Should we buy a Kia Niro on PCP?
Hi,
My husband and l are thinking of buying a new Kia Niro through PCP. Neither of us are "into" cars as such. We will have a deposit of €10,000 and it will be replacing our 2004 Toyota Corolla Verso. We like the fact that the Kia Niro is hybrid and we have already had a test drive and this sold it to us.
Any advice about the car or PCP would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Jean
Jean McConnon (Carrickmacross)May 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Jean,
The Niro isn’t a bad car at all, and is certainly very frugal, although if you’re replacing a Corolla Verso you’re going to find that it’s much less roomy and less versatile inside. As for PCP, it’s a great idea for getting cheap finance and a low monthly repayment rate, but to make it work properly you really need to be committed to the idea of buying another new car in three years’ time. If not, then you could be better off with either a Hire Purchase agreement, or an old-fashioned bank loan.
I'd like a sporty car from 142-152...
Hi guys,
I currently drive a late 2012 Audi A3 (new model three-door 2.0 TDI). It's a great car, but I'm in a position to upgrade and I want something that has a bit more oomph on the road and is a bit bigger. I have a good 45-minute commute each way to work and I have friends and family all over the country so I need a diesel for all the miles I'm covering.
I'm looking at purchasing second hand, probably cars registered from 142 - 152. I'd love a BMW 420d M Sport, but they can be pricey and I have heard from a few people that used BMWs can be far from reliable. I have considered sticking with Audi, but I have found that Audi cars from this time period (A4/A5) are a bit underpowered and poorly equipped for the money. Is there anything you can recommend? I find myself only looking at German manufacturers, but I can get over badge snobbery if I found something I really liked.
Thanks guys
Pearse
Pearse McDonagh (Waterford )May 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Pearse,
Would you consider a Lexus? A hybrid engined IS 300h saloon looks good, is good to drive, isn’t German, is frugal and will be so reliable you can pass it onto your grandkids.
Alternatively, a BMW 420d Coupe makes a great buy, and they’re not THAT bad on the reliability front, but it’s a good idea to buy one from a BMW main dealer, as it will come with a very comprehensive two-year warranty.
Well worth looking at a Mercedes C-Class C 220 d coupe too — not as slick looking as the BMW, but with great quality and a really lovely chassis. The Volkswagen CC (four-door coupe on a Passat chassis) is also well worth a look, and what about a Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel, which is a saloon, but looks slinky enough to be a coupe?
Help me import my electric car please!
I bought an electric car (a Renault Zoe) from Charles Hurst in Belfast, but I am finding it difficult to be sure of the paperwork to be presented at a VRT centre in Ireland.
Is there a number I can ring? Revenue only seem to have answering machines. Do you know if I should fill out the V5 form (red and blue form given by dealer) and send part of it away? On the form it says to send it to Swansea, but is that not just for people in the UK? Also as I have bought a second hand electric car, I do not have to pay VRT, but do I need an official letter confirming this before I go to aVRT appointment?
Any advice would be very helpful.
Meabh Durand (Scarriff, Co Clare)May 2017 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Meabh,
No, don’t send off the V5 — you’ll need that and Revenue in Ireland will send it off to the DVLA in Swansea when they’re done with it. You’ll also need proof of sale or a receipt, proof of date of the car’s entry into the state, a VRT declaration form that you can download from the Revenue website, proof of your own address (house bills etc), proof of your PPSN number and documentation confirming the vehicle’s CO2 emissions — the V5 should cover that nicely.
What value for my damaged Corsa?
Was thinking of trading in my current car, a 2005 Opel Corsa NJoy. It has 60,000km on the clock and only two owners. It was serviced annually, it's in good condition, apart from the left passenger side was repaired, as previously was in an accident. What value do you think I might get for it as a trade in?
Declan Farrell
Declan Farrell (Ballsbridge / Dublin 4)May 2017 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Declan,
With accident damage, it's always hard to tell as it will depend on how bad the original damage was, how well it was repaired and if you have the original bills and receipts for the work. In really good condition, that car might be worth €1,200, but with damage it may only make €500 or so.
Does climate alter my Ford's value?
I have a 2009 Ford Fusion and the build data describes it as a 1.4 petrol manual Zetec with air conditioning. When I bought it the dealership described it as a Zetec Climate. What are the essential build differences between the two versions? And the valuation differences?
Peter WALTERS (Emerson Valley, Milton Keynes)May 2017 Filed under: optional extras
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
If it says Cclimate on the tin, it should have climate control on the inside. The difference between that and normal air conditioning is that air conditioning simply allows you to choose between hot and cold, whereas climate control allows you to select a specific temperature. If your car only has a red-blue heat controller then you've been sold a pup.
That said, it depends on where you're getting your build data from. Some lists won't code specifically for climate control and will just use air conditioning as a catch-all.
Ok to pay for UK car on finance from Ireland?
Hi,
I want to import a car from the UK on Hire Purchase. I intend to register it as you have previously advised here that it is ok to register a car with outstanding finance. My question is, will the car company whose bank provide the finance, have an issue with this and will they even find out given all payments will be made as usual
Regards Hugo
Hugo Macaulay (Dublin)May 2017 Filed under: finance
Expert answer
Hi Hugo,
Generally speaking, no bank or finance company cares very much where the payments are coming from as long as they come, but I would advise you to be up front about all this, and speak to the finance provider in question. Make sure you tell them exactly what it is you’re planning to do, as there may be implications for the loan rate and the insurance for the loan if you’re moving territory. Some providers won’t accept payments from an overseas source, so make sure you’ve checked everything out with them first, so as to ensure that all is above board should you need to change anything further down the line.
Would you recommend the Opel Insignia?
Would you recommend the Opel Insignia car? Interested in buying one 2012+, but understand they have a bad reputation and would be likely to cost me money on repairs.
Tony Bourke (Dublin)May 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Tony,
To be honest, we've never heard any major horror stories about the Insignia, and in general it seems to be a mostly reliable car. There are reported issues with the central locking and alarm system, and persistent leaks in the boot, but aside from that, as long as you buy one with a full service history, you should be fine.
How does this Hyundai ix20 sound?
Hi folks,
Thinking of buying a 2012 Hyundai ix20. Has mileage of 105,325 miles/169,500km, NCT due date: March 2018, fully serviced and three-month warranty and the price is under €7,000. Is this a good buy? Should I be concerned about timing belt and water pump?
Thanks
Jenn
Jennifer Harte (Cork)May 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Jennifer,
I'd be a bit concerned about the three-month warranty. For a car that's only just run out of its original manufacturer's warranty, that seems a bit mean.
There's no need to worry about a cam belt as the 1.4 petrol engine is chain-driven, as are the 1.4 and 1.6 diesels. The water pump should be fine too - there are occasional reported issues with it and the thermostat, but they seem to be pretty infrequent. As long as the car has a full service history it should be fine.
Keep or sell our diesel BMW X1?
I have a 2011 BMW X1 xDrive automatic with 85k kilometres on the clock. When purchased it was for longer drives but now journeys are short and local, less than 10 miles, with the occasional 50-mile motorway trip. We are trying to decide if we keep it and take the hit on preventive maintenance on timing chain, EGR and maybe DPF or trade in on a petrol or hybrid SUV. Trade in values seem low - €13k. What would be your opinion - keep or sell?
Thanks!
Ciara Collins (Dublin)May 2017 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Ciara,
It’s always tempting to trade in a car that’s starting to look expensive, but for the most part, it’s almost always more economical to keep an existing car going, even if it does need regular servicing. In fact, that regular servicing is the key to all of this — keep it looked after and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t provide years of service yet. As you point out, the diesel filter needs longer journeys to keep it from clogging up, but a regular circa 20-30km run at motorway or main road speeds should be enough.
Can you check this Mercedes for me?
Mercedes-Benz C-Class CDI Sport: reg no 12 D XXXX: is this car ok to buy from a private sale?
Nora Cohalan (Lissarda Co Cork)Apr 2017 Filed under: history
Expert answer
Hi Nora,
I'm afraid we can't do that check for you, as there's a small fee. Your best bet is to go directly to Cartell.ie and pay for a full history and finance check. It's not expensive and a great investment. We do it ourselves when buying used cars.