THIS WEEK:in search of a safe saloon and a low-mileage diesel
From DC: I’m thinking of changing my 2.0-litre 2002 Hyundai Sonata and would like your advice on the safest make and model of car available, new or secondhand. I do about 7,500 miles per year, virtually all city driving. I am happy with my Hyundai (except for the €614 annual road tax) but my priority now is safety first, then comfort.
You don’t mention any budget so I’m guessing you are looking for another family saloon. There have been significant safety improvements since your Sonata was built, and as a rule of thumb: the newer the car the more safety features are likely to come as standard. Start with Euro NCAP, the car-safety inspection group that tests all major models. You can look up individual model ratings at euroncap.com. Ensure your choice has a five-star Euro-NCAP rating and that it has front, side and curtain airbags, as well as stability and traction control. The new Hyundai i40 has scored well and is worth considering, particularly if you’re trading in.
From KO: My son is looking to buy his first car and has around €6,500 to spend. He does a daily commute of 65 miles roundtrip and another 70 miles or so at the weekend. He is looking to get a 2005 or 2006 car with about 50,000 miles on the clock and is leaning towards diesel. Is his budget realistic and if so what would you suggest?
His 20,000 miles a year is enough to warrant a diesel, although he won’t be rewarded for the lower emissions in terms of motor tax if the car is pre-July 2008. Most diesels are bought by higher mileage motorists, so the cars will have clocked up more than 50,000 miles over the past five or six years. He could be lucky, but I suspect he’ll have to accept higher mileage. He should be able pick up a 2007 with 75,000 miles within his budget. A quick search showed up a nice 2-litre diesel Mazda6 and a number of Skoda Octavias with 1.9-litre diesels. Be sure to independently verify the mileage and look for a full service history.
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