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Hi Martin,

Ford recommends changing it every 250,000km or 10 years, whichever comes first.

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Hi Joseph,

You've not told us the year, so, taking the 2014-2015 model as an example, it's every 20,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

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Hi Mark,

It will depend on the specific model, but assuming that it’s a Titanium-spec with the 150hp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine, you’ll be looking at around €4,500 to €5,000 in VRT.

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Hi Stephen,

It will hugely depend on the condition and service history, but in general even the best Fusion will struggle to be worth more than €2,000 to €2,500 these days.

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Hi John,

A very good point — basic VW Polos have always been rather underpowered and the fact is that, for the same price as a basic Polo 65hp, you can have a basic SEAT Ibiza with the more powerful engine. Or for the same price as the 80hp Polo in basic Trendline form, you could have an Ibiza with the same engine but in higher SE trim. We’d say definitely go for the SEAT in this instance, as you’ll get better spec, or better performance (especially for that M4 run), or both.

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Hi Trevor,

No, not really. If you’re insuring your car (or van) one way and driving it another, then technically you’re not being honest with your insurers and if you do need to make a claim, and they investigate the circumstances, you could be caught rotten and find yourself unable to get a payout. Just be honest, it’s always the best policy.

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Hi Alan,

Because, for some bizarre reason, when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private one (which your nephew will have to do if he wants to use his van for both work and private use) you go back to the old engine capacity taxation system. With an 1,800cc engine, that means you’ll pay €636 in motor tax every year.

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Hi Zura,

OK, the good news is that you’ve got a clean record and a decent budget. The bad news, I’m afraid, is that an Irish insurer just won’t care about any of that. As far as they’re concerned, you’re starting with a blank slate. Sorry to have to tell you that, but the sad fact is that Irish insurers are incredibly hard to deal with and incredibly expensive on top.

I would think that €1,200 should be enough to cover a Focus 1.6 (especially given that you’re in your mid-thirties, which is considered a safe age), but it could be a safer bet to go for the Yaris, as insurers prefer a 1.0-litre engine (it’s an outdated view, but there you go). It would definitely be worth getting in touch with a good local insurance broker, though. They can often find better deals than are available through the usual websites etc. so definitely worth having a chat with.

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Hi Kevin,

The Tourneo uses a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine so taxing it as a private vehicle means using the old engine capacity tax system, which means €710 a year.

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Hi Chris,

The answer here is Skoda Superb. Nothing else, at least nothing else affordable, has the sort of rear legroom to truly allow a very tall driver to get comfy in front of a rear-facing infant seat, and the Superb has the kind of massive boot that every parent of two growing kids will truly need. They’re not expensive, either — go for the second-generation or later model (which first launched in 2009, although the current version, launched in 2015 is nicer still) and you’ll be onto a winner, just make sure to get one with a full and comprehensive history and make sure that it’s not been previously used as a taxi (many have). Even better — get the Combi estate for maximum practicality. 

Read our Skoda Superb reviews for more