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Hi Jay,

I'd say you should track down a nice, well-cared for BMW 520d Touring. Make sure the turbo is giving proper power and don't accept anything without a full and complete service history. Might be worth a trip to the UK to find one as Tourings are thin on the ground here.

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Hi Laura,

No. Bloody awful. Avoid. If you want something big and squishy, track down a Toyota Camry instead.

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Hi Brian,

This very match will be the subject of a twin test shorty in our iPad Mag so I don't want to give the game away too much!

Saying that, they're very different cars. Technically and logically the BMW M4 is dominant. It's considerably faster at all times too, yet the customisation of its driving systems that is open to the driver makes it suitable for everything from long distance cruising, to the school run and then the odd track day. It's an astounding car I'd personally love to own. It'd take years to learn it fully and if you like a challenge then it's the one for you. However, unlike the previous M3 Coupé, it's more docile at times, meaning the uninitiated aren't scared off by crazy twitchiness.

The Jaguar is much more laid back by default. Yes it's quick by any measure, and can make a sound all the more alluring than the BMW, but, in V6 or V6S guises at least, isn't quite as focused on hard-core driving. It drives very well, don't get me wrong, but the BMW would run rings around it on track.

Clearly that won't matter to many people and we suspect that this decision would be won by the heart. As I write this I'm torn. I adore the looks of the Jaguar and that may be enough to swing the decision, but in pure black and white terms, the M4 Coupé is a more accomplished car.

Let us know if you buy one or the other!

Further reading:

BMW M4 Coupé first drive

Jaguar F-Type V6S Coupé first drive

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Hi Simon,

Generally speaking all three of these cars are really well built and shouldn't give you any major troubles. The BMW 2.0-litre diesel engine has some well documented and recurring issues with weakness in the turbo, but if you buy one on BMW's approved used programme, you'll get a two-year warranty that should cover you for any issues. The Diesel Particulate Filter issue on the Audi 2.0-litre TDI engine is usually related to drivers doing too low a mileage at too low a speed for the DPF to heat up sufficiently to clean itself - it's a recurring problem on any diesel car bought by someone who fundamentally doesn't understand how diesels work and are best driven.

I'd say of the three, my choice would be the last-gen C-Class. If you're looking at 2013, try and track down one of the last Edition C models - they were loaded with equipment and got an extra AMG body kit and nice wheels too. Superb to drive, cracking 2.1-litre diesel engine (if it touch noisy) and the only drawback is that they're not very spacious in the rear.

Of course, if it's reliability and reliability above all that concerns you, buy a Lexus IS 300h and you won't go wrong...

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Hi Mark,

Right, obviously it's always a bit of a scare when you slip on the road and damage your car, and it's natural for the reaction to be "I'd better get a 4x4." Hang on though, because there are 4x4s and 4x4s... First off, the Tuscon. According to the official figures, the 2.0-litre diesel 4x4 Tuscon does 39mpg while the 2.0-litre petrol model does 35mpg. We'd bet that you'll struggle to match those figures on the road and will instead get around 30mpg on average. Also, 4x4 Tuscons are a little tricky to track down in Ireland.

So, as an alternative, why not consider a Skoda Octavia 4x4? You know you like the car, the all-wheel drive system is just as good at finding traction as any big SUV's and the lower, lighter body means you won't pay as heavy a fuel consumption penalty. We've found one for sale on Carzone for just over €10k, so they're not even too expensive.

Worth a look, at any rate.

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Hi Eitvydas,

A bit, yeah. 75hp was never quite enough to shift the Golf's bulk. You're better off trying to track down a nice 1.6 petrol instead, or going for the ever popular 1.9 diesel.

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Hi Sean,

It's a tough question to answer, this one, simply because different wheels and tyres can make an enormous difference to ride quality. As you say, French cars tend to fare very well in this regard and I think the most comfortable car I have driven in recent years was a top-spec Citroen C5 with the traditional Citroen hydra gas suspension, which just felt as if the road surface wasn't there. As you say, French cars can have their reliability issues, but the C5 was always pretty well screwed together.

Of the other options, both the Ford Mondeo and Opel Insignia are good bets, especially if you can avoid any cars that have been specced-up with big wheels and low profile tyres. Go for nothing bigger than a 17-inch wheel with at least a 55-profile tyre - wheel and tyre combos make a huge difference to ride comfort,

Of course if you want the ultimate in ride comfort, then track yourself down a Jaguar XJ6 saloon from the mid-eighties. Best ride quality of any car ever. I can't vouch for the reliability though...

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Hi John,

I'm going to be predictable and say you should get a Volkswagen Golf. A budget of €3k would definitely get you a MkIV 1.9 TDI model and you may even just scrape into a MkV, which would be even better again. Just track down one that's been looked after and serviced regularly and you should be fine.

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Hi Rosie,

Ah, toddler and baby. Been there. You probably don't need anything much bigger than a family hatchback, really. Probably best to track down a nice Skoda Octavia hatchback - the boot's big enough to cope with buggies and (eventually) bikes and scooters but they're not expensive to run. If your mileage is low, consider a petrol one as the lower purchase price will more than cover the extra cost of the fuel.

What do you think?

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Hi Lee,

You've got to keep the engine size down, basically, if you want cheap insurance, but we would also suggest getting something that's good to drive, simply because exposure to good vehicle dynamics early on makes better drivers of us all. So, probably the best balance is to go for a Ford Fiesta 1.25. There are loads of them around and they're cheap to run, decently reliable and very safe. It would also be worth tracking down a Suzuki Swift 1.3, as they're fab to drive and close to indestructible.

However, if even those engine sizes are running the insurance bill up too high, then you need to think  smaller and go down to a 1.0-litre engine. In that case, I'd suggest either a Toyota Aygo (or a mechanically identical Citroen C1 or Peugeot 107) or, if the budget will stretch, a Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo or SEAT Mii.

What do you think?