Latest exhaust tech in Skoda's 1.6 TDI?
Hi,
Does the relatively new 1.6 110hp diesel engine in the Skoda Octavia have the new manifold in head technology that's meant to make real world emissions lower and make the EGR valve more durable or do you have to have the 1.6 diesel 120hp engine up, say in the Volkswagen Passat, to have this more modern technology?
I'm not really interested in the 2.0-litre diesels as I'm still a relatively young male driver and I believe you pay too much of an insurance penalty for this engine size.
Thanks
Kieran, Thomastown.
Kieran Hallligan (Thomastown)Aug 2017 Filed under: diesel
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
Yes, the 1.6 TDI engine in the Octavia should have manifold-in-head tech. All EA889 derivative engines, built from 2013 onwards, have manifold-in-head construction, and that goes for 1.6 as well as 2.0 diesels.
Is the semi-automatic Colt reliable?
Hi, I am planing to buy a 2009 Mistubishi Colt 1.3 semi automatic, which is imported from the UK and its mileage is 54,000km. One of my friends has told me that the semi automatic model has issues so I shouldn't buy the semi automatic. It will be helpful if you can give some feedback about this model.
Thanks a lot in advance
Bijo Mathew (Dublin)Aug 2017 Filed under: automatic
Expert answer
Hi Bijo,
Yes, we’ve heard that the automatic gearbox on this generation of Colt can be troublesome, in some cases losing drive altogether. I’d be very wary of one and would suggest that, unless you really, really need the auto, you’d be better off going for the manual gearbox version, which should be solidly reliable.
Should I stretch my car's legs regularly?
Thanks very much for your reply on fuel additives for a Skoda. In the normal event, it is probably the case that an engine doesn't get raced very often, and probably runs at fairly low revs most, if not all, of the time. Is there a benefit in running an engine, either petrol or diesel, from time to time at high revs and, if so, how often and for how long?
Your review of the Jaguar F-Type 2.0-litre was very interesting. I have one comment about the engine noise. There are times driving on a back road when it is a pleasure to hear an engine crackle and roar, but perhaps not always. I was driving along a long Spanish sea side resort behind an F-Type, where there were ramps and pedestrian crossings every couple of hundred yards. My thoughts were that one could quickly get tired of that roar every time the car started off again.
Perhaps, that's just me getting old and grumpy!
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2017 Filed under: miscellaneous
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
On the Jaguar front, first of all thanks for the compliment. As far as noise goes, I don’t think I’d ever tire of the F-Type’s V6 sounds, but that four-cylinder model is hugely impressive (and very refined) all the same.
As for running a car up and down its rev range, yes, it’s a good idea. Engines perform best (especially in fuel economy terms) when held at constant, low rpm (such as on a long motorway journey), but from a mechanical point of view it’s a good idea, once in a while, to stretch things out, warm things up, and get things moving.
How do I calculate VRT on a Countryman?
I'm looking at importing a MINI Countryman from the UK, but the revenue site doesnt even have that version under MINI, never mind the model. I'm asking if you know of a point of contact to get an approximation from before importing as I don't want to arrive at an NCT centre and get told that I owe something crazy.
Thanks
Pat, Slane
Pat Ryan (Ballina)Aug 2017 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
The Countryman is in the Revenue VRT calculator, but it’s in an odd position. You have to select Cooper, One, or First, then pick Hatchback as the body style and then once you’ve selected the usual petrol or diesel, manual or auto functions, you should find the Countryman models in there.
What are the Irish motor tax bands?
What are the Irish motor tax bands for new cars in Ireland?
Johnson Thoppilan (Angamaly)Aug 2017 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Johnson,
The current motor tax bands run from A to G, based on the CO2 emissions of the vehicle, with bands A and B — the ones into which the majority of cars on sale fit — split into sub-bands.
A starts with an electric-only band of A0 (which costs €120 a year) and then goes to A1 (up to 80g/km at €170 a year), A2 (80-100g/km, €180), A3 (100 - 110g/km, €190) and A4 (110-120g/km, €200).
Band B is spilt into B1 (120-130g/km, €270) and B2 (130-140g/km, €280).
After that it’s Band C (140-155g/km, €390), Band D (155-170g/km, €570), Band E (170-190g/km, €750), Band F (190-225g/km, €1,200) and Band G (over 225g/km, €2,350).
Worth using fuel additives in my Skoda?
Hi,
I have a 1.6 TDI Greenline 2012 Skoda Superb with 70k km up. An injector recently had to be replaced. I don't know why, possibly because the car is unused for a few months each year. Is there any benefit in using a fuel additive to prevent further damage and, if so, which?
I also have a 2.0-litre petrol turbocharged Mercedes-Benz C-Class (245hp) of much more recent vintage. Is there a benefit of using a fuel additive from early in a car's life? Is there any evidence that these products. work?
Many thanks,
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2017 Filed under: aftermarket
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
The short answer is that there are some benefits to using additives, but they’re not a miracle cure. Some additives, such as Redex, STP, or Dipetane, can apparently help to reduce the build-up of carbonised particles of soot and burned fuel on the insides of your engine, which can lead to improvements in reliability, fuel economy and emissions.
That said, there’s little here that’s scientifically proven. The benefits of additives tend to be more word-of-mouth than provable fact, but there’s certainly no harm in using them and if you notice a benefit, well that’s all to the good.
I would suggest that you’re better off sticking to a strict service regimen, using original parts and a qualified technical, than relying on additives though. And of course, as you already know, diesels need to be driven regularly to stay in good condition.
Kia Optima or Volkswagen Passat?
Considering buying a 2016 Kia Optima, but am sceptical of its resale value or trade in value. Other options being considered are a 2015/16 Passat, which will be more expensive now, but would it be better in the long run from a trade in value perspective in the future?
Daithi Glynn (Limerick)Aug 2017 Filed under: resale value
Expert answer
Hi Daithi,
Well, the best brands for residual values are generally held to be Toyota, Skoda or the premium German car brands. That said, Kia tends to perform quite well in residual terms right now, not least because of that impressive seven-year warranty. An Optima should make a good choice, then, as would a Toyota Avensis. That said, it’s very clear right now that the market is moving, rapidly, to being centred around SUVs and crossovers, not traditional four-door saloons, so you might be well advised to have a look at one of those — a Kia Sportage, perhaps, or Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai or Volkswagen Tiguan.
Audi A3 or Volkswagen Golf, for space?
Which car has the most interior space: the Volkswagen Golf or the Audi A3?
Frank Dodd (Dublin)Aug 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi F D,
They are essentially identical in size on the inside, with the same front and rear legroom and only a fractional difference in headroom. The A3 hatchback has a slightly smaller boot in three-door form (365 litres), but the five-door model (called the Sportback) has the same 380-litre boot as the Golf. The A3 saloon does have a bigger boot though, at 425 litres.
Why are cars not properly changed to RHD?
Hi! Hope you're well and hope you don't mind having a read of my rant to see what you think.
I'm wondering lately what is it with car manufacturers, in particular European ones, who in recent years have decided to skimp on doing full right-hand-drive conversions on their cars. For example, in the current Skoda Octavia, the bonnet release is on the left, as it was designed to be. The access buttons for the stereo are also to the left for easy access by the driver. If you take a look at the right-hand-drive model though you see the handbrake, bonnet release and stereo controls still placed for the left-hand-drive market. Same applies to the latest Golf; Volkswagen has been doing that with the Golf since the MK3 model.
And marques outside of VAG are also guilty - in particular Renault and Peugeot stand out as prime offenders for this - so much so as not bothering to convert the wipers to the right side. It looks so lazy - and I presume it's saving a meager sum on each car sold. You'd know this is the case as the premium brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes still go to the trouble of doing the conversions properly - but what's frustrating is that Skoda was doing proper conversions until recently. Their MK2 Octavia, sold until 2013, had it done properly. So it's a shame to see it going in the wrong direction.
Is there any way you could run this by your people in the motoring industry? I love new cars, but I'm sure most people would be willing to pay the extra €100 per car or whatever it is to have it as intended for the market. I'm sure some acknowledgement of it might make them reconsider. The poor attempts at the minute look very, very shoddy and I wish they'd give us the same attention as they do the left-hand-drive world.
Thank you for reading. I know - first world problems right?
Colin Moynihan (Waterford)Aug 2017 Filed under: miscellaneous
Expert answer
Hi Colin,
Yup, first world problem right enough, and actually not a new phenomenon at all. The old left-hand-drive-right-hand-drive swapover has been done better and worse by various car makers down the years, and it varies hugely from model to model. Anyone who’s driven a Mazda RX-8, and found the handbrake digging into their left thigh, for example, will have no doubts that even the Japanese, in spite of their right-hand-drive home market, often design cars for left-hand drive and then switch things around on the cheap.
Generally speaking, there should be no safety issues from the switch (wipers, as you point out, should really be swapped across and I can’t think of a model in recent years that hasn’t had that) although there was the old issue with the second generation Renault Megane that used a rod to switch the brakes across and which could still be activated by a passenger poking their shoes into the footwell…
As you point out, some buttons, switches, etc are often left the same and it’s all down to the investment needed to swap them around and the likely return on sales from right-hand-drive markets. Car makers do the maths very carefully, and while you’re right that it might only be €100 a car, that’s a multi-million up front investment, and one with no guaranteed return.
Incidentally, if you think it’s bad now, wait until after Brexit — if the UK car market slips, then the business case for right-hand-drive cars will fall further still.
How is the 2014 Ford Fiesta auto?
How is the 2014 Ford Fiesta Zetec automatic and what's it worth?
Kate Mackey (Tralee)Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Kate,
Well, the Fiesta has always been a good car, and 2014 models were post-facelift versions, so they look a little sharper on the outside and the interior got a boost in quality. Plus there was the option of the EcoBoost engine. Values run from around €8,000 to around €12,000, but, just at the moment, we can’t find a single automatic version for sale…