Any need to tell UK I am exporting a car?
Great advice - just read through your advice page on importing - what about letting the UK know I am exporting the car - any need?
Dave Shanahan (Dublin)Mar 2016 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Dave,
Nope - there’s no need and they don’t care. It’s the importing authority that’ll be interested…
Would a small new estate suit us?
We have two small kids. We live in the city but like to go camping in the summer. Can you recommend a car suitable for city driving but still with enough room to carry camping equipment? We currently have a Mazda5 diesel, but the DPF gives us trouble due to us doing mainly short journeys. I was thinking of a petrol estate such as Fabia Combi or a petrol Corolla. Any suggestions please ?
Ray Mehigan (Limerick)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Ray,
The new Fabia Combi might well be worth looking at as the boot is absolutely enormous, but you may find the back seats a little tight as the kids get bigger. A Toyota Auris Touring Sports estate would certainly make a good buy - roomy and hugely reliable and Toyota's old 1.4-litre petrol engine has always been a good unit. Also worth looking at the Kia cee'd Sportwagon or Skoda Octavia Combi.
Relevant reviews:
Is a new Fiat 500L worth a look?
Is the Fiat 500L worth a look?
Offer of €5k scrappage at the moment and looking to change car. Currently have 2004 Ford Focus C-Max and three kids.
Thanks
Donal
Donal ODea (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Donal,
Yeah, it is actually. I know it's not the best looking thing around but it's actually quite nice to drive, very spacious and pretty well made too. And you get a five-year warranty now too, so that should put any unreliability worries to bed. If you've got three kids, it might be worth having a look at the 500L MPW, which is even uglier but has extra seats in the boot.
Santa Fe or Land Rover Discovery Sport?
Hi,
I need a commercial 4x4 for towing and general business use. I've narrowed it down to the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Which is the better 4x4 in terms of economics, comfort and resale value
Eoin
Eoin Bara (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
I really like the Discovery Sport - it's gorgeous to look at and really nice to drive, but even though Land Rover has made many improvements to its build quality over the years, there's still a slight question mark over its long-term durability. So, my advice would be to go for the Disco if you like it, and you go in with your eyes open (and preferably with a good warranty backing you up), but the Hyundai would be the safer bet. In terms of comfort, the Hyundai also wins out, but not by a big margin. We'd expect there not to be much in it when it comes to resale value either.
Relevant reviews:
Should I go for the Citroen C4 Cactus?
I have three kids and like the Citroen C4 Cactus, but is it too small in the back I think. Would you recommend the Citroen C4 Cactus and if so which spec? Currently have 2004 Ford Focus C-Max so could do scrappage scheme.
Thanks
Donal ODea (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Donal,
The Cactus is actually quite a small car, smaller than a Focus, so I think you'd struggle to get three kids in the back, on top of which the boot is quite small. If it's a roomy, kid-friendly Citroen you fancy you'll probably need to upgrade to the C4 Picasso MPV.
Relevant reviews:
When will the C-Class Coupé get new diesel?
You mentioned that Mercedes-Benz has a new 2.2-litre diesel engine. Do you have any idea when it might become available in the C-Class Coupé?
Thanks
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Feb 2016 Filed under: future engines
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
Mercedes-Benz has a new 2.0-litre diesel engine coming, not a 2.2. It replaces the old 2.1-litre unit (which many referred to as a 2.2). Full story here.
There has been no information about rolling this engine out to the rest of the range as yet. All we know so far is that the new E-Class will feature it when it launches in a couple of months. We'd guess that it won't hit the C-Class Coupé until 2017, at the earliest.
Is the Qashqai's 1.5-litre engine enough?
Is the Qashqai's 1.5-litre engine powerful enough or does the 1.6 make for a better alternative to the Hyundai Tucson or the Toyota RAV4? My driving is a mix of rural roads, motorways and urban.
P. J. Hynes (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi PJ,
It's a slight oddity that the Qashqai has two different engines so close in capacity. The 1.6 is actually a replacement for the old 130hp 1.9-litre engine while the slightly older 1.5 has 110hp and is a direct competitor for most rivals' 1.6-litre engines. Confused? Don't worry - the basic answer is that the Qashqai's 1.5 is indeed competitive and should suit your driving just about perfectly. There's plenty of poke in it and it's still very economical.
I'm struggling with buying a petrol car...
Hi,
Trying to buy a replacement for my 1999 Avensis and the scarcity of petrols and abundance of diesels on the market baffles me. I don't think it wise to buy diesel for my standard drive of eight miles to work and home and same six days a week with road trip round 300 miles just six times a year.
This is supposedly "economical" and "green driving" even though in London it costs more for a permit going into city with diesel car and trends in London have historically impacted directly on us in three to five years. I would love to know of a diesel car 2008-2011 (for cheap tax) with no necessary DPF that I have to worry about, or will I stick to petrol believing that in five years time petrol is a more saleable/popular engine than diesel is? Then there might be a hybrid to suit. Volkswagen, Japanese or any good 1.4+ hatch or saloon suggestions?
Thanks,
Pauline.
Pauline Anne Connor (Galway)Feb 2016 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Pauline,
You're absolutely 100 per cent dead right - diesel is not for everyone and especially not for those with overall low mileages and short commutes. And as the recent emissions scandal has shown us, diesel exhaust can be staggeringly bad for your health.
As for finding a diesel without a DPF filter, I'm not sure you'll be able to. In order to meet the particulate emissions legislation under EuroV and EuroVI regulations you pretty much had to have one. Some people have, of course, removed the DPF to avoid maintenance issues, but then you're just spewing out a plume of highly carcinogenic soot particles as you drive...
So, I think your best bet is to go for a compact turbocharged petrol engine or, just maybe, a hybrid. The Toyota Prius would potentially be ideal for your daily drive, but could be a bit of an over-thirsty pain on that six-time-a-year longer journey. Try instead a car fitted with the Volkswagen Group's excellent 1.2-litre TSI turbo petrol engine (Golf or Skoda Octavia are the best ones), a Ford Focus with the 1.0 EcoBoost engine or maybe an Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo. Here are a few relevant reviews for you to consult:
Lexus IS 300h or BMW 330e hybrids?
Hi there,
I need to make the move back to petrol from diesel as I am not doing the mileage and concerned about reliability of a modern diesel with DPF blockages. I would like a small comfortable automatic saloon. I don't have options to charge an EV car at work or at home. Should I go with the Lexus IS 300h over the BMW 330e?
John, Dublin.
John Cronin (Dublin)Feb 2016 Filed under: hybrid
Expert answer
Hi John,
The BMW 330e is, I have to say, a hugely impressive car and based on a recent drive you can squeeze as much as 65mpg from it. You can charge it from a domestic socket if that's any help, but if you're put off by the charging thing then the Lexus IS a great choice. Aside from the occasionally irritating CVT gearbox it's delightful to drive and, with a bit of practice, you can get decent economy from it. It should be staggeringly reliable too. Here are our reviews to help you choose:
Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage?
I'm shopping for a crossover... Help me decide between the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson please. Interior space, interior design, value for money and a comfortable economic drive would be the qualities that would sway my decision...
Please help!
Y Gill (Mayo)Feb 2016 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Yvonne,
I hate to make your life harder but... There's no difference, at least not mechanically speaking. The Sportage and the Tucson share the same engine, chassis and electronics package - all that's different is the styling and the cabins. Arguably, the Sportage is a little more engaging to drive than the Tucson, but it's a very narrow difference. And while the Sportage has a longer warranty, it's limited to 150,000km - the Hyundai's five-year warranty comes with unlimited mileage.
It basically boils down to buying whichever one you prefer the look of... Here are our reviews to help you along: