Expert answer

Hi Adam,

That doesn't seem like very high mileage for the year, so maybe get a history check on the car to look into that, and ask for as detailed a service history as possible as well.

Our top tip for buying used cars is to test drive as many examples of the car from other sellers as possible so you get a feel for which is a good one.  

As with any used car, check it drives well, there are no warning lights on when it is up and running and try to get a look underneath to make sure there's nothing drastically wrong. 

Ideally a mechanic you trust would take a look at it for you, but I guess you can't expect perfection from a 2007 car.

The price sounds ok rather than amazing, but if the condition and history are good then it's probably worth it.

Expert answer

Hi Lorraine,

The MG is certainly worth a look as it's exceptionally good value and also quite a spacious car. The Hyundai is perhaps a better-known quantity with a wider dealer network, but MG offers a great new-car warranty as well so don't be put off by that. If you're tempted by all the mod cons for that price I expect the MG might win for you, though make sure you go drive both for yourself to see which you prefer.

Buying new suits some people and not others. If you're buying with finance then it works well, and there's nothing quite like that new-car feel either. But others don't want to pay for the early years of depreciation that a new car comes with.

Of the used cars you mentioned, the Karoq and Ateca were never offered as hybrids. The Formentor was available as a plug-in hybrid if you'd consider that. It's a lovely car for sure. 

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

I'd certainly suggest sticking with diesel given your driving profile so that easily rules out the 530e. Then things are not so clear cut.

There's a huge difference in price between the two used cars you're considering and the new Superb, which makes me wonder what you'd get in the used market for that same €53k (assuming you're buying outright, not on finance of course).

The used cars will have depreciated a little already of course, while the new one will depreciate more, relatively speaking, in its time owned by you. That's the sensible way of thinking, but there's nothing quite like a new car, either so only you can choose that.

Both the Superb and the 520d Touring are great cars, both similarly economical and comfortable, though the Skoda has the edge in terms of rear-seat space. The BMW is a little better to drive by way of compensation.

There's no right or wrong answer, in effect. I highly recommend you go and test drive as many representative cars as you can before you make the decision. 

Expert answer

Hi William,

That engine uses a timing chain.

As for things to watch for, there are a few known things:

• Make sure all the doors lock and unlock correctly as the internal mechanism can fail and need replacing
• Ensure you can press the clutch pedal properly and it returns to expected position as issues with the pedal itself and the clutch master cylinder can occur - can mean it's difficult to engage gears too
• If you see the instruments flickering or dropping back to the off position while driving it could mean a new instrument panel is needed
• The gearbox's sensor for it being in neutral can cause starting problems and an issue with the start-stop system so watch out for that - often accompanied by an oil leak from the gearbox

Otherwise it's quite a reliable car. As with all used cars, we'd recommend you drive a few different examples of the same car to get a feel for how it should drive, ask for a detailed service history and make sure you take a proper test drive including some motorway driving.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

It's true, selling a car privately can be hassle. Selling it to someone you know, or a friend of a friend would be ideal and actually probably quite possible today as there is such high demand for good used cars. For the same reason, you're likely to get loads of genuine enquiries to a classifieds advert. We'd recommend using Carzone.ie. It has a useful How to Sell a Used Car Safely guide, too.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

That's trickier than ever to predict right now as prices of used cars have gone through the roof. A dealer would likely try to sell that car for around the €29,000 mark, which means they'd offer you a few grand less as a trade-in. 

Do yourself a big favour though: get offers from several different dealers, as the price will vary.

Let us know how you get on so we can pass the knowledge onto other readers.

The BMW i4 is a great choice by the way!

Expert answer

Hi Caroline,

Right, this is a bit of a tricky one. The good news, first off, is that there’s no issue with moving a car between England and Northern Ireland — no duties nor VAT to pay, all you have to do is inform the DVLA of the change of address.

Bringing that car south might then represent a difficulty, but it will depend on how long you wait between your registering the car in the North and bringing it south. Technically, Revenue have told us that there is no specific timeline when it comes to having a car registered in Northern Ireland and not having to pay import duty and VAT when importing that car into the Republic. However, they have also said that they will be carefully monitoring the paper trail of each car to ensure that no-one is trying to game the system. If there’s only going to be a short gap between you registering the car in the North and then importing it into the South, that could get antennae twitching at Revenue, even if you’re technically above board. 

Expert answer

Hi Ol,

No, sadly not. The only way you can reduce the tax cost of your car depending on use is to apply for a SORN declaration that the vehicle is off the road for a period of time. The minimum period is three months, and the maximum is a year, although you can have the declaration continued if needed. 

Expert answer

Hi there,

Expert answer

Hi Andy,

It’s not a waste, as such, but you do need to balance out whether or not it’s worth the extra cash to you. Yes, the 530d has a lot more power and torque, and is smoother than the four-cylinder 520d from a refinement point of view. Balanced against that, the 520d will easily beat the 55mpg mark every day, while the 530d will struggle to do better than around 45mpg, and you’ll be paying a bit more motor tax every year too. So, while we love the 530d, and its six-cylinder smoothness, the head clearly says buy a 520d.

Read our BMW 5 Series reviews to help you decide

Expert answer

Hi Nora,

I'm afraid we can't do that check for you, as there's a small fee. Your best bet is to go directly to Cartell.ie and pay for a full history and finance check. It's not expensive and a great investment. We do it ourselves when buying used cars.

Expert answer

Hi Niall,

Because each dealer’s business is different. Most, if not all, used cars on a dealer’s forecourt will have come in as a trade-in, so the price that the dealer needs to ask (in order to cover their costs and turn a profit) will be different. The amount that they offered the previous owner for that trade-in will be based not just on the intrinsic value of the car itself, but on a number of other factors, especially how many of that make and model the dealer might already have in stock and has to sell before that one moves on. Plus, each dealer has differing overheads such as ground rent, investments in showrooms, staffing levels etc. Beyond that, some dealers offer comprehensive and proper warranties on their used stock, the cost of which has to be factored into the price of each car.

Which is not to excuse dealers from random pricing. One of the great limitations of the Irish used car market is that, unlike the UK where we have access to thinhs such as the CAP Guide and Glass’ to give solid indications for second hand trade values, in Ireland it’s a much more suck-it-and-see, sure-it’ll-be-grand approach.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Well, it's all down to the CO₂ emissions because it's that on which the rate of VRT will be applied. You need to do your homework though as cars that can be quite affordable in the UK can be wildly over-priced in the Irish market leading to you paying more VRT than you really should do.

Ideally, you need to be spending above €30k on a car to make it truly worth your while on importing a car, thanks to the exchange rate. The BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are all well worth looking at, as well as higher-spec versions of the likes of the Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat and Mazda6. 

Expert answer

Hi Sabrina,

PCP finance can be a relatively easy way to get finance for a new car, but make sure you read up about its advantages and disadvantages. A good starting point is our own guide to car finance.

There are very few PCP finance options for buyers of used cars. The whole thing is designed around the car manufacturers' desire to get repeat new car business every few years.

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

Apparently those figures aren't so easy to come by... We asked Cartell.ie, the vehicle records experts, for a little help. The most recent indication we have, based on results for the first four months of 2014, compared to the first four months of 2013, shows all non-trade sales are up 14.4%, all transactions into trade up 26.4%, all transactions out of trade up 22.9%, all import transactions up 24.5%, and trade to trade transactions are up 28.1%. The total increase all transactions for the period of 19.2%.

More information on that data can be found in this news story

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

Although the extra year on the car will have a small effect on the price, waiting until January probably won't help very much. There was a dearth of new car sales in 2009, which is propping up the second hand prices of cars sold in that year (and indeed in 2010, 2011 and 2012). Unless there is a vast rush of buyers trading in used cars for new on Jan 1st (which is, let's face it, unlikely) then the price of a 2009 model isn't especially likely to suffer a significant drop.

Expert answer

Hi Mike,

That's because there is a severe lack of good quality used cars on the Irish market, especially for model years 2008 - 2011, due to low new car sales here during that period.

Dealers are resorting to importing cars for customers.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

The official fuel figure for the Sportage petrol model of that era was 27mpg, but we'd expect you will probably do a little lower than that, most likely around 25mpg. It's not terrible, and you have to play that off agains the extra that a diesel model would cost, but it's not exactly economical. Then again, with a bit of practice and technique, you may be able to do better.

Other than that, it makes entirely good sense. Sportages are rugged and pleasant to drive and very practical too. One thing; the price seems a touch high, although that could have to do with there being a dearth of good 2009-2010 used cars around in general, as well as the very low mileage.

Expert answer

Hi Breda,

We've deleted the registration number from your original question, but please note that we can't do the full history check for you. Go to Cartell.ie for that. Neither can we tell whether a specific car is in good condition etc. without seeing it for ourselves.

However, we can tell you that the Cordoba is generally a solid car, based as it is on the Volkswagen Polo. Make sure you take a good test drive in it and listen out for any unusual sounds. As with all used cars, take the time to try every switch to make sure it all works as well.

Hope that helps, and let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Jerome,

This change was made in December 2011 and as you rightly point out, imported used cars registered in Dublin start at 120,000. That's for each year of manufacture, so the first important car from 1994 will start 94 D 120000 and there could also be a 01 D 120000 for instance. Each of the counties has a different starting number appropriately higher than the highest number of cars sold in that county in any year. The list doesn't appear to be available online, but we've requested it for information and will pass it on as soon as we get it.

Expert answer

Hi Mick,

If you talk to the trade at the moment, they will say that there is something of a shortage of good used cars around. Generally as people buy in the early parts of the year then you will get a lot of second-hand cars floating around so there is a case for waiting. On the other hand, your 2006 Vectra is regarded as another year older. If you can get the right deal why not do it now? 

The only thing to worry about is a shortage of diesel Mazda6 models from that year. You didn't specify if you wanted petrol or diesel, but there are twice as many petrol examples available. Having said that, I really like this diesel model here, but it is a little on the pricey side. You would pay significantly less for a petrol model with lower mileage, such as this one. 

What I would say is that you will get more attention in the dealerships now, or at least you should do. It can be frustrating going into the dealers in January when they are busy, so bear that in mind. 

Expert answer

Hi Alice

It isn't totally unusual for someone to trade in two cars against one. Car dealers are a little short on good used cars and the two you have to trade are likely to be quite welcome. 

You could try and sell one privately and use the cash as a deposit against your newer car, but selling privately can be a headache and you might be waiting a while for the car to sell. I would suggest that you try your local Toyota dealer initially, as they're likely to offer better deals on your Toyotas. 

You mention scrappage in your question. Unfortunately neither of your cars qualify for the scrappage scheme as they are not yet ten years old. So it would be a case of trading in both cars against a new car as normal. 

Without knowing details of your two trade-in cars in terms of mileage and condition we wouldn't be keen to give you an estimate of the price of these, but it would seem logical that you would stick with Toyota and get another Avensis (a diesel) as you are likely to be most welcome by the Toyota dealer. 

Feel free to come back to us with more details on your cars and we will see how we can help further.

Paddy