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Hi Trevor,

It would seem not. Certainly it was the case some years back when car makers often 'de-contented' (i.e: stripped out) their cars to help compensate for Ireland's staggering levels of vehicle taxation, but the situation seems to have stabilised now.

 According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, to whom we spoke about this, the last official EU survey on pre-tax prices carried out in 2011 showed that the gap was, in some cases, still there, but was narrowing.

In a statement, the EU said that "The Commission continues to monitor the competitive situation on the new cars market, as well as the markets for spare parts and repair and maintenance, in cooperation with National Competition Authorities. The Commission is committed to safeguard competition in this sector and will not hesitate to take the necessary enforcement action if problems arise."

Basically, the changes in the tax system in Ireland since 2008 have meant that we're much more in line with the rest of Europe than was once the case.

Now ask us about the post-tax price...

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Hi Sean,

It's a tough question to answer, this one, simply because different wheels and tyres can make an enormous difference to ride quality. As you say, French cars tend to fare very well in this regard and I think the most comfortable car I have driven in recent years was a top-spec Citroen C5 with the traditional Citroen hydra gas suspension, which just felt as if the road surface wasn't there. As you say, French cars can have their reliability issues, but the C5 was always pretty well screwed together.

Of the other options, both the Ford Mondeo and Opel Insignia are good bets, especially if you can avoid any cars that have been specced-up with big wheels and low profile tyres. Go for nothing bigger than a 17-inch wheel with at least a 55-profile tyre - wheel and tyre combos make a huge difference to ride comfort,

Of course if you want the ultimate in ride comfort, then track yourself down a Jaguar XJ6 saloon from the mid-eighties. Best ride quality of any car ever. I can't vouch for the reliability though...

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Hi Emmet,

The general consensus seems to be yes, but make sure you ask beforehand. All banks seems to have slightly and subtly different policies when it comes to issuing loans (and not just for this specific circumstance). More than 25,000 cars have been imported to Ireland since the start of the year, so clearly, people are getting loans to buy them and bring them in, and it's an entirely normal procedure. Your bank may ask for some additional guarantees or similar, but as long as you check with them first on their precise policies, you should be absolutely fine.

By the way, you may want to check out our guide to importing cars from the UK while you're here.

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Hi Margaret,

You need to book a session at your nearest NCT centre to have the car valued for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), which is the fee payable when importing a car from outside the state. According to the regulations, you have to book the inspection within seven days of the car arriving in this country, and then you have 30 days to complete the inspection and pay the fee, which will be calculated as a percentage of the estimated Irish market value, based on that model’s CO₂ emissions. You can find more details here: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/vrt-guide.html

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Hi Des,

If you mean the new model, which was introduced in the summer of 2013, then it's generally excellent. Gorgeous to look at (well, we think so anyway) with a fantastic interior, lots of space and excellent economy from the familiar 1.6-litre diesel engine. Citroen's build quality has greatly improved over the past few years, so you shouldn't have any major reliability worries and it's an immensely comfortable car in which to do long journeys. Here's our Irish road test of the five-seat model.

If you're talking about the previous generation then there are a couple of points to keep an eye on. The 1.6 diesel has a habit of developing problems, usually with the turbo's exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. It's a relatively easy fix but it can be pricey so shop around for quotes. Buy as recent a car as you can, as Citroen was constantly improving the build quality as the car developed. Avoid the automatic EGS gearbox - it's awful to drive with and can develop problems with the clutch. Check the cabin very carefully for loose or rattling trim and inspect the bumpers, especially the enormous one-piece front bumper, for any damage - they can be hugely expensive to repair.

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Hi Mary,

Short answer, no. The CR-V is one of the most roomy and spacious SUVs around. In fact it makes you wonder quite if other car makers realise that the U in SUV stands for Utility...

The X3 is a typical BMW product - handsome, slick and terrific to drive, but there have been reports of troubles with the turbocharger on the older 2.0 diesel engines and the interior is surprisingly tight, especially if you're carrying kids - it's all but impossible to get three child seats across the back row. 

Why not check out the new CR-V instead? It's a really solid product, just as spacious as ever. Or, if you want a change of brand, have a good long look at the Hyundai Santa Fe - cracking car, that.

What do you think?

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Hi Kellie.

Generally speaking, they should be OK. All the mechanical bits are old, proven Renault and Nissan parts, and thanks to the fact that Logans are pretty well shorn of equipment, there's not that much that can go wrong. Dacias also come with an optional five-year warranty, which should put your mind at rest.

However, it's worth pointing out that the Logan estate we tested recently had a wonky driver's door, putting some doubt over the quality of the assembly and the German TUV (the national safety and quality testing organisation) rates the Logan as having a 13 per cent fault rate. Now, that figure is only a guideline and it does encompass the old Logan (the one that was never sold here) as well, but just for comparisons, the TUV rates a Ford Fiesta at a 4.8 per cent fault rate.

In other words, they're probably fine, but try and make sure you buy one with lots of warranty left, just in case.

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Hi James,

There would be quite a significant difference in consumption. According to the official figures, your car should be getting a 49mpg average economy figure, while a 2011 Octavia 1.6 TDI would get 62mpg. That's the kind of difference that would really add up over the course of 45,000km. Mind you, you're talking about the difference between a 1.6 with 105hp and a 2.0-litre with 170hp and huge torque, so expect to have to adjust your driving style accordingly. As a potential half-way house, the new 180hp Octavia RS TDI should manage 55mpg…

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Hi David,

Oh yes. In fact, I couldn't recommend it highly enough. Smooth, powerful, terrific to drive and yet decently economical too. Aside from a touch too much road noise, the Octavia RS TDI is one of the most accomplished all-round performance cars we've ever driven.

Here's our full road test of the Combi estate version

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Hi Paul,

Yes, it does. The iQ has disappeared off the price lists in Ireland, but it's still available in the UK and across Europe. It's a shame that Irish buyers never really took to it as it's an immensely clever car and actually really quite good to drive. It was always expensive for such a small car though, and that's probably what scuppered its chances in this market.