HELPDESK:Answering all your motoring queries
From DG: We’re looking at purchasing the Hyundai ix35 and have been offered a 2010 2.0-litre diesel or a brand new 2011 1.7-litre diesel for the same price. To be honest, we have no idea which one to go with. The car would end up doing 35,000km-plus a year and we would hope to keep it for seven years. Any advice on this or indeed other cars we should be considering would be very helpful.
The ix35 is a good vehicle and well priced. The spec on the car is good too, although early models had a plastic steering wheel and gear knob, which didn’t overly impress us. The choice between the two diesel engines and whether to choose a new or used car is really irrelevant considering the amount of time you intend to keep the car.
Personally, I would go for the 2010 model with the larger diesel engine because it feels a little more refined. Obviously this engine will cost you an additional €146 per year to tax so that could amount to an extra €1,022 at the current rate if you keep it for seven years. But given the fact that you put up significant mileage, I would say choose the larger engine, because the 1.7-litre has to work that bit harder and will grate over time. In terms of rivals, you could have the Skoda Yeti with a 2.0-litre TDi engine for around the same money and this is a very good car.
But I would say, given the amount of time you intend to keep your car, you could look at a new Kia Sportage, which comes with a seven-year warranty and is much the same vehicle as the ix35 underneath. A top-spec 1.7 GSE would cost you around €29,995 and if your budget can stretch, it’s a superb buy. At €27,800 the EX spec is generously equipped too.
From JB: In view of the severe weather conditions of the past few years, I am thinking of buying a four-wheel drive. I have a budget of €15,000 and would like something not too big and reasonably economical (diesel if possible). Considering all the factors, which of the many makes available would you recommend? I did think of a Kia Sportage but this did not get a very good review in your newspaper recently. I currently drive a Saab 9-5.
There are two types of SUV with four-wheel drive. There are the soft-roaders which, when they come with four-wheel drive (they often only have front-wheel drive), are useful. And then there are the more useful kind, which can cope with pretty much anything.
The former are much cheaper to buy and to run than the latter and, since it seems you only want to drive something that will get you out of occasional trouble, then we will focus on soft-roaders.
The likes of the Nissan Qashqai with two-wheel drive won’t be much better than a car unless you fit them with winter tyres.
You could have the old 2008 model Kia Sportage 4x4 with low mileage and high spec for €15,000. We did mention in a recent road test that we weren’t overly impressed with the new Sportage’s handling, but the older model was more than capable.
If you want a proper off-roader then you could invest in a Land Rover Discovery. A 2007 model with reasonably high mileage could be within your budget but we couldn’t promise that you wouldn’t have higher bills. You could also opt for the Freelander 2, which is really very talented off road.
However, I think the vehicle I would pick is the Toyota RAV4. We found a 2006 diesel model at the main dealer in Drogheda with 101,000km on the clock. It is four-wheel drive and comes nicely equipped for €13,950. Spend €500 on some winter tyres and you will be laughing in the face of the ice and snow next year.
Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, Tara St, Dublin 2 or email motorshelp@irishtimes.com