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Hi Colm,

We discussed this with BMW Ireland and it was checked, but I'm afraid that it is not possible for a BMW dealer to retrofit this feature - it must be done at the factory.

Sorry not to have better news for you

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Hi Richard,

The Alhambra would be my choice here. A budget of €6,000 won't get you the current model, but it should find you an old one and they're still good. SEAT's reliability is pretty solid and you should be able to find one at a lower mileage than an equivalently priced (and mechanically identical) Ford Galaxy. 

It would be worth keeping an eye out for a Ford S-Max too, though €6,000 is the very, very bottom end for S-Max prices, but keep your eyes peeled and haggle hard and you might just land a nice one. 

And, as I always advise anyone looking for a seven-seater, there's always the option of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate with extra seats in the boot...

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Hi Shane,

You need the vehicles’s own registration document (usually called the V5 if it’s a UK import), a filled out VRT purchase details form (available from Revenue), proof of your own identity and address, your PPSN number, a receipt or bill of sale, proof of the date of the vehicle’s arrival in the State and documentation confirming the make, model and type’s CO₂ emissions. You can find all the relevant details here: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/vrt-guide.html#section2e

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Hi Elaine,

Yes, in that it’s perfectly fine to buy a car imported from the UK as long as you’re happy that the vehicle’s condition and history are all in order, but we’d be wary of buying a car that is still on its UK plates. There are strict time limits of 30 days from the point of a car’s arrival in the State to the point where its VRT must be paid and its new numberplates fitted, so be very wary of any private seller or any dealer who hasn’t done that before they sell the car to you. A reputable seller would usually have completed the process before selling the car on.

Also, well worth checking an import's history through Cartell.ie

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Hi Michael,

Should be fine, but just check all the electrics and buttons on the inside, as one of the few weak areas on the Vitara is in its wiring. Also make sure that a recall to have the front suspension attended to has been done, and check the service book - Vitaras have rather short 10,000km service intervals so one or two may have been skipped. Other than that, it should be a good 'un.

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Hi Jim,

I'd say you're just on the cusp of switching from petrol to diesel, but the 1.2 turbo petrol Qashqai is an excellent car, and on paper you should be able to get good enough economy out of it to not need to pay the extra for the 1.5 dCi diesel. Maybe ask your Nissan dealer if you can take one for a 48-hour test, to see exactly how good the economy is on your usual driving routes.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Emmet,

It is, actually - one of the few mid-2000s Mercs you could say that about. The 200k engine is a solid old thing, although it does sound worryingly like a broken cement mixer when you accelerate hard. The complex folding roof mechanism is also pretty good, but be careful if the previous owner chose to leave the roof mostly up, as the electric motors can freeze in place if it's not exercised regularly.

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Hi Eddie,

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Hi Gerard,

The quick and free check on Cartell.ie tells us that it's a 2007 Volkswagen Caddy, but not much else I'm afraid. You'll need to pay for a more detailed report. At the time of writing a €35 three-star report gives you all of the following:

- Full HPI UK check

- Verify DVLA/DVLNI vehicle details

- UK finance check

- UK stolen/security check

- UK write-off check

- UK National Mileage Register

If you're very interested in this car then it's a worthy investment.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Jason,

A really good car, that 2002-2007 Corolla. 'Quiet' looking inside and out it may be but the strength of the engineering underneath is palpable. The sheer quality of the cabin was vastly ahead of any other contemporary rival (even the supposedly tank-like Volkswagen Golf Mk IV) and the primary engine, a 1.4 petrol VVT-i unit, out punched most rivals by about 15- to 20hp while also being more economical.

It's also surprisingly good to drive. It'll never set your shoes on fire, so to speak, but in a former life I thrashed one around Mondello Park and it showed a depth of competence in the chassis that would surprise most Corolla drivers. 

On the reliability front, there's little or nothing to worry about. The only recurring complaints seem to be rear lights that allow condensation to build up inside and annoyingly squeaky brakes.