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Hi Aziz,

Yes, you definitely should get that disc changed as soon as possible. If it fails under heavy braking, the car is likely to lurch in the opposite direction in an uncontrollable manner.

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Hi Jim,

It should do, but it would be no bad idea to check with your nearest Hyundai dealer first. In theory, the Hyundai five-year warranty is a pan-European one, so it should transfer without any issues, but of course there is always fine print attached to these things, so check the documentation that comes with the car, and make sure  that it’s been serviced at a Hyundai main dealer in the past.

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Hi Raymond,

Pretty good news all-round, here. Camper vans qualify for the lowest rate of VRT, the same as vans, so it’s 13.3 per cent of the estimated Irish market value. It might be a bit hard to find a solid Irish market value for your Mercedes, but at 13.3 per cent, the VRT is never going to be too bad. Motor tax is even better — camper vans qualify for a flat-rate of €102 a year.

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Hi Martin,

I'm afraid that's a tricky one to assess from afar. Usually, any beeping is accompanied by a warning light of some description, so keep an eye out for that. If you can't work out what it is then I suggest you bring the car to a Dacia dealer to look at.

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Hi Shane,

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Hi Andy,

While I don’t think a diesel car is going to be worthless by the time you trade it in, it might well be worth less, if you see the distinction. That said, with your mileage, I’d say you should be looking at petrol or hybrid all the way. A 2.0 TFSI A6 Avant sounds ideal if you can find one and assuming that you’re already happy that all three kids can fit safely and comfortably in the back. A BMW 520i Touring would be the most obvious alternative (and a darned fine one at that) and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate even better again (assuming you can find one with a petrol engine) and you can find them with seven seats. Volvo’s old-shape V70 is also worth a look, not least from the safety point of view. That said, make absolutely sure you check out a current-shape Skoda Superb Combi estate too — they’re actually roomier inside than any of the premium-badge stuff, and very comfortable too.

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Hi there,

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Hi Joan,

The N47 engine, BMW’s mainstay 2.0-litre turbodiesel, did indeed give terrible trouble early in its life, mostly with the timing chain that was supposedly maintenance-free, but turned out to be nothing of the sort. Now, theoretically, the issue has been long since dealt with (any N47 from 2007 onwards should, emphasis on the should, not suffer from this issue), but it’s wise to be at least a little cautious. I’d recommend buying from a main BMW dealer, as the car will then come with the full two-year warranty, which will cover any potential issues. Make sure you keep it serviced with a main BMW dealer in future too, as if there are any problems, you will have some chance of getting them to stand over the engine.

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Hi Pat,

The problem is that Ford Ireland, legally, cannot impose delivery charges on its dealers. It can suggest recommended delivery charges, but according to Irish law (and companies have, in the past, had their offices raided for this sort of thing), dealers are allowed to charge what they want for delivery and related. A spokesperson for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission told us that: "Consumer law requires traders to provide the total cost, including extras, of a product to a consumer before they buy. In the specific instance of when a manufacturer is advertising a car for sale, the manufacturer can only advertise the recommended retail price and state that delivery and related charges will be extra. If a consumer then decides to buy that car, they should be provided with the total price by the dealer before they buy. Auxiliary costs such as motor insurance, tax etc. are not dealt with specifically under consumer protection law. However, through our information campaigns, we would encourage consumers to do their homework about such costs before making a purchase."

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Hi Philip,

It’s a tricky one. Technically, you’ve owned and used the car in Spain (and presumably taxed and insured it), which could, theoretically, mean that you can bring it in VRT-free, but the problem is your residency issue. As this was a holiday home, more than your full-time residence, it might not count. Usually, Revenue wants to see proof of change of address (rather than the end of use of an address) to give you the waiver on VRT. I think a chat to your accountant might be a good idea...