Independent Advice Desk

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

QPlease advise me as I need to get my car back. My son is using my Volkswagen Polo while he is studying in Co Cork.

We live in the west so he needs a car to get home. However, he is 6ft 5in and too tall for my car. He has a full licence for 18 months, is aged almost 22 and has no penalty points.

I’d favour a Volkswagen Golf but insurance could be a sticking point as most I have looked at have a 1.6 engine. Budget would be about €15,000.

Gillian: I can see why you like the Golf but yes, the diesel engine sizes are 1.6 or 2.0. My next choice on a similar style but with smaller engines are Toyota Corolla/Auris (1.4), Ford Focus (1.5) and Renault Megane (1.5). You would be looking at a 2017 in each.

But, I think you could look for something smaller but also newer.

Yes, I know your son is tall but the Skoda Fabia (1.4) is good for tall drivers. A 2018 comes well in under budget so I suggest opting for a high-spec model like a Style, although the Ambition is pretty well kitted out too.

Eddie: The ability to adjust the seat and steering wheel is vital for a tall driver so headroom on its own is only one factor. Gillian’s choices are excellent as usual but I would add a Mazda3 and a Hyundai i30 for your consideration.

The Golf is probably the outstanding choice but your son needs to try each model for size as I have explained how height-and-reach adjustment of seat and steering wheel can be big factors.

QI have been offered a 201-reg car which has already been registered with the dealer. It has 1,400km on the clock.

If I purchase it, I would be the second owner. How much should the dealer reduce the cost from the original price?

Gillian: It all depends on the car in question. I wouldn’t be worried about being the second owner so long as you keep a record showing the garage was the first owner.

If you plan to only keep the car for one to two years, then a next owner might be a little put off being the third but three years-plus shouldn’t be an issue. In terms of how much the dealer should reduce the original price... if it’s something small like a Toyota Yaris, €1,250 would be fair. Golf size – around €1,500. Mondeo size – €1,750. E-Class dimensions – €2,000 (at least). If you are a cash buyer, there would already be haggle room so these figures would be on top of that.

SUVs will rarely go for much less than the cost new as they are in demand and someone will pay so the €1,500 would most likely apply here.

Therefore, they are not such a huge saving but these cars often come with added extras so you could save a good bit more if that’s the case.

Eddie: I’d push for a bit more than Gillian. I’d make the case that you are only getting nine months driving from your ‘new’ car, that it is technically second-hand and that its sell-on value would, consequently, be affected.

So I’d try for an extra few hundred euro over and above Gillian’s reasonable expectations. What have you got to lose?

QI plan to change my car over the next three months and along with trade in of approx €11,000 will have a budget of €36,000. While the passenger count will be mainly me and my wife, I would like something in the BMW/Mercedes/Audi range or equivalent.

I have had three diesels in the past – all excellent – but think it’s time to make a change. I’m not ready for either hybrid or full electric but am interested in a PHEV as my estimated annual mileage will be 18,000km. I am considering a 2018 BMW 530e M Sport though its electric range is pretty miserly; 30km at best I believe.

It must be automatic and well specced as I feel I’m worth it after 45 years of stick shift. Is there anything else you would recommend?

Gillian: PHEVs are automatics, as are hybrids so that’s that sorted. I’m not sure what you mean by you not being ready for a hybrid. A hybrid drives like a normal car. You fill it at the pump and don’t plug it in.

The battery is replenished by engine power and braking as you drive. PHEVs need to be plugged in for the battery to charge, so I would think it would need more preparation than a standard hybrid.

The 530e is meant to be capable of 50km on electric engine only, but driving at standard speed, your 30km is more accurate.

What sells the 530e is the first three digits 530.

A great car but so is the 520d and for your budget, I would opt for it instead. Actually, with just the two of you, I would go for a sporty 4-series or Audi A5. You 100pc deserve it after 45 years on the road. I also like the Mercedes CLA.

Now, none of these is a PHEV or even hybrid so if you really want to go this way, perhaps look at the Lexus range. The RC 300h is one sporty looking hybrid. You can still get a 2018 too.

Eddie: If you are not ready for a hybrid you are certainly not ready for a plug-in and the charging discipline that goes with it.

I’d buy a fresh BMW 520d, a Mercedes E-Class or Audi A6 and enjoy the car. Change next time when you feel you are ready for hybrid or plug-in.

QI am looking at changing my 161 Nissan Qashqai 1.6 SV with 57,000km.

On the one hand I feel I should be looking at a greener option as the diesels have taken a bit of a bashing. I think the mileage of around 12,000km does not justify a diesel.

I do one long trip a week; all the rest of my journeys are short and I am using public transport more often as I am retired. A high seating position is a must as it gives me a safe and secure feeling when driving. Budget: €10,000 plus trade-in. Car preference is a hatchback 5dr.

Gillian: Yep, you don’t need a diesel. When I saw your low km reading, it was the first thing I thought of. Good news, the low reading will add value to your car, so you have a great budget of around €26,000.

If, like me, you like the Qashqai then you could upgrade to a newer model. A one-yearold 1.3 SV Premium would be my choice.

The Qashqai is more SUV than hatchback so perhaps another one of my favourites, the Volkswagen T-Cross is what you’re after. For

€26,295, a 1.0 TSI Life 115 model is the one to go for.

The SEAT Arona is a similar machine but for less money; you can get more spec. Somewhere in between is the Hyundai Kona, which is a bit more funky looking.

Eddie: Just change to another Qashqai petrol. No need to complicate matters.

We are getting a lot of queries about NOx tax on used imports here on a weekly basis.

The UK’s equivalent of our vehicle registration cert is a V5C.

The NOx figure will be displayed on it.

As an example of what you might have to pay for an older vehicle – especially a diesel – here is what the NOx charge would be on one with 150mg/km.

The first 60 mg/km @€5 = €300.

Next 20 mg/km @€15 = €300.

That’s €600 for 80mg/km combined. The final 70mg/km is at @€25 = €1,750. And that is a total of €2,350. Another area of some concern for people is getting a home charger.

It is important to remember that you need to have the electric car first and then apply to the SEAI for the €600 grant towards installation.

REMEMBER: don’t buy a PHEV unless you are prepared to change your charging habits.