Expert answer

Hi Pauline,

At that age, I'd put the Fiesta ahead of the Hyundai. It's better to drive by far, better looking too and barely any less well made or reliable. True, the Hyundai has that long warranty, but at four years old that's coming to an end, so the balance swings back to the Ford. Get the brilliant 1.25-litre petrol engine and I don't think you'll go too far wrong. Lots out there to choose from so be picky when it comes to history, condition and price.

The end of December is the quietest for used car sales in dealers so you could strike a good bargain if you go in there with a cash offer ready to drive away. The New Year could be a bit busier if you're buying through a franchise that also sells new cars.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

If it's a small petrol hatch you're looking for then I think the best options are either a Ford Focus with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo engine (the 100hp version is the sweetest) or either one of the three Volkswagen Group hatches (Golf, Skoda Octavia or SEAT Leon) with the brilliant 1.2 TSI turbo. Both engines, if driven gently, should yield close-to-diesel fuel economy.

Incidentally, your point about higher seats being easier to get in and out of for elderly drivers is well made. It might be worth checking out something nearly-new along the lines of a Golf Plus or Ford C-Max in that regard.

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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 Andrew,

You're in an enviable position! I'll take your points one by one:

1) Mileage: you definitely do enough miles to see a benefit in having the GTD diesel model, assuming much of it is on the motorway. But the Golf R and GTI aren't really all that bad at a cruise either...

2) Gearbox: I personally would prefer the manual, though I accept that it's a very personal thing in a performance car and if you're used to automatics then stick with the DSG. For the record, it doesn't detract from the car one little bit.

3) GTD vs. GTI: if you read my review you'll see that I was pleasantly surprised by this car, but it took very hard driving to make it shine. At regular speeds (i.e. most of our driving) it felt quite ordinary, whereas the GTI always feels special.

I must admit that, if my budget stretched to the Golf R (and it's cheaper than ever now), I'd go for it. It's always going to be rare and exclusive (though perhaps hard to sell on) and as well as the extra performance it has a brilliant four-wheel drive system.

Nonetheless, I reckon the Golf GTI Performance is probably the best all-round choice, as you've identified for yourself. It's a sensational car, noticeably better to drive even than the regular GTI. You won't regret it one little bit.

Let us know which way you go in any case and here's some more reading for you:

Volkswagen reduces the price of the Golf R

Volkswagen Golf GTI five-door manual road test

Volkswagen Golf GTD road test

Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance (manual)

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

I agree it can be a little annoying on an automatic car, as you can't decide when you do and don't want it to happen at any given moment. I'm sure you're aware that there is a button on the dashboard to disable it at any time, but it sounds like you'd rather disable it completely. Sadly, there's no legitimate way to do this. The car's official CO₂ emissions and fuel economy figures rely on this feature, so even if you find a fuse or relay to remove for the system there will at the very least be a warning light on in the dashboard - and it may even go into 'limp home' mode.

By way of explanation, the 'combined cycle' is a relatively low-speed and short duration (standardised) test cycle all the car makers adhere to for their CO₂ and fuel consumption figures. Stop-start makes a big difference for this as the car is idle for considerable amounts of time. In the real world, this tends to happen only in slow traffic or in town with lots of traffic lights. You would see a saving in those situations, but in reality it'll be small.

Sorry not to be of more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

We're awaiting an official answer from Volkswagen on this, though our feeling is that it's highly unlikely. The latest Golf is built on an all-new platform and it'd be very surprising if they maintained the tow bar mounting points in the redesign.

Nothing like trying it for yourself though! It would take two minutes under a ramp to line it all up and see if it fits...

Expert answer

Hi David,

OK, a couple of points to deal with there. I can well remember my first drive in the Dacia Duster, which was a left-hand drive 4x4 model and I happened to drive it from Galway to Waterford and back on some of the wettest days of 2012. I can honestly not remember feeling that the wipers were inadequate to the task, and I'm generally pretty sensitive to things like that, so I'd say you might be crossing the car off your list somewhat unfairly. I can certainly remember thinking that the Duster felt unusually well-planted on the road and sure-footed in what were truly appalling conditions.

Incidentally, it's worth noting that we also take almost all of our test cars on week-long tests, and occasionally even longer ones. The full CompleteCar.ie team also endeavours to drive each car personally so that we can put together a fully rounded opinion on every model, and we always try to drive them in as many different conditions as the prevailing weather will allow.

Expert answer

Hi Roland,

Learning to drive and need an automatic? Frankly, you can't go wrong with a Nissan Micra auto and there are lots around. I just spotted a nice, old-shape one from 2006 with an auto box for just €4,995. As reliable as the day is long, nice to drive and perfect for a learner.

One thing though, yes, it's entirely possible to take your test with an auto, but then you will be only licenced to drive automatics from then on. It might be worth your while braving the transition to a manual for the test, just so as you're not restricting your car choice further down the line.

Best of luck with it

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Check the air conditioning to make sure it's working - that seems to be a perennial A6 weak point. Also make sure that the engine has had a regular top up of oil - they do get through a bit between services. Check everything electrical too especially if any of the warning lights on the dash are on. ECUs (Engine Control Units) are also a bit fragile so take a long test drive with lots of hard acceleration and check for any drops in power.

Hope that all helps

Expert answer

Hi Charles,

I've only this week driven the updated version for the first time and it takes a considerable step forward in terms of refinement, quietness and comfort, while also being far better to look at and astoundingly good to drive. The full report can be read here.

It could well be the best car in its class - we'll reserve judgement on that until we've tried an Irish spec car.