Expert answer

Hi Marie,

I can confirm that those cars' engines do not have wet timing belts - they are traditional 'dry' belts instead. I believe the issues you mentioned relate to Ford's EcoBoost petrol engines only. 

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

All the various 2.0-litre engines (TDI diesel and FSI/TFSI petrol) in the 2004 Audi A3 used cam belts.

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Hi Fergal,

The first one that comes to mind is the Skoda Superb. A new generation of this massive car was launched last year and it’s a great option. It’s bigger than the Mondeo and can be had with a 2.0 TDI diesel engine.

A lovely car is the Peugeot 508, which can be had with a 1.5-litre diesel, but you might find it small inside in comparison to your Mondeo. Worth a look anyway.

There really aren’t many others if you’re sticking with a diesel saloon, unless you go for one of the premium brands - both Audi and Mercedes sell diesel engines still in the A5 and C-Class, respectively.

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Hi Louise,

The difficulty here is working on what OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) Revenue is likely to place on the vehicle, especially one so rare. Let’s say a maximum of €4,000, though it should be worth less than that.

Then we need the CO₂ rating, as that gives us the VRT band and percentage. Our data shows that the car would have a CO₂ value of 137g/km. However, that’s the old “NEDC” figure and the Irish government will apply an “uplifting” formula to bring it up to WLTP standards for VRT calculation. It comes out as 166g/km.

That means VRT in Band 18, or 30 per cent of the OMSP.

With an OMSP of €4,000, the VRT would be €1,200.

And don’t forget the NOx levy, which would be quite high for that car as well regardless of the OMSP.

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Hi William,

That engine uses a timing chain.

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Hi Ger,

If you’re sticking with automatic, then your choices are very limited. We found only the Opel Grandland and SsangYong Korando, neither of which we’d be huge fans of.

Here are the manual models we found that otherwise fit the brief:

Cupra Formentor: We really like this car as it looks great, and it drives well. You might find it a little too low down for your liking as it’s not as tall an SUV as the Qashqai, but worth a look.

Dacia Duster: Not quite as solid as the Qashqai perhaps, but it’s very comfortable and you’d get more for your money - you could get a 2024 version for example.

Ford Kuga: A comfortable and well-built option. Plenty of them about.

Hyundai Tucson: Very spacious inside and in the boot. Loads of them around as it has been the best-seller for so long. Despite that it still looks interesting outside. Good reliability. Strong reputation shown by the fact that you’d probably only afford a 2022 example with your budget.

Kia Sportage: Identical to the Tucson under the skin so it just comes down to which of the two you prefer the look of. Though the Kia has a longer warranty in terms of time if mileage is low.

Mazda CX-5: Fantastic to drive and feels like a premium car in comparison to most others here. Might cost a little more to run and they’re not very plentiful on the used market.

Peugeot 3008: A stylish replacement for the Qashqai. Solid car. Double-check you can get on with the cabin layout.

SEAT Ateca: Once one of our favourite cars of this size, though it is getting on in years now. Might not feel as modern as some cars on this list, but is still well made, comfortable and spacious.

That’s still quite a long list, admittedly, but hopefully it helps you drill things down to a shortlist. We have our own preferences, and you will, too.

Feel free to come back to us if you want further help of course.

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Hi Gerry,

As you probably know, taxing a commercial vehicle privately means going by the engine size. The Partner's van fits into the 1,501-1,600cc category so it will be €514 per year to tax.

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Hi Barry,

If it’s registered as a commercial and is being imported to be registered as one in Ireland, then the VRT should be 13.3 per cent of its OMSP. That’s the Open Market Selling Price Revenue believes the vehicle to be worth in Ireland, which can be tricky to estimate, especially for something so rare, relatively speaking.

If Revenue says it’s worth €35,000 then the VRT as a commercial would be 13.3 per cent of that, or €4,655.

If this is a private vehicle then the VRT rate depends on the CO₂ emissions, and it’s likely to be in the top band, at 41 per cent. At the same OMSP, that would be a VRT bill of €14,350.

Don’t forget about the NOx levy, which will be high for that vehicle, but if it has been registered and used in Northern Ireland you shouldn’t have import duty or VAT to pay.

Expert answer

Hi Mile,

That engine has a timing belt.

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Hi Shane,

When you're taxing a commercial vehicle for private use then the rate goes by the engine size. 

The Wildtrak can be had with 2.0 or 3.0-litre diesel engines, while the Ranger can be had with a 2.0-litre diesel or 3.0-litre petrol option. The 2.0-litre engines cost €710 a year to tax and the 3.0-litre units (doesn't matter what fuels them) are €1,494 per annum.

Read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature for full details.