Expert answer

Hi Adrian,

There's no doubt that premium cars of this age can come with costly repair bills. The older they get the more likely something will go wrong, no matter how reliable they are in general. The example you're looking at already has quite high mileage so we'd say budget for a grand or so of repairs a year just in case.

This generation of the A4 was reliable enough. Most problems seem to have stemmed from heating and cooling systems (in particular the air conditioning) and electrics so thoroughly inspect the car - preferably with a bit of professional help. Ensure that the gearbox (assuming it's manual) is smooth and noise-free and that there is no clonking from the front suspension.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi there,

It depends on your driving style, and on where you do most of your driving. If you’re in town all the time, and stuck in stop-start traffic, then it could be worth tracking down a Toyota Prius or a Honda Insight hybrid, bot of which should sip fuel in such circumstances. If you’re up on main roads and motorways all day long, then diesel is still a good idea. A VW Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion would be a solid bet for maximum economy then, although if you fancy something a little more stylish, a MINI Cooper D (with the 1.6 diesel engine) will crack 60mpg on a long run.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Good timing! We have the GT86 on test this week. Here it is on the very twisty and very bumpy Dublin Mountain roads:

Review will be done in time, but I can confirm that it's even more impressive here than it was at the launch in Spain. Its small size and low weight are ideally suited to tight and twisty roads and though firm, the suspension deals with rough surfaces and bumps (even mid-corner) brilliantly. The none-too low profile tyres no doubt help with that.

On the open road it's hugely engaging and very fast. It feels weightless and while it goes where you point it there's a lot of movement underneath if you want it. Turn off traction control and it regularly slides too - though don't expect big drifts on the public road!

While it is lacking a little in low-down torque, it's only an issue for overtaking, as the car feels quick at all times, and is very quick if you use all the revs.

Away from driving for the fun of it, the GT86 is still brilliant. Some might not get it, and it's not quiet, but it even works well in town, where its small size, quick steering and relatively supple suspension mean it doesn't feel at all out of place.

Overall: a fabulous car. Really works on Irish roads. Really special.

Expert answer

Hi Gemma,

First of all, we need you to confirm whether this is the engine management light or the oil pressure light you are referring to, as that's important! Those Corollas are known to have issues with gumming up the gauze that leads into the oil sump, which could lead to oil pressure problems - hence illuminating the oil pressure light. Likewise, it could be the pressure release valve as mentioned by your mechanic. If he flushed that out and replaced the oil and filter then the next step is actually to replace the oil light switch itself - as it may be faulty. If it's not, then the sump needs to come off and he needs to look at removing and cleaning the gauze.

However, if it really is the engine management light then you need the car hooked up to an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) reader to extract the fault code and trace down the problem. This will only be possible when the light is on of course, which is tricky if it's an intermittent problem.

Come back to us if you need more assistance.

Expert answer

Hi Ian,

It's very difficult to assess such things from afar. It could just be dust and dirt in the wrong place or a stiff ball joint or bushing that needs to be replaced.

We advise you bring it to a mechanic to have a look at.

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

If you don't have any luck cleaning this by hand it's probably worth bringing the car into a spray painter and having the paint machine compounded and then polished back up.

Cheaper than a respray!

Expert answer

Hi Steven,

In my opinion this is NOT a good buy for the price and not suitable for your needs. The car looks in acceptable condition, but it already has quite high mileage, and you plan on adding over 45,000 kilometres a year to it. There are a lot of cars around for the same €4,500 with much lower mileage.

Come back to us if you'd like help finding something more suitable.

Expert answer

Hi Paula,

Despite appearances, the CrossPolo is less than 30mm taller than the regular Polo hatchback. We don't expect it to be significantly different to the Polo on the road.

We've not yet driven this car, though we're due to within weeks so keep an eye on the site and if anything changes we'll let you know.

Expert answer

Hi Rory,

I'm sure you're aware that your budget will get you any number of relatively new regular cars such as the Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, along with bigger models like the Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis.

However, given your current choice of car I'd suspect that you'd like to retain the elevated driving position and your mileage dictates a diesel engine. Most cars can take a tow bar and you don't have heavy towing needs so that's not a major consideration. Likewise, all SUVs etc. will have room for your golf clubs.

So the logical choices based on all that include:

BMW X3: Good diesel engine, spacious, but your budget may only get you an older example.

Citroen C-Crosser: Great 2.2-litre diesel engine; rest of car built on Mitsubishi mechanicals.

Honda CR-V: Bomb-proof reliability, but again may have to settle for older example.

Hyundai Santa Fe: Big and comfortable, though running costs higher than smaller SUV.

Mitsubishi Outlander: Spacious, well made, ok diesel, if loud.

Nissan X-Trail: Strangely forgotten, but plenty around at this price.

Peugeot 4007: Shares its engine and underpinnings with the Citroen above.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: Very reliable.

Toyota RAV4: Another with impressive reliability. Possibly the choice of the lot at this price.

There are loads of older, bigger SUVs for sale at that price too, but they'll cost you more to run for no real benefit.

If you're willing to change body styles completely it's worth checking out something like a BMW 120d Coupé or a diesel 3 Series Coupé. There are also plenty of great estates on the market for that budget, including the Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3 Series Touring. I know you don't need that space for a family, but it's useful for a lot of other things.

Come back to us with more information and we'll help to narrow your search further.

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

Well one obvious answer, given the length of your commute would be to charge it in work during the week. Failing that, while the ESB will fit a box to the outside of your house, this would mean a lead being attached to your car from this and this of course could be open to vandalism. You will find that the number of on-street charging posts will dramatically increase over the next 12 months and there may be one near where you live with a special parking spot for an EV.