I hope to import a 2012 A6 TDi S-Line from England. What do you think of the car?

Aidan: I make no apologies or secret of the fact that I prefer and advocate buying from Irish dealers. Equally, there is no shortage of 2012 Audi A6s in the country. But I don't want to put you off going to the UK to buy an A6, so instead I'll tackle the question of maintenance and perhaps offer a couple of alternatives (from Irish dealers of course).

The A6 is a super car. It's not a typical choice for a family car but there is no reason why it isn't up to the task. The 2.0 TDi engine is plenty powerful but its refinement is where you'll really be impressed. Upkeep isn't drastically more expensive than an A4 and Audi typically run service promotions as they prefer their cars to return to their own trained technicians.

Some find that the S Line's suspension is very stiff and there were customers who opted for S Line spec but requested SE suspension instead. Alternatively, some dressed an SE up to almost S Line spec.

If you cover a lot of ground and want a smooth ride, perhaps don't rule out nicely kitted SE models.

The BMW 5 Series is also a good choice and particularly so when you consider the Premium Selection offer from BMW dealers. This is a used car warranty package which covers all of the scary stuff for two years and for unlimited mileage.

This is worth its weight in gold so don't be put off if a BMW dealer is looking for a premium price. You could be thankful you paid an additional sum in 18 months time. The 5-series sold more frequently with automatic transmissions. The A6 is generally manual.

There are some M'Tronic Audis out there but not in the same numbers as 5 Series autos.

If you are dead set on an A6; I think it's a fine choice and maintenance bills shouldn't be out of line with other executive saloons.

Eddie: I've been accused of being 'pro-Irish dealers' by warning about imports and highlighting the possible risks.

All I'm doing is warning about buying privately over there and not doing so from reputable dealers. That is where the risk may lie.

Anyway a large number of Irish dealers are bringing in imports and standing behind the cars with warranties.

They have had to due to the scarcity of decent second-hand motors.

Yes, you will probably pay a premium. That is what you pay for peace of mind. But don't let me stop you in the case of a 2012 A6.

In pure bottom-line thinking you can make a strong case for going the import route on your own, I suppose..

And, in the main, the stories I've had related to me have been positive with people claiming they saved thousands.

However, I'm more concerned about the minority who have had trouble almost from Day One. I wouldn't like you to be in that bracket. I don't for a minute suggest you will be. But I suggest you do shop around here a fair bit first and see if you can do a deal.

To answer the rest of your question, yes I like the A6. A lot. It's a big, strong, roomy car.

As a matter of interest, there is a major-revise new model on its way in weeks. A lot of areas have been improved and they are claiming the 'extras' that are now standard equipment are worth thousands. Might be worth knowing that.

We have €10,000 to spend on a car. We do about 10,000 miles a year. We're looking for five seats. We have an 01 Opel Astra estate to trade in with 90,000 miles. What is your advice?

Aidan: I'm going to revert to some of my old favourites so apologies if you've read about some of these from me in the past.

First up is the Ford Focus. Seeing as you already drive an estate, it seems logical to stay in a car that size and the Focus is an eminently logical choice.

However, estates are scarce so you might need to wait for the right one. The Focus hatchback is a fine car in its own right.

Your budget will buy you the previous model. In 2009 Ford threw a lot of kit into their entry-level Style spec which brought it up to Zetec trim save for a centre arm rest, which can be retrofitted for around €40.

It's got a top-notch engine, super efficiency and you'll be spoiled for choice with hatchbacks and saloons so you can be picky with colour and mileage.

I'm sure Eddie will agree that the Kia cee'd represents about as much value for money in the market as any car. The SW (estate) version was a fairly popular choice too. The 1.6 CRDi engine is strong and reliable. The spec to watch for is EX. It came with all the goodies like air con, Bluetooth, a multi-functional steering wheel and some even had half leather also.

I've grown fond of the Citroen C5 1.6 HDi. It is quite an underrated family car, although it's not as big as some competitor offerings.

Think of it as a larger C4. Again, great engine but sensors can be naughty sometimes.

The C5 is a comfortable cruiser, great for long distances; 2009 Dynamique models might just stretch your budget ever so slightly but the C5 is certainly worth a close look.

You say that your annual mileage is around 10,000 miles. This equates to 16,000 kilometres so a diesel car isn't necessarily required especially if you cover a lot of that driving in town conditions where diesels are of little added benefit and can actually become problematic.

In this case, how about a Toyota Corolla? If you don't mind paying €570 tax for the 1.4 petrol 2010 model then you will pick one up for decent money.

There was a change in engine in August of that year. The newer 1.33 engine has lower tax and is a sweet unit. You'll pay a premium for it, though.

My last choice is the 1.6 petrol Nissan Qashqai. It's roomier than some hatchbacks, has a tall seating position and 2008 models fall into this budget.

Entry level SE models come with a multi-functional steering wheel and air con and the interior still holds up well in my opinion.

Eddie: Great selection there. But when you say five seats, I'm thinking five decent ones, not 4.25 as is often the case.

Believe me there aren't that many of them out there in your budget area really. The middle-seat in the rear can be tiny. So my advice is to maybe look for a larger frame of a car than Aidan is suggesting (with the exception of the Citroen C5 - which I'm afraid would not be on my list).

It might be worth thinking about the Skoda Octavia, perhaps. Lots of room, decent rear space. The 1.4-litre petrol engine is fine.

I would add just one more to Aidan's list - the Opel Astra. I think this is one of the underrated cars. It may not be the roomiest (five decent enough seats), I admit, but it may make the most economic sense because an Opel dealer will probably do you a better deal.