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Previously answered questions
How to choose between age, mileage, condition and history?
I'm going to buy a used car. There are two cars, same make and model, that I'm considering. One is 2013 with 51,000km and the other 2011 with 41,000km. Is it better to go for the car with the lower mileage or the newer car? There's only €250 price difference (2013 is dearer). Both dealers claim the cars are in immaculate condition.
Breda Trimble (Dublin)
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Would an Opel Insignia be a good alternative to an Octavia?
You recommended in June a Skoda Octavia or SEAT Leon for my needs. The Leon would be too small and I've being trying unsuccessfully to get an 08/09/10 Octavia since. Would an Opel Insignia be a sensible alternative in terms of efficency, reliability and durability?
Thanks!
Cormac Mc Cashin (Maynooth)
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
How best to trade in our old SEATs?
Hi,
We have a 2005 SEAT Toledo with 150,000km on the clock, costing regularly with repairs, and a 2011 SEAT Ibiza ST with 100,000km on the clock. We want to get a new relatively spacious but cheap car and a 2006+ Audi or BMW. Which of our two cars should we trade in for which of our two planned buys to get the most value and for the purchases to cost us least?
Joan Cleary
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
I want a fast car for under €20,000!
Could you suggest the best car for under €20,000 that is less than 10 years old AND can do 0-100km/h in less than six seconds?
John Walsh (Dublin)
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Is this Ford Focus too high mileage?
Is 170,000 miles on a 2004 Ford Focus 1.4 TDCi a bad buy or would it be ok for a couple of years? I only do about 4k a year?
Sarah Kinge (Gosport)
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Which MPV will I replace our BMW 3 Series with?
Hi Shane & team,
We're looking at trading in again. You helped us source our last car four years ago. We really like our curent 2006 BMW 318, but for the last nine months to a year we've been pouring money into for what feels like constant repairs and the car tax is crippling too. We've now come to the realisation that we need to move to seven-seat territory for these and family reasons. Today we saw and drove both of these cars:
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/renault/grand-scenic/used-2010-renault-grand-scenic-1-dublin-fpa-200914374138165780 http://www.cbg.ie/citroen-c4-grand-picasso-1.6-2008-dublin-diesel-silver-mpv
The Renault felt more car like to drive and I wasn't wild about the delay in the Citroen semi-automatic gearbox. For the Renault they've said the cost to change is €6,500 and just under €7,000 for the Citroen. The Renault, being a 2010 model, is almost seems too good to be true. Can you give me any advice on these? Is the Renault a good buy? Is it reliable or will it swallow money on repairs as our current car is? Are there any others you would recommend? We really don't want to spend more than €6k-ish.
Thanks
Enda
Enda Lowry (Dublin)
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Secondhand Honda CR-V or Nissan X-Trail?
I am looking for a reliable, spacious secondhand SUV that won't cost me the earth to run. I have a budget of €9,000 - €10,000. Will be used privately most of the time (12,000 miles per year, two kids and a dog), but need it for off road on a farm/laneways for cutting down trees and towing a trailer full of firewood every couple of weeks.
I am undecided between a 2008 Honda CR-V 2.2d AWD or a 2008 Nissan X-Trail 2.0d 4wd. I like the space in the X-trail but would the Honda give me less trouble? Also I see that the X-Trail comes in 150 and 175hp guises. What would best suit my needs and would there be much of a difference in running cost/fuel economy?
Any advice would be grateful!
K C (Cork)
Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Which of these four saloons would you choose?
Hi,
Two weeks ago I was down to three choices for looking at a secondhand 2011-2013 saloon car: Honda Accord i-DTEC 2.2-litre diesel (150hp), Volkswagen Passat TDI 2.0-litre diesel (140hp) or Ford Mondeo TDCi 2.0-litre diesel (163hp). But on Saturday I test drove a very nice 2012 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0-litre diesel (160hp), which was very nice to drive.
Just wondering how would this compare to the three above in terms of reliability, handling and resale value. Which would you choose between these four?
Best regards
Barry
Barry Gilbert (Dublin)
Aug 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
What's the older Kia Sportage like?
Hi, I'm thinking about buying a 2009 Kia Sportage 2.0 petrol EX manual 4x4. I saw your review of the 1.7-litre front-wheel drive Sportage. How good is the older 4x4 2.0-litre version? It's done 100,000km and just had the timing belt replaced so it looks like a good buy?
Thanks,
Nick
Nick Price (Dublin)
Aug 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Ford Focus 1.4 petrol: how good?
Ford Focus 1.4 petrol: how good?
Eamon Duff (Navan)
Aug 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
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