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Hi Paul,

If the car has a full service history and is in good condition, then in general we’d say there’s nothing much to worry about. At 125,000km it’s well within the lifetime of all its major components, and if the history is solid then so should be the car. Just make sure that it has had a timing belt replacement, or at least an inspection of the timing belt.

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Hi Cyril,

The A4’s a nice car, very comfortable and refined, but it’s not as roomy as the Passat. Don’t go for the 120hp, as it’s just underpowered. As for reliability and problems, it’s a solid car, but you need to keep an eye on the diesel particulate filter (DPF), water leaks from the air conditioning unit, glove box lids that don’t fit properly and worn seatbelt sockets. Check for signs of uneven tyre wear, and noisy suspension is probably the anti-roll bar drop links. No other major problems to report.

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Hi William,

There doesn't seem to be a history of consistent problems with the F10 5 Series rear suspension. The only recurrent problems that we have noted are leaking damper issues. A broken spring can just be 'one of those things' and given the state of many Irish roads, perhaps it's not too much of a surprise. 

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Hi Inderjeet,

The simplest solution is just to go for a 16-inch version of the same 175-section tyre. It’s best not to muck around with tyre sizes too much, as they’re designed to offer the best performance for that model in that size. 

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Hi Paul,

It depends on the wheels, but assuming you have a 175/65 14-inch tyre, then you need 31psi of pressure on the front tyres and 26psi for the rears.

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Hi Clare,

Well, if I gave the impression that I wasn’t too impressed, then that’s not quite right as we haven’t yet driven a new Citroen model equipped with the new Advanced Comfort suspension system. It won’t go into production until next year (2017). We have just driven the new Citroen C3, which has a very impressive ride quality on standard springs and dampers, so the omens for the new system are good.

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Hi Pat,

Well, it’s impossible for us to comment on an individual car that we haven’t seen and don’t know the history of. Toyotas tend to be very reliable and well made, and the Avensis especially so, but no car is entirely without its issues and much depends on maintenance, care and attention to detail. Have you tried contacting your Toyota dealer? Did the problems occur within the original warranty period? Does the car have a full and complete service history?

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Hi Mick,

Well, given the list of priorities you’ve given me, either the Octavia or the i40 would seem ideal, although it’s the Hyundai that will hold on to its warranty longer, as it has a five-year warranty compared to the Skoda’s three-year one. The Skoda is by a very slim margin the nicer of the two to drive though, so you’ll need to bear that in mind. That said, the i40 is more refined overall (not to mention being a bigger car, with more space in inside), so it’s really a matter of deciding which of your priorities gets top billing.

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Hi Philip,

Depending on the nature of the puncture the tyre may be repaired at the roadside with a temporary fix. If it is in or near the centre of the tyre it can be plugged and then re-inflated or if it is a small hole there are various types of sealant foam that can also do the job. These are pumped into the tyre via the air valve and quickly seal the hole. Either of these measures are only designed to be temporary fixes though and enough to get you back home or to the nearest garage. Both of these types of repair kit are available to buy in most good bike shops and are small enough to be carried in a case or backpack when riding.

Punctures in the sidewall or closer to the edge of the tyre can be much harder to temporarily repair. 

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Hi Alan,

All are, in general, pretty solidly reliable cars as you would expect,  but the issues come with the added weight and complexity of those folding hard-tops. All three can suffer roof failure (often at the point of being half way up or down) and all three suffer equally from increased tyre and suspension wear relative to their hatchback cousins, not to mention higher fuel consumption. None, to be honest, are especially pleasant to drive.

Of the three, I’d say the Eos is the best built, the Focus by a slim margin the best to drive and the Astra fractionally the roomier in the back seat. As an alternative, what about an Audi A4 Cabriolet? You’d have to go for an older one to match the price, but it’s a better car and a better convertible than any of these. Alternatively, if you don’t need the back seats, get a Mazda MX-5 – literally the only small convertible that’s actually worth buying.