Why no spare wheel in the Kia Rio?!
Why is there no spare wheel or jack in the new Kia Rio? It costs €115 to replace puncture sealant cannister that is supplied instead - that is crazy!
John Murphy (Dublin)Apr 2012 Filed under: tyres
Expert answer
Hi John,
I'm afraid this is not something unique to the Kia Rio. Loads of new cars now come with this sealant kit instead of a spare wheel. Many motoring journalists in Ireland (ourselves included) are actively against this, but as car makers hope to reduce weight and cost this is the way it's going. It also frees up boot space - not that that matters to the hapless motorist stranded in the middle of nowhere with a hole in their tyre...
Final note - it's often not up to the Irish distributor to make the decision to offer a car with a spare wheel, but it's worth checking with a dealer before you put down a deposit if it's an option - and negotiate not to pay for it.
Any problems with the Peugeot 3008?
Do you know of any problems with the Peugeot 3008?
Pierce Mcallorum (Dublin)Apr 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Pierce,
Overall it's proving to be a reliable car with no major mechanical issues. There are a few things to watch out for on used examples, including uneven front tyre wear - indicating that the alignment is out. Scan the dashboard for warning lights too, as the particulate filters clog if the car isn't used at higher speed very often - and there are isolated reports of issues with the electronic parking brake.
Finally, ensure all the seat belts are in good order - including the adjusters - and that the electric windows all work as you'd expect them to.
Hope that helps
Should I swap my 5 Series for a BMW X3 or a Merc M-Class?
Hello I need some advice please.
At the moment I own a 2010 new model BMW 5 Series, which I bought new. It's a fantastic car, but my previous car was a Nissan X-Trail and I really miss the high driving position. We have recently had a baby, which means lots of bending with car seats and buggies. We also have a five-year old and elderly parents who sometimes travel with us.
We have decided to trade the 5 Series for a 2.0-litre diesel SUV and have narrowed the choice down to two. My husband likes the new BMW X3, but I am more drawn to the Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2.0, as I don't really like the looks of the X3.
My question is, which of these two do you think would suit us best?
Thanks.
Jenny Moran (Cork)Apr 2012 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Jenny,
I'm a family man myself so I know well your needs! Before saying anything more though I assume you've looked at the pricing of the BMW and Merc and that's not a consideration? The X3 starts at about €47,000, while the M-Class costs from €71,000.
If price is not a problem then the answer has to be the Merc. It's a bigger, more luxurious car with more equipment. There's nothing at all wrong with the X3 (I'd consider owning one myself), but the Merc is in a different league - as it should be for that price difference.
Come back to me if we can help further.
We need a second car for less than €5,000.
Hi there. I am looking for a used small car from 2006 on with four doors and small engine, just as a second car for my wife. Maybe for less than €5,000. Any recommendations or no goes?! Thanks
Hagen Stroh (Greystones)Apr 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Hagen,
There's a lot of choice on the market for that price. Here's a few cars we'd consider good buys for the purpose you've described:
Citroen C3, Fiat Panda, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Honda Jazz, Mazda3, Nissan Almera, Nissan Micra, Opel Astra, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Cordoba, SEAT Leon, Skoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Polo.
I appreciate that's a long list, but we've left out plenty too! If you'd like more in depth help with choosing from the above come back to us.
What do I do about my dead Saab key?
The key for my Saab 9-3 has stop working and the car seems to be dead now with nothing coming up on the dash when the key goes in. Also, as I live in Donegal and there are no Saab dealers here where do I go from here?
Annette Conaghan (Letterkenny)Apr 2012 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Annette,
First thing to try is changing the battery in the key. Hopefully it's as simple as that!
If not, come back to us again...
How can I clean this stuff off my car?
Hi there CompleteCar,
Any idea what I can do/use to get rid of 'fence life' paint from my car? It got sprayed a little over the weekend. Will it need to be machine polished to get it all off? I've rubbed the spoiler area for about an hour with warm sudsy water and then a dry cloth and managed to get it 90% off that, but it's pretty much all over the car.
Help!
Dave Clarke (Carrigaline, Co. Cork.)Apr 2012 Filed under: cleaning
Expert answer
Hi Dave,
If you don't have any luck cleaning this by hand it's probably worth bringing the car into a spray painter and having the paint machine compounded and then polished back up.
Cheaper than a respray!
How do I turn off stop-start on my new Volkswagen Golf?
Is it possible to disconnect the stop-start function on my 2012 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion? I keep forgetting to switch it off until it cuts out the first time I stop. Surely it must eventually wear out the starter? It drives me crazy - makes me look like I'm letting the car cut out all the time. If all vehicles had it the streets would be polluted with the noise of dozens of car engines stopping and starting. I'm not convinced that this particular innovation will be popular. What do you think?
Teresa (Co. Clare)Expert answer
Hi Teresa,
We spoke to Volkswagen and I'm afraid there's no permanent way to switch this off that it recommends. You'll just have to do it manually each time you start up if it bothers you.
From our perspective, this feature is becoming more and more common and we think it's a great idea. If all cars on the road used it think how much fuel could be saved in town. Likewise - and in contrast to what you've said - noise pollution would be reduced overall thanks to the lack of engine idling noise at traffic lights.
Don't worry about the starting motor wearing out either, as most cars with stop-start have heavier duty starters, along with systems to monitor their condition and prevent it being over used.
Can you recommend decent seats for my new Volkswagen Golf?
Is it possible to add an Alcantara sports seat into my new Volkswagen Golf Edition-R? If so, how much would VW charge?
Reason I'm asking is that I'm finding the "Comfort" seats quite uncomfortable and after two months on the road I still cannot find a comfortable driving position. The main issue is the side supports on the seat are too far apart. As I'm fairly thin, my back tends to move side to side a lot when turning etc. no matter what position the seat is in. It's driving me mad. My old BMW had sports seats and I never had this problem. It's detracting from what is an otherwise excellent car. I cannot find any seat cushions for my back that will help me fit more snugly. It's gotten to the point where I'm willing to shell out a few hundred if necessary to get a sports seat put in.
Any help appreciated!
Eoin S (Dublin)Apr 2012 Filed under: seating
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
We contacted Volkswagen in relation to your question and 'officially' there does not seem to be a simple solution.
Thankfully there is the unofficial way of doing things and this is something we have experience with having swapped the sports seats in a Mk IV Golf for Recaros from the GTI. A quick search of a certain well-known online auction site reveals that Alcantara sports seats are available, but the shipping costs can prove prohibitive - unless you live near the seller of course.
Our advice would be to contact a large car dismantlers like http://www.traynors.co.uk/ or http://www.eddietorrensinternational.com and see if they have the parts you require. The actual fitting of the seats is just a case of undoing a few bolts and clips with the only problem you might encounter being the possibility of the airbag wiring loom not matching up. This is a simple fix for any auto electrician though and should not cost much to rectify.
We hope this helps.
What's wrong with the engine of my Avensis?
I just bought a 2000 Toyota Avensis off a friend. It has an intermittent problem wih revs going up and down and when it happens the temperature gauge drops all the way down. What could this be?
Debbie King (Dublin)Apr 2012 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Debbie,
This really sounds like the coolant temperature sender unit/sensor is playing up. As well as sending a signal to the temperature gauge it gives a reading to the engine's computer, which affects how it runs. It's usually not too difficult or expensive to replace.
Hope that helps.
New Beetle or used Porsche/Mercedes SLK?
I have a choice between the new Volkswagen Beetle or a 2007 Porsche Boxster or 2008 model Mercedes-Benz SLK. I live in Cork (no Porsche repairs) and am not thinking of resale value/fuel economy, but am thinking of repair/servicing/parts etc.
Any tips?
Kieran F (Cork)Apr 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
Nice position to be in! We're a little puzzled at the shortlist, but each to their own. I'm sure you know that the Beetle won't be a patch on the Boxster in terms of driving thrills and the Porsche trumps the SLK on that front too.
However, if your priorities are ease of repair, etc. then the Beetle seems to be the obvious choice, as there are loads of Volkswagen dealers around and a new car won't need much doing to it anyway.
Saying that, the Mercedes and Porsche are quite reliable and you have a choice of Mercedes-Benz service centres. While there are no official Porsche service outlets in Cork that we know of, as resale value is not of importance to you I'd suggest you get the number of a recommended mechanic. They'll do just as good a job with a more personal service. Get in touch if you need help on that.
Personally, I'd have the Boxster. Though of course I can understand the lure of the new car. The SLK is a distant third place.
Let us know how you decide - and if you need anything else.