Expert answer

Hi Philip,

You need to tread very carefully here. Theoretically a vehicle must be inspected, registered and have its VRT paid within a maximum of 30 days of entry into the state. The Revenue Commissioners can, retrospectively, apply a penalty charge if they believe that the vehicle was late being registered. If your dealer has not had the car inspected and registered, you need to ask why.

And if they are unwilling to pay the VRT, you also need to be asking questions. Anyone can pay VRT and have a vehicle registered; you don't need any special licence from a business point of view. It could well be that the dealer in question knows that the likely cost of VRT will outweigh any potential profit from the car and so is trying to pass the cost on to you. I'd be very suspicious and ask some hard questions before proceeding with this deal.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

The low mileage on your car really helps, as most examples of the 325i on sale have considerably more on the clock. I'd say you're looking at a value of between €13,000 and €16,000, depending in spec, colour and whether or not your car has an automatic gearbox. A dealer will most likely pitch you about €12,000 on a trade in.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi there,

We're told that the new Skoda Yeti will be here in 2014 with a revised look front and rear (and we suspect on the inside too). There are no official or otherwise shots available though.

Thanks

Expert answer

Hi Jason,

UK imports are no more or less likely to be reliable or unreliable than are original Irish market cars. They're made in the same factory and road conditions are not so different. It could be said that we tend to look after our cars less well than our British cousins, and that prolonged exposure to Irish tarmac may wear out suspension components that much faster, but a careful inspection of any potential purchase should weed out anything suffering from either issue.

As for salt, we salt and grit our roads here now too, and as long as the car is washed properly on a regular basis, there should be no trouble. Again, if the underside of any car you're looking at buying is rusty, just walk away.

Clocking is, sadly, a serious issue and one could almost call it endemic. The best you can do is to check the mileage against the service record and have the vehicle checked by one of the car history experts such as Cartell.ie.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Paddy,

We're presuming that by 2007 you mean the current shape BMW X5. If so there are a couple of things to watch for. A smoky exhaust as the engine warms up could mean a blown turbo seal, which could cost as much as €2,500 to fix. The electronic handbrakes can give trouble and make sure that recall work for the seatbelt tensioner, brake fluid leak and front airbags have all been completed.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Simon,

You've picked a car from a changeover year, but with that mileage I'm going to assume it's the older generation model you're talking about. If so, check the door handles for loose fit and make sure it has had a cambelt change at 130,000km. If it's a diesel make sure its oil has been regularly topped up (A4s seem to burn a lot), if it's the Multitronic auto then make sure the gearbox oil has been changed every 60,000 kilometres or so.

Other than that, engine sensors can fail and drop the car into creep-home mode, so make sure your test drive takes in a lot of different driving styles and speeds. Check the diesel particulate filter (drive for a steady 16 kilometres at 2,500rpm and if the DPF light on the dash doesn't go out then it needs replacing). Listen for noisy steering racks on full lock. A knocking noise from the front suspension could be a worn-out anti-roll bar too.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi there,

This is a bit of a tricky one as few car makers quote door aperture size or angles, but there are a couple of models that spring to mind with especially easy access. In new car terms the best is probably the new Ford B-Max. Because it lacks a B-pillar (the metal post usually found between the front and rear doors) it means that, when you open the front and rear doors, you end up with a massive 1.5-metre long aperture in the side of the car, making access to front or rear especially easy. Actually, Ford has traditionally been very good at making cars that are easy to access for those with limited mobility due to either age or medical conditions. Part of the design of all new Fords for some time now has involved the designers wearing a special suit that restricts their joint and movement so that they can experience what it's like to try and get in and out of a car without full mobility in their limbs.

On a personal note, and if you're looking for something cheaper than a new B-Max, I seem to recall that the last-generation Daihatsu Charade had massive doors that opened to more than 80 degrees, making entry and exit spectacularly easy. Cheap as chips to buy and run and surprisingly good fun to drive too, it's a shame Daihatsu abandoned the Irish market in the face of shrinking sales.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Pierce,

Prices for 2007 Passat diesels are currently hovering between the €10,000 - €14,000 mark, so expect a bid of around €10,000 if you're trading in at a dealer. Mind you, the high mileage of your car will knock that back a bit more, so don't be surprised at bids of below €10,000.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi David,

I'm afraid we need a lot more information than that to help you - and you've not sent us any contact details. Can you resubmit the question with the following information included please?

1 - What engine is this?

2 - How long in time and kilometres were between the services?

3 - Who decided to rebuild the engine and why?

4 - What exactly was rebuilt?

5 - What's the total mileage on the car?

Many thanks

Expert answer

Hi Frank,

This is a pretty solid buy in general, though insist on one with a decent service history and do a thorough check of the car. Electrics can have gremlins in them so check each and every switch and button. Likewise, if it's automatic, walk away if the gearbox is very jerky and holds onto the gears for a long time even when you've not got your foot down. Watch out for knocking in the suspension too, as that could mean costly repair bills.

Hope that helps