CompleteCar
Search Ask Us Anything
Showing 21 - 30 results (out of a total of 498) found for "Auto" in Ask Us Anything

Any word on the Peugeot 5008 PHEV?

Hi,

I asked the question earlier in the year., but any further updates on the release in Ireland of the Peugeot 5008 plug-in hybrid?

Love the reviews.

Thanks

Daniel Vickers (Wicklow)

Aug 2025 Filed under: future cars

Expert answer

Hi Daniel,

We asked Gowan Autos again and it confirmed it is still coming, but not until 2026 now.


How much to tax a Ford Ranger 2.0 privately?

I'm thinking of buying a Ford Ranger Wildtrak (2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel, 205hp, 10-speed automatic).

I would like to know what it costs to tax this privately. I know if you have a VAT number or herd number it's €333. I have been to three different Ford garages and got three different answers.

a) It falls into tax band with CO2 of 171-190g/km, which is €790 a year;

b) It falls into 191-225g/km, which is €1,250 a year and;

c) It has a 2.0-litre engine which costs €710 a year to tax

Can you confirm please?

Bernard Davin (Dublin 24)

Aug 2025 Filed under: taxation

Expert answer

Hi Bernard,

I can confirm that, if you tax a commercial vehicle privately as described here, the rate is determined by the engine size, so, for an engine of 1,901-2,000cc, the rate is indeed €710 a year.


Can I switch into 2WD in the 4x4 Dacia Duster?

Can the Dacia Duster TCe 130 4x4 be changed to a two-wheel drive mode for urban driving?

Gary Shaw (Wakefield)

Jul 2025 Filed under: fuel economy and emissions

Expert answer

Hi Gary,

Not really, though the Auto setting for the four-wheel-drive system does send all power to the front wheels unless it deems it necessary to send some to the rear. It effectively is in two-wheel-drive mode most of the time.


Are Lotus, Morgan and GWM still on sale in Ireland?

Hi,

Just wondering if Lotus, Morgan and Great Wall are still available new on the Irish market or have they withdrawn. No new sales for Lotus or GWM this year yet and only one for Morgan.

Thank you

Mark (Laois)

Jul 2025 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

All three are represented here still.

Lotus Dublin is run by the Joe Duffy Group and it's based in Airside Motor Park in Dublin.

GWM only has the Ora brand here at the minute, with plenty of dealers listed on the GWM Ora Ireland website.

Morgans are distributed by Edgewood Automotive in Cork.


How much to change a VW Golf's gasket?

Hi,

Just wondering how much is it for a gasket change for an automatic Volkswagen Golf?

Thank you

Linda (Portlaoise)

Jul 2025 Filed under: repair

Expert answer

Hi Linda,

Assuming you mean the head gasket (there are loads of different gaskets in a car's engine), we'd have to know the year and full engine detalis before we could look up how long that work would take in any given car.

Even then, we couldn't hope to give you an accurate price as every garage charges its own labour rate and even the price of the parts will vary considerably depending on where they are bought.

Suffice to say that it is a large job that will likely be somewhere between €1,000 and €2,000.


Does the MGS5 EV have satnav?

Does the MGS5 EV have satellite navigation?

D Reilly (Drogheda Co Louth )

Jun 2025 Filed under: satellite navigation

Expert answer

Hi there,

It does indeed, so you don't have to rely on your phone through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto - you can just use the built-in system.


Looking to import an ex-police converted Ford Kuga...

Hi,

I have purchased a Ford Kuga. It is an ex-police 'K9' dog unit converted from a car to a two-seat commercial. It came with a five-seat car v5, though, so can this unit be classified as a commercial in Ireland?

What issues will there be with registering the vehicle? And where can I get an engineer's report on the conversion done by UK police?

Nicholas Walsh (Wexford)

May 2025 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Expert answer

Hi Nicholas,

When the vehicle is presented at an NCT centre for inspection, on importation, it doesn't matter what the UK registration document says. If the vehicle has been converted to a two-seat commercial with a bulkhead and no rear seats, then it is likely to be treated as such.

Assuming there is no paperwork relating to the conversion; however, it may be advisable to get an engineer's report beforehand. The NSAI has a list of Approved Test Centres here that should be able to help with that. https://www.nsai.ie/certification/automotive/national-type-approva/atc/

You are supposed to book the vehicle in for an inspection with the NCTS within seven days of its arrival and have it re-registered within 30 days, so keep all that in mind when you're booking appointments.

Do let us know how you get on.


Where to get CO2 figure for a Japanese Toyota GT86?

Hello.

Where I can get Japanese CO2 emissions for a 2014 Toyota GT86, model DBA-ZN6, engine code FA20?

Marek (Ireland)

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Marek,

Go to https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_fr10_000019.html (and use a browser that will automatically translate it from Japanese to English for you) and scroll down to item 6 and get Excel files full of information for loads of JDM cars. Those hold engine codes, etc, fuel consumption and CO2 data.

We found several entries for the Toyota you mentioned, with CO2 varying from 173-187g/km depending on the specific version of car.

If you're importing this car, Revenue will likely take the official NEDC CO2 figure for the European market and 'uplift' it to WLTP standards, meaning that even the automatic model will likely be in Band F (191-225g/km), while the manual may be in Band G (226g/km and higher).


Will I swap my Velar for a Nissan Qashqai?

I am currently driving a 2021 Range Rover Velar PHEV, which I bought new. It has only covered 8,500 miles to date. It's in perfect condition. Silver metallic paintwork, with black top and it also has a full fixed-glass roof with automatic blind.

I was thinking of changing for a Nissan Qashqai e-Power hybrid, or a Mazda MX-30 with the petrol engine to charge the battery. This seems to be a big improvement on the original launch model which had a very limited range.

I may be moving to an apartment which does not have a car-charging facility, and I am not quite ready to go fully electric yet.

I have a buyer interested in my Velar and I was wondering what value you would put on it, if I was to sell privately, and purchase the new car in a straight deal?

Patrick Devery (Blackrock, Dublin)

May 2025 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

First up, if you're not going to be able to charge a car up at home, we'd recommend you do not buy the MX-30. Yes, it's much improved with the 'range-extender' engine on board, but it's still a car designed to be plugged in and charged up. Without that, it would be a very frustrating petrol car with a tiny fuel tank. Read our review of the MX-30 R-EV here if you're still interested.

We're big fans of the Qashqai e-Power. It feels very like an EV at times to drive, giving you a flavour for that, yet you don't plug it in to charge it up. Go take a test drive for yourself to see if you agree with us. And read our detailed reviews of the Qashqai e-Power here. https://www.completecar.ie/car/search/car-reviews/Nissan/Qashqai

There are 2021 examples of the plug-in hybrid Velar in the classifieds varying from about €49,000 to as high as €75,000, though none are as low-mileage as your car, so that will help get a strong price for sure. That €75,000 example is an anomaly though so bank on somewhere slightly north of €50,000.


How much VRT on a 2015 BMW 420d?

Wondering how much it would cost to VRT a 2015 BMW 420d M Sport auto coupe?

Elliott (Cavan Ireland)

Apr 2025 Filed under: VRT

Expert answer

Hi Elliott,

We can help estimate, but remember some variables are beyond our control. You'll need the CO2 rating for the VRT band and the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price), which isn't fixed or directly tied to your car's purchase price. It's Revenue's estimated selling price in Ireland and can be hard to predict. Also, if the car has many extras, Revenue will increase the OMSP.

I believe the CO2 rating for that 4 Series should put the car into Band 9, at 15.25 per cent.

Taking €18,000 as the example OMSP, that would mean a VRT bill of €2,745.

Don't forget the NOx levy and, depending on where you're importing the car from, VAT and customs duty as well.