Expert answer

Hi Shane,

I’m afraid this is a bit like asking us how long a piece of string might be… Especially given the current coronavirus crisis. It’s simply impossible for us to tell quite where the car market is going to go in the next while. Broadly speaking, we are moving steadily towards an electric future, and so — yes — diesel values will be under pressure in the coming years. That said, the current crisis might push the market back a little, and it’s possible that for the next little while, people might be more keen to go with something familiar, rather than taking risks on new tech.

Given all of that, and given that you’re looking at a three-year timeline, I think you’d be OK buying a diesel, especially in a premium model like an Audi. While it’s certainly possible that values may not hold up quite as strongly as they have done, it should still be solid enough, and of course you can insulate yourself — to an extent — by buying on a PCP plan with a guaranteed minimum future value.

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Hi Julie,

In many ways, diesel would be the safe bet, but with your 90km per day driving pattern, I’d suggest that you’re potentially an ideal candidate for switching to electric. Certainly, a current Kia e-Niro or Hyundai Kona Electric would do your five-day daily commute on almost one charge (although realistically you’d probably top it up much more regularly than that). As long as you have a driveway where you can install a home charging point (and a charging point at work would be helpful too), then I’d say it’s well worth looking at electric. The savings on fuel alone will help to balance out the cost of purchase. 

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Hi Dave,

I'm surprised to hear that from a new truck where the battery will be in good condition, but stop-start systems regularly don't work as people expect. The system measures loads of variables before deciding whether the engine will be stopped, including the temperature of the engine and even the outside temperature. If it's cold weather, it may not work at all. If you're using items that are a big electrical drain, it may not operate. 

Read our Why won't my car's stop-start system work? feature

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

In terms of tax there won’t be any changes before the Budget in October, and there are unlikely to be major changes then. There have been rumblings of a change in the diesel tax system, but the various departments are known to be hesitant to introduce a third motor tax regime on top of the two we already have. A general increase in the cost of motor tax, within the existing bands, is quite likely though, as the Government starts to push people towards electric motoring.

In terms of fuel costs, prices at the pump have spiked up in recent weeks thanks to the Trump-Iran standoff, and this week the average per-litre cost of diesel rose to €1.31. That is likely to continue to rise as long as tensions in the Middle East, and indeed in the White House, remain high. 

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Hi Philip,

Well, Tesla already sells a Model S long range that will go for a claimed 610km...

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Hi Brian,

It’s a tricky one. The problem is that a 330e gets amazing fuel economy as long as you keep it plugged in as much as possible (which would work nicely for your short commutes), but that all goes to pot a bit on long motorway journeys (which is obviously not going to be good).

We think it’s a good idea to start moving away from diesel and towards hybrid and electric, but you’re going to struggle — overall — to match your A5 TDI’s economy with the 330e. Now, the thing is you can maybe make this work from the perspective of overall running costs. If you can charge up at work as well as at home, and stick to electric-only power as much as possible for your three short commuting days, then it’s just possible that might balance out the thirstier longer runs on the other two days.

Unfortunately, we can’t be more certain than that — the only way to know for sure is to try it out. If you don’t fancy making that leap of faith, then I guess it’s back to 320d diesel power and wait for truly long-range electric cars to arrive.

Expert answer

Hi Iobhán,

If you’ve bought a new electric car, talk to the dealer from whom you bought it. All of the major electric car brands have their own charging recommendations and can usually offer you a supply and fitting service. If it’s a second hand one, talk to the guys at ESB e-cars as a first port of call — lots of knowledgable people there and they’re very helpful. As a rule of thumb you’ll need to be able to run a charger with a power output of at least 7.4kW or you’ll not be able to fully charge the car overnight, especially if it’s one of the new big-battery models. 

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Hi Michael,

It does indeed. In fact, cruise control will be standard on all versions of the new Peugeot 208, from Active spec on up. Read our Peugeot 208 reviews here

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Hi Eoin,

Well, to tax a 2.2 Transit as a private car will cost you €950 a year, but the good news is that you don’t need a VAT number to be able to tax a van as a commercial. You simply have to fill out a Goods Only Declaration form (find it here: http://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content//Documents/Application_Forms/Roads_and_Traffic/Motor Tax/RF111A_ENG.pdf) and for that you only need your income tax registration number and get it witnessed at your local Garda station. 

Expert answer

Hi Sandra,

It shouldn't cause any damage, but it could indicate a weakness in your battery or electrical system, so it's best to have it looked at when you can. 

Read our Why won't my car's stop-start system work? feature for more information