Motor tax on a 2008 1.6-litre car?
Hi, can you tell me the price of tax for a 2008 1.6 car?
Gerard Kiely (Limerick)Oct 2019 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Gerard,
If the car is on the CO2 taxation system that came into force in 2008 then we'd need to know a lot more than just its engine size to help you. If it's on the old, by-engine-capacity, system, then it depends on the precise engine capacity: 1,501-1,600cc is €514 a year, while 1,601-1,700cc is €544 a year.
Read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature for full details.
Which 2017 estate to go for?
Hi,
I want to upgrade my old Ford Focus Estate (2005) as it's not very economical. Would like another estate but don't know if I should go for diesel or petrol or a different make of estate. Hoping to purchase a 2017.
Thanks a mill
Margot
Margot O'Leary (KINSALE)Oct 2019 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Margot,
Well, you could go for the alternative option to both — the Toyota Auris Hybrid estate. Lots of space and excellent economy. I’ve put my reputation on the line recommending these to a couple of friends recently and so far, I’ve not been told off for sticking them with a bad car...
Other good alternatives are the Peugeot 308 SW, the Kia Ceed SportWagon, the VW Golf Estate and the Skoda Octavia Combi. The only issue, really, is finding any of these — estate sales in Ireland are so small that you may have to consider an import.
Here are our relevant reviews to help you decide:
What's happening with the new Clio?
Hi,
Can you tell me please what the new Renault Clio to be released here by 2020 will be called that is comparable with the existing Renault Clio IV Dynamique Nav and is it expected to same sort of price? Thanks so much as dealer offering to buy 191 and get 2020 in year's time and I want to make sure will be getting as good a spec with offer in a year's time and know what I should be asking for clarification.
Alison Jones (Waterford)Oct 2019 Filed under: pricing
Expert answer
Hi Alison,
We have to give you a slightly cop-out answer on this one as Renault is in the process of launching the new Clio on the Irish market, and so isn’t prepared to confirm pricing and spec details with us just yet. What Renault has told us is: “The Dynamique version of Clio IV was by far our most popular, accounting for almost 9,000 of the 12,000 Clio IV sold in Ireland since 2013. We’ve built the Clio V range to ensure that the new car has the easy-life features that Clio IV Dynamique owners enjoy, while now including a raft of life-saving active safety features as standard.”
The new Clio will go on sale in Ireland next week, so keep an eye on CompleteCar.ie, and at your local Renault dealer, for more details.
BMW X5 M50d or 45e hybrid?
I am considering the BMW X5 M50d and the X5 xDrive45e. Which would be more potent and smooth in drive and comfort? When the PHEV is driven hard the fuel consumption would increase. Batteries will require charging. Limitations appears to be factored into the PHEV.
Robert Baichan (Durban)Sep 2019 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
The M50d has more peak power and torque and is quicker accelerating than the hybrid model, no question. However, the six-cylinder diesel engine is a lot louder and less smooth than the straight-six in the xDrive45e model and obviously, when the hybrid is running in electric mode it is far far quieter again. As you say, the PHEV comes with compromises, and may not be as economical over a long journey where the battery cannot be charged from an external source.
What's up with my Land Rover's stop-start?
Had my car's stop-start checked by Land Rover when it didn’t operate. They said it was the battery. They fitted a new heavy duty battery and the stop-start worked for about a week... It now only works with fan off. Could this be due the recent heat wave and use of the air conditioning? Very temperamental. Advise if possible.
H Stokes
Harry Stokes (Bedford)Aug 2019 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Harry,
The most likely culprit is that there’s some electrical item draining the system as you’re driving. Or, possibly if you’re only driving for short hops, the engine is still in its warm-up phase and can’t be shut down by the stop/start. Or, and this is a wild guess, Land Rovers often have flakey electrics.
Maybe read our Why won't my car's stop-start system work? feature for further understanding. We get a lot of questions like this.
How good is the Toyota Auris 1.2-litre engine?
How good is the Toyota Auris 1.2-litre petrol engine?
Tom Coughlan (Dublin)Aug 2019 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Tom,
It’s lovely — plenty powerful enough, decent economy and good refinement. Arguably, the hybrid is the better Auris model, but if part-electric power’s not your thing then the 1.2 is a very good substitute.
Is my Jaguar's stop-start ok?
On my new Jaguar E-Pace, the stop-start system only turns the engine off for a maximum of 16 seconds; do you think this acceptable?
R Hill
Robert Hill (Tenbury Wells)Expert answer
Hi Robert.
Stop-start systems have a mind of their own — literally. They’re designed to only stop the engine when demand for electrical supply within the car falls low enough that it’s safe to do so. So if you’re running the air conditioning, for instance, or have the heat turned up, or if the engine is still in its warm-up phase, then it will either not shut the engine off at all, or will only shut it off briefly. Driving style also plays into it, as does where and when you’re driving. It also depends on the battery condition, so if you’re concerned about the short stop-start times, it’s worth having the health and charge level of the battery checked.
Finally, as we get so many questions on this subject, we put together a quick feature on it for your interest: Why won't my car's stop-start system work?
When is the new Peugeot 2008 coming?
When will you be doing a review of the new 2020 Peugeot 2008?
Mick Daly (Cork)Aug 2019 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Mick,
We don't have a date for that as yet, but hopefully it will be before the end of this year. Keep an eye on the Peugeot 2008 reviews page for updates.
A Toyota a replace my Skoda Superb with?
Hi,
I currently have a Skoda Superb estate, which I find handy for the occasional bulky load. I was thinking of probably changing it for a similar model (having daydreamed of more exotic cars like a Ford Raptor - I'm just not willing to pay the annual road tax). However, there is a view out there that the most reliable cars are Toyotas. Is there a Toyota that would come close to to the Superb estate in terms of load capacity?
Thanks
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2019 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
Well, you’re right about Toyotas being reliable. In fact, if reliability is your ultimate goal, then Toyota, Honda and Subaru are usually your safest bets. That said, Skoda is rarely that far behind the big Japanese names in reliability terms, and often is the best-performing European marque in that regard. In terms of load capacity, the answer is almost, but not quite. The roomiest boot in the in the Toyota range right now belongs to the Corolla Touring Sports estate. Now, this is one of our favourite cars right now — good looking, good to drive and with a seriously frugal and future-proofed hybrid engine, but with a 598-litre boot, it’s some 62 litres short of the Superb Combi. Still worth considering though, as, if you can live without the extra litres in the back, then it’s a more cost-effective purchase than the Skoda.
Another alternative is the new RAV4 Hybrid. Again, this is smaller than the Superb in the back — 580 litres when loaded up to the windows — but the boot is big and square, and again the hybrid engine is frugal and it’s got reliability on its side.
Worth remembering though that Skoda is refreshing the Superb this year (order books are open now for delivery later in the year) and there will be a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid in fact, this time around, so it might be worth waiting for that before making a final decision.
Relevant reviews:
Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports estate (2019) review
My Kia Sorento's stop-start isn't working...
Hi,
I have a 2016 Kia Sorento and my stop-start does not work when I brake and come to a stop. The lamp in the dashboard is amber, not green and the stop-start does not activate like it use to.
Abdul Rahman (London)Aug 2019 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Abdul,
Stop-start systems can stop working for a variety of reasons, usually to do with battery condition or load. We get so many questions about them that we've put together this feature that you may find of interest: