Michael McAleer answers your queries
From John Higgins, Co Dublin:
I currently own what you would refer to as a mini-SUV or "soft-roader" but I'm getting tired of the abuse at the hands of tree-hugging friends so I'm moving into the world of the regular car, perhaps something in the lines of a coupé.
Any suggestions? It would have to be priced in the region of €20,000 as finances are limited.
Sorry to learn that you are changing your car because of peer pressure. It does demonstrate how the car we drive is often an attempt to portray ourselves in a particular light.
In any event, there are some very tempting offers in the coupé range within your price bracket.
Our first port of call would be to the Mazda dealer network to try and locate an MX-5, one of the best roadsters on the market. You should be able to get a 1.6-litre version from 2000/2001 well within your budget, complete with hard top lid. These cars handle exceptionally well, and have held their own despite being around for some time.
Another contender for your driveway is the Hyundai Coupé. Go for the new-look model, if only for aesthetic reasons; the current model being a far better finished car than its predecessor.
However, given that the car was only launched in 2002, you may have to bargain hard to get it for under €20,000. From Toyota, you could take a look out for a pre-2001 Celica.
Finally, there's always the BMW Z3. You could probably pick up a pre-2000 model for under €20,000, and they did score well in the recent Top Gear survey, coming eighth out of 137 models rated for reliability, driving enjoyment and dealer service. However, it has never been rated particularly highly by the motoring press.
From Douglas McDonnell:
Are the speed camera detectors on sale in some car accessory stores legal and how reliable are they?
The most common speed camera detector works on a GPS system that matches the cars location to a pre-programmed map on which the locations of fixed speed cameras are already entered.
This list can be updated via the internet, often by paying an annual subscription.
These are perfectly legal here. However, several devices come with addtional sensors that detect mobile laser speed traps. These are illegal in Ireland.
From Patrick Coghlan:
I'm writing to you concerning a persistent odour of dogs in my car. I've tried several methods since buying it but to no avail. Any ideas as to how I might get rid of this problem?
Some time ago we received a number of e-mails about problems with bad odours in cars and one reader, John Mitchell, Dublin, suggested a product called 'Meguiar's Car Odor Eliminator', available in most car accessory shops.
Alternatively fresh air is probably the most economical cure, if you can safely leave your car parked with doors and windows open for a longer time. You should also vacuum often.
It's best to have a cheap seat cover that you put on the back seat whenever the dog is in the car.
If there are other "stains" on the seats then you need something a little stronger. Another reader, John Magill, suggests one of a number of industrial bacterial cleaning agents. A simple method is to pour baking soda in water on the stain.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie
