Expert answer

Hi Susie,

Click here to get our news story from the launch of the new Audi Q3 in Ireland. Prices start from €35,180 on-the-road now, following the VAT increase on January 1st. The most up to date prices should be on www.audi.ie and here's the current price list.

You'll find an Audi dealer list on there too.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi James,

We put this to Cartell.ie, the vehicle records experts. Here's the response:

"Officially, there is no particular line on this question. Anecdotal evidence suggests a vehicle may still pass a subsequent NCT even with a lower odometer reading. The National Car Testing Service is not releasing its mileage data to anyone. Cartell has actively sought mileage records from the NCTS for some time now and continue to do so on the grounds of public safety."

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi John,

That sounds like it could be a leak in the brake servo in the engine bay. It's a vacuum system and it's not uncommon. Best bet is to get a qualified mechanic to confirm that and repair as necessary.

Best of luck.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

I'm afraid you've not given us enough information to answer that properly. We'd need to know the exact size and ideally the version of the X5 you have. Expect not far off €300, but again that'll depend on the brand.

Come back to us with more details and we'll get a few prices for you.

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

It really depends where you plan to sell your car on. Anecdotal evidence indicates that dealers regularly do not want cars from other counties as they are harder to sell on. However, I do wonder if that applies to Dublin cars, as, naturally, more cars are sold in Dublin than anywhere else.

Let us know if you have other worries.

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

There is no onus on the dealer to do that I'm afraid. When did he order the car? The dealer may not have known about the new car as yet. On top of all that, it's unlikely that the new car will be initially offered with the same incentives as the current one.

Hope that's of help

Expert answer

Hi Eric,

I'm afraid there's no easy answer to that. It'll depend on your circumstances and on the amount of money you wish to borrow as much as anything. While it is not as easy as it once was to obtain credit banks are happy to loan to 'good bets'.

Beyond the high street banks it's well worth checking out what finance the dealer you're buying from offers. Several car makers have effectively set up their own car finance arm to make the process easier. This includes BMW/MINI, Ford, Renault and the Volkswagen Group.

As ever shop around, but if want some specific help please do come back to us.

Expert answer

Hi Richard,

Lots of potential reasons for this. Very first thing I'd look at is tyre pressures. Are they all even and to spec? Are there any other issues with the tyres you can see? Uneven wearing, etc. If no problems with pressures I'd suggest getting the alignment checked. If it gets knocked out (relatively easy to do with a pothole or kerb) then there could be more friction causing heavier fuel consumption.

Come back to us when you've checked that.

Expert answer

Hi Rob,

For that budget we are assuming you are looking for a second-hand car. The Honda CR-V springs to mind, but the tax could be a little high for you as your budget will get you a pre-2008 version, which came with 2.0- and 2.2-litre engines. How about a five-door version of the Honda HR-V instead? We found this example on Carzone.ie and it looks the part. The 1.6-litre engine means it's not too much to tax either.

There are loads of Hyundai Santa Fes and the smaller Tucson around at that price too, though again their age and engine size might rule them out for you in terms of tax costs. Same story with the previous generation Kia Sportage.

Don't be tempted by older Land Rover Freelanders.

Another good option is the Suzuki Grand Vitara. A quick search showed that there are several 1.6-litre petrol versions with four-wheel drive within your budget, though most seem to be the less practical three-door body style, so you may need to look around to find a five-door example that suits your needs.

The Toyota RAV4 would be a great option, but keeping your tax bill down on a four-wheel drive version with five doors might be tricky. Recommeded though.

Hope all that helps. If you narrow down your search a little come back to us and we'll help you choose!

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

It goes back to the introduction of the previous version, the Land Rover Discovery 3, which was sold in the US as the LR3. Land Rover reckons that the American market prefers this type of naming strategy (though there are forums full of Land Rover fans that disagree!). Although the company won't admit as much, the name change was probably also influenced by the desire to distance the newer model from the unreliability of its predecessor.

Hope that's of interest