Issue with hybrid 'cats' being stolen?
Just reading an article about the ongoing theft of catalytic converters in hybrid cars. The article didn't specify the type of hybrid cars involved. Are there similar catalytic converters robbable in plug-in hybrid cars?
Thanks
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)May 2020 Filed under: hybrid
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
It’s not just a problem for hybrids; all cars have catalytic convertors and the problem is that they use hugely valuable precious metals — principally rhodium and palladium — to achieve the chemical reactions that reduce the levels of pollution coming from the engine. Hybrid cars tend to have more of those metals in the cat, and they tend to be less corroded and worn, because a hybrid car, on average, runs its engine for shorter periods than a conventional car. Hence the targeting of hybrids. The best advice from the Gardaí to prevent such theft is to park in a busy, well-lit area if you can. There are also devices — known as cat-locks — which might offer some protection.
Are commercial vehicle rules being broken here?
Hi,
I have a commercial vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery Commercial; I have it both taxed and insured in the name of a limited company. All sounds good to me. I have a friend who started up a new limited company and transferred his Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial into the company. He has not changed the tax or insurance and both are in his own name. So in effect the Toyota is in the company from an accounts view but in reality it is still owned and insured by the individual. Is this legal and how are you from an insurance point of view?
A second question is in relation to the commercial SUVs, I know of an individual that has the SUV in the company and taxed as commercial in the company for €333, but the insurance has remained private. Is this correct?
Thanks,
Richard in Waterford
Richard Tobin (Waterford)May 2020 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Richard,
The phrase ‘can of worms’ springs to mind. In general, a car can be registered to a company, and taxed and insured by the company, and still used by an individual for social, domestic and pleasure use. That’s how company cars work, obviously, but equally obviously there’s a Benefit-in-Kind tax liability to be paid. So it’s possible that your friend with the Land Cruiser is trying to avoid paying BIK.
In the case of the SUV, in theory a car that’s taxed as a commercial cannot be used for personal, social, domestic, or pleasure driving and there’s a fine to be paid if you’re caught displaying incorrect tax. Now, we should state at this point that we’re neither legal nor tax experts, and that the people you’re talking about could be operating entirely above board, and we’re not going to cast any aspersions on anyone.
Of course, this is Ireland and as we know, we don’t like sticking to the rules...
What's up with insurance on my Citroen C4?
Hi, my wife just bought a Citroen C4; it is a great car to drive, but when time came to insure the car it went up €280 on last year's insurance on a 2007 Nissan Almera. Both cars are in Group 15 and Citroen C4 is rated as a safer car. Are we missing something here about the C4?
Thank you
Aidan
Aidan Dempsey (Athy)May 2020 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Aidan,
Insurance is a perennial bugbear and, unfortunately, we don’t have much of an answer for you. It could be that, when damaged, the C4 is more expensive to repair than the Almera, or simply that Irish insurers view anything that’s not a dull four-door saloon as ’sporty’ in some vague way. I’m afraid that the only thing to do is the old ’shop-around’ routine when it comes to renewal. I think it would also be worth having a word with your current insurer, find out exactly why your insurance went up (this might take a bit of drilling down through layers of ‘computer says no’) and make it very clear how dissatisfied you are, and that you’re planning to move your insurance at renewal time.
Looking at importing a BMW Z3...
Hi,
I am planning to buy a 1999 BMW Z3, 52k miles, value £3,390 (Sterling pounds), 2.0-litre automatic. How much is the VRT for this car? I could not find BMW Z3 in the VRT website, only BMW Z4. Will they consider this 1999 Z3 as a classic car?
Marlon C (Lucan)May 2020 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Marlon,
It’s not a classic yet, I’m afraid. To qualify for ’vintage’ status (as Revenue erroneously insists on using), a car has to be at least 30 years old, so the youngest BMW Z3s won’t start to qualify until 2025. Calculating a VRT value for one is tricky, as prices and values are massively variable according to condition. I would think that a value of around €6,000 sounds about right, which could mean as much as €2,100 in VRT terms given that the 2.0i auto is in the highest band for VRT with CO2 emissions above 225g/km. That’s just a guess though — Revenue is notoriously awkward about valuing cars that are less common.
VRT on this 1990 BMW 3 Series?
Hi,
I'm just wondering how much the VRT is on a 1990 car registered in October so not vintage yet: BMW 318is.
Rory O Callaghan (Cork)May 2020 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Rory,
That’s a really tough one to answer, as there are so few E30 3 Series around at the moment, and values stretch from almost nothing to lots, depending on condition. The problem is that Revenue is notoriously awkward when it comes to valuing older, rarer cars and could slap a massive value on the car that’s simply not realistic. My best suggestion would be to get in touch with the BMW Owners Club in Ireland and get a good feeling for the value of your car. If Revenue mis-values it, you’ll be able to appeal and claim back the excess VRT paid. Or, perhaps, try and wait until October to get it done, which would be the best all-round.
Looking for Tesla Model 3 pricing info...
Hi there,
Can you tell me what the VRT for a new Tesla Model 3 (basic model) is please? Why is it €48,900 here whereas in the USA it is $35,000?! Any reason for this huge price difference?
Thanks and regards
Roisin
Roisin Keating (Firhouse, Dublin)May 2020 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Roisin,
Unfortunately, we can’t tell you the precise amount of VRT payable on a Tesla Model 3 as Tesla doesn’t provide us with a wholesale price, net of VRT and VAT. However, it’s not going to be much, if anything at all, thanks to the €5,000 VRT rebate available on electric cars.
As for the vast difference between the price of a Model 3 in the US, most of that is down to tax — don’t forget that the American price Tesla quotes does not include local sales taxes, whereas the Irish price is inclusive of VAT (which is, at a rough guess, the guts of €5,000 to €8,000 depending on the model).
Start-stop on my Jeep Compass not right...
My start-stop is not working on my 2018 Jeep Compass. What should I do to get it working?
Tina Dunston (Cary)May 2020 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Tina,
There can be many different reasons for a start-stop system not to work. We get so many queries about it that we wrote this feature: Why won't my car's stop-start system work?
My Fiat 500C's stop-start is playing up...
Hi,
I have a 2012 Fiat 500c manual. Over the past year, the stop-start has intermittently stopped working, warning light comes on saying stop-start not available and a yellow triangle. The last few months is has been happening more often, now warning light on constantly. I had the battery checked and it was 80 per cent. Charged battery and today warning light was on constantly for six miles, drove again and stop-start worked or at least no warning light for about a mile, then on again, tried quickly turning key in ignition 6 to 10 times and warning light stayed off for another 1/2 mile or so then back on, had a hose replaced in February from radiator and it started to say unavailable about middle of March. It's not affecting driving any other way just really annoying, don't know if a new battery will fix it. Fiat dealers are closed at the moment due to COVID-19 or I would have taken it for a diagnostic test.
Hope I've made sense.
Wendy Armson (Brierley Hill)Apr 2020 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Wendy,
We get a lot of queries from people with cars that have stop-start issues. We've published this article to help: Why won't my car's stop-start system work?
Saying all that, we also know that the Fiat 500's engine can develop a couple of issues that may be relevant to you, including a problem with the alternator belt tension (and hence battery recharging when on the move) and another with the engine control unit.
Sadly, unless you're comfortable with checking the alternator belt for yourself, these items will have to be checked by a mechanic.
My low-mileage car has stop-start issues...
My auto start-stop does not work; the dash says engine is on due to vehicle charging and it just stays that way. The car only has 10,000 miles on it.
Gerald Hawk (DUNMORE)Apr 2020 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Gerald,
Most stop-start issues can be traced to a problem with the battery. Perhaps with such low mileage it isn't being kept topped up. Regardless, we suggest you read the feature we wrote about this, called Why won't my car's stop-start system work?
Looking for used automatic car...
Hi, I am looking for a used automatic hatchback petrol car for my wife. She's a learner and would prefer a small automatic hatchback. Would you mind helping me to find the best automatic car from year 2015 to 2017? We went through your reviews and made a list of cars thatsuits our needs. They are Hyundai i10, Skoda Citigo, Kia Picanto, Toyota Yaris, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Mii, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 108 and Renault Clio etc. I was wondering if you could suggest me the best option?
Nithin Mathew (New Ross, Wexford)Apr 2020 Filed under: automatic
Expert answer
Hi Nithin,
You’re kind of shopping in two separate segments of the market, there — small city cars (such as the Up and the i10) and larger superminis (such as the Yaris and Clio). If it’s one of the small ones you want, then the decision is kind of made for you. The Up is one of our favourites, but there’s no automatic option, so the Hyundai it has to be. No bad thing — it’s an excellent car.
If you fancy something a little larger and roomier, then I’d suggest going for the Toyota Yaris Hybrid — it gets you the automatic transmission you want, plus you’re future-proofing yourself a little with the hybrid powertrain.