HELPDESK: MICHAEL McALEERanswers all your motoring queries
From A Godden:
While I sympathise with the sentiment of the letter from Laurence McM in last week’s Motors supplement, as it is most infuriating to see people driving without having paid VRT, I think he should enlighten us as to how he knows that such cars are, in the main, owned and driven by Irish residents.
Perhaps the customs authorities should be chasing all UK registered cars driven by wearers of Irish football or rugby jerseys?
We all hate this tax and most of us have paid our fair share, but surely it is a sign of a badly created tax policy if there is significant incentive to evade and significant cost to collect and enforce? Maybe now is the time to shift car taxation onto usage and away from purchase in view of the various advantages that exist in such a policy shift?
The idea of taxing for usage is clearly the most equitable way. However, it may punish people who have no other option but to drive due to a lack of a public transport and it also doesn’t take into account their ability to pay.
While it might seem like a thankless task to identify Irish residents who avoid VRT, it would seem like one easy way is for the Garda to get information on Irish residents who are insured for over three months on foreign registered cars. Then it’s just a matter of revenue officials paying a visit to these drivers.
From JPK:
Can you enquire as to why the North bore of the Dublin port tunnel invariably seems to be closed late at night?
Typically of an early morning, on my way to Dublin airport, pre-6am, I encounter the electric overhead signs outside the entrance to Dublin Port proclaiming the tunnel shut. I smell a rat.
Is the tunnel mandated to be open 24-hours a day and is it being closed due to low traffic volumes? Are cost savings derived from not requiring staff at the cash booth throughout the night?
As a regular user myself, it’s clear that the tunnel has very low volumes off-peak. At over €750 million, that’s a very expensive empty stretch of road.
According to the NRA, the Tunnel closes two nights a week – Friday and Saturday between 11pm and 6am – for what we are told is weekly maintenance.
The contract for running it requires the tunnel to be “operational 24/7”, but it seems that maintenance closures fall under the remit of “operational”, even if it’s closed to the public.
Perhaps instead of closing it the sensible thing would be to throw it open for free when volumes are so low and let people appreciate this major piece of infrastructure.
From RMc:
I’m a 24-year-old who knows very little about cars, and am thinking about buying a vintage Beetle. I’ve been advised that this would be unwise, given my aforementioned motoring ignorance, and was wondering what you think. Would it end up costing me too much in time and money?
I currently drive a 1996 Subaru Vivio that gives me very little hassle. It costs €28 to fill and gives me around 280 miles. Would I see a serious change if I invested in a 1970s Beetle?
The most obvious change is likely to be a big hole in your bank balance and increased blood pressure. While I am a fan of old VW Beetles, I would advise you to give it a miss this time.
Owning a classic car can be joyous, but it is more often than not a costly exercise.
Even something as mechanically simple as a Beetle can quickly pile up significant maintenance bills, particularly if you need to pay someone else to do the work.
As you are not the only person harbouring romantic notions of pottering around in a Beetle, those in good condition also sell at a premium so you will probably pay much more for it than a newer – if rather more boring – used car.
The dream should not die however. I’d suggest you get yourself something else for now, complete one of the numerous basic car maintenance courses on offer across the country and then revisit the idea again when you more fully understand what’s involved and the likely costs.