Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

Because, unfortunately, there is always a lag between the price of crude oil falling and the price coming down at the pump. It’s rarely the case going in the other direction of course, but before you go blaming rapacious fuel companies remember that the actual wholesale price of oil represents only a tiny fraction of the price of a litre of pump fuel – most of it is fuel duty and VAT. In fact, according to the AA, the price is on the way down. The average price for a litre of unleaded has fallen by 5c since June, and the average price for a litre of diesel has fallen by 3c. 

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Hi Bryan,

The fuel gauge should not visibly go down over such a short drive, no matter how fast you're going! If there's a fuel leak then it's a big one to cause that, so start up the car in neutral with the handbrake on in a safe location (in the dry preferably) and get out and look underneath for any signs. If there is one we recommend turning off the car and having it towed to a garage for a repair.

However, it may well be that the gauge or the sender unit in the fuel tank are themselves faulty and it could be an inexpensive fix. Either way you should bring the car back to where you bought it (assuming it was a trade sale and not a private one) and insist they accompany you on a drive so you can demonstrate the problem. If there's a warranty in place this kind of thing should be covered.

Let us know how you get on

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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 Paul,

That seems slightly low alright, but it depends on where you're buying it from. If it's a private sale, then it's probably on the money. If it's from a dealer, then it's about €2k underpriced and you might need to be a bit cautious. Ask if you can get an AA inspection of the car done (also a good idea if it's a private sale). If the vendor baulks or tries to come up with some excuse, then walk away.

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Hi Gabriel,

Well, it depends on two things - who's doing the offering and what kind of history comes with the car. If it has a full service history and is in good nick, and the vendor is someone you can trust, then it could be a good buy - Astras are generally robust and quite pleasant to drive too. If you have even the slightest doubts though, get an AA inspection. It's not expensive, and it could save you a bundle of cash and hassle in the long term. Any reputable vendor, even a private one, who's selling a decent car should have no objections to the AA calling round to check the car out. If they do, you know it's a bad 'un so can walk away.

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Hi Ian,

It's a rough calculation but I reckon you're looking in the region of €7,000 of VRT. Of course, if it's a new car you may have to pay the VAT as well, but the best thing to do is contact your local Revenue office and talk it through. They're pretty helpful, generally.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Joe,

We asked Volvo Ireland this, but it can't give a figure without your registration or chassis number. Send that onto us in private using this contact form and we'll find out - we won't publish the details on the site of course.

Expert answer

Hi Tanya,

OK, prices for a 2007 Kia Sorento range from as little as €6,000 for a commercial model to as much as €15,000, which seems a bit hopeful to me. Let's play reasonably safe and suggest that you should get about €9,000 to €10,000 on trade-in. 

Now, the 5 Series. The E60 5 Series that ran from 2002 to 2010 is one of our all time favourite cars and the 535d is one of the very best. Powerful, smooth, reasonably economical and able to spin the rear wheels in third gear. Ahem.

It's worth considering other models though. The 535d is a twin-turbo version of the same 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine that you'll find, in single turbo form, in the 530d. You won't save any money in terms of tax (it's the same capacity), but the 530d will be better on fuel and cheaper to insure. If you really want to save some money, look for the ever-popular 520d, which is almost ridiculously cheap to run and far more powerful than you might expect. 

As for things to look for, the suspension is the 5's weak point so if there are any nasty clonking noises or if the car feels unstable on the road, or the steering feels inaccurate, walk away. The iDrive infotainment system has also been known to give bother so check and make sure that it is working and, as with any prestige car, make sure it has a full service history.

With a car like this, I'd never advise buying privately or from an unfranchised dealer. SIMI membership should be at least the bottom line and you'll get a better deal from a BMW main dealer than you might expect, especially if the car is part of their approved used programme. 

A 2005 530d or 535d seems to hover around a similar asking price to your Kia so you'll just have to negotiate carefully to get the best price.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Jason,

Depends what you mean by 'best' really. I'm going to assume, though, that what you mean is the best all-round; something that's fun to drive and good to look at, but also spacious, reliable and practical with an eye on fuel economy, right?

In that case, and at that budget, you're looking at three main cars: Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. All three are reliable and well made (the Civic the best in that sense), all three are good to drive (the Focus is the best to drive) and all three are economical (few cars are as good, real-world, on fuel as a diesel-engined Golf). Shop around, because there are loads of each one out there and your €6,000 will go a long way. Insist on a full service history and make sure you do a background check on the car if you're buying privately (we recommend Cartell.ie). Beware of silly boy-racer mods (especially on the Golf, but the other two are prone to such things too) and try to find something that hasn't been used and abused by a legion of crisp-munching kids.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Niamh,

You shouldn't have a major problem as long as you look after the car and keep the service history up to scratch. Opels are perennially popular second hand buys, so while the badge means you won't get the value retention of, say a BMW or an Audi, there should always be a reasonably willing audience out there for one.