Taller car; 7-seater; diesel SUV; what discount? Pothole beater; reliable buy

Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car. Aidan visits dealers all over the country to produce a monthly guidebook on the values of used cars. He is co-editor of Motor Trade Publi

I HAVE a 151 Toyota Auris with extras such as fog lights. I do about 25,000km a year. I find this car very low due to hip surgery and would like to update to a higher one. I have no idea what’s best togo for. I would have a budget of about €12,000 to €14,000 with the trade-in.

Aidan and Eddie: Take a look at a 2017-plate Toyota Rav4 in either Luna or Luna Sport trim. A new one is out of your reach, but the Toyota dealer network is wellstocked with fresh models so you will have ample choice of colours and mileages.

The Auris is a steady performer on the used car market and we think you will maximise your cost-to-change by sticking with Toyota.

As for alternatives, you could look at a Hyundai Tucson (Executive model) or Kia Sportage (EX). Like the Rav4, you might have to settle on a 2017-plate model. No harm. If those options are too large, turn your attention to the Toyota C-HR or the Honda HR-V ES model.

I would like to change our car soon. Budget (including trade-in)

€20k, annual mileage 12k-15k. Ideally need a seven-seater. With the two children we are using the seven seats a bit now with their friends, and even our family, when they visit. Present car is a Peugeot 5008 with 100,000km on the clock. I would love either a VW Touran (seven-seater) or the new Peugeot 5008. Which is better? Is it best to try and sell my own car and then maybe look at importing from the UK? What about PCP?

Aidan: The PCP route opens more avenues, but ensure you learn as much as possible about the dynamic between your trade-in today, the amount of deposit it represents, the GMFV, and, as accurately as possible, the likely outcomes if recycling the deal for a new PCP at the end of the loan agreement. VW dealers and VW Bank are well-practised in this regard, so glean as much as you can from them.

The Touran is a great choice because the seating arrangement is very flexible, the ride is excellent and it has loads of intelligent storage spaces. It will be functional for your needs.

As for the 5008, you won’t buy a brand new one with €20,000, so you need the same finance consideration. It’s a brilliant machine and well-priced for what it offers. I won’t bother pointing you in any other direction. Each of those is a great buy.

Eddie: I agree on choice, but

I would not be inclined to sell privately and buy from the UK. I think that with a family car you need to be extra careful about previous ownership. I would definitely try Volkswagen and Peugeot dealers here to find the best deal. I’d just feel a bit more secure with one nearer home.

I currently have an 04-reg, 1.4-litre Mk5 petrol Golf. Due to a number of issues (fuel pump, temperamental locks that even VW couldn’t fix), I’m upgrading. My daily commute is roughly 90km, so I’m upgrading to a diesel because I’m currently spending about €350 a month on petrol. My budget is around €10 to €12k, and it’s usually only myself in the car. At the moment, I think I’m looking for a car that doesn’t exist – economical with a bit of height and boot space. My hobby means I’m often driving down roads full of potholes or through fields, and more often than not I have a muddy dog with me. I have testdriven a few – Tiguan, Kuga, Rav4 – but I can’t seem to find anything that says ‘buy me’ except for the Volvo S40 and S60 R-design (which are lacking the height and boot space!). Any suggestions on where to look next?

Aidan: Perhaps the Tiguan, Kuga and Rav4 you drove weren’t of a high enough standard. They are all excellent cars, so maybe you need to scour the market some more. They are in strong demand, so you need to be vigilant with checking online.

The Volvos are lovely but impractical. This is tough because some models are ideal in theory, but are either scarce (Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander, Volvo V60) or at this budget have astronomical mileage.

Like with so many other buyers, a Skoda Octavia Combi ticks most of your boxes.

Eddie: I’d suggest a long look at the Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander. However, it will come down to you cutting your cloth according to what you can realistically get on the market. My pick would be the Forester, but they are scarce.

Can you give me a ballpark percentage of discount that one would expect in purchasing a second-hand Audi A3 or VW Golf listed as say €25,000 for cash. Aidan and Eddie: Ballpark, a range of around 2pc to 3pc (€500 to €750) might be workable, but it’s difficult to determine. Sorry, we know this is a bit evasive, but dealers operate different pricing strategies and not all models will have the same margin. Some show the cash price and some leave room for negotiation. Also, it depends on whether the price has already been reduced or not.

You are looking at a fresh-plate model, with which the market is

healthily supplied, and you have cash. You’re in a strong position. However, don’t discount the importance of a reputable dealer who will consistently offer good customer service in the event you come unstuck.

We repeat, you are in a strong position. Cash is always king in the motoring business. And one way of maximising that strength is shopping around between outlets and comparing as near like-with-like as you can. That’s where you can make real savings.

I am a single lady in my 30s looking to trade in my 152 Volvo V40 (under 70,000km). I would like to stick with a 2-litre diesel. Last time I checked (July 17), I would get €20k trade-in towards a new Volvo, but I am drawn to other makes. I have been looking at the Mercedes C-Class, the Jaguar XE, Volvo XC60 or Land Rover Evoque and Discovery. I live in the country, where roads are potholeprone, so I need something sturdy. During the snow, I was stranded, so I am thinking of going for a SUV to cover all weather. I want to keep my budget to around €30,000 excluding trade-in. Have you any advice to help me in my search? Should I wait until January 2019 for value? Aidan: That trade-in allowance is nearly 12 months old and you are now looking elsewhere, so don’t hold too dearly to that price. Besides, you need to focus on your cost-to-change. The inference from wanting to be prepared for all weather is that you need a 4WD, but some of your options are two-wheel-drive. The new XC60 is out of range. The old one was predominantly 2WD because 4WD versions had bigger engines and few people bought them.

By process of elimination from your list, that leaves the Evoque and Discovery (I presume you mean Discovery Sport). There are some great deals on Evoques at the moment. Prices have softened, so it would be a good time to capitalise on that.

Look at a BMW X3 20d XDrive model too. There is a new one out now, so there might be more to choose from on the used market.

Eddie: Look at the ones Aidan suggests. I’d also plan on going for a July (182) plate. Why wait for the bad weather to come before you change? But tell the dealer you have the option of waiting.

I’ve had a 2004 Hyundai Accent 1.5 diesel since 2007. I bought it in England. It’s been a good servant, but I need two CV joints and they cost €1,200 for both. I’m looking to spend €10,000 on a reliable car with low mileage. I have seen an Opel Astra for around that price with 35,000km from dealers. What engine would suit someone doing 10,000km with three kids? It’s left outside work most of the

day because I do 12-hour shifts. Are they reliable and cheap to buy parts for? I was even looking at an electric car to save money on fuel, but I’m afraid of batteries on a second-hand car.

Aidan and Eddie: A Nissan Leaf might work well for you. Check how much warranty remains first. You don’t need a diesel. A petrol Astra will do perfectly. They are scarce, but not totally elusive.

Ultra-reliability can be found with a 1.33-litre Toyota Auris (lower tax than the older 1.4-litre, too), a 1.4-litre Kia cee’d or a 1.4-litre Honda Civic. All still sold in petrol when diesel was at its pomp.