Expert answer

Hi Colin,

We've checked with SEAT Ireland and it has been confirmed that it is indeed necessary to remove the gearbox for this job.

Given that, the price does not sound unreasonable at all.

Hope that's of help.

Expert answer

Hi John,

This one took a little bit of research, but according to Peugeot, it was the first to market a car with a diesel particulate filter in Ireland with the 607 saloon. Then in 2002 Peugeot introduced the DPF on its 307 2.0-litre HDi model. They came into general use around 2005 onwards. Ford told us that its cars came with DPFs from then on. 

I am not sure of your budget, but perhaps a Ford Focus C-Max diesel would make sense? This car would be a top choice for you. 

Ford Focus C-Max

I hope this helps, but come back to us for more information if needed

Expert answer

Hi Katie,

The Volkswagen Group is offering a PCP scheme in Ireland at the moment. It trialled the scheme last year with the Volkswagen Polo, but a number of offers across the range will be in place soon. Audi also has an offer on several of its cars, such as the A1. 

Hope that's of some help.

Expert answer

Hi there,

The simple reason that the Fiat Croma didn't sell very well was that number one, it wasn't particularly good and number two, it was way overpriced for what it was. The result was that there were 33 sold in 2007 and just five sold a year later in 2008.

Having said that, I've often thought they would make a good second-hand buy because while they weren't a match to their key rivals such as a Ford Mondeo or Toyota Avensis, they are superb value on the used market and the 2.4-litre diesel engine that you mention is a particularly good one. 

That is a great price you are being offered for that car and if it is good and the mileage is low then I have to say I would be tempted. It certainly should be up to the task.

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

Stephen McDonnell from Volkswagen Ireland contacted us with some really useful information on this. Apparently the sensors themselves are quite robust, but they can be fooled into thinking the level is low by poor quality coolant. So, if there's more water than coolant in the car it may not register properly. Likewise, if there's oil in the water it could throw up a strange reading.

So, the advice is to have a look at the quality of the coolant and ask the buyer when it was last changed.

It could still be the sensor, but it's more likely that the above is the reason for the warning light.

Hope that helps,

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

An all-new Focus should be here early in 2011. More information was released this week (click here for the news story). The updated Mondeo will be on sale in Ireland before the end of 2010 (click here for our news story). I'm afraid we don't as yet know anything about a new Fiesta.

Prices are never released very far ahead of a car's launch unfortunately, but you can expect them to be in the same ballpark as the outgoing models'.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

The next Santa Fe will be called the ix45 as far as we know, with the ix55 being a larger seven-seater above that model at the top of the range. These will be European-spec models and will be different to what you get in the US. It is possible that the ix45 will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, which is at the end of next month, but we haven't seen images as yet. 

Expert answer

Hi Damien,

Mitsubishi Ireland has confirmed that the new-look Outlander will be here in November in two- and four-wheel drive formats.

Hyundai confims that a revised Santa Fe will arrive in October boasting a new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that drops the car from Band E to Band D emissions yet keeps the same power level.

Hope that information is of help

Expert answer

Hello Raymond,

One word: tax. The United States and our near neighbours the UK aren't subject to anything like the taxation that we are when it comes to cars. The base price of our cars before you add VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) have always been among the lowest in Europe. But when you add the taxes obviously the cars start becoming expensive. 

But also, because these taxes are also on optional extras (including safety features) then car distributors often have to bring in very basic versions so that the ordinary buyer can afford them. Hence, items that you would normally see as standard in other markets have often been taken out, even if this is something like ESP, which is a life-saving safety device. 

Those selling the cars have to do this because of how much of the car's value is going to the Government coffers. It has long been an issue in Ireland and one that the EU have taken a strong interest in too, because it sees it as double taxation on an item, which is against EU law. 

There are also other issues in relation to strengths of currencies at any given time and also that the USA has a manufacturing supply, so specific US-built cars are sold there and aren't treated as imported vehicles. Of course the US is a massive market and hence economies of scale come into play, where as Ireland is a tiny market in comparison.

Prices have come down here because at least now cars are taxed on their CO₂ emissions and not their engine size, which was the case until July 2008 and made little sense. It meant that nobody bought diesel cars but instead bought small, underpowered petrol ones instead. 

With petrol (or should I say 'gas') much cheaper in the US, it has always been easier to buy V6, V8 or even V12 petrol cars there too.

Obviously it isn't ideal for us here in Ireland, but in Europe there are many countries just like us, including Denmark, Norway and Portugal so we are not alone. Just count yourself lucky that you are buying in the US!

I hope this answers your question.

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

We contacted Honda Ireland on your behalf and they assured us that there will not be a new model Civic on sale in Ireland until 2012. There will be a new hatchback to start with and they couldn't yet tell us about any other variants, but we would expect that there will be a new saloon to follow. 

Perhaps the Insight hybrid would be a good replacement for your current Civic, as it is well priced, comes with high levels of standard equipment and is cheap to run. Since this is a new model it won't be replaced for some time to come.

I hope this helps