Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Mark Biggar:
I was wondering if you could give me advice on the following: In the next year, I intend to purchase a 2-5 year old car to replace my 98D Mazda 121. I would be looking for a similar style car (eg small, 4-door, with big boot), with good after-sales reliability. I would only have a budget of around €8,000 to €10,000. The drivers would be a 25-year-old male, and a middle aged woman. Would you have any suggestions of cars that match this description, and not cause a loading on my insurance premium?
First off, the Mazda would not have been our first choice in this category, but glad to read that you found it so enjoyable. It's not the most exciting car out there, but it does have a good record for reliability.
This is what's called a b-segment, or small family car. Competitors here range from the Ford Fiesta through to new arrivals like the Suzuki Swift. For your money you will have to look to the used market, but there are a couple of similarly priced new cars such as the Daihatsu Charade, which is certainly worth consideration at just under €11,000.
Otherwise, there are several good buys out there at the moment, most notably the Skoda Fabia, good-looking Seat Ibiza, the Peugeot 206 of which there are several on the market at present, and last but certainly not least the Toyota Yaris. When giving advice, we always seem to err on the side of caution and while it might not be the most exciting car on that list, it's hard to fault the Yaris in terms of reliability and residual value (in other words it's ability to hold its value). You should be able to pick up a 2001 model for about €10,000 and there are plenty of them on the market.
From Ned Dempsey:
I was interested in your photo last week of Rover cars parked at an airstrip in the UK. I have been looking for a Rover 75 up to three years-old old ideally diesel auto connoisseur and hoped to get a bargain in the current climate, particularly in Britain. Are the cars pictured to be auctioned or have you any suggestions as to where to shop?
The cars in the picture are currently off the market as there's a dispute over exactly who owns them. However, as you may have heard, the Irish dealers have come together with the administrators and are offering deals on all models at present, with discounts of €3,500 on the Rover 25, €4,000 on the 45 and nearly €6,000 on a new Rover 75. They are being covered by a two-year warranty, include two years breakdown and roadside assistance and zero per cent financing for three years.
That still might not persuade us to buy the likes of the 25, but it may tempt some to opt for the 75. It might be a little dated, but it's still a relatively good car. The only concern must be the long-term impact on resale value. However, if you are planning to hold on to a 75 for quite some time then it might just be something worth considering. The problem is that uncertainty is probably limiting the number of used cars making it onto the market for now. Sellers are playing a wait and see game, not wanting to panic and lose too much in the resale market. You're best bet is to check out the Irish deals for new cars at present and wait and see the impact on the used market. If you do enter the used market, be sure that any price reflects the discounts on offer at present.
From Dermot Pearse: I read with interest the article in Motors (May 4th) about the lifespan of airbags. It was never mentioned to me at any stage that I might need to get them replaced or that they even run out in time.
Is it not part of the warranty that these are replaced by the manufacturer, given that they are a vital part of the safety equipment? How can I check them?
Airbags have a lifespan of about 10 years - longer in some new cars these days. They are not part of the warranty as a manufacturer will not cover parts like this, but it is something that we should pressure companies to do. After all, it's not as if they deteriorate through wear and tear.
Testing an airbag is a bit of a catch 22. The problem is that there's no real way of testing it unless you deploy it, in which case you end up covered in talcum powder and none the wiser as it's a one-off event. Ultimately, it's worth remembering that an airbag is a secondary safety device. The most important thing that will save your life is a seatbelt.
After living in England for 7 years I am now moving back to Ireland. Could you tell me what I need to do, if anything, about bringing my car into Ireland. Do I have to pay tax or other and how do I go about getting it registered with an Irish plate. Also how soon does this have to be done?
From From Paul Maye:
I own my current car for eight months now and bought it second hand in a private sale, (1994 car). If my wife was to by a second hand car before she moves back to Ireland, would the same answers apply to the above.
Any information you can provide would be very helpful.
No, your wife would have to pay Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) on arrival if she bought a car now.
The rules are based on how long you've owned a car. If it's less than six months, then you are liable to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and must contact the revenue commissioners as soon as you arrive.
Officially any delay in registering your vehicle or paying Vehicle Registration Tax will make you liable to substantial penalties - including forfeiture of your vehicle and prosecution.
The exceptions to the VRT rule are: visitors to Ireland who have owned their vehicles abroad for more than 6 months and who will be resident here temporarily or those who who have owned their vehicles abroad for more than 6 months and who are moving permanently to Ireland.
It's important to note, however that to qualify for the exemption, if you are moving to Ireland and are among those exempt from paying VRT you cannot sell your vehicle for more than 12 months after the vehicle is registered.
If you bring a vehicle into Ireland from abroad, you must first of all be able to show proof of ownership of the vehicle. For example, a vehicle registration document, evidence of car insurance, etc.
If you don't qualify for the exemption, you must register your car and pay VRT at one of the Vehicle Registration Offices around the State by the end of the next working day following its arrival into Ireland. The law also states that you must display the registration number within three days.
The VRT payable is a percentage of the expected retail price, including all taxes in the State. This price is called the "Open Market Selling Price" (OMSP). An On-Line VRT Enquiry System is now available at www.revenue.ie.
The most important point to note is that you shouldn't buy a new car before you move if you want to avoid the VRT trap.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie