Auto move; Car for taxi; Vehicle for a wheelchair; Larger model; Splashing out

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 t

I’M a mother of two girls (aged 10, 13). I would like to buy a SUV similar to a RAV4, Tucson or Qashqai. I cover around 15,000km a year and believe hybrid is the way to go. I currently drive an automatic 2010 Jetta and would like to trade in for a 161-reg automatic. I have a budget of €18,000 in addition to the tradein. Any ideas of what I could afford?

Gillian and Eddie: If you want a hybrid, then Tucson and Qashqai are out (only available as petrol or diesel). RAV4 hybrid (Jan 2016) and 161 Luna Sport model is sitting around €26,000, which won’t fit your budget. We’re not sure of your total budget, so we reckon you’d do well to go for a petrol Qashqai 1.2. A 171 SV or 161/162 SV Premium would fit with your mileage.

My dad is looking for a new car for a taxi as his current one expires in December as it’s an 04 Toyota Avensis Verso. I’m wondering what kind of car would be the best, seven or eight-seater? Should it be diesel? His current one is petrol. What’s the best option for him to buy: finance, leasing or loan? He only works three days a week.

Gillian: The Toyota Prius and Prius+ is liked by taxi drivers. You haven’t mentioned budget, or if he wants a new or just newer car. Here are some seven-seat models covering different budgets he can consider. Prius+: New, €37,750; used, from €15,500k (for 131s to €29k for 171s). Opel Zafira Tourer: New, from €29,995; Used, from €15,000 for 142 to €23,000 for 171.

Eddie: All good, Gillian. I’d add a Skoda Octavia or Superb – really popular but obviously they are five-seaters. On finance he needs to work out what he can afford to pay back after all expenses are taken into account. We presume he has a good track record if he has been taxiing. I think he should talk to his accountant because there are tax considerations/savings to be made with repayments (finance/loan) and leasing. I think leasing might be his best bet but get specialist advice.

I drive a 152 Nissan Note. The PCP agreement is due to end next month. My current mileage is just under 10,000km/year. Family circumstances have changed recently and I need a car that has a good boot into which I can fit a child’s wheelchair, preferably on its side rather than upright. At the moment I have to put the wheelchair behind the driver’s seat because it obscures the view.

The Note is valued at about €7,500, and my dealer has told me he will take it as a trade-in and source another car suitable for me.

Maximum budget would be €10,000 including the Note as a trade-in. I just need a smallish car that has a boot that a wheelchair will fit. Generally, there is just myself and my son (8) in the car.

We are very new to this whole area and hope his use of a wheelchair will be short term. He is able to sit in an ordinary booster seat. I do know that there are grants etc (refunds of VRT and other taxes), but I am not sure if we will qualify so I need to limit my budget to what we can afford at the moment.

The car I need is really for short journeys/school run etc. The driving I do is mainly around a rural town, with occasional motorway trips.

Gillian: The first one that comes to mind is Skoda Rapid. Opt for the 1.2 petrol. Your budget would get you into a 131/132 Ambition 60 version but don’t rule out a 141. Actually, a Skoda Roomster might be just what you need. A 151 1.2 Petrol Ambition would be in budget but bear in mind the Roomster was discontinued at the end of 2015, so it might feel a little dated soon.

Did your Nissan dealer mention the Pulsar to you as a next move? The boot space is quite impressive. A 142 should be just in budget for the 1.2 SV model. If not, the XE spec should work.

Eddie: First off, all here at Motors hope the wheelchair requirement is short term.

The last car I’d advocate would be a Skoda Rapid, so Gillian and I differ yet again, but the Roomster is a good, if left-field, suggestion.

I think a fresh (petrol) Ford B-Max might suit. It has been a poor seller, so there should be bargains out there. It has no central pillar, which makes entry and exit easy and opens up a lot of space.

Also think about a Honda Civic petrol. It has special seating/ luggage combinations that give a lot of room and versatility.

Other than that, I’d trust the dealer to get you what suits, or I’d buy a new-as-possible Dacia Logan (estate) petrol – you’ll get a 151/152 for your budget. Loads of room and lots of (basic) car for your money.

Currently driving an 08 Saab 9-3 but I’m finally in a position to splash out a bit. I’d really, really like a BMW 4-series Coupe or an Audi A5 but wouldn’t rule out a BMW 3-series or Audi A4.

Generally, it’s only me in the car, no kids, so 3dr wouldn’t cause any issues.

I have a budget of around €25k to €30k. Is now a good time to buy or wait until the new year?

With all the recent stories about diesels, is it smarter to buy a petrol? I do 15/20,000km/year.

Would the increased running petrol costs be justified for a better resale value later? I just have a feeling that in three years the price of diesels will be a lot lower than petrols. Or would it be smarter to wait a year and buy a diesel at a knockdown price, if the prices continue to drop? Also what are your views on importing from the UK – seems you could buy similar and have it cleared for about 20pc less than buying here?

Gillian: Really, there is no need or benefit to waiting – 15/20,000km driving wouldn’t rule out a petrol or diesel but the models you really like, and I like too, are diesels in the current used market.

There’s no doubt diesels are starting to come under pressure from petrol and hybrids but if you are looking to trade up again in three years I wouldn’t get bogged down, especially for the models you’re looking at.

As for going to the UK, Audi and BMW tend to be slightly better specced but there is more cost and stress involved than going to your local dealer. In my experience the money you might save (and the total saving won’t be anywhere close to 20pc when all costs are considered) just isn’t worth it.

Eddie: BMW 420d would just nudge the Audi A5 for me. It’s a close call. Two lovely cars. Your mileage suggests you’d just about get away with petrol but that’s a lovely diesel in the Beemer. Enjoy.

I’m driving an 05 Nissan Almera which is running well. I want to upgrade at end of year and I’m undecided. I am looking for a larger car as I tend to travel to different parts of country at weekends and squeezing four or five people in is getting tougher as we get older. I do about 13,500km/year, so I don’t know if it’s worthwhile to get a diesel or stick with petrol. Could you recommend something based on a budget of €10k (I could get finance to bring it to €17-€18k). I’ve been looking at imports along the lines of VW CC, Honda Accord and Kia Optima.

Gillian: The Kia Optima would be a beauty as they come well specced. Most are Platinum and you could stay away from financing if you are happy to move to a 12-reg – €17/18k would get you a 15-plate but there is no need to stretch yourself. Maybe a ’13 or ’14 would sit in nicely.

The CC may feel a little smaller in the back for your passengers but you would be looking at 2012-2014 for your budget.

The CC has been discontinued, as has the Accord.

Look for something a bit fresher like the Ford Mondeo. The current model launched in 2015 and you could pick up a 151 1.6 diesel Titanium for the top end of your budget. Plenty of room.

The newer model 1.6 diesel Passat would also be a nice buy. A Mazda6 is still current and available back to 2013 at around €13/13,500, so this might just be the one.

Eddie: I wouldn’t buy a diesel on your mileage. I also think getting the extra few euro would serve you well because it would let you buy as fresh a Toyota Prius hybrid (142/151 plate) as you can find. It’s frugal, will hold its value and will easily match petrol or diesel fuel consumption in your case. And it has the same interior room as an Avensis.