Expert answer

Hi Jim,

Only if you go through the process of declaring the car off the road. You can get form RF150 from your local Garda station and the minimum time declarable is three months. And you can’t switch the declaration on and off as you like; the process has to be gone through again every time. To be honest, unless the car you’re looking at is from 1987 or before, you might just be better off waiting until the 30-year rolling limit for classic tax has passed.

Expert answer

Hi Bartlomiej,

Well, it kinda depends what you mean by SUV. If you mean large, the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V etc, then it's probably best to wait until the new 1.6-litre, front-wheel drive version of the Honda arrives later this year, as that will be a big, spacious SUV that has emissions of under 120g/km, although the lack of four-wheel drive might not appeal.

If it's the smaller ones you're looking at then I'd suggest a Skoda Yeti. It bridges the gap, size-wise, between the very small Nissan Juke and the large stuff like Mazda's CX-5 and the Kia Sportage. Go for the 1.6 TDI Greenline version and you'll have a spacious, rugged, practical family car with Band A4 tax (€200 a year) and it should do a pretty steady 50mpg most of the time.

Want something a bit more flash? The MINI Countryman, with its 1.6-litre diesel engine, is super-frugal, but you do need to spend a bit on options to get the right look.

It may also be worth waiting a couple of months until the new Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 arrive on sale, as both should prove very affordable to run.

Expert answer

Hi Geraldine,

Updated answer:

In 2015, Ford gave the Focus a major update, with new styling (check out that Aston-Martin-esque grille at the front) and an upgraded interior (new dials, fewer buttons and the option of the big, bright SYNC2 touch-screen system). The trim levels remained the same - Focus, Style, Zetec, Zetec + and Titanium with the range topped off by the sporting ST model.

Standard equipment on Focus models includes tyre pressure monitors, emergency brake assist, hill-holder clutch, 'MyKey' (which restricts speed, distance and stereo settings for the spare key - good if you have teenagers in the house), front electric windows, capless fuel filler, steering wheel stereo controls, height adjustable drivers' seat and split-folding rear seats.

Style adds a USB connection and Ford's SYNC connectivity for the stereo, manual air conditioning, body coloured door handles and power mirrors, 16-inch alloys, leather steering wheel and gear shifter and map pockets in the back of the seats.

Zetec models get front fog lights, lower, Sports suspension, a heated windscreen, sportier seats and an upgraded centre console.

Zetec + adds keyless start, drive lumbar support, 17-inch alloys, LED rear lights and a 'premium' centre console with a sliding arm-rest.

Titanium gets the same keyless start but adds dual-zone climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, all-round power windows, mesh radiators grille, an 'overhead console' with a sunglasses holder and integrated reading lights, velour upholstery, rear cup holders and ambient lighting.

ST models get all of that plus some extra sporty bits and seriously tweaked suspension and steering, while the current limited Black Edition and Red Edition come with manual air conditioning, curtain airbags, red stitching everywhere, scuff plates and exterior bodykit, acoustic windscreen and metallic pedal covers. 

Original answer:

Ford doesn't actually make an LX Focus any more. Instead, the basic Focus model is now just known as plain old Focus, and it comes with a CD player, USB connection, electric front windows and door mirrors, remote central locking, electronic stability control and, on the five-door hatch, a rear spoiler.

Next up is the Edge model, which adds air conditioning, a 3.5-inch colour display for the stereo, a leather steering wheel, heated mirrors, trip computer with economy driving monitor and body coloured door handles. Then there's the Zetec, which, over and above the Edge gets 16-inch alloy wheels, Quickclear windscreen, centre arm rest with stowage box and 12v plug, sports suspension and sportier front seats.

The Titanium takes all that and also gives you split-zone climate control, a start/stop button, cruise control, jazzier wheels (still 16-inch in diameter though), hill start assist, LED rear lights, aluminium scuff plates, footwell lights, a rear arm rest and a leather gear knob. Please bear in mind that these are current Focus model trims, and if you're looking at older models then they will be different.

Expert answer

Hi Cathy,

The Eos is a nice car, right enough, but a bit thin on the ground here in Ireland. You may need to widen your search to the UK if you're going to find one you like.

That budget should give you a pretty good spread of possible purchases though. How about a BMW 318Ci convertible? Classy, practical and cool, we found one on Carzone.ie for €12,950. If you fancy something a bit smaller, there are a few MINI Cooper Convertibles knocking around at similar money. The MINI is not as practical as the Peugeot 207 CC you've suggested, but it is more fun to drive. Then again, the 207 does have that desirable folding steel roof.

But if you're really sold on the Eos, Karmann Volkswagen dealers in Dublin, on the Naas road, currently have one up for €12,950 with the 1.6 FSI petrol engine. Snap it up if you want it...

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Kay,

Quite a rare car that. In fact, we can only find a handful of other MINI One autos from that year for sale, which means your value should be in the region of €11,500. Possibly a little less if you're trading it in.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Jonny,

Right, there's a couple of easy answers to this question and they are Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. There are tonnes of them around, they're all safe and the Yaris can be had with a 1.0-litre engine so low tax and insurance rates are assured.

But... But there are a couple of possibilities that are a bit more fun and a little more interesting. How about a Suzuki Swift? Not as spacious as the above trio, but as your child is only one that's not really an issue for now. Besides it's way more fun to drive than any of the others and Suzukis are super reliable.

Or you could go for something a bit more trendy and exciting. €5,000 is the absolute bottom end price for a Fiat 500 but you might be able to track one down, and it's fun and funky as well as safe and cheap to run. Or there's the mother of all fun hatches, the MINI. €5,000 gets you lots of choice but we'd go for a MINI One (it avoids the extra insurance loading of a Cooper) and have a good shop around to find one with decent equipment. Fun, just about spacious enough (if you juggle the seats around), safe and with a great chassis and great all-round visibility, it's ideal for a learner.

Come back to us if need help to narrow things down further.

Expert answer

Hi Dino,

It’s actually a very common engine, the PSA DV4 unit, also shared with Ford, Volvo, Peugeot, Citroen and MINI. It’s a four-cylinder turbodiesel, usually with 110hp, although some later versions had 115hp.

Expert answer

Hi John,

Well, far be it from us to slag anyone’s car off, but that does smell a bit fishy. Have you done a history check on the car with Cartell.ie? Or checked out the mileage? That 2.2-litre engine can develop the most appalling overheating issues, which can banjax the entire cylinder head, so tread cautiously and try and find out how much work has (or hasn’t) been done. 

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.

Expert answer

Hi Sindy,

That really does depend on which version of the TT you're trading in and which model MINI Coupé you're interested in. The MINI line-up includes petrol and diesel options with power ranging from 122- to 192hp. None of them are slow, but if your TT is a turbocharged petrol version then you'll need the MINI Cooper S Coupé at least to keep up. The Cooper SD is virtually as quick as well and way more economical.

In terms of comfort, the Audi TT generally is more comfortable than the MINI. The latter has harder suspension settings. However, that does again depend on the model you're looking at, as the lesser Coupés ride on smaller wheels, which enhance the ride quality.

Come back to us with the specific models if you'd like more comment.