Which engine in a 2018 VW Polo?
Can you please explain the engine choice in the new 2018 Volkswagen Polo? Wondering are the naturally aspirated petrol options 65hp and 75hp only suitable for city driving? I understand the TSI petrol 95hp are only available in automatic, is this true? I do mostly city and country driving with the occasional motorway trip. At the moment I drive a 1.4 diesel 75hp Peugeot 207 and want to go for petrol as my yearly mileage is only 6,000 kilometres. Which petrol engine do you think would be the best for me?
Regards,
Catherine
Catherine Connolly (Galway )Nov 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Catherine,
Any info on the TMC Costin?
Hi, have you any information on the TMC Costin?
Stephen Roche (Dublin)Nov 2017 Filed under: classic cars
Expert answer
Hi Stephen,
The TMC Costin was, kind of, Ireland’s Caterham. Built by the Thompson Motor Company, (hence TMC) in Wexford (established by brothers Sean and Anthony) it was a small, light, two-seat sports car very much in the mould of the Lotus, later Caterham, 7.
The body was designed for TMC by legendary aerodynamicist Frank Costin (hence the name) and it was usually powered by a 1.6 Ford Crossflow engine (or a Cosworth BDA if you were feeling brave). Celebrity owners included none other than Stephen Roche of Tour De France (and Calvita cheese!) fame (you're not related, are you?). Around 40 cars were built before the firm went bust in 1987 (although there had been claims of as many as 100 built) and the rights to the chassis design were later sold off to Don Panoz, who later developed the basic chassis into the Panoz roadster.
Which car for my graduating daughter?
I’m looking for best all round, safest, reliable car for my daughter (22-25 yrs) who will be needing a car once she graduates from university. I’m torn between the Skoda Fabia, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i20, Suzuki Swift or Opel Corsa. All too confusing to make a wise decision...
Sharon Adderley (Sandy)Nov 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Sharon,
If it’s safety and reliability you’re looking for, choose from either the Yaris or the Fabia. They’re the safest bets in the car market in general, and certainly the strongest cars of the ones you’ve suggested. The Yaris, with its insurance-friendly 1.0-litre engine, is probably the best overall. Here are our reviews of each:
How will an imported L200 pick-up be taxed?
Hi,
I'm looking to bring in a 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian, but want to bring it in for private use so not commercial. I have called the tax office and Revenue and no one can tell me whether it will be taxed on the CO2 emissions or on the engine size. Can you help?
Karen Odonovan (Carlanstown )Oct 2017 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Karen,
The tax system for using a commercial as a private car is a bit of an odd one, as it means reverting to the old by-engine-capacity rating. No-one seems to know quite why, and I suspect that the lack of knowledge in official quarters is because you’re possibly the only person honest enough to actually ask up front. Most people just tax them as commercials and hope they don’t get caught…
We need advice on a faulty car...
Hi,
We need advice on where or what to do next. We bought a 132 VW Passat 1.6 TDI on the 7/4/17 from a dealer for €11,500. Well pleased until five weeks ago when the car had a fire (a fuse went on fire) and burned all the fuses and fuse box to a crisp. The warranty crowd wouldn't cover the damage as it's an electrical fault, but after much rowing and threats of a solicitor the garage said they would cover the damage and put in a new wiring loom and fuse box .
We collected the car last Thursday from a different garage, as the one we bought it from sends all its cars to this crowd for any work that needs doing. The car drove grand for two days and then problems started intermittingly, wipers packed up, power steering stopped working, airbag lights on dash, central locking going mad, windows dropping, etc. Then on Monday, the car refused to start so I checked the fuses (driver's side) and noticed there was no new wiring loom put into the car and all the cables were soldered onto a new fuse box.
The car was recovered last night for it to be fixed again. This car is now unfit for purpose and we have lost all faith in it. I can't really afford a solicitor at €150 an hour. Where do we go from here?
Please help!
Ruairi Mc Carthy (Mullagh Co Cavan)Oct 2017 Filed under: electrics
Expert answer
Hi Ruairi,
Oh, that’s just not good, and I’m worrying that you may well actually need a solicitor at this point, especially as clearly one garage or other has reneged on what they told you they were going to do. Did you get, in writing, the assurance that a new wiring loom was going to be installed in the car? That would be helpful.
Basically, under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, either the car or the repair was clearly not ‘of merchantable quality’ and you are entitled, under consumer law, to a full replacement or refund. Car dealers will often try and squirm out of that, but if they do I suggest you tell them you’re going to take it to the small claims court (where there’s no need for a solicitor). If that doesn’t get them moving, then it’s time to get the lawyers in.
When to change a 2014 Audi A4's belt?
I have a 2014 Audi A4 SE; just wondering when to change the timing belt.
Marc Carroll (Portlaoise)Oct 2017 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Marc,
You've not told us which engine you have so we're going to assume a 2.0 TDI diesel. No matter which version of that engine it is of that age, the change interval is 210,000 kilometres. We'd suggest doing it more frequently if the car is used mostly in urban environments and stop-start traffic.
Is my Kia cee'd warranty valid?
Just bought a 2014 Kia cee'd and noticed it has only ever had one service; does this make the warranty void?
Michael Youngson (Montrose)Oct 2017 Filed under: warranty
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
If your Kia really has had only one service since 2014 then I'm afraid its warranty is unlikley to be honoured - that does not conform to the terms and conditions.
However, it may well be that the previous owner did all the servicing with Kia directly, which means there will be an electronic record of it all. To check this, call your nearest Kia dealer with your car details and they can check for you.
Fingers crossed, but in truth, the cee'ds have proven to be very reliable so I wouldn't panic.
Disabling traction control on Chrysler 300?
How do you fully disable traction control on a 2011 Chrysler 300?
Gursimren Aujla (Calgary)Oct 2017 Filed under: electrics
Expert answer
Hi Gursimren,
Generally speaking you can’t. It’s a system Chrysler inherited from Mercedes and while you can inhibit the traction control up to a point, it’s never fully off. There is a bit of a cheat mode, though, which involves starting the car, let it creep forward in D, select neutral, and then turn the ignition key to the ‘start’ position again, as if you’re trying to start the engine. That should switch the engine into ‘Performance Mode’ and you should hear an electronic beep that tells you you've done it. The system should then reset once you turn the engine off again.
Please be aware that we don’t recommend you do this, as the car has been set up to function with the traction control switched on.
Reversing camera in the Nissan Leaf?
Has the Nissan Leaf got a reversing camera to help with parking?
Angela Mulligan (Sligo)Oct 2017 Filed under: optional extras
Expert answer
Hi Angela,
Yes, it does. The SV model has a reversing camera, and the SVE has a full 360-degree ‘surround view’ system. Prices for both models start from €23,990 (although it’s worth remembering that there is an all-new Leaf launching early next year).
How much to tax 2008 Freelander 4x4?
How much to tax a 2008 Land Rover Freelander 2.2 4x4?
Caroline McPhillips (Ireland )Oct 2017 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Caroline,
That model has CO2 emissions of 194g/km so it’ll cost you €1,250 to tax for a year.