Is an old Suzuki Grand Vitara a wise buy?
Am I mad thinking about buying a six- to eight-year old Suzuki Grand Vitara? How reliable are they?
Vincent Brunton (Celbridge)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Vincent,
They're massively reliable. No common faults to report and the German TUV testing brigade rate them highly for reliability.
When does the new SEAT Leon SC arrive?
Any idea when the new SEAT Leon three-door will arrive ?
Frank D (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi F D,
SEAT Ireland tells us that it'll be here this summer. Did you see our first drive of the SEAT Leon SC?
How reliable is the 2002 Skoda Fabia?
How reliable is a 2002 Skoda Fabia? The one I'm looking at has 49,000 kilometres on the clock.
Charlie Kelly (Dun Laioghaire)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Charlie,
Skodas tend to be very reliable and well-made, but there are a couple of recurrent niggles on the first-generation Fabia that need checking. Both fuel and water pumps can prove fragile, so check that the engine isn't cutting out and that there's plenty of coolant in the water tank. Check also for 'mayonnaise' - white deposits of mixed water and oil that give away a leaky head gasket.
The sensor for the power steering system can fail (a red steering wheel-shaped light on the dashboard is the tell-tale) and water temperature sensor failure is the most common cause of engine management warnings. The on-board computer that diagnoses when the car needs a service needs to have the correct grade of oil (it measures the quality of the engine oil to decide on the service interval) so check that the recommended oil has been used.
Check for a heavy clutch (the master cylinder could be on the way out), collapsing driver seat, broken speedo illumination and water getting in through the rear door seals. If the dashboard is rattling, it's usually a mounting bracket behind the air vents and can be easily packed with foam to stop it.
If it passes all of those tests you've found a good one!
Is the Kia Carens reliable?
Is the Kia Carens reliable?
Omotunde Ajiboye (Tallaght)May 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Omotunde,
Short answer, yes. Longer answe: there have now been three generations of Kia Carens, with the third-gen arriving on sale here any day now. Like all Kias, they're ruggedly built but the best one to go for is the second-gen model, which is just being replaced. Not only was it the first Carens with seven seats, it also came in latter years with Kia's seven-year warranty, so even quite an old one will still have some warranty left on it. Or you could wait for the slick, handsome cee'd-based new one to arrive. Nice car, that. Here's our first drive of it.
Am I mad changing 2012 Golf for older BMW?
I'm driving a 2012 MK6 Volkswagen Golf Edition R (1.2 TSI). While I like a lot of things about the car I am increasingly frustrated by the significant understeer, lack of steering feel in general and the poor seats. I am thinking of changing to a BMW 3 Series M Sport (318d or 320d) around the 2009 or 2010 mark, using this as a trade in. I do very low mileage but I don't mind spending a bit more. Am I mad? I have a bit of a mental block changing from a 12 reg downwards.
Eoin S (Dublin)May 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
OK, first off you're not mad and an M Sport spec BMW 318d or 320d is just about as perfect a car as you'll find. Mind you, test drive carefully before you buy as the M Sport suspension can be pretty stiff and unforgiving on certain roads, and the steering, while more incisive than what you'd get in the Golf, can also be a bit heavy and fake-feeling.
That said, there are things you can do to make your Golf drive with a little more sharpness and the first place I'd start is with the tyres. Most, if not all, cars these days come with high-efficiency low rolling resistance tyres that are there to maximise fuel economy, but don't do much for steering feel or handling prowess. So why not swap the boots for something a little more aggressive? A set of Pirelli P-Zeros or Michelin Pilot tyres might just make all the difference, so it's worth a try if nothing else.
You could also look at modifying the suspension to dial out that understeer, but we'd recommend you seek professional mechanical advice before going down that road.
Let us know what you do in any case.
What's going on with the battery of my Zafira?
Hi. I drove my car, a 1999 Opel Zafira without a fanbelt for about 10km after which I replaced the fanbelt. The battrey that was discharged quickly charged itself. Some days later the battery discharged and even after I recharged it it still discharged again. So I replaced the battery after confirming that the alternator was ok and still am having the same problem. What can I do? Is there a possibilty that the alternator is not providing enough charge to charge the battrey? How can i test the charging terminals of the car with a multimeter to know if it is in order? Thanks
Ndukwe Peter (Abuja )May 2013 Filed under: electrics
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
It certainly sounds like the alternator is not doing its job. Could you have disturbed the wiring from it when you fitted the fanbelt? Easiest way to check is to check the voltage across the battery terminals with a multi-meter while the engine is running. It should be well over 12V if it is charging.
Please be careful doing this though and only if you're confident working under the bonnet. If you're not, best leave a qualified mechanic or auto electrician have a look.
Let us know how you get on.
What's the Daewoo Lacetti like?
I am thinking of buying a 2004 Daewoo Lacetti 1.4. Anything in particular I should look out for in this type of vehicle?
Peter Cullen (Dublin 18)May 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
Nope, there appear to be no major issues with the Lacetti other than a tendency for water to get into the electrical system, causing some problems starting the car and with the alarm. It's not a complex problem, but it can take an age to find where the water is getting in so check and make sure that all the electrics are working properly on the car and if possible test drive on a wet, rainy day.
There have been some reports of Lacettis suffering from very high fuel consumption, but that could just be down to individual driving style.
Let us know if you'd like help finding an alternative.
Can you tell me the cheapest SUV in terms of running costs?
What new four-door SUV is cheapest to run in terms of fuel, tax, insurance and tyre wear?
Bartlomiej Talik (Saggart)May 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Bartlomiej,
Well, it kinda depends what you mean by SUV. If you mean large, the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V etc, then it's probably best to wait until the new 1.6-litre, front-wheel drive version of the Honda arrives later this year, as that will be a big, spacious SUV that has emissions of under 120g/km, although the lack of four-wheel drive might not appeal.
If it's the smaller ones you're looking at then I'd suggest a Skoda Yeti. It bridges the gap, size-wise, between the very small Nissan Juke and the large stuff like Mazda's CX-5 and the Kia Sportage. Go for the 1.6 TDI Greenline version and you'll have a spacious, rugged, practical family car with Band A4 tax (€200 a year) and it should do a pretty steady 50mpg most of the time.
Want something a bit more flash? The MINI Countryman, with its 1.6-litre diesel engine, is super-frugal, but you do need to spend a bit on options to get the right look.
It may also be worth waiting a couple of months until the new Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 arrive on sale, as both should prove very affordable to run.
Can you help me find a economical car for under €7,000?
I am looking for an economical used car for under €7,000. I do about 15,000 miles per year with a 40km round trip daily commute in city traffic so fuel economy is important - I am thinking diesel. I have two kids under seven so need space for those (although I have considered a roof box for them - imagine the peace!!!). In seriousness though safety is a factor - boot space not so important. Don't want to go over a 1.6-litre; what should I be looking at? Please help...
Lisa Crowe (Dublin)Apr 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Lisa,
Well, there is the obvious recommendation of a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi, but a €7,000 budget won't, sadly, get you into a post-2008 car, so you'll be paying a higher rate of annual motor tax.
So here's a less obvious recommendation: an Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi. It's not the fastest car in the world, but it should prove very economical, it's well built, comfy, spacious and even has a decent boot. Best of all 130g/km emissions mean you'll pay a reasonable €270 a year to tax it.
What do you think?
When will a car's NCT cert be valid from?
If I buy a car without an NCT and I put it through the test, does the cert start from day it passed the test?
Greg Murphy (Dublin)Apr 2013 Filed under: NCT
Expert answer
Hi Greg,
No, it will be valid from the point where the car should have had its NCT done, based on when it was first registered.