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Hi Jamie,

There are three main charges to consider when importing a car from Japan. Of course, there’s VRT, which you can try to calculate using the online resources supplied by Revenue, but often it’s a matter of guesswork until the car is actually physically inspected here. Secondly there’s the shipping (which would normally be in and around €1,000 to get a car freighted to Dublin). Finally, there’s VAT and customs duty — these will usually only be a minor charge if the car is relatively old, but if it’s a recent model, the VAT especially could be rather significant.

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Hi John,

Nope, it wouldn’t. Working off the base model prices — £38,500 in the UK and €48,900 here, a quick conversion at today’s rates shows that the equivalent Euro price of a new Tesla Model 3 would be €45,069. A saving? No — although the VRT would cost you nothing at the point of import (thanks to the €5,000 rebate) you would have to pay VAT on entry, as it’s a new car, and so the price would go up by €10,350.

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Hi there,

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Hi Kevin,

It will depend on the model, but it could be as little as €700 for a ‘Luxury’ spec GS 450h from 2008. 

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Hi Nigel,

We know of an issue with the clutch assembly that causes what sounds like engine noise in the naturally aspirated 1.0-litre Polo engine. In the 1.0 TSI models, apparently a fault with the engine control unit (ECU) can cause whining from the engine as well. Neither of those sound like the problem you have, though.

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Hi Philip,

Yes, there are significant issues with car thieves using signal boosters and other such devices to increase the distance at which your key communicates with your car, allowing them to open and start it. There are a couple of solutions — one, keep your key in a ‘Faraday Cage’ when it’s not in use. This stops the signal from getting through. A Faraday Cage is a simple metal structure that blocks the signal, and it’s now possible to get key covers that incorporate one into the material. Secondly, turn off the keyless entry function — this usually means a visit to the dealer, as it’s not a function that often appears in the main infotainment menu. Finally, use a traditional anti-theft device such as a steering wheel lock, or a sturdy driveway post, to prevent your car being driven away.

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Hi Patrick,

We’d go for the slightly later, slightly more expensive Outlander, and sacrifice a couple of options. That update was a major one, not just on the styling front, but on the mechanical front too. The second-generation Outlander PHEV was more refined than before, and there were some significant improvements to the electric part of the powertrain, which make it both a bit quicker under electric-only power, and a bit more economical overall. 

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Hi Barry,

I think this sounds more like a tyre issue than anything else. Is there a possibility that the car is on cheap, aftermarket, tyres? If so, get them replaced with a set of something decent — Michelins or Bridgestones. Going for xDrive would help, of course, as the extra bit of traction is never a bad thing, but it does add (slightly) to your running costs because of the weight and the extra frictional losses.

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Hi Andrej,

It all sounds a bit dodgy to us, to be honest. I’d tread very carefully, as if the seller has already brought the car into the country, and made an original appointment to have it inspected for VRT, then Revenue is already aware that the car is in the country. Given that there’s a 30-day limit from the date of arrival for VRT to be paid, I’d say that there’s not just an overdue payment, but possible penalties too. I think your best bet is to walk away — plenty of other cars available, from reputable sources, so you don’t need to be messing around with this sort of carry-on. 

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Hi David,

Generally speaking, the answer is yes. Most brands will be keen to poach a buyer from a rival, so they’ll work out how best to transfer your GMFV across to a new deal, and in most cases the finance company will take care of all the details. Do make sure you read any agreements carefully, though, to make sure that the Ts&Cs are the same.