Thinking of getting a BMW i3...
Hi,
Are EVs exempt from VRT if looking to import one? Having trouble with the Passat and if and when it gets sorted my wife wants it gone and to treat ourselves so started looking at used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe but tow truck friend warning us away from the 2.0 diesels: "doesn't matter who had it, where or how often it's been serviced or easy life, they are all trouble." And 3.0 diesel harder to find here but still give timing chain trouble.
Son is 20 and learning to drive so depending on cost to fix may dictate keeping it so third car turning to a BMW i3. When I met my wife she drove a SEAT Arosa and we kept that and I used it for my backroad commute to work for years as economical second car runabout.
With fuel, both diesel and petrol rising it might tick a few boxes to look at small economical runabout, it's auto so will suit both wife and son and our first step into EV.
Earlier with the range extender seems lower on the recommend list compared to the later fully electric 2018 onwards or i3S model.
ROS VRT site looks like it has had an update and gave both i3 and i3S options but wasn't clever enough to blank out NOx and CO2 fields. When checking rates for i3S it auto filled a figure for NOx, which I just cancelled out.
Ideally I'd like to buy from a BMW or SIMI dealer with history and warranty and liked your article on importing from Northern Ireland.
Appreciate any advice on importing an i3 (or 4 Series Gran Coupe) from up North
Regards
Damien McGettrick (Lusk)Sep 2024 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Damien,
First up, the BMW i3 is a great option for your needs based on what you told us. It's a cracking compact car that will cost you nothing to run and is an idea runabout. And yes, I'd agree that the fully electric version is the best one, especially when you have access to other cars in the household for longer journeys.
I really like the 4 Series Gran Coupe as well, but understand the reticence to trust the diesel engines. Would you consider a petrol one instead perhaps? The NOx levy on the diesel on importation can be expensive as well. Because of potential engine issues I'd be inclined to stick with a local BMW dealer and get as good a warranty as you can.
Obviously electric cars don't emit any NOx or CO2, so it's a bit bizarre if Revenue's site can't deal with that... There is a VRT exemption up to €5,000 and anyway, it's only 7 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP).
If you're looking to buy in the North, just make sure the car has been registered and used by a private individual in the North for at least three months before you import it, and that must be verified by documentation. Then no VAT or import duty should be due, just VRT - and the NOx levy if applicable.
Hopefully all that helps, but come back to us with other specific questions if you need more assistance of course.
Which new estate to buy as a second car?
Hi!
We’re a family of five (and dog) who love our 10-year-old Volkswagen Passat Estate. No plans to get rid of it but we need a second car to manage weekend logistics. A new Skoda Combi would be great (definitely don’t want an SUV), but would prefer a hybrid or electric option. Any suggestions?
Ciara Malone (Dublin)Aug 2024 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Ciara,
We're in the same situation (without the pooch, sadly) so I understand your needs for sure. There are no electric Skoda estates as yet (at least one is on the way in the next few years, but that'll be too late for you), but there have been plug-in hybrid options. Not sure if you're buying new or used, but the current Superb Combi can be had new as a plug-in hybrid and it's an exceptional car. You'll find some of the previous-gen on the used market as well.
Other fully electric estate options include the MG5, but come back to us with your budget and new/used preference if you want us to help you narrow your search.
Should I buy a hybrid BMW 5 Series?
Hi folks,
I'm thinking of changing my car to a BMW 5 Series. The prices of the hybrids are considerably less than the diesel models, and since I do low mileage anyway, the hybrid would probably fit the bill better. I'm looking at 2020 models, but the problem is they have around 100,000 kilometres on them, and my mechanic said under absolutely no circumstances should I purchase one, as the batteries are a ticking time bomb...
My question is, do you think they're that bad, considering there are so many of them visible on the roads? I intend to keep the car for five years, and around 200,000 kilometers. Can these batteries last 200K? I have read horror stories of batteries costing 10s of thousands to fix, should they fail and that's simply out of the question.
I'm currently driving a diesel Passat, which my mechanic tells me is a far better car than the BMW. Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Thank you
Daniel Dunne (Castlecomer)Jul 2024 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Daniel,
First up, the battery in those alone wouldn't cost in the 10s of thousands - it's considerably less than that. Not that you'd ever want to have to do it, but still, it's worth bearing that in mind.
I must admit we have heard of a few cases where BMW has struggled to identify an issue with the hybrid system recharging the battery and the repair is expensive as it involved replacing the whole hybrid system, not just the battery. That's frightening of course, but it's only a few cases rather than every example of the car.
If you go ahead with the purchase, perhaps consider an aftermarket used car warranty.
If you don't feel confident going for it, come back to us with more information on your budget and needs and we'll try to find you an alternative to your diesel Passat.
Which cars can fit three child seats?
Hi,
What cars are capable of putting three child seats across the back seats? Ages new born, 2 and 4 years old. So none would be in booster seat just yet. Is it just SUVS or vans? I'm hoping there are some estates capable of this!
Thanks John
John Smyth (Dun Laoghaire)Mar 2021 Filed under: child or baby seats
Expert answer
Hi John,
In my experience (I test a few hundred cars a year and I have three kids myself), your only proper options are people carriers, MPVs and larger SUVs. We ended up buying a Volkswagen Touran, which was absolutely excellent, but there are plenty of other cars with the same kind of space. The Tiguan Allspace, Skoda Kodiaq and SEAT Tarraco all are virtually the same as that inside and ideal for the job. Watch out for smaller SUVs, such as the Qashqai etc, as their rear seats are no wider or more accommodating than an average estate.
Now, depending on whether you're using ISOFIX and how wide the child seats are, you might find an estate that will accommodate the three, so don't give up just yet. The only way to know for certain is to bring the seats with you to try out in the backs of a few cars at a dealer or wherever. The Skoda Superb Combi and VW Passat Combi would be worth a try for sure.
Please do let us know in the comments below how you get on.
Looking at buying a 2017 BMW 330e...
Hi,
I am looking at a 2017 BMW 330e Sport. At the moment I travel 30km per day on average so expect the battery-only power to cover most of my driving outside of the weekend. Can you let me know of any issues I should be looking for with a plug-in hybrid of this year? Do you know if there are any battery life issues starting to crop up? My budget is around the €20K mark and the car is for a family of four; are there any other plug-in hybrids (saloon or SUV) I should be looking at for this budget?
Thanks, Joe
Joe Harbourne (Dublin)Mar 2021 Filed under: hybrid
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
There aren’t any specific battery issues to look for, and the good thing about a plug-in hybrid is that you can’t fast-charge them, so there’s less likelihood of wear and tear on the battery cells from repeated rapid charges. Obviously, batteries do degrade a little over time, but you shouldn’t see more than a few percentage points wiped off the performance. Make sure you go for a fully-charged test drive first though, and if the range seems abruptly short (allowing for weather, traffic etc) then the battery might have been physically damaged at some point.
Other plug-in hybrids worth considering would be a BMW 530e, although that probably won’t squeeze into your budget, or a Volkswagen Passat GTE, which provides performance almost as good as that of the 330e, but for a much lower cost overall and it's more spacious. Don’t forget that the battery eats considerably into the 330e’s boot space, and it was never a big car inside to begin with. The updated Passat GTE (2020) was available as an estate, too...
Can I claim back VAT on this Passat?
Hi.
I saw a 2018 Volkswagen Passat GTE for sale in the UK. It is VAT-qualifying. Does this mean I can claim back the VAT on it, therefore cancelling out paying the new VAT applied after Brexit? If so I will just be paying VRT?
Eoin Burke (Dublin)Jan 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
If you are, yourself, VAT registered, or if your company is and you’re buying the car through the company, then that may well be possible, but I would check with your accountant just to be certain before taking any leaps. Also, don't forget about the NOx levy and customs duty that will be due regardless. Read our Guide to Importing Cars from the UK feature for full details.
Any more Ford Mondeos coming?
I've been a Mondeo driver forever. All good, no problems.
Do you know if the Mondeo will stay on sale in the Irish market? Dealers are coy about disclosing the full facts.
If I cannot have a lovely new Mondeo, what do you recommend? I like diesel and the Mondeo size suits me. Give me a few suggestions, please. My mortgage is now paid so I could go up a grade as a special treat...
Fergal Reidy (Celbridge, Co. Kildare)Oct 2020 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Fergal,
Sadly, for all us Mondeo fans, it will die in its current form soon (most likely in the next 18 months or so). Now, it will be replaced, but most likely not by another saloon, but a crossover of some description instead, sitting above the Kuga in the current Ford range, and likely with a seven-seat option.
Happily, there are still a few proper, full-sized four-door saloons around for you to choose from, and they’re good ‘uns. Our list starts with the Skoda Superb (massive inside, smooth to drive, handsome to look at and really good quality) and the VW Passat (all of the above but not quite so big inside). The Mazda6 is a big favourite of ours, too, not least because it’s so engaging to drive, and has such high quality and reliability levels, but Mazda is dropping the diesel engine option, so you might want to snap one up soon, before they’re all gone.
If you fancied going down the hybrid route, then Toyota’s excellent Camry is well worth a look, and there’s the Opel Insignia (probably one of the most underrated cars on the market) to consider too. If you fancy something a little moore stylish, check out the very slinky Peugeot 508.
You could go up a grade, as you suggest, to the likes of a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4, but the problem is you need to spend a LOT extra to get one with decent spec, so our recommendation would be to stick with one of the mainstream brands.
Here are our relevant reviews to help you decide:
Can I scrap a UK Passat in Ireland?
I have a UK-reg 2007 Volkswagen Passat saloon; can I scrap the car in the Republic of Ireland?
Rik Khan (Limerick)Jun 2020 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi Rik,
If you mean literally haul it to a scrapyard and have it taken to bits, then yes, that won’t be a problem. If you mean take advantage of one of the numerous 'scrappage' offers that are around at the moment, then no. Most of those offers have stipulations that say the car you’re trading in has to be taxed and insured (often for up to six months beforehand), and driven to the dealership under its own power.
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:
Used Avensis or Passat for 25k a year?
I do on average 25,000km a year. Live in the country. I have a choice between 142 1.6 Volkswagen Passat (246,000km, €8,800), 142 1.6 VW Passat (180,000km, €9,500), 131 2.0 Toyota Avensis (198,000km €8,950) or 2012 2.0 Avensis (146,000km €8,000).
Advice welcome
James McDonagh (Curry)Jun 2020 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi James,
OK, at 25,000km per year, you’re just about over the line for diesel to make good sense for you. Both the Passat and the Avensis are rugged, reliable cars so they’re both good choices. The Passat has the nicer interior and is more comfortable overall, and that 1.6-litre diesel is remarkably economical (we once drove from Galway to Glasgow, via Belfast, and back on one tank…).
However, the Avensis would have an edge on overall reliability, which, when dealing with cars of this sort of mileage and age, could be significant. I’d say, on balance, go for one of the Avensis, but carefully check over the history and condition of each car, and go for the one that’s the best in those regards, rather than mileage or price. Oh, and as with any four-door saloon with high mileage, check to make sure that neither has been previously used as a taxi. We recommend Cartell.ie for a full history check.