Should Audi cover my A3 chain fix?
Hi,
I have a 2011 Audi A3 1.2 TFSI with 74,000km on the clock and am advised that engine noise means new timing chain and guides need to be replaced. This seems to be a problem with the A3 of this year. Should Audi cover the cost of the defective timing chain, parts and labour?
Thanks
Michael Quirke
Michael Quirke (Dublin 18)Apr 2018 Filed under: warranty
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
I'm afraid Audi is under no obligation to do so, as your car is out of warranty. If you've had your car serviced at an Audi dealer throughout its life then you may be able to negotiate a little to bring the cost down, but don't expect much better than that.
Diesel Audi A6 or hybrid Mercedes E-Class?
2014 Audi A6 Avant diesel vs 2014 Mercedes E-Class 2.1 hybrid: which would you go for?
Tania Browne (Monaghan)Apr 2018 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Tania,
We really like the E-Class diesel hybrid — it’s a surprisingly good mix of technologies, very frugal, hugely comfortable and should be reliable too. The Audi is similarly lovely, hardly any less economical, albeit not quite as nice to drive. Head says the Mercedes, especially with that hybrid system, but heart says the more stylish Audi, especially as it’s the Avant estate, and we do love a good estate around here.
My 2015 Audi Q3 won't start. Help!
I have a 2015 Audi Q3 and it does not want to turn on the engine. It's as if the security system has activated a short current for the engine as everything else turns on. How can I correct this?
Jose A Flores (Puerto Rico)Apr 2018 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Jose,
We don't know of any widespread issue with the Q3 that matches your description so it's difficult to assess the issue from afar. It sounds as if the car can't sense you pressing the clutch down to start it if it's a manual or pressing the brake with the gear lever in Park if it's an automatic, but that's just one possible cause.
Best bet is to get a good mechanic to look at it.
Can I soften my AMG CLA 45's suspension?
Hi folks,
I have a Mercedes CLA 45 AMG; can the option of putting in a softer suspension be fitted to the car?
James Delea (Cork)Apr 2018 Filed under: comfort
Expert answer
Hi James.
Your best bet here is to look at some high-quality aftermarket suspension parts for your car, such as from Eibach or Bilstein. Fitting Mercedes Comfort suspension to a CLA 45 through the main dealer network is going to be prohibitively expensive, and maybe even impossible.
Our recommendation, which is easy enough to find from online sellers (some might be in the UK, but shipping to Ireland should be no problem), is the Bilstein B16 (PSS10) suspension kit (part number Bilstein 48-230971), a kit that lowers the car by 30mm, but which also has ten-way adjustable dampers, with the softest setting said to provide the maximum ride comfort. Having tried Bilstein’s aftermarket dampers before, we will happily say that the company is an exemplar of its trade and the PSS10 kit should, hopefully, make the ride on your Mercedes-AMG just a little more tolerable.
Budget a few thousand Euro for the kit itself, then the cost of fitting at a decent specialist garage.
Let us know how you get on
Thinking of buying a car in the UK...
I am thinking of buying a UK car, but driving it in the UK for six months. Am I right to think VRT is only payable on entry to Ireland and what are the main documents you require for importation? Also I presume the VRT is calculated on the vehicle age and mileage entering Ireland?
William Neale (Malahide)Apr 2018 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi William,
Not quite. Actually VRT is calculated on the OMSP, or Open Market Selling Price, which is that which the Revenue Commissioners calculate the car would be worth if it were an original Irish registered model. So, yes, age and mileage do come into it, but it’s not quite as simple as that.
As for the UK residency thing, again it’s not quite that simple — yes, you can avoid VRT if you bring a car into the country that you can show has been taxed and insured for at least six months, by you, at an address in the UK, BUT you will be asked to provide proof that you’re moving from the UK to Ireland, and proof that you were living and working in the UK for at least 185 days prior to the transfer of residence.
Is there a seven-seat Jeep 1.4?
Does the Jeep 1.4-litre turbo petrol come in seven-seat form?
Josephine Nolan (Kilkee)Apr 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Josephine,
I assume you mean either the Jeep Renegade or brand new Compass model. Neither come with seven seats, I'm afraid. In fact, Jeep doesn't have any seven-seat vehicle on sale in Ireland right now.
Can I buy a Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI?
Where can I buy a new Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI? My local dealer says its not available in the Republic.
Hugh McKitterick (Dundalk Co. Louth)Mar 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Hugh,
We checked with Skoda Ireland and this version of the Karoq will be available to order from this August. It won't yet release pricing as the official CO2 figure is not yet known.
How much VRT on a Kia Niro hybrid?
I am due to pay VRT on a Kia Niro plug in hybrid (Sept 2017). The OMSP is not available on the VRT calculator, but the recommended retail price is available from the Kia Ireland website. Is it possible to estimate the OMSP based on the RRP and should I bring in the Kia price list when getting the car valued by NCT valuers?
Tom, Dublin
Tom Burke (Dublin)Mar 2018 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Tom,
It is going to be very, very hard to estimate an OMSP for the car, certainly a fair one. The problem is that the Niro Plugin Hybrid has only just been launched in Ireland, so there’s not much in the way of data for second hand prices. Obviously, it’s going to be worth more than an equivalent non-plugin Niro of the same age, but I would think that a rough second hand value would be in the €30,000-ish range, which would give it a VRT cost of around €4,000 or so.
What to look for buying 2011 Lexus CT 200h?
Hi,
I am thinking of buying a 2011 Lexus CT 200h with 180,000km on the clock. It would be my first hybrid vehicle. What should worry me before buying? Would I need to change anything?
Regards
Emil
Emil Mchaki (Maseru)Mar 2018 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Emil,
As far as reliability and solidity go, there’s nothing to worry about. As long as it comes with a full service history and has been looked after by its previous owners, it should prove to be one of the most reliable cars you could possibly buy. Now, things to worry about — space; the CT 200h is very comfy and nice up front, but space in the back seats is quite poor and the boot is small, so bear that in mind. Secondly, economy. The CT 200h uses an older hybrid system, derived from the third generation Toyota Prius, and it’s quite tricky to get the best economy from it. As long as you drive gently, and mostly in town, you should be fine, but longer journeys, especially on the motorway, will seriously hit your fuel consumption figure.
What's up with my Ford Focus spec?
I have a 2016 Ford Focus Titanium with no DRLs. My mate has one with them. Mine has keyless entry while his has a touch handle thing. They are the same age and model. When yoou look on the Ford website for spec it says DRLs as standard. Why are mine missing? Puzzled!
Many thanks
Steven Hodgson (Manchester )Mar 2018 Filed under: optional extras
Expert answer
Hi Steven,
We’ve had a quick word with Ford about this, and it seems that there are two potential answers. One is that it’s possible that one of the cars was originally a UK model and there may be some spec differences there, and the other possibility is that one car was registered in 2016, but may have been a 2015-built car, which was taken from storage to be registered. If you can provide us with the car’s VIN number, we can do some more digging.