Should I stick with diesel for a new Kodiaq?
I am ordering (PCP) a Skoda Kodiaq and want to order the 150hp diesel 4x4. I am seriously concerned, however, about diesel 'issues' and don't want to face any anticipatable difficulties in the short and possibly medium term.
The alternative is the non 4x4 150hp 1.4 petrol version. Have read several of the reviews, see some merits, but fuel economy seems poor and fear the occasions when car might be fully loaded. I appreciate no one can know what stance the government may take on diesel, but do not want equity eroded at end of PCP. I drive about 24k kilometres annually.
Many thanks
Pat
Paul McDonald (Dublin)Sep 2017 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
At 24k a year you’re probably best going for diesel, to be honest. While we’re equally in the dark as regards what the Budget holds in store for us, it seems (at the time of writing) unlikely that any drastic moves are going to be made just yet. There’s also an urban/rural divide in all of this. If you live in the Dublin, and to a slightly lesser extent, Cork, Limerick, Wateford and Galway city areas, then there is a distinct move away from diesel and towards petrol, but in rural areas, diesel is still king.
That said, the 150hp 1.4-litre TSI turbo engine is absolutely excellent, and we’ve found that while it is, of course, less economical than the equivalent diesel, you’re only talking about 1.0 litre per 100km or so in the real-world difference. It’s well worth considering if you’re concerned about future diesel values.
Timing belt in Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI?
Tell me about the timing belt in the Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI Elegance...
Stephen Clarke (Gillingham)Aug 2017 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Stephen,
You've not told us a lot about the car so we've made some assumptions. The earlier versions had a change interval of 120,000 kilometres and the later models were 150,000 kilometres, with the belt tensioner changed every second time in both cases.
As ever, if a car is used in a lot of stop-start, heavy traffic situations, we'd advise drivers to change their belts more frequently than the car makers suggest.
How can I estimate VRT on a new Kia Niro?
Regarding the Kia Niro hybrid: there are two Irish models and four UK model specifications (1, 2, 3 and First Edition). To date, only one of the UK specs have been imported, the Niro 2, which is why only one appears on the Revenue VRT calculator.
I would like to import the top-spec (First Edition) since this spec is not available in Ireland. The problem with this is that I have been told that I cannot get an estimate of this high-spec'd car until after I purchase it and then bring it to the VRT office for evaluation, after which they compile a report of the extras and then I sit back and wait.
This is too much of a risk for me to take. It is all to do with OMSP value. The difference between the highest Irish Niro spec to the highest UK spec is electric sunroof, front parking sensors and an eight-speaker high quality sound system. In your expert opinion, by how much could I expect the Rosslare Revenue office to increase the OMSP value by for my First- Edition model?
Currently, of the four UK models available, the Niro 2 has a VRT OMSP value of €27,535 (but try adding the previous three extras...).
Apologies for this rant.
Many thanks!
Michael Carey (Letterkenny)Aug 2017 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
The price gap, new, in the UK market is around £4,200, but it will depend on whether Revenue treats the extra equipment as a separate model, or extras added to an existing car, in which case the gap would probably be higher still. I think, and this is a pure finger-in-the-air calculation, that if you add about €6,500 to the OMSP of the Model 2, then you’ll be in the right ballpark, but sadly this is yet another example of the inequity of a system that charges you based on what they think you should have paid, versus what you actually paid.
Can you help me estimate a Niro's OMSP?
Determining the OMSP of a car that is not available within Ireland: yes, I have read through all of the Revenue documentation, and the only remaining variable in determining the VRT amount due is in determining the OMSP of the UK car. There are two Irish versions of this car, but there are FOUR in the UK. Only one of the four have previously been VRT'd, (I know this because it shows on the VRT calculator).
The car I wish to purchase is the top-spec, which includes front parking sensors, sunroof and high-spec sound system. What value could the Rosslare Office assign to these extras? What's worse, I rang Rosslare and they said that I have to purchase the car then register it, and only then can they tell me the OMSP of the car. This is too much of a risk. Please help if you can.
This car is a hybrid, hence the reason why only one of the four types have previously been imported.
Michael, Donegal.
Michael Carey (Letterkenny)Aug 2017 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
The problem is that it’s not an open and transparent system. Because there is no official guide for second hand prices in the Ireland (such as the UK’s Glass’s Guide) it means that Revenue can set a value that they see fit, both for vehicles and for extras. Sadly, and I’m sorry that this isn’t much use to you, any value we might ascribe to such extras is a pure guess, and could be completely at variance with what Revenue eventually says. It’s an unpleasant quirk of an outdated vehicle taxation system.
Cost to change Hyundai Tucson's belt?
What's the cost to change a Hyundai Tucson CRDi's timing belt? It's a 2.0-litre diesel.
T Quinn (Cork)Aug 2017 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Tom,
Every garage charges a different hourly rate, I'm afraid, so you're going to have to ring around. Assuming you mean the first generation Tucson (2004-2010), the estimated repair time varies from nearly three hours to six hours, as there was two different type of 2.0-litre diesel engine and whether the car is 2WD or 4WD also affects the time taken.
For reference, timing belt kits including the water pump can cost north of €200 from Micksgarage.com - again depending on the exact engine and model you have.
Can I change my Peugeot 3008's speedo?
Can the speedo on the new Peugeot 3008 SUV be changed from mph to kph and back?
John Freeman (Newry)Aug 2017 Filed under: miscellaneous
Expert answer
Hi John,
Yes, just go to the system settings menu (have a look at your owner's manual) and change the selection from Metric to Imperial. It takes a couple of seconds, but best to do it when you’re stopped rather than driving.
Verdict on the new Hyundai i30?
What's your verdict on the new Hyundai i30?
Declan Otoole (Dublin)Aug 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Declan,
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.