Time to change on the double; What car for €25k? One for wife? Motor on €10k budget?

Car-value expert Gillian Keogh teams up with Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham to help you make the right choice with your next purchase. Gillian is Editor of a monthly guidebook on the values of used cars produced by the Motor Trade Publishers team. The team supplies a car-valuing service to the motor trade, insurance companies and finance houses.

WE have a 1997 Nissan Primera that’s still going strong; but the time has come to move on. Perhaps it might be wise to avail of a scrappage deal with warranty etc. We tend to keep cars for the long haul. Finance will be from savings. Ideally mid-range budget but absolute maximum €24k.We are keen to go hybrid. Annual mileage is 20,000km, mainly short journeys on rural roads with longer roundtrips of 500km once a month on motorway. A 5dr hatchback or small SUV required. Generous boot space required for large dog, good rear legroom and slightly elevated seat positions for elderly passengers. We have no preference for any car or brand, but our local dealers are Nissan and Toyota.

Gillian and Eddie: Besttostick with your local dealers, we think. Nissan screams scrappage offers now and, as your current car is 20 years-plus, your local dealer will have plenty in their range. It won’t be hybrid, but why not go petrol or diesel with your mileage?

For both boot space and rear legroom, the Qashqai will certainly meet requirements. Your budget allows for the main-selling 1.5 diesel 2017 SV model, but if you want to hold onto €1,000 in savings, then the same spec 1.2 petrol model would do.

Or, you could spend it on more spec on the petrol and go for SV Premium or SVE. These have been around since 2014/2015, so you have some choice on budget spend.

Alternatively, if you do want to go hybrid, your nearest Toyota dealer will certainly be able to help you out with a C-HR 1.8. A 171 Luna will take up all your budget, but this is a huge seller and will be good to you for the long haul. So it’s your choice really.

I drive a 2005 Toyota Corolla hatchback 1.3 petrol (bought 2008) with 140,000km. It has never needed anything except an annual service. I want to change before its age means more garage visits which, with a busy job and golfing habit, I don’t have time for.

Ideally I’d like a car with a bigger boot. I live close to Dublin city centre and have to park on a street where parking is in demand, so a shorter car would be an advantage. On-street parking also means security considerations and rules out a plug-in EV.

I only need two seats and have considered a van but have heard they are broken into more often. I’d like a higher driving position and am attracted to an SUV style. My other half (who doesn’t drive) is 6ft 2in and we have hired cars he doesn’t seem to fit in very well, leaving his head touching the ceiling. I’m 5ft 4in and some cars suit my short legs and arms better than others.

My budget is €20k including trade-in. My annual mileage is 10,000km (includes a 30km daily round trip to work), mainly city driving and 80kmh zones. I like the idea of a hybrid but have heard they need more parts replaced in a lifetime than petrol, which puts me off if true.

Gillian: The days of buying a van for private driving are gone. It’s taxed as a private vehicle and insurance may be tricky.

Let’s find a car that you will enjoy driving and your other half won’t feel like he’s in a cave. You will be limiting choices if you go hybrid.

Battery replacement may be what you have heard about, but it’s not a going concern and shouldn’t put you off.

Around €20k will get a new Honda Jazz 1.3 ES. The front space is suitable for people over 6ft and buying new gives you so many options for extras.

The MINI Countryman is also one that may suit. I know it sounds crazy, but it is the biggest MINI out there and the space in the front is in line with your requirements, believe it or not. It would be a treat for you after 10 years in the same car. Parking won’t be an issue and it’ll be a fun 30km trip every day for you. A one to two-year-old would be in budget.

Eddie: The Jazz would be my recommendation too. It has good headroom and legroom and it’s easy to park.

I’d also look at the Toyota Auris hybrid (seeing as you’re trading a Toyota) – it’s roomy and economical.

Budget (including trade-in) is €25,000. Annual mileage 20,000km in older car (mix of rural/town) and 25,000 in main family car (mix of rural, town and motorway). Need five-seater for three adults and two children ( aged five and nine) or one adult and three booster seats when we have kids’ friends.

Currently have 2004 VW Bora 1.9 Tdi: 225,000 miles. Due a timing belt, service and has electrical problems. And 2008 VW Golf 1.9 Tdi: 240,000 miles. Also due timing belt at next service but driving well. This is the main family car so also has higher mileage. We need to change one car and hope to buy new or relatively new family car to keep for a number of years.

Can you advise if buying 182 with one of current scrappage deals (scrapping Bora and keeping Golf as second car) would offer enough value to offset the new car premium versus trading it in against a 2016 or 2017 reg? Also any thoughts on diesel versus hybrid if we go with new for 25,000km a year mixed driving? Finally any tips on models to consider either new or one to two-year-old which would offer us five seats for either the family or when kids have friends in car? Gillian: Your budget is great and I’d be looking for a one to two-year-old rather than new. I’d stick with diesel. You clearly like your VWs so you could stay with it, but I suggest you go larger than a hatch if you travel with two additional adults and two kids. A 171 Passat 1.6 Dsl Comfortline will just sneak in budget but family saloons are suffering with growing interest in SUVs, so I am a little reluctant to recommend it to you. The T-Roc would be super, but it only launched recently, so you would have to wait until the new year to get one in budget. Sticking with the VW Group, the Seat Ateca 1.6 Dsl would be a sweet motor and if you could haggle on an Xcellence spec over an SE, you’d be doing great.

Eddie: I’d buy a new Skoda Octavia diesel in the current market because you’ll have a new car for the winter and no worries about repairs (I hope). Bargain as hard as you can. It’s a competitive 182-reg time.

I am looking for a steer in changing my wife’s car, a 2006 Volvo S40 (145,000km). She only drives approx 8,000km to 10,000km a year. Kids have left the nest so usually shorter trips of around 20-40km weekdays to work with the occasional (once or twice monthly) longer round trip of about 200km. She has enjoyed the Volvo, albeit it has been expensive on parts recently. We are thinking petrol on the next change and are complete novices on the hybrid/ electric scenario and are a little concerned at the lack of charge facilities – we live in a rural village. Our budget is around €15k-20k max. Gillian: Petrol is great for you, but I would consider a hybrid also. Hybrids are self-charging and so don’t require charge facilities. What you are thinking of is plug-in hybrid or electric, which don’t really suit your current situation. I will go with hatchback styles and suggest she takes a look at the following. Toyota Auris 1.8 Hybrid – your budget would suit a 2015/2016 Aura or higher spec Sol model. Another one worth a look is the Lexus CT200h. Petrol will open your choices up hugely and if she enjoyed the Volvo, I would suggest a 2015 BMW 114i/116i or 2015 Audi A3 1.4 if you want to go classy. If you want to go newer, check out a Ford Focus 1.0 Zetec or even better, Titanium or Mazda3 1.5 Executive SE.

Eddie: A Toyota Auris hybrid second-hand sounds the most sensible thing to buy.

I find myself without a car after my old one packed up. I have €10,000 of a budget (old car no value). I do 12,000km to 15,000km a year, mostly short journeys. I’m single but have a boyfriend and we socialise a good deal. He hasn’t a car. What would you recommend? Gillian: Will he be driving your car, so do I have to stay away from ‘girlie’ cars? Will he be a spouse soon, so do I have to go with Isofix options?

Here are three under €10,00 I hope suit you. A 2013 Seat Leon 1.2 Style, first of the new shape and most come with added spec. The 2012/2013 Hyundai i30 1.4, definitely sold better in diesel but the petrol is making a comeback. Spec is basic, but the look suits male and female drivers. Or a 2012/2013 Nissan Juke 1.6 SV.

Eddie: Great suggestions, Gillian. I’d buy a Mazda3 hatch or saloon petrol. Simple as that.