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Previously answered questions

How to sell our second car safely?

We used to be a two-car household, but COVID has changed that as we both now are working from home. We’ve come to the point where we’re satisfied we could easily get along with just the one car and we’ve made a decision to sell our second car privately.

But how do we do that? We tried selling a car 10 years ago by placing an ad, but all we got was two replies, one really abusive and the other we quickly realised was a scammer. So what options for privately selling are there?

Martin Moroney (Dublin)

Aug 2022 Filed under: used car values

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Should I replace my Audi's cambelt again?

Just purchased 2009 Audi Avant 2.0 TDI estate with 90,000 miles on the clock. Service history states cam belt and water pump replaced at 60,000 in 2015. The question I would appreciate being answered is - should I be considering replacing them again bearing in mind the time passed?

Many thanks

Philip Perks (Southampton)

Aug 2022 Filed under: servicing

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Will I pay VAT importing my own car from UK?

Hi,

I am moving back to Ireland after living in the UK for 10 years. I am bringing my car (11 years old, two previous owners). I have already got VRT exemption but I'm worried I will have to pay VAT at 23% on it. I have the purchase invoice and I was not charged VAT by the UK dealer at the time.

Am I going to be charged VAT now by the Irish Revenue?

Cheers, Tony

Tony Herrigan (London)

Jul 2022 Filed under: importing

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Are hybrid Skodas available in Ireland?

Hi,

I’m interested in the Skoda Superb iV Sportline Plus PHEV (estate and hatch) or possibly even the Octavia iV PHEV, but they don’t seem to be on Skoda.ie although they do appear on Skoda.co.uk… I would have thought they would be available with the demand for electric and more and more companies insisting their fleets are electrified to some degree because of emissions?

Martin Smith (Dublin)

Jul 2022 Filed under: choosing new car

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Do I need to pay VAT importing this bike?

I am having trouble working out if the motorbike I would like to bring into Ireland from Northern Ireland requires VAT. I understand about the VRT, which should be €700+€100, but does it require VAT? The bike was first registered in NI but is an engine rebuild with only 50km on the clock. It is insured and taxed up north as a 2007 vehicle.

Fiona C (Dublin)

Jul 2022 Filed under: importing

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How to change my Peugeot speedo to kmh?

On my Peugeot 2008 (2020 model), how do I change the display from mph to kmh?

Bob Easby (Stockton-on-Tees)

Jun 2022 Filed under: infotainment

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Do I need beam deflectors on my Peugeot?

I have a Peugeot 2008 (2020 model) with LED lights. Do I need beam deflectors when driving abroad?

Bob Easby (Stockton-on-Tees)

Jun 2022 Filed under: lighting

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VRT on importing an Infiniti Q70?

Hi there,

What is the VRT on an Infiniti Q70 3.5-litre hybrid? The tax office tell me to bring it in and they will then tell me how much it will be. But if the VRT is too high I will have to bring it out of the country and most likely lose money on it. So can you help?

Thanks

Eamonn

Eamonn Munnelly (Mullingar)

Jun 2022 Filed under: importing

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Should I go electric or hybrid with a new BMW SUV?

I own a 2017 Audi Q7 S line. I like the car a lot and the specs are high but I feel like I need to move up a few years within the next 10/12 months. I drive approx. 25,000km per year, 75 per cent of that is made up of short journeys of about 10 miles per journey and the remainder is longer motorway driving. I do not want to buy diesel again and think a BMW X5 xDrive45e may suit my needs, or maybe a BMW iX. I am considering a new car purchase.

In your opinion, which option would suit my needs better?

Thank you

David Scully (Cork)

May 2022 Filed under: choosing new car

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Issues with stop-start!

What's happening with stop-start? On my current and previous brand-new cars - Ford Focus and now a VW Golf - the start-stop system stopped working after about three weeks. On the Focus it worked for about another two weeks with a battery charge.

Eventually we paid for a new battery at the garage's suggestion. It wasn't covered by warranty according to Ford head office whom we had it out with. That also worked only for a few weeks. I drove it without for nearly all of the two years I had it.

Same is happening now with the Golf after three weeks. It should work. It's part of the car specs and it's good with my DSG gearbox. Have I the right to insist this be fixed or am I nitpicking? The car is four weeks old.

I'm also getting conflicting information on whether to put the car in neutral or drive on short stops at lights etc. when start-stop isn't working.

This is doing my head in and I'd really appreciate your help.

Thanks.

Teresa O'Donnell (Ennis)

Apr 2022 Filed under: fault

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4,885 Irish motoring queries answered to date

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