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 Aubril,

The Focus estate in general is pretty decent, but the 1.8-litre diesel engine was not Ford's finest hour and unless it has verified low mileage and/or a detailed service history showing regular oil changes, it's best to look for an alternative. The 1.6-litre diesel is a far superior engine from Ford, for example.

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Hi Adam,

That doesn't seem like very high mileage for the year, so maybe get a history check on the car to look into that, and ask for as detailed a service history as possible as well.

Our top tip for buying used cars is to test drive as many examples of the car from other sellers as possible so you get a feel for which is a good one.  

As with any used car, check it drives well, there are no warning lights on when it is up and running and try to get a look underneath to make sure there's nothing drastically wrong. 

Ideally a mechanic you trust would take a look at it for you, but I guess you can't expect perfection from a 2007 car.

The price sounds ok rather than amazing, but if the condition and history are good then it's probably worth it.

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Hi Fiachra,

From the information you provided, you should not have any VAT or customs duty payable on this car when importing it into Ireland.

Just make sure you have proof of that customs declaration document, as that's the key piece of evidence that shows Revenue that the dealer has already completed customs procedures and the car entered the EU customs territory before you bought it and brought it to Ireland.

Expert answer

Hi Leona,

From what you've told us, the easiest thing to do here would be to change ownership of your relative's cars to you. This is simply a case of filling in section C on the back of the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) for each of the vehicles and sending the VRCs off to the Vehicle Registration Unit (the address is on the VRC). This can be done online as well via www.motortax.ie.

When a vehicle changes hands, its tax arrears are wiped out, so you won't need to worry about that. And if you don't intend to use the vehicles for a time, you can declare them off the road using the Statutory Off Road Declaration (SORD). This can be done online at www.motortax.ie or at your local motor tax office.

Note: this must be done ahead of time, not after the fact, and can only be submitted for periods of up to 12 months (though it can be renewed).

That would avoid the need for motor tax if you're not using the vehicles or if you're in the midst of converting the Transporter, for example.

If that's not an option, then motor tax for the van in particular could be expensive as it will be taxed according to its engine size (read our Motor Road Tax Prices In Ireland Explained feature for full details).

In terms of insurance, multi-car policies are not common in Ireland, unfortunately, so you'll need to do some ringing around or employ the services of a good insurance broker. And be aware that it can be tricky to get private insurance on a commercial vehicle.

Come back to us if you want us to go into more depth on any of this.

Expert answer

Hi John,

In theory there's no reason why you could not do this. The taxation is a little different and there's a commercial vehicle equivalent to the NCT, but no legislation preventing a private individual from buying and driving a commercial vehicle.

However, anecdotal evidence suggests that it's not all that easy for private individuals to find insurance for such vehicles. Do some ringing around on that before you commit to buying and if you have no luck talking to the insurers directly then consider employing the services of an insurance broker.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

Not sure where you heard that. The first service is just €240, including parts, labour and VAT.

Expert answer

Hi Marie,

Yes, if you provided your mobile number when booking your NCT, you should receive a text message reminder with the date, time and location of your test. This usually arrives a few days before your appointment. 

If you haven't received a text or want to confirm your booking, you can check your appointment details on the NCTS website or call customer service at (01) 413 5992.

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for vans imported from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland is typically calculated at 13.3 per cent of the vehicle's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). However, certain vans qualify for a reduced VRT rate of €200. To be eligible for this reduced rate, the van must meet specific criteria:

- The van must have always had fewer than four seats.

- The van's laden mass must be greater than 130 per cent of its ‘mass in service’ (or 125 per cent for electric vans).

This applies to a lot of proper panel vans, though not usually car-based vans.

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

You need to make the call yourself, obviously, but I’d be inclined to suggest the newer engine is a better bet as it has been more reliable than the N47 with its well-documented timing-chain issues and high cost of repair. However, that decision would come down to the service history on the newer car with the higher mileage. If the service history is incomplete then stay away from it.