Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

The best data we can find shows a figure of 116mg/km for the Ecomotive model or 105mg/km for the regular 1.6 TDI. This will vary depending on the version, but that's a good ballpark to work to.

Expert answer

Hi Howard,

If I were you, I'd stick with diesel for now. Assuming that, with such high mileage, you won't have time to plug the car in to charge it up regularly, the 530e won't get near the 520d's average economy. Once the battery charge is used up, you're effectively driving a heavy petrol car. The fact you're VAT-registered and can claim back the VAT on the diesel is another reason to stick with it for now.

Yes, electrification is coming to all cars, but we don't believe it suits all motorists just yet. The beauty of you changing your car every 15 months is that you can react quite quickly to changes in taxation and new model launches.

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Hi Eddie,

If you tax a commercial vehicle for private use then it goes by its engine size, regardless of how new it is. The X-Trail's engine is a 1,598cc unit so it costs €514 a year to tax privately. Read more in our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature.

As for the X-Trail's economy, it will depend more on how and where you drive it than anything else. The 1.6 diesel car, which is heavier than the van, officially returned about 56mpg. We'd expect you to match that at a 100km/h cruise and maybe average closer to 40mpg unladen for general use.

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Hi Jim,

Assuming you're sure that diesel power is for you, the Kuga is not a bad choice. There were various different power outputs available, so make sure you test it and that you're happy with the performance. The only major thing to look out for is the dual-clutch automatic gearbox - we'd steer clear of it if at all possible as it comes with many known faults.

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Hi Pauric,

Not sure about ‘deal of a lifetime’ but it certainly sounds pretty solid from what you’ve told us. Obviously, be careful to read the fine print of any deal regarding monthly payments and so on, and to make sure that you’re happy with the terms and conditions, whether it’s a PCP deal or Hire Purchase. The V60 is definitely one of our favourite cars, and the D3 diesel is ideal if you’re doing high regular mileage (which from the sounds of the car you’re trading in, you do).

Just remember that, being an ex-demo, you’re going to be the second name on the logbook not the first, so come resale time that will have a small effect on the trade-in value, although if you keep it for long enough that will be negligible.

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Hi Kinga,

Though you imported the car only six years ago, it was first registered in 2006, so its taxation is based on its engine capacity for pre-2008 cars.

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Hi Catherine,

As far as I'm aware, they are sprung-loaded, where you push one side of the fuel flap and it springs back out and opens, so maybe there's dirt or something in the mechanism? We can only suggest you try various levels of pressure on the trailing edge of the flap and then release, hoping that it clears. If not, you may have to lever it open, though that could break the mechanism, which would then have to be replaced. If you do go down that route, make sure you protect the main bodywork paint from damage.

Expert answer

Hi Maurice,

If you can't find the car on Revenue's own website, then you're going to have to work to your own estimate and hope that you're close. You can appeal the value Revenue comes up with at the car's inspection, but you must pay the VRT it deems is applicable first. And bear in mind that the OMSP will go up if the car has lots of extras. Based on what you've said, we'd estimate it to be about €50,000.

As the car is already over six months old and has done more than 6,000km, you won't have any VAT to pay.

I believe the WLTP CO₂ rating for that car should be under 50g/km.

So, going on that €50,000 assumption, if you register it before the end of December, it's in VRT Band A1 at 14 per cent, which is €7,000. A used plug-in hybrid up to two years old gets a €2,250 VRT rebate, so the net VRT cost to you would be in the region of €4,750.

If you wait until 2021, the VRT rebate won't apply, but the VRT rate will come down to seven per cent, which works out as €3,500, which would suggest that, if our assumptions above are correct, you'll save money if you wait. 

Note that I've not included the NOx levy in these calculations, as I can't quickly find what the NOx is for that model. The levy will increase slightly for you if you wait until 2021 registration, but not by a significant amount. You can read more about that in the relevant articles below:

How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland?

Guide to Importing Cars from the UK

Expert answer

Hi Aileen,

If you tax a commercial vehicle privately, it goes by its engine size, regardless of its age, so in this case the annual motor tax will be €514.

Full details in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

In general, yes, the 2006 Polo is quite reliable. However, you have to adjust your expectations given that it would be over 14 years old now. Go for as simple a model as you can find and best to go for petrol rather than diesel to keep the maintenance costs low.