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Previously answered questions
Why is my Passat's economy so poor?
Hi, we recently bought a VW Passat 1.6 FSI, but the fuel economy is terrible. We seem to be at the petrol pump more often than not. Is this common for this type of car?
Declan Coughlan (Dublin)
Apr 2011 Filed under: fuel economy and emissions
What type of automatic gearbox is in the Hyundai i40?
What type of automatic gearbox is in the Hyundai i40?
John Carey (Clogheen)
Apr 2011 Filed under: automatic
Toyota Auris petrol or diesel?
I want to change my 99 Polo. I drive only at weekends and am wondering should I change to a diesel. I'm thinking of getting Toyota Auris 2008 but don' know whether to go for petrol or diesel one. Any advice please?
Siobhan OGara (Dublin)
Apr 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
How much is my Volvo S40 worth?
I have a 2005 Volvo S40 2.0D S with 153,000 km on the clock. How much should I expect for a trade-in and private sale respectively?
Padraig McCarthy (Limerick)
Apr 2011 Filed under: used car values
How often should I service the Skoda Octavia?
How often should I service my Skoda Octavia 1.9 Diesel?
NIALL MC MAHON (DUNDALK)
Mar 2011 Filed under: servicing
Do dealers and the public pay different VRT?
Could you please tell me if there is a differance in the VRT rate on importing car from the UK to Ireland if you are a dealership owner or a private customer?
David O'brien (Waterford)
Mar 2011 Filed under: importing
Safety of occupants in third row of seats
Hello
I am looking at buying a second hand seven seater. When I was checking the compatibility of my car seats with the seven seaters I had in mind (Ford S-Max, VW Touran and Citroen C4) the car seat manufacturer recommends not putting any car seats in the third row.
On further investigation it seems when the third row is in use the safety of people (i.e mostly kids as most adults would not sit in third row) is very poor. Can you shed any light? Besides going for the bigger seven seaters like the Ford Galaxy (which is out due to budget reasons) is there any seven seater safer in this regard? Am I overthinking this, is this the case with most five seater cars or is the boot space a big plus if a car is rear ended?
Linda Keane (Meath)
Mar 2011 Filed under: safety
What will I buy with my lottery winnings?
Hi there, I'm in a dilemma. Ahead of winning the Lotto jackpot tonight I am at my wits end trying to figure out what car to buy. I believe the Ford S-Max is very highly regarded but it doesn't inspire me aesthetically. What can you suggest in its class with money being no object of course,
Clodagh Monks, Cork
Clodagh Monks (Cork)
Mar 2011 Filed under: lottery win
Newer VW Passat or older BMW 3 Series?
Hi Shane & Paddy,
I am looking at changing my car. I've a 2002 BMW 318Ci with 106,000 miles on the clock. It has Bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel, alloys, cruise control etc. Due to on-street parking it has some damage to the rear driver's side panel and the alloys need to be dipped to look their best. We have a baby on the way so need something with back doors.
I have looked at a 2007 2.0-litre Passat saloon: 90,000km, leather interior, heated seats, cruise control and Bluetooth and the garage is asking €11,950. I also saw a 2005 BMW 320i SE saloon with leather seats, cruise control etc. and they are asking €11,950 too. I was also thinking of looking at Audi A4s but haven't yet.
Assuming I can get approx €5,000 for my current car then €11-12,000 is the total budget. Should I do the repair work on the damage and alloys now to improve value? Can you recommend someone?
What can I expect to get for private sale and trade-in? What would you recommend as replacement? We do mostly city driving with a country trip once a month or so. Petrol or diesel? Head says newer Passat but I like driving the BMW and think the Passat / A4 might be less enjoyable to drive.
Sorry for all the questions!
Thanks. Enda
Enda Lowry (Dublin)
Mar 2011 Filed under: choosing used car
How reliable is the latest Renault Laguna?
How reliable is the latest Renault Laguna?
Brian McGill (Waterford)
Mar 2011 Filed under: reliability
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