Expert answer

Hi Paul,

Yes, it's just been revealed (see our full news story here). There's a subtle bit of restyling going on, with new grille and lights at the front and new lights at the back. There aren't a huge number of mechanical changes on offer, but the 1.6 TDI Greenline model has seen its emissions drop to a very competitive 109g/km, so that will save a little on annual road tax. Inside, the range-topping Columbus infotainment system now comes with a 30GB hard drive for storing your music and podcasts. It goes on sale in Ireland in July, though we drive it next month (May).

As to which is better, Superb or Octavia? Phew, that's a toughie. The new Octavia is very, very impressive and well priced too, but I personally have a bit of a soft spot for the Superb, with its huge boot and rear seat space. To be honest, you wouldn't go wrong choosing either, but it's worth bearing in mind that we're only a couple of years away from an all-new Superb, which Skoda reckons is going to be competitive with the BMW 5 Series...

Hope that helps somewhat

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

We don't know of any widespread common issues with this car. It's built on Nissan/Renault mechanicals that are quite well proven. It's moderately spacious for the money, but it's not a car we'd often consider, as there are plenty of other better cars available for the same price. Apparently many unsold examples found their way from Ireland to the UK, where they were never marketed as a new car.

In summary: not bad really, but not recommended either.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Kieran,

Here’s what we’ve found on Carzone that’s wheelchair accessible, or you could get in touch with the guys at Motability Ireland who would be able to help.

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Hi Olga,

How much it will cost you will depend on the car. To re-register a car in the Republic of Ireland, you have seven days from the point of arrival in the country to book an inspection with your local NCT centre. At that point, it will be inspected by the Revenue Commissioners to determine its Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), which is the price they think you would have paid, had you bought an identical car in Ireland.

That figure, and the car’s CO₂ emissions rating, will determine the amount of Vehicle Registration Tax, or VRT, you will have to pay to complete the process. From the point of entry of the car into the country, you have a maximum 30 days to complete that process.

You can find much more detail here from the Citizens Information Board

Or read our guide, 'How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland'

Expert answer

Hi Grainne,

Well, if you could tell us the exact make and model you’re looking at,  we can tell you. All motor tax rates since 2008 are calculated on the CO₂ emissions of the car (unless it’s a commercial version) and that can be affected by everything from the engine to the gearbox to items of trim and equipment. The more detail you can give us, the more precise an answer we can give. For reference, read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained guide.

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Hi Rita,

Suzuki Ireland tells us that the new crossover should be here in September.

Anything else you'd like to know about it?

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Ford won't give us an official launch date, but suffice to say it's not until 2014.

Expert answer

Hi Derek,

Revenue's online VRT calculator is very poor and tricky to use at the best of times. There seem to be loads of different 2.2-litre diesel Accords if it's to be believed and some of the calculations are nonsense, putting the car in the top 36% VRT band instead of the 19% band, where it should be. The best way to clarify the situation is to contact Revenue direct.

However, you can do some calculation of your own. Based on asking prices of similar cars on sale in Ireland, the maximum OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) of this car now is say €20,000. That means a maximum VRT bill of €3,800 (19%).

In reality Revenue should value this car much lower, bringing the bill down considerably.

Let us know if we can help any further.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

This engine downsizing is prevalent and not just by Ford, and it has been made possible thanks to advances in engine technology, such as high pressure fuel injection and turbocharging.

A close look at what's offered by Ford Ireland reveals that the Mondeo 1.6 TDCi is the 115hp version, where as the Focus can be had with that and a cheaper 95hp unit. The raw data reveals that the 115hp Focus does the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 seconds - a second faster than the Mondeo with the same engine. Likewise, the Focus is more efficient with lower emissions and fuel consumption - though the differences are not as big as you might think.

Essentially, it boils down to the engine's torque output. This engine produces 270Nm from as low as 1,750rpm, which is more than enough to deal with a car the size of the Mondeo. Naturally a 2.0-litre diesel with the same technology will be more impressive again, but the 1.6 is just fine.

For the record, we find that Ford's 1.6-litre TDCi engine has a very narrow power band, but once you learn to keep the engine within that it never feels slow. Obviously, driven like that it won't come close to its official fuel economy figures.

Hope that all helps.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Well, the Road Safety Authority specifies that you must take 12 hours minimum of professional instruction before you can apply for your test, but they don’t specify that it must be done in Ireland. As the UK is recognised as a competent authority for driving standards (our licences are interchangeable etc) they might just accept that your existing 30 hours has you covered. Give them a ring on 1890 40 60 40 and ask.