Expert answer

Hi Gladys,

We'd recommend the car is repaired before the NCT. Though minor damage should not mean a fail, that is open to interpretation by the tester and if they deem the car a danger to others, they can fail it for damaged bodywork.

Expert answer

Hi Charlie,

There's a bit to consider there, including the lower total costs if you went for an electric van instead of an SUV. Businesses get an SEAI grant if buying an electric van, but not an SUV. And the VAT on a van should be fully recoverable, while it may not be for the SUV.

As you probably know, there is no VRT relief on an EV costing over €50,000.

There's a wide range of good electric SUVs available in and around this price bracket, including the Volkswagen ID.4, Peugeot E-5008, Toyota bZ4X, Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya.

Come back to us if you have other criteria to narrow down the search with as these all have decent boots and range.

Expert answer

Hi Jon,

At that mileage, your car is likely suffering from voltage fluctuations and ageing wiring and connectors, all of which can lead to the issues you are describing. 

I'd suggest you go back to basics and have the battery, alternator and each and every earth connection checked and cleaned for starters. Then plug the car into a diagnostic computer (any good mechanic can do that) and clear the faults before driving it and plugging it in again to see what comes up.

Some common 307 HDi issues we know of:

- Boost control solenoid
- EGR valve or position sensor
- BSI (Built-In Systems Interface) can act up with water ingress or voltage surge

In summary, there's unlikely to be a simple fix to this, but it's almost definitely electrical.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

So long as you don't alter the seating capacity or interior in any way that might suggest the van is used for passengers, it shouldn't make any difference to the classification of the vehicle. It might be worth informing your insurer as it's a modification.

Expert answer

Hi Daniel,

We asked Gowan Autos again and it confirmed it is still coming, but not until 2026 now.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

That's actually becoming a bit of a challenge as regular cars such as the Mondeo have fallen out of favour with buyers, so the carmakers are slowly doing away with them. At the same time, demand for diesel engines is waning. Nonetheless, here are a few possibilities:

- Audi A5 'Saloon' (it's actually a five-door hatch)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon
- Skoda Superb (another hatchback and the closest match to the Mondeo today)

That's pretty much it. A leftfield alternative could be the Peugeot 508 SW, which is the estate model. It can be had with a diesel engine still, but the five-door 508 fastback cannot. We reckon it looks stunning.

How do these strike you?

Expert answer

Hi David,

I'd suggest your first port of call is a good mechanic. Have them inspect the engine and advise you if it can be salvaged before committing to any work.

Expert answer

Hi Ann,

The issue with early PureTech petrol engines is well documented. They use what's called a “wet belt”, which means the timing belt actually runs in oil. Most timing belts do not. Unfortunately, many of these engines have reportedly suffered from premature timing belt degradation. This can lead to lots of other engine issues caused by the presence of bits of the timing belt in the oil system. This did not affect every example of the engine, though.

In an attempt to fix the issue, there was a change to the material used in the timing belt from about 2021.

Aside from that, using the correct oil at service time is key, and perhaps shortening the time between oil services is to be advised. Likewise, we'd urge owners to change the timing belt a little earlier than the official interval.

Expert answer

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the kind words! Good news for you: only last week it was confirmed to us that Peugeot Ireland is looking into pricing the plug-in-hybrid version of the 5008 for introduction this year. Given that confirmation, we'd hope it's available in the next few months.

Expert answer

Hi Diana,

The seven-seat EV market is tiny thus far and most of the vehicles are based on commercial vans. Here's a list in order of starting price:

• Citroen E-Berlingo, from €38,693 (as 'LWB' model)
• Opel Combo Life Electric, from €39,504
• Peugeot E-Rifter, from €39,600 (as 'long' model)
• Citroen E-Spacetourer, from €48,626
• Opel Combi Electric, from €49,068
• Peugeot E-5008, from €50,995
• Opel Zafira Life Electric, from €62,495
• Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB, from €67,785
• Kia EV9, from €77,500
• Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, from €114,111
• Volvo EX90, from €117,910
• Mercedes-Benz EQV, from €125,830