Expert answer

Hi Shane,

Simple really; it's a car that's in demand in the second hand market, hence values are bouyant and dealers can keep their prices on the high side.

Incidentally, our review of the Dacia Duster continues to be one of our most popular pages.

Expert answer

Hi Barry,

The Insignia's really nice and I do have something of a soft spot for it. A car that feels more sophisticated and more engaging the more you drive it. The Passat and Mondeo are nice choices too, but to be honest, the one I'd go for out of all of them would be the Accord. Comfy, smooth, frugal, nice to drive and above all it will almost certainly never break down. There's nothing quite so nice as the feeling you get from driving an utterly indestructible car.

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Hi Barry,

OK, all are good, solid choices and in terms of reliability, I'd rate them as Accord the best, the Volkswagen slightly behind and the Ford and Opel together, slightly behind the Volkswagen. The Ford would be the most fun to drive, the Volkswagen probably had the nicest interior but the Opel is arguably the most handsome and, as you point out, really very good to drive. If it were me, I'd go for the Accord - no question. It'll be the most reliable and that sells it for me.

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Hi Mary,

Yup, a 1.2 16v Pop model starts at €13,400.

Read our review of the updated Fiat 500 here

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Hi Simon,

Go for a Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo or SEAT Mii. They all seem to do 50mpg no matter how or where you drive them.

Relevant reviews:

Skoda Citigo review

SEAT Mii review

Volkswagen up! review

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

Full pricing for the new HR-V has yet to be confirmed but we have been told that the entry-level 1.6 i-DTEC diesel model will be €25,995.

Read our review of the new Honda HR-V here

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Hi Nick,

It is a good buy as long as you're not planning to do big miles in it - it's a good bit less economical than the diesel you see, so regular long journeys aren't a great idea. The old Sportage is a good thing though - simpler and more rugged than the current version, and very practical. With four-wheel drive it has decebt off-road ability too, if that's any use to you. No major reported problems or unreliability black spots - just make sure it has a full service history.

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Hi John,

You need to be very careful buying a car without an NCT. For all its flaw the test does go some way to ensure that cars on the road are at least basically roadworthy and a car without an NCT can be hiding all sorts of problems. 

You also need an NCT to be able to tax (and in most cases insure) your car so you need to get it booked in as soon as possible. If you're buying it from a dealer or garage, they really should have the car NCT'd before selling it. If you bought it privately then the previous owner has missed at least one NCT test and either needs to produce an Off The Road certificate or you're into a legally murky area.

Anyway, the short answer for you is to get the car tested and sorted ASAP.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

A Dacia Sandero 1.2 16v 75hp in its most basic Alternative trim can be snapped up for €9,990. Other than stumbling across an outrageous one-off discount, you're not going to get any new car cheaper than that.

Read our Dacia Sandero review here

Expert answer

Hi Karena,

You're right on the edge for choosing between petrol and diesel. If those miles are mostly on the motorway then diesel may still make sense, but if they're mostly at low speeds then you're right in considering petrol.

Now, the Volvo V40 is a fine choice, but I'm not sure what year you're looking at, as the latest petrol models are powered by a relatively efficient turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, badged either T2 or T3. The EcoBoost Focus is also a cracking car. Try to get a test drive in a few before you decide and come back to us if you need more assistance.