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Can I import a commercial SUV and save money?

What is story regarding Toyota and Land Rover new five-seater commercial SUVs? Is it possible to buy a second hand SUV in England and bring it over and make it a commercial and keep five seats? That would be a big cost saving.

Noel Kelly (Galway)

Mar 2014 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

You can indeed get a lower rate of VAT and VRT when importing a commercial vehicle from the UK. For VRT you'll pay 13.3 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) - the price that Revenue reckons the car is worth in Ireland, not what you paid for it. Buying second hand in the UK and having the car converted is also a fine idea, but best to have the conversion done in the UK so that the car is already in commercial form when it lands here.

By the way, all this only applies if you're bringing in a commercial vehicle to use for work purposes. If you're using such a vehicle for social, domestic or pleasure use and paying VRT, VAT and motor tax at the commercial rate, you're technically breaking the law.

Here's our full guide to importing a car from the UK


What would be the best second hand SUV to go for?

What would be the best second hand SUV to go for?

Ash Crossan (Portlaoise)

Mar 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Ash,

It very much depends on your price bracket and what your requirements are in terms of size. If you want something small, cheap and fun to drive, why not try either a Nissan Juke or MINI Countryman? Need something with a bit more space and practicality? Nissan Qashqai then, or better yet, a Skoda Yeti. Want to get something with a lot more size and some proper 4x4 ability? Go for a Honda CR-V, a Hyundai Santa Fe (you can get those with seven seats by the way) or, a Nissan again, this time the under-appreciated X-Trail. Want something seriously big and impressive? Well, a Range Rover Sport is always a good buy but be sure to put aside plenty to cover the running costs. A Toyota Land Cruiser is rather less exciting to drive or to look at but its reliability is little short of legendary. Or, if you want something really cheap and old that can pack some abuse and come back for more, try either a Suzuki Grand Vitara (smallish) or a Mitsubishi Pajero (big). Both are reliable, both can off-road properly and both can be tracked down at bargain prices, as long as you buy according to condition, not age or mileage.

Come back to us if you need more help


Is the Volvo XC90 our safest family bet with seven seats?

We are looking for a large, family SUV, preferably a Volvo XC90, as our priorities are space and safety. It needs to take two car seats and another person in the back, with space in the boot for a pushchair and shopping. Are there any other cars that would be on a par with the safety record of an XC90?

Sue Row (Portlaoise)

Feb 2014 Filed under: safety

Expert answer

Hi Sue,

Safety record? Not really. The XC90 was first crash tested back in 2003 when Euro NCAP only gave stars for overall performance and pedestrian impact. At the time, the XC got a full five-star rating (rare at the time). Since then its score has only been matched in the class by the Mercedes-Benz M-Class in 2008, the Volkswagen Touareg in 2004, the BMW X5 in 2003 and, in the past couple of years, the new Mercedes M-Class, the new Range Rover and the Hyundai Santa Fe. Out of those, only the X5 and the Santa Fe come with seven seats (optionally in the case of the X5) and neither can match the space or comfort of the Volvo.


Would you recommend a Volkswagen Cross Polo?

Would you recommend a Volkswagen Cross Polo? I already drive a diesel Golf (2010). Thinking of downsizing as I'll be 74 this year.

Gerry Casey (Cork)

Feb 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

To be honest, I just can't recommend a Cross Polo. The standard Polo is a decent little car, albeit a bit slow and a touch noisy. Those problems just seem to be magnified in the Cross Polo though and then there's the fact that for all the plastic cladding and faux-SUV looks, it's just a more expensive Polo underneath and can't tackle mud any more capably than a basic 1.2 Polo Trendline.

So, my suggestion would be this. Either buy a standard Polo or, if you really need something small but with genuine off-road-snow-ice ability then search out either a Fiat Panda 4x4 or a Suzuki SX4 4x4.

Let us know which way you go.


Would a Nissan X-Trail make a good horse box tow car?

Will a Nissan X-Trail pull a horse trailer/horse box double, and are the brakes good enough for this trailer too?

Bernice Mc Kenna (Dublin )

Feb 2014 Filed under: towing

Expert answer

Hi Bernice,

I've always thought the Nissan X-Trail to be something of an underrated star of the compact SUV segment. It's good to drive, massively spacious and well made. 

As for towing, it has a maximum capacity of 2,200kg, but that's for a braked trailer. Obviously, if you're on a category B driver's licence that could potentially put you over the maximum 3,500kg gross vehicle limit, so be aware of that.

As for brakes, you shouldn't have any trouble so long as you don't load over that 2.2-tonne limit.


What is the best automatic crossover?

What is the best automatic SUV/CUV/crossover?

Mary O'Sullivan (Cork)

Feb 2014 Filed under: automatic

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

You wouldn't go wrong with a Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI DSG. Cracking car, great gearbox.


What do you think of the Dacia Sandero Stepway?

What are the pros and cons of the Dacia Sandero Stepway?

Patrick Rice (Killarney)

Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

The Stepway gains some SUV-like styling and a 4cm higher ride height over the conventional Sandero, so it's a little bit more bouncy on rougher roads as a result, and it will roll a bit more in bends over its relation. That's a hyper critical road tester's view though, as the soft, comfort-biased suspension is fine at nornal speeds.

The SUV-look suits it, really smartens it up and makes it stand out, though the trade off for this - thanks largely to the addition of those roof bars - is an appreciable increase in wind noise at speed. That's fine unless you're doing lots of motorway miles in it.

Rear legroom isn't overly generous, while the trim and materials are all fairly uninspiring, though robust. The diesel isn't very refined, but should return excellent economy, the petrol three-cylinder engine is more willing and more refined, but less economical.

All in I rather liked it though, good honest transport.

You can read my colleague Neil's Irish road test of the Dacia Sandero Stepway here.


Dacia cars: what are they like?

Dacia cars: what's the opinion on them?

Gabriel Creaven (Galway)

Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Gabriel,

Dacias are fine, to be honest, you just have to make sure you know what you're getting into. They're not sophisticated, nor are they especially modern, but they're cheap and genuinely quite cheerful. Best of the bunch is the Sandero supermini, which combines decent build quality with surprising refinement and a  emptingly low price.

The Duster SUV is also pretty good, albeit it's quite an old design now and lacks things like electronic stability control as standard. Still, it's rugged, tough and refreshingly simple. The newer Logan estate and Stepway crossover are just variations on the Sandero theme and are there for those who need either an enormous boot (Logan) or a bit of 4x4-esque style (Stepway).

Another of our readers had been asking about safety when it comes to Dacias and the answer is a touch complicated. As we mentioned, the Duster lacks standard-fit ESP and it has received a three-star safety rating from EuroNCAP, whereas most of its more expensive rivals would get a full five-star score. The Sandero actually does have standard ESP, and it scores a more healthy four-star rating, although it's worth noting that the overall crash protection score for the occupants is more or less the same for both vehicles, and the Duster loses points when its lack of electronic systems is taken into account.
Hope that helps


What's the most comfortable small SUV on the market?

What's the most comfortable small SUV on the market?

Mark Moran (Galway)

Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

In simple terms, the Skoda Yeti.

Hope that helps


Is the Volkswagen Tiguan a good car?

Tiguan 2.0-litre TDI diesel: good car?

Jimmy Brennan (Dublin)

Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Jimmy,

Really good car - no surprise it's one of the top-selling SUVs. Much better to drive than is the norm for such cars and with decent economy too. No major reliability scares either, just make sure that the recall that saw 800,000 Tiguans worldwide brought back in last year to have a headlight fuse issue fix has been completed. Oh, and the boot is a little on the small side for a car this size, but otherwise it's a good 'un.


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