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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Top 10 most reliable older cars from just £2,800… and the risky buys you MUST avoid
Dominating the list are hybrid cars, scroll to see which fuel type is worst for reliability GOLDEN OLDIES Top 10 most reliable older cars from just £2,800… and the risky buys you MUST avoid Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRIVERS looking to buy an affordable but reliable older motor should consider one of these top 10 picks from the Which? annual car survey. The consumer group has revealed a list of cars it recommends with five-star reliability ratings between 10-15 years old, some for less than £3,000. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up From nippy city cars to big family SUVs, there are options for all drivers hunting for a bargain buy that doesn't scrimp on quality. Michael Passingham, senior researcher at Which?, told thisismoney that hybrid cars have come to dominate the list of most reliable, older vehicles. He said: "Why do these cars perform so well? One reason could be that the hardest part of a car's life – starting and pulling away – are mostly handled by the small electric motor. "These motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines and, along with sturdy main battery packs, really don't have to work all that hard. "The downside is that our data shows a much higher failure rate of the 12V battery (the small battery all cars have) on full hybrids; this component is worked hard so it pays to buy a quality one and get it replaced every five years or so." In good news for consumers, so called 'full' hybrids' have been removed from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars planned by the government. Micheal warned against opting for a plug-in hybrid, saying that this type of car has "one of the least reliable engine types according to our data". Here is the full list of the 10 best buys for the most reliable older cars... 10. Toyota Auris (2012-2019) Average used price: £4,650 10 The Toyota Auris is a great option for those wanting a green car that boasts impressive reliability especially for the price Credit: Alamy Faults: 28% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 5.3 The predecessor to the Toyota Corolla, the Auris served as the brands family hatchback offering for almost two decades until it was replaced in 2019. The second generation Auris, sold between 2012-2019, boasts impressive reliability with less than three in ten owners reporting faults in the last year, and only seven per cent saying their vehicle broke down. The average price of £4,650 makes this a competitive option when looking for a family, and environment, friendly hatchback. The only caveat is that the Auris took an average of 5.3 days to get back on the road after a breakdown, which is higher than other cars on this list. Princess Andre hits back at money-shaming trolls who claim 'Peter and Katie Price bought her £10k motor as first car' 9. Suzuki Alto (2009-2014) Average used price: £2,800 10 The Suzuki Alto is a small city-friendly car that is simple enough to get repaired cheaply and get back on the road quickly Credit: Alamy Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 1% Days off the road: 2.6 The Suzuki Alto, released in 2009, is still living up to its promise of being a cheap, compact and reliable supermini. It was first offered for £6,000-£7,000 and now can be snapped up for less than three grand, the cheapest buy on this list. The simplicity of the Alto makes it a particularly reliable option, with just 1 per cent reporting breakdowns in the last 12 months, and a quarter saying they had to deal with faults. If it does need a repair, the Alto's simplicity means it gets back to you in an average of only 2.6 days. 8. Toyota Yaris (2011-2020) Average used price: £3,100 10 The Toyota Yaris has a great track record of reliability, making it one of the most popular hatchbacks of the last 25 years Credit: Handout Faults: 23% Breakdowns: 6% Days off the road: 3.1 The go-to small, dependable car for many in the last 25 years, the Yaris, is still making recommendation lists for its affordability and reliability. With less than a quarter reporting faults and only 6 per cent dealing with a breakdown in the last 12 months, the Yaris still holds up remarkably well after all this time. This is the 2011-2020 model with a hybrid drivetrain, an addition which makes it economical to drive as well as to buy, averaging just over £3,000. 7. Suzuki Swift (2010-2016) Average used price: £3,500 10 Suzuki Swift is considered by some an overlooked gem of the supermini class Credit: Getty Faults: 27% Breakdowns: 8% Days off the road: 1.4 Suzuki appears again on this list with the 2010-2016 Swift supermini, a compact, simple vehicle at a compelling price. Received positively upon release, the Swift was praised for being fun to drive with a competitive blend of efficiency and performance. Now on sale for only around three and a half grand, this might be a great option for those looking for a small but fiery little motor. Although it scores a little worse on breakdowns, with 8 per cent being the highest on this list, it does only spend a brief 1.4 days in the shop when things do go wrong. Couple this with a good score of 27 per cent reporting faults, and this characterful car is still a good buy in 2025. 6. BMW X1 (2009-2015) Average used price: £5,200 10 The BMW X1 is surprisingly reliable for a big luxury SUV Credit: handout Faults: 35% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 2.1 In a shock entry to this list, the BMW X1 is an outlier for luxury SUVs, which are often unreliable and costly to repair. On the contrary, the X1 competes with other, much smaller, simpler cars with a respectable record of just 7 per cent reporting breakdowns last year and only 2.1 days taken to fix on average. Consumers may be able to take advantage of typically low SUV resale prices, generally due to reliability and repair cost concerns, to pick up this hidden gem for a very reasonable price of around £5,000. That said, the X1 does rank low on this list in terms of faults, with over a third experiencing issues in the last 12 months. 5. Skoda CitiGo (2009-2019) Average used price: £4,500 10 The Skoda Citigo is mechanically identical to the popular VW Up! making it a great choice for a small car on a budget that also boasts good reliability Credit: Getty Faults: 22% Breakdowns: 5% Days off the road: 2.8 Mechanically identical to the VW Up!, the Skoda CitiGo was meant for squeezing into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets while keeping your fuel costs and insurance premiums to a minimum. After being discontinued five years ago, the CitiGo now makes for a tempting prospect on the second-hand market. It was initially praised for being surprisingly roomy for being so small, and for being the cheaper alternative to the Up! while essentially being the same car. It boasts impressive reliability, with only 22 per cent reporting faults and 5 per cent experiencing a break down. The CitiGo is fairly quick to repair as well, only spending 2.8 days at the garage before being ready for more. 4. Honda Jazz (2008-2015) Average used price: £3,800 10 The Honda Jazz is popular among older drivers, but this doesn't mean it's not a great option for a convenient and reliable motor Credit: handout Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 4% Days off the road: 2.7 Almost exclusively driven by those of a certain age, the Honda Jazz is popular amongst the older demographic for a reason: its convenient, reliable and easy to drive. These attributes might get Grandma excited, but they should also make the Jazz an attractive option for anyone looking for a solid vehicle at a bargain price. One in four owners reported a fault with their cars and the average time in the garage was 2.7 days being fixed by mechanics. Your Jazz shouldn't be seeing the inside of a garage too often though, with only 4 per cent breaking down in the last year. 3. Lexus RX 450h (2009-2015) Average used price: £6,400 10 The Lexus RX 450h is a very reliable option for a big family motor, breakdowns are very rare according to Which? Credit: Handout Faults: 16% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 2 This chunky SUV was voted the most satisfying car to own in 2024 in a Which? survey. A glance at the cars record quickly confirms that one of the factors that make it so popular must be its excellent reliability. Looking at the hybrid-powered models here, only 16 per cent reported a fault in the last year and none had their RX break down on them. For the times that the RX was sent into the garage, it only spent 2 days on average being worked on. The price is a little higher than some others on this list, but buyers are getting both space, comfort and relatively good fuel efficiency. 2. Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015) Average used price: £3,800 10 The Mazda MX5 Roadster Coupe is a British icon, and could be yours for less than £4,000 if you opt for an older model Credit: Getty Faults: 26% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.7 The iconic MX-5 speeds into the number two spot for good reason, bucking the trend of unreliable sports car to still deliver thrilling driving with solid build quality at a good price. Hailing originally from the late 1980's, this example of the world's best selling roadster is the third generation MX-5, it debuted in 2005 and still holds up today. The record from Which?'s data is flawless when it comes to breakdowns, and shows that this classic is quick to fix only spending 1.7 days in the shop. Just over a quarter reported faults, but that's not a huge figure when it comes to second-hand sports cars. 1. Lexus CT 200h (2011-2020) Average used price: £7,300 10 The Lexus CT 200h is the number one car according to the Which? car survey for reliability Credit: PR handout Faults: 13% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.2 Topping the list as the most reliable 10 to 15 year-old car comes the Lexus CT 200h, a full hybrid hatchback which served as the brands answer to the Ford Focus and VW Golf until 2020. CT 200h owners surveyed by Which? delivered glowing reviews, reporting zero breakdowns and only 13 per cent experiencing a fault with their car. Drivers praised the vehicles comfort and, of course, reliability, only pointing to a small boot and clunky infotainment system as critiques, as reported by thisismoney. The car sells for around £7,000, the priciest offering so far, but its near spotless record should mean your investment pays off with a dependable motor that is good for years to come. The ones to steer clear of Which? puts the diesel powered Vauxhall Zafira (2005-2014) and Nissan Qashqai (2007-20013) as two of the least reliable vehicles that consumers should steer well clear of if dependability is their aim. The Zafira has become known for catching fires in recent years due to issues with its heater blower motor and regulator. This usually happens when owners replace parts with cheaper, aftermarket components. It is hardly a wonder that drivers are turning to cut-price alternatives when the Zafira breaks down on three in ten owners, with more than half reporting faults in the last year. The car also takes a whopping 14 days on average for repairs to be made. The first generation Nissan Qashqai also from suffers reliability issues, and needs almost a week in the garage on average before it is road-ready after a malfunction. Both these cars use diesel fuel, and Which? has found that this is by far the worst fuel type for reliability, with an average fault rate of 48 per cent, compared to 39 per cent for petrol and 23 per cent for hybrids. Least reliable older cars aged 10-15 years Vauxhall Zafira DIESEL (2005 - 2014) Nissan Qashqai DIESEL (2007 - 2013) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2007 - 2014) Skoda Octavia Estate (2005 - 2013) Audi A4 (2008 - 2015)
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Top 10 most reliable older cars from just £2,800… and the risky buys you MUST avoid
DRIVERS looking to buy an affordable but reliable older motor should consider one of these top 10 picks from the Which? annual car survey. The consumer group has revealed a list of cars it recommends with five-star reliability ratings between 10-15 years old, some for less than £3,000. Advertisement From nippy city cars to big family SUVs, there are options for all drivers hunting for a bargain buy that doesn't scrimp on quality. Michael Passingham, senior researcher at Which?, told He said: "Why do these cars perform so well? One reason could be that the hardest part of a car's life – starting and pulling away – are mostly handled by the small electric motor. "These motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines and, along with sturdy main battery packs, really don't have to work all that hard. Advertisement Read more in Cars "The downside is that our data shows a much higher failure rate of the 12V battery (the small battery all cars have) on full hybrids; this component is worked hard so it pays to buy a quality one and get it replaced every five years or so." In good news for consumers, so called 'full' hybrids' have been removed from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars planned by the government. Micheal warned against opting for a plug-in hybrid, saying that this type of car has "one of the least reliable engine types according to our data". Here is the full list of the 10 best buys for the most reliable older cars... Advertisement Most read in Motors 10. Toyota Auris (2012-2019) Average used price: £4,650 10 The Toyota Auris is a great option for those wanting a green car that boasts impressive reliability especially for the price Credit: Alamy Faults: 28% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 5.3 The predecessor to the Toyota Corolla, the Auris served as the brands family hatchback offering for almost two decades until it was replaced in 2019. Advertisement The second generation Auris, sold between 2012-2019, boasts impressive reliability with less than three in ten owners reporting faults in the last year, and only seven per cent saying their vehicle broke down. The average price of £4,650 makes this a competitive option when looking for a family, and environment, friendly hatchback. The only caveat is that the Auris took an average of 5.3 days to get back on the road after a breakdown, which is higher than other cars on this list. Princess Andre hits back at money-shaming trolls who claim 'Peter and Katie Price bought her £10k motor as first car' 9. Suzuki Alto (2009-2014) Average used price: £2,800 Advertisement 10 The Suzuki Alto is a small city-friendly car that is simple enough to get repaired cheaply and get back on the road quickly Credit: Alamy Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 1% Days off the road: 2.6 The Suzuki Alto, released in 2009, is still living up to its promise of being a cheap, compact and reliable supermini. It was first offered for £6,000-£7,000 and now can be snapped up for less than three grand, the cheapest buy on this list. Advertisement The simplicity of the Alto makes it a particularly reliable option, with just 1 per cent reporting breakdowns in the last 12 months, and a quarter saying they had to deal with faults. If it does need a repair, the Alto's simplicity means it gets back to you in an average of only 2.6 days. 8. Toyota Yaris (2011-2020) Average used price: £3,100 10 The Toyota Yaris has a great track record of reliability, making it one of the most popular hatchbacks of the last 25 years Credit: Handout Advertisement Faults: 23% Breakdowns: 6% Days off the road: 3.1 The go-to small, dependable car for many in the last 25 years, the Yaris, is still making recommendation lists for its affordability and reliability. With less than a quarter reporting faults and only 6 per cent dealing with a breakdown in the last 12 months, the Yaris still holds up remarkably well after all this time. This is the 2011-2020 model with a hybrid drivetrain, an addition which makes it economical to drive as well as to buy, averaging just over £3,000. Advertisement 7. Suzuki Swift (2010-2016) Average used price: £3,500 10 Suzuki Swift is considered by some an overlooked gem of the supermini class Credit: Getty Faults: 27% Breakdowns: 8% Days off the road: 1.4 Suzuki appears again on this list with the 2010-2016 Swift supermini, a compact, simple vehicle at a compelling price. Advertisement Received positively upon release, the Swift was praised for being fun to drive with a competitive blend of efficiency and performance. Now on sale for only around three and a half grand, this might be a great option for those looking for a small but fiery little motor. Although it scores a little worse on breakdowns, with 8 per cent being the highest on this list, it does only spend a brief 1.4 days in the shop when things do go wrong. Couple this with a good score of 27 per cent reporting faults, and this characterful car is still a good buy in 2025. Advertisement 6. BMW X1 (2009-2015) Average used price: £5,200 10 The BMW X1 is surprisingly reliable for a big luxury SUV Credit: handout Faults: 35% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 2.1 In a shock entry to this list, the BMW X1 is an outlier for luxury SUVs, which are often unreliable and costly to repair. Advertisement On the contrary, the X1 competes with other, much smaller, simpler cars with a respectable record of just 7 per cent reporting breakdowns last year and only 2.1 days taken to fix on average. Consumers may be able to take advantage of typically low SUV resale prices, generally due to reliability and repair cost concerns, to pick up this hidden gem for a very reasonable price of around £5,000. That said, the X1 does rank low on this list in terms of faults, with over a third experiencing issues in the last 12 months. 5. Skoda CitiGo (2009-2019) Average used price: £4,500 Advertisement 10 The Skoda Citigo is mechanically identical to the popular VW Up! making it a great choice for a small car on a budget that also boasts good reliability Credit: Getty Faults: 22% Breakdowns: 5% Days off the road: 2.8 Mechanically identical to the VW Up!, the Skoda CitiGo was meant for squeezing into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets while keeping your fuel costs and insurance premiums to a minimum. After being discontinued five years ago, the CitiGo now makes for a tempting prospect on the second-hand market. Advertisement It was initially praised for being surprisingly roomy for being so small, and for being the cheaper alternative to the Up! while essentially being the same car. It boasts impressive reliability, with only 22 per cent reporting faults and 5 per cent experiencing a break down. The CitiGo is fairly quick to repair as well, only spending 2.8 days at the garage before being ready for more. 4. Honda Jazz (2008-2015) Average used price: £3,800 Advertisement 10 The Honda Jazz is popular among older drivers, but this doesn't mean it's not a great option for a convenient and reliable motor Credit: handout Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 4% Days off the road: 2.7 Almost exclusively driven by those of a certain age, the Honda Jazz is popular amongst the older demographic for a reason: its convenient, reliable and easy to drive. These attributes might get Grandma excited, but they should also make the Jazz an attractive option for anyone looking for a solid vehicle at a bargain price. Advertisement One in four owners reported a fault with their cars and the average time in the garage was 2.7 days being fixed by mechanics. Your Jazz shouldn't be seeing the inside of a garage too often though, with only 4 per cent breaking down in the last year. 3. Lexus RX 450h (2009-2015) Average used price: £6,400 10 The Lexus RX 450h is a very reliable option for a big family motor, breakdowns are very rare according to Which? Credit: Handout Advertisement Faults: 16% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 2 This chunky SUV was voted the most satisfying car to own in 2024 in a Which? survey. A glance at the cars record quickly confirms that one of the factors that make it so popular must be its excellent reliability. Looking at the hybrid-powered models here, only 16 per cent reported a fault in the last year and none had their RX break down on them. Advertisement For the times that the RX was sent into the garage, it only spent 2 days on average being worked on. The price is a little higher than some others on this list, but buyers are getting both space, comfort and relatively good fuel efficiency. 2. Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015) Average used price: £3,800 10 The Mazda MX5 Roadster Coupe is a British icon, and could be yours for less than £4,000 if you opt for an older model Credit: Getty Advertisement Faults: 26% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.7 The iconic MX-5 speeds into the number two spot for good reason, bucking the trend of unreliable sports car to still deliver thrilling driving with solid build quality at a good price. Hailing originally from the late 1980's, this example of the world's best selling roadster is the third generation MX-5, it debuted in 2005 and still holds up today. The record from Which?'s data is flawless when it comes to breakdowns, and shows that this classic is quick to fix only spending 1.7 days in the shop. Advertisement Just over a quarter reported faults, but that's not a huge figure when it comes to second-hand sports cars . 1. Lexus CT 200h (2011-2020) Average used price: £7,300 10 The Lexus CT 200h is the number one car according to the Which? car survey for reliability Credit: PR handout Faults: 13% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.2 Advertisement Topping the list as the most reliable 10 to 15 year-old car comes the Lexus CT 200h, a full hybrid hatchback which served as the brands answer to the Ford Focus and VW Golf until 2020. CT 200h owners surveyed by Which? delivered glowing reviews, reporting zero breakdowns and only 13 per cent experiencing a fault with their car. Drivers praised the vehicles comfort and, of course, reliability, only pointing to a small boot and clunky infotainment system as critiques, as reported by thisismoney. The car sells for around £7,000, the priciest offering so far, but its near spotless record should mean your investment pays off with a dependable motor that is good for years to come. Advertisement The ones to steer clear of Which? puts the diesel powered Vauxhall Zafira (2005-2014) and Nissan Qashqai (2007-20013) as two of the least reliable vehicles that consumers should steer well clear of if dependability is their aim. The Zafira has become known for catching fires in recent years due to issues with its heater blower motor and regulator. This usually happens when owners replace parts with cheaper, aftermarket components. It is hardly a wonder that drivers are turning to cut-price alternatives when the Zafira breaks down on three in ten owners, with more than half reporting faults in the last year. The car also takes a whopping 14 days on average for repairs to be made. Advertisement The first generation Nissan Qashqai also from suffers reliability issues, and needs almost a week in the garage on average before it is road-ready after a malfunction. Both these cars use diesel fuel, and Which? has found that this is by far the worst fuel type for reliability, with an average fault rate of 48 per cent, compared to 39 per cent for petrol and 23 per cent for hybrids. Least reliable older cars aged 10-15 years Vauxhall Zafira DIESEL (2005 - 2014) Nissan Qashqai DIESEL (2007 - 2013) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2007 - 2014) Skoda Octavia Estate (2005 - 2013) Audi A4 (2008 - 2015)
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
A government unable to do its job uses lots of your money to get someone else to – but new tsar is destined for failure
6 TAOISEACH Micheal Martin seemed more exercised by the pronouncements of Northern Irish rap band Kneecap this week than any of the plethora of crises afflicting little old Ireland. The naive 6 Martin should have played his cards close to the chest on Kneecap Credit: PA Which is why I won't be repeating what it's alleged they said. It was puerile and undeserving of widespread public acknowledgment. Moral outrage is one of the weakest emotions. Squash it underfoot wherever you come upon it. The band have since apologised but will suffer the indignity of having more future gigs cancelled, no doubt, as the bandwagon of indignation gathers speed. Read more in News It may well have the opposite of course, and make them must-see material. Controversy is always good for The Taoiseach should have kept his counsel when asked to comment on It didn't make him appear down with the Most read in The Irish Sun Then again, maybe he's a die-hard Kneecap fan and felt compelled to stick his oar in, give his tuppence worth. Micheal, the secret rap fan. 'It just makes me happy', says legendary singer Elton John as he praises 'brave' Irish musicians Even if he is, it's always squirm-inducing to witness old fogies talk about youth culture. Leave the rap to the rappers, Micheal. There are far bigger issues crowding your plate. Like the perpetual haunting ghost that it is, the housing crisis continued to dominate debate in the Why? Well, as has been the case since time immemorial, the Government has chosen NOT to grasp the nettle, but to pass the buck. Not content with having a Housing Minister to deal with the problem of building homes, WASHING HANDS OF PROBLEM Explicit in the establishment of this new quango, because that's all it is, is the acknowledgement by government that it is INCAPABLE of solving the Someone else needs to do it. If the quango fails, it won't be down to us. Wash your hands of the problem and it kind of goes away. Which, if you are Housing Minister James Browne, must feel like a giant kick in the you-know-whats. Or you would have thought. But apparently, Mr Browne is keen on a new Housing Tsar, and he'd lobbied for current Nama chief, Brendan McDonagh, but he turned it down last night. PLUM ROLE BLASTED Apoplectic, She raged at Martin: 'Nearly half a million euro. An astonishing amount of taxpayers' money for the salary of just one person. 'It's the starting salary of eleven new nurses, or eleven new 'What is to be the role of this new highly paid tsar? "From what we have heard, he will focus on removing roadblocks to housing construction, to getting houses built more quickly and to speeding up housing delivery. 'In other words, he will take on the main responsibilities of the Minister for Housing." 'NO CONFIDENCE' She went on: 'It is a very expensive job share. It is clear the Taoiseach's Government has no confidence in the ability of the minister, Deputy James Browne, to do his job.' He told an incredulous Dail: 'The head of Nama, which oversaw the fire sale of thousands of homes and billions of euro of development land, is being headhunted.' He was, yes, but wisely decided he didn't want any part of it. So, with their first choice for czar fallen by the wayside, what's the Government going to do now? The €430,000 salary sticks in the craw of many, including twitchy-arsed Government backbenchers. NAUSEATING PROPOSITION Ordinary folk haven't two red cents to rub against each other from day to day, so the thought of handing over the guts of half a million quid on a 'job share' is nauseating. The Government will have to cast a wide net to attract anyone. No matter who they get they won't be able to achieve much. They'll huff and puff but they won't be able to unblock or speed up a system that has been utterly dysfunctional for, well, forever. Knocking heads together is an alien concept to those in possession of the reins of power in Ireland. If they had it in them all these years they've led us, we wouldn't be in the do-do we're in now. And they wouldn't be outsourcing a fundamental task in the middle of an emergency to someone else. But that's what they're attempting to do. Those who govern us simply aren't made of the right stuff. Electing people who've got it just isn't in our DNA. PEIRRE'S POETIC JUSTICE JUST a few short months ago, So much so, that they were a clear 30 per cent ahead of their nearest challengers, The Liberal Party. 6 Pierre Poilievre is little more than a Trump wannabe Credit: Getty Then along came Trump and it all fell apart at the seams for Pierre and his pals. The Liberals, led by former It resonated and the Liberals won last Monday's elections. The Conservatives did poll well, securing their best result since 1988, but it wasn't enough to take the reins of power. As well as losing the election, the Conservative leader Poilievre lost his own seat in parliament to a guy called Bruce Fanjoy. Poetic justice, eh? GROWING GOLD HOW on earth does a goldfish live to be 34? 6 Ireland's longest living goldfish is 34 Credit: Getty She feeds it a few flakes every morning and cleans out the barrel now and then. She said: 'I'd like to think Olivia could be Ireland's oldest goldfish but you never know, there could be another out there to beat it.' I remember getting a goldfish in my early days as a dad. He died after three days. I did everything right. Kept his bowl clean and aerated, and gave him just the right amount of food. But he still kicked the bucket. I couldn't tell my two boys, so I went back to the pet store and bought another goldfish. He was identical. They all are. My lads wouldn't notice. And, they didn't. Until my eldest came running into me one morning, about three days later if I remember correctly, to say Goldfish Number Two was 'floating upside down'. The second bugger had died too. Thankfully, my boys, at that time aged just four and two, had memories like goldfish and the death was soon forgotten. We got a 15YRS ON AND STILL MISSED I STOPPED listening to 2FM 15 years ago when His three-hour show every weekday morning from nine to midday was essential listening. 6 RTE has never been the same since Gerry Ryan passed away Credit: PA:Press Association He blended seriousness with comedy, laughter with tears. He was the ultimate free-spirit. An anarchist of the airwaves. To tune in was to be brought on a journey to where you never quite knew. And that was the fascination. He held the nation in the palm of his hand. His death at the age of just 53 on April 30, 2010 came as a huge shock to the nation. He truly was loved. His irreverence, his wit, his sarcasm, his empathy, his deep affection for life and those who lived it to the full, was infectious. Mind you, if he were still on air, I doubt it very much that he'd have got away with half the stuff that was de rigueur back then. The woke luvvies would have been triggered at every single Gerry utterance, which would have been a joy to behold. G Ryan. You're still terribly missed. BLACKOUT CONFUSION FIVE days after Some blamed Spain's rush to renewable energy but the country's power company, Red Electrica, rubbished this. A cyberattack has not been ruled out, nor has the possibility of the nefarious involvement of an outside state, with some suggesting Russian involvement. Spain's top court has ordered investigators to come up with a definitive answer within ten days. After they know for sure, the authorities can then plan so it never happens again in the future. GRANDPA GANG KIM Now, nine of those allegedly involved are on trial in 6 Kim Kardashian was attached by The Grandpa Gang in Paris in 2016 Credit: Getty The 'Grandpa' gang are all in their 60s and 70s. One has cancer, one is totally deaf and another has Alzheimer's. Yunice Abbas, 71, who wrote a book about the heist while on remand, has had a triple heart bypass. Kim told David Letterman a few years back how the gang, handcuffed and gagged her before making their getaway, including Abbas, who fled on a BICYCLE. Terrifying, alright.
USA Today
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Watch this cute toddler's T-shirt shock family with mom's pregnancy news
A toddler's T-shirt slogan sparked tears of joy among her family members when they realized what it meant. When Houston couple, Madeline and Micheal discovered they were expecting their second child, they wanted the announcement to be up close and personal. With their first pregnancy, they'd had to share the news with their family virtually due to the pandemic. This time, they wanted to do it right and chose their toddler, Lillian, as the messenger. After giving her the happy news, they dressed the excited 3-year-old in a T-shirt bearing the words 'Big Sis,' then watched as the penny dropped with one surprised family member after another. Click on the video below to see a toddler bring her family to tears with a T-shirtmessage! Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.
