from the fact that the Lancer might have €156 road tax per year compared to the €104 in the Octavia.
Mitsubishi Lancer Diesel
They would have reasonably similar residual values and have similar warranties too. So, Cormac, I have to sound flippant, but I would really say that if I were you I would pick whichever car feels right for you. If you do mega mileage I might go for the Octavia, but the Lancer is so well-equipped for the money and the engine is really good.
Skoda Octavia
The only thing I would say is that time is running out on the scrappage scheme, so you would need to sort out your new car soon and there is a bit of a shortage on Octavias, so you need to act soon!
We need a low-emission seven-seater with sliding doors
We are going to avail of the scrappage scheme to buy a new car. Our main needs are:
- great storage: we cart around jogging buggies, bike trailers, hiking back packs etc.
- preferably A tax band (if such cars exist in Band A).
Because of storage needs we have been looking at seven seaters (although we just have one child we love lots of storage capacity) and my husband spotted one we both like (the Ford Grand C-Max). We really like the sliding back doors and the tinted back windows - keeping the sun out of our two-year old daughter's eyes is a constant struggle! It is a bit out of our price range (though if really worth it we could stretch). Just wondering what you would recommend and if there is a something similar to the Ford C-Max but cheaper?
Ailis Brosnan (Castleisland)Apr 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hello Ailis,
Well for a start you have forgotten about the new Mazda5, which could be right up your street and it comes in €2,000 less than the Ford C-Max . It is a really impressive car and has a 1.6-litre diesel engine, which is frugal and puts it into Motor Tax Band B. It isn't quite as engaging as the C-Max to drive but it is well equipped and feels like a very high quality product. Here it is:
€24,995 will get you the entry-point into the Mazda5 and we think it is a really good car and would seem to suit your needs.
While it doesn't have sliding doors, you simply must try the Peugeot 5008 because it is so good. Click on the link to read our full review. That would make a great buy.
With regards to the Ford Grand C-Max you need €26,995 to get into the 1.6-litre Activ model.
Out of all of these, Ailis, I think you should really consider the Mazda5.
Hope that helps!
What SUVs are good for towing, but in a low tax bracket?
What cars or SUVs are in the lower tax bands and can pull a horse box with two horses inside?
Steve Royston (Listowel)Apr 2011 Filed under: towing
Expert answer
Hi Steve,
Here's an answer to a similar question:
http://www.completecar.ie/askusanything/question/397/Are-there-any-Band-B-4x4s
Depending on your budget, I think the new BMW X3 would be ideal. Perhaps the Skoda Yeti 4x4 would work if you are working off a smaller budget. Bear in mind that the most either of those cars can legally tow is 2,000kg (dependant on model), so whether they are suitable really depends on the weight of your horsebox - and horses of course...
Some versions of the Volkswagen Tiguan have a 2,500kg towing limit, but they fall into higher tax bands.
If you give us an actual weight to work with we can advise you further, but there certainly are not many four-wheel drive SUVs on the market that can tow more than 2,000kg and still be in Band A or Band B.
What car for a newly returned couple?
Hi Shane,
I saw your column in the motoring section of the Sunday Independent and I was hoping that you could give me advice on buying a used car. My partner and I have just moved back to Ireland after a stint in Asia and neither of us has ever owned a car so we're pretty inexperienced drivers.
We were wondering what make/model/year you would recommend for a used car. Ideally a five-door, manual car that doesn't stall too easily and with decent boot size (we have a baby). Our budget is around €5,000 (max. €10,000) .
Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.
Caroline
Caroline Albos (Dublin)Apr 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Caroline,
Paddy here. Given your budget, I would say that you need something that is going to be easy to live with, cheap to run and reliable.
The Suzuki Swift is a really easy car to own. It is reliable, spacious, cheap to run (tax, fuel, insurance) and good value too. This one I have picked out because it has really low miles (10,000km) and is about half way up your budget: Suzuki Swift
Another decent buy would be a Ford Focus 1.4 - which is a really good larger family hatchback with a big boot. This one we found has just 34,000km on the clock, comes from a good dealership and the price is good: Ford Focus
At the upper end of your budget would be a Volkswagen Golf. They are really good investments because they hold their value well. This one again has really low mileage: Volkswagen Golf
I hope some of these are of interest. I think the Swift would be a super choice for you guys though.
Come back to us if you need more advice though.
Are there any Band B 4x4s?
Are there any 4x4 diesels that fall into Band B for tax, and if not, what diesel 4x4s have the lowest tax rate?
Steve Royston (Listowel)Expert answer
Hi Steve,
From what we can tell, no there isn't any SUV with 4x4 in Band B, as yet. There are lots of SUVs and crossovers in Band B with front-wheel drive. You'll find the likes of the Skoda Yeti, VW Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai all have versions with frugal diesel engines.
When it comes to 4x4, the best you can probably do at the moment is Band C. The Skoda Yeti 4x4 sits in Band C, as does the new BMW X3, which is selling well with good reason.
The Lexus RX Hybrid sits in Band C, as do the Hyundai ix35 2.0 CRDi 4wd and the Volvo XC60 AWD.
Hope that gives you something to think about
Do dealers and the public pay different VRT?
Could you please tell me if there is a differance in the VRT rate on importing car from the UK to Ireland if you are a dealership owner or a private customer?
David O'brien (Waterford)Mar 2011 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hello David,
In short - no. Anyone importing pays the same rate of VRT.
Revenue has a full guide explaining VRT here.
Toyota Avensis Estate or Renault Grand Mégane?
I'm trying to decide to buy either a Toyota Avensis Estate or a Renault Grand Mégane. How would you compare the two cars?
Irene Murphy (Galway)Mar 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Irene,
We're a little surprised that those two cars are being compared, as the Avensis Tourer is quite a bit more expensive than the Grand Mégane. To buy new anyway.
Because of the price gap it should be no surprise that the Avensis is a better car. It feels of higher quality and has a great reputation for reliability.
Still, don't dismiss the Mégane just yet. Although the Renault is technically a smaller class of car, the Grand Mégane is huge inside and the boot is not a lot smaller than the Toyota's (491 litres vs. 543).
The Renault is crammed with equipment as standard too, especially if you opt for the new 'Irish Edition'. It's also cheaper to run than the Toyota and there are Band A versions of the Mégane available so annual road tax could be cheaper.
In summary, if your decision is based on value, running costs and price then the Renault wins, but if those are not your priorities then the Avensis is a better car.
If you need more information please do come back to us.
Will I buy a new Corolla under scrappage or a used one?
Hi,
I am reviewing replacing my 1998 Toyota Avensis with a diesel/low tax model as I have a daily commute of 60 miles. Option A is to go for a Corolla diesel under the scrappage scheme or buy second-hand from around 2007/08. Is the scrappage real value and what is the best scrappage deal avaialble? Or is a second hand model a better option if I can trade in my avensis?
Pat Cuddy (Ennis)Mar 2011 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
For a start, looking at the prices of 1998 Avensis models, you would most likely be better off going with the scrappage scheme. You can get €3,360 off the price of a new Corolla, which is much more than you could hope to get for either selling your 1998 Avensis privately or trading it in against an older second-hand model. The cheapest new Corolla you can get is from €17,775 with scrappage.
If you decided on a 2007 or 2008 model then you might get €2,000 for your 1998 Avensis. The 2008 Corolla diesel would cost you €14,750 and a 2007 model would cost you €11,995 or perhaps €9,995 with your Avensis. Obviously these are our estimates on values.
The choice depends on your budget, but if you want to keep your overall costs down then I think the 2008 model would probably be your best bet because you would avail of the new tax system and you could perhaps sell a 2008 model on again easier. If you have access to the money though, you might just want a brand new car!