Will I go hybrid instead of diesel?
Hi there,
Since options for new diesel cars are decreasing daily, can conventional hybrids such as the Toyota Corolla and the upcoming Honda Civic be as efficient for long motorway commutes? I would do over 50,000km annually and 75 per cent of that would be motorway.
Ideally my next car would be fully electric, but between the lack of availability, ever increasing purchase cost, electricity unit prices and finance nearly on parity with fossil fuel costs and the fact almost every large battery EV seems to be an SUV, I would need to look at all options.
David Delaney (Kells)Sep 2022 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi David,
It's a tricky time for choosing a new car in your situation for sure, especially given your high mileage. I feel that a diesel would still be a little more economical for you than the latest hybrids unless you keep your speeds down. If you spend most of that at 120km/h then a good diesel is hard to beat from an economy point of view. Saying that, the Corolla and new Civic are both very efficient cars and, if you adapt your driving style to their powertrains, then it is possible to return some trully outstanding fuel economy figures. And it must be said, with one eye on future values, a hybrid might be a more shrewd choice.
In your situation as described, I'd shy away from purely-electric cars for now as well. I'd be worried about relying on the public charging network to support such high mileage.
How to register an old imported moped?
My friend has a Honda moped that she brought with her when she came to live here in 1990, The bike was never registered here and it has UK plates. It has never been on the road here. We would like to get it back on the road going again for her 60th. How do we register it for her? She has it 32 years.
John McEleney (Kells)Aug 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi John,
This is a bit tricky, because if you’re going by the rules, the moped should have been registered and imported properly in 1990, or declared off-the-road through the SORN process. By not originally registering there are some pretty stiff fines and penalties for not registering a vehicle and paying the VRT in time. For motorcycles, it’s 20 per cent of the original cost of VRT for the first 30 days overdue, then 40 per cent if it’s more than six-months overdue, and then five per cent of the original penalty added PER MONTH that it’s still overdue after that. That could all add up to an awful lot of money.
If you can prove that it has never been used on the road (which will be tricky) and, given that it’s such an old case, you might get let off, but Revenue tend to be very strict about these things, so I would be prepared to pay a pretty hefty bill unfortunately.
Why so expensive to import this Civic?
Hi,
I just got a shocking price trying to import a 2005 Honda Civic EP3, a UK car. Before Xmas it was €1,200 even on the 1st of January through the VRT calculator. My car and engine was on the calculator and then removed. I purchased but didn't collect on 28th of December 2020. It has 105,000 miles on it and NOx of 0.028 gram and I was quoted €4,575 VRT - it costs more than the car did.
I know a person in my area who just bought a Premium Edition 2005 with 120,000 miles and late fee of €600 and he cleared his for €3,040. Why am I being charged more and as I did buy it last year it should still be on last year's rate. It was delivered on 5th of Jan to me and could not get VRT appointment until 19th of Jan.
Thanks
Dec
Declan Mccormack (Sligo)Jan 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Declan,
Unfortunately, this is the way things have gone now. Revenue were being relatively generous (relatively is of course a relative term…) in the first couple of weeks of January for people who’d imported in December and been unable to get an inspection date until January, but that grace period seems now to have passed.
Given that the car didn’t come into your possession until after Jan 1st, I don’t think they’ll give you a break on it, I’m afraid, and of course it’s not that you’re paying extra in VRT (although you are, a little, of course thanks to the switch to WLTP emissions), you’re actually paying extra in VAT and import duty thanks to Brexit. I wish I could give you better news, but these are the perils of importing a car.
What colour for the Civic Type R Sport Line?
Hi.
What colours are available for the Honda Civic Type R Sport Line, please?
MIKLOS PENZES (LETTERMORE)Dec 2020 Filed under: paintwork
Expert answer
Hi Miklos,
According to the Honda Ireland website, the colours are Crystal Black Pearl, Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic, Rallye Red, Polished Metal Metallic and Sonic Grey Pearl.
What's up with my Honda hybrid?
Hi there,
I own a 2012 imported Honda Fit Hybrid. On extended journeys, or if the air conditioning is on for an extended period, the IMA light comes on. It always turns off after the car is turned off and on again and doesn't impact on the car's performance. I bought a cheap Bluetooth scanner but it cannot detect any engine codes. I had a new battery put in but the light still comes on on occasion. Any ideas?
John M (Dublin)Dec 2020 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi John,
One known issue in those hybrid Fits/Jazzes affects the relay for the air conditioning compressor clutch. It can lead to battery discharging, etc. Might be worth investigating that.
Need a wide-opening front door please...
I'm looking for a vehicle that has a wide opening front door so my daughter can get in in a wheelchair.
Betty Leuthauser (Dittmer,. Mo. )Dec 2020 Filed under: wheelchair
Expert answer
Hi Betty,
OK, it kind of depends on whether you’re looking at second hand or new, but either way your best bet could be to track down a good used Ford B-Max. That had a fairly wide-opening front door, but more importantly the rear side doors slide back, and there’s no pillar between the doors, so effectively the whole side of the car is open. That should make getting in and out a little easier for your daughter.
If that doesn’t suit, how about a Honda Jazz? Take your pick from pretty much any generation of Jazz — they’re all roomy and with big, wide-opening doors.
Can you give us 2021 pricing on these EVs?
Hi,
Curious to know what the difference will be on BEV pricing under the new VRT rules compared with current pricing (which has €5,000 VRT rebate). Would be interesting to see old vs new pricing on a few e.g. Mazda MX-30, Peugeot e-208, Honda e, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model 3.
Thanks, Kieran Donnelly
Kieran Donnelly (Cork)Oct 2020 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
Our understanding is that the €5,000 VRT rebate will continue for electric cars with an OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) of under €40,000 and will be tapered from that to zero rebate for cars with an OMSP of over €50,000. Hence, most of the cars you mention shouldn't see much of a price change, though we don't yet have sight of how the rebate changes for cars with an OMSP of between €40,000 and €50,000.
For reference:
The Mazda MX-30 currently costs from €30,495 including SEAI grant and VRT rebate.
The Peugeot e-208 currently costs from €27,334 including SEAI grant and VRT rebate.
The Honda e currently costs from €29,995 including SEAI grant and VRT rebate.
The Nissan Leaf currently costs from €29,890 including SEAI grant and VRT rebate.
The Tesla Model 3 currently costs from €47,990 including SEAI grant and VRT rebate.
Thoughts on importing my trike?
Hi,
I am planning to bring my Honda Goldwing Trike from the UK to Ireland. Firstly due to having a vehicle into the country and VRT exempt on transfer of residency (TOR), will I be able to bring my trike in exempt under the same TOR? If not and VRT has to be paid could you give an idea on how much this would be please? The Trike is 27 years old and the 1500 GL model.
Thank you.
Kevin Farrer (Foxford)Oct 2020 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Kevin,
According to the Revenue website, it does only refer to TOR applications in the singular (one vehicle) sense. It does not explicitly state that you can or cannot do this for multiple vehicles; however, my understanding is that it is a one-off thing. That said, with the age of the bike, the VRT should only amount to €185 to register it here in Ireland. Generally, trikes such as the Goldwing are registered as motorcycles.
Does my Honda Civic need these oil changes?
I have been told that my 2019 Honda Civic Smart Plus needs an oil change every six months; is that correct?
Colette McCann (Dublin)Sep 2020 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Colette,
Unless you're covering huge mileage, that seems way too often to us. If a Honda dealer has told you that, you should ask for clarification as to why, as, other than high-mileage, it would be normal for a new car such as that to have an oil change once a year - or when the built-in service indicator suggests it's needed.
Toyota Avensis or Mazda CX-5?
I am driving approx 52k yearly in a 1.6-litre diesel 161 VW Passat with 125,000km on the clock. Thinking of changing to a 171 Mazda CX-5 2.2 with 62,000km or a 161 Toyota Avensis 2.0-litre with 98,000km. Which is the better option or is there another I should be looking at?
Mags
Mags Smith (CARRICK-ON-SHANNON)Jun 2020 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Mags,
OK, there’s a bit of a balance to be struck, here. The Avensis would, normally, be a good, solid choice and of the two cars you’ve mentioned, it’s the more economical overall. However, we’re always slightly wary of cars that may have been used in the past as taxis, so you’d want to carefully check the history on that one, using Cartell.ie, for example.
The Mazda CX-5 is one of our favourite cars, but if it’s a 2017 model you’re looking at, then you’d want to make sure that it’s the second-generation CX-5 — not that the older car is bad or anything, but the newer version is a deal more sophisticated and refined, so worth stretching the budget for. The current version arrived in Ireland during 2017. It would be a bit thirstier than the Avensis but of the two it would be our choice.
Others worth looking at? Honda’s CR-V is always an excellent choice (massively roomy, hugely reliable), VW Passat (go for the estate), or the Skoda Superb. Here are a few our reviews to help: