Small and newer? Newlyweds’ car? 2+2+2? Son to buy? Car for 3 kids

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’M a 40-year-old single woman living in the suburbs. I use my car mainly for commuting (30km a day) and weekend driving (100km). I do about 10,000km a year. I drive a 1.4 litre petrol, 5dr, 05 Toyota Corolla Terra hatchback, with 150,000km on the clock. I’m looking to trade up to a similar-sized car but have no idea where to start. I Like the Hyundai i20, I30 and the Toyota Yaris and Auris. I’d look at a Kia cee’d too. I want a compact car for parking. Ideally, I’d like to buy new and would consider electric but not sure where to start. Is it worth considering crossing the border and paying VRT after? Budget (including trade-in) is €15,000,

Aidan: Reports that used values in the UK rose by 1.2pc in the first quarter haven’t dampened imports here but you require a petrol car and savings could be diminished for one of those. No harm in checking but you should have enough choice here.

A Toyota Auris is ideal for you, even if you think they are pricey. Irrespective of the brand, any new hatchback of a similar ilk will set you back far more than your budget.

Even at €2,000 a year as a cost to change, you need to spend around €26,000 (13 years) to get a new car. It’s a lot of money but it’s somewhat unavoidable if you want a 2018-plate car.

The Hyundai i20 is quite a large supermini and might just suit you. It’s cheaper too. It all depends on how often your three rear seats are occupied. It could be the ideal car. However, I think a Toyota Auris or a Ford Focus 1-litre Titanium are worth pursuing. Your money will go far with a SEAT Leon, too. Look for an SE model.

Eddie: I’d go for the Hyundai i20 because I don’t think you need five seats too often but I accept Aidan’s absolutely sound priorities. And no, I wouldn’t go electric and I wouldn’t go UK. Lots of choice here and you’ll have back-up if things go wrong.

My current car is a 04 Toyota Corolla with 157,000 miles. I’ve been told I won’t get anything worth talking of when it kicks the bucket. It’s due for NCT in May and I fear what will be wrong. It’s making all sorts of noises. It’s time for a change. I’m prepared to make repayments of €350 a month. I’d hoped to have a deposit for my next car, but I’m afraid I’ll be looking for a loan from the bank. I’d hope to get about €18,000. I do 10,000kms-14,000kms a year. We are newlyweds and would hope to start a family soon, so I’d like something that could fit two children. I’d be open to travelling north or to England if I knew what model to get. I fear that my notions of wanting a fancy sports car are blocking my view of what I can afford.

Aidan/Eddie: Whatever about affordability, a fancy sports car won’t cut it as a family car. Best to just forget it for now. You’re in something of a quagmire. Won’t borrowing for a deposit reduce your €350 monthly budget? We think you need to be much more financially focused before you can even begin looking at cars. Figure out what you can borrow and repay every month. Decide if PCP is a better route than hire purchase or a loan. If you opt for PCP, you will likely change car before baby number two arrives.

Whatever budget you eventually calculate, buy the best Skoda Octavia possible with it. Spacious, comfortable, well-kitted and looks the part. A great allrounder.

We have two cars, two jobs and two young children. My husband has a 161 diesel Renault Kadjar with 30,000kms (value maybe €17K). I have a 2009 Hyundai i10 (petrol/ auto) with 65,000kms (value maybe €1k?). I work locally and used to drive but have been cycling now for a year as a commute and I intend to continue that. My husband was doing a two hour-plus daily commute on the M50 but he has changed jobs and he now has a 10-minute commute on foot. Our kids are in school/ pre-school en route during his 10 minute walk, so this means that both our cars are pretty much parked at home Monday–Friday.

We probably only need one car at the most. We have signed up to Go Car for longer trips/bigger cars if necessary a couple of times a year. We are thinking of selling the Kadjar back to the dealer we bought it from and selling the Hyundai. We would like to replace them both with one electric car. However, the problem we have is where we live. We couldn’t charge an electric car out front as we park on a public road with a resident’s permit. The yard has power for a charger and space to park but we could only get a tiny car in. What’s are your predictions for the small/ city EV models in the next few years? Our budget is probably max €15k.

Aidan/Eddie: Forgive us for oversimplifying this but isn’t your automatic i10 the perfect car for you? You don’t routinely use a car during the week and when you need something bigger, you will use a car-sharing service. There are a few small EVs on the horizon but that is where they still currently reside; away in the distance. SEAT will likely launch an electric Mii and a smattering of others will do likewise but we don’t see what you will gain from them. If you really have an itch to change for something newer, buy a regular SEAT Mii (or Skoda Citigo or VW up!) and sell your other cars.

My son, who isn’t married, needs to change his car. At the moment he is driving a 2004 Opel Astra 1.4 petrol (probably scrappage now). He is looking at 2016 cars. His budget is €16,000, annual mileage 12,000km, and he needs four-door saloon or hatchback. What scrappage deal might he get for his old one? Any recommendations?

Aidan/Eddie: Scrappage offers are typically brand or even dealer-specific. They require some interpreting, so it is best to choose the most suitable car for your son first and then see what deal can be struck.

Don’t get too hung up on buying a 2016-plate car, either. A meticulously minded 2015-plate with appropriate mileage should not be discriminated against.

Start with another Opel Astra. The 1-litre petrol SC model is a great one and overall the car performs competently.

Your son might even benefit from a Toyota Auris hybrid if he travels a lot around town or sits in traffic on his commute. He won’t buy a 2016-plate but he will end up with something that has an automatic transmission and is extremely frugal and reliable.

The Honda Civic is a great buy, too. As is the Kia cee’d. All those models are reliable and sold reasonably well with petrol engines, even when the market swung heavily to diesel so he should have decent choice.

I need a bit of help. New baby due in August and need to change cars as we need something to fit three baby seats in. Plan on having the car for five years before we can afford to invest properly. We have €10k to spend with whatever trade-in we would get for our 09 Toyota Avensis. I think 92,000 km is low and the car is in really good condition but it obviously can’t fit all the kids in. What do you suggest and where should I start looking? Our budget €10k plus €4k possible trade-in and we do 10,000km a year.

Aidan: There is a new Peugeot 5008 out, so expect to see stock of the old model freeing up. The 5008 started out quite a bit cheaper than many other MPVs and it represents value for money on the used market, too. Favour a low mileage, spotless Active model over run-of-the-mill Allure or Family versions. If you can get a clean Allure model then snap it up. Space is intelligently arranged in the Opel Zafira and equipment levels tend to be quite generous. You sound stretched but a reader recently recommended a Honda CR-V for carrying three children across the back row. If you can find another few quid, you will have a very attractive SUV with Honda’s CR-V.

Eddie: You need to think big now, not five years down the road. Those children, bless them, will grow quickly and so will all the stuff you need to carry with them. The Peugeot 5008 is a good option. I would also say to take a look at the Citroen C4 Picasso with its three seats across the back. It’s popular and there are plenty of them out there. The Opel Zafira Tourer is a real option.