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Showing 71 - 80 results (out of a total of 747) found for "service" in Ask Us Anything

Planning to buy a 2007 Audi A4...

Planning to buy a 2007 Audi A4 TD SE 1,968cc CVT for £3,995. Is it good value? What does 'TYS SE' stand for?

Thank you

Moy Arguelles (Crawley)

Aug 2020 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Moy,

As long as it comes with a full service history and is in excellent condition, I’d say that’s a fair price, but you could potentially get into a 2008 model if you shop around a bit. As for the acronyms, SE is simply a trim level, and denotes the most basic A4 version, but TYS doesn’t appear in any Audi model lists. Could it be a typo on the advert?


Does my Ford Kuga need a new belt now?

Hi,

I have a 2015 Ford Kuga 1.6 with 89,000km on the clock. It's due for its annual service and the Ford Service Centre has suggested that I replace the timing belt during this service. Is it necessary at this stage?

Regards, Wilstan

Wilstan Weichardt (Cape Town)

Aug 2020 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi Wilstan,

Assuming you mean the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, our information is that the belt should be changed every 200,000km or 10 years, neither of which applies to your car.


What's up with my Fiat 500X electrics?

I have a 2016 1.4 petrol Fiat 500X MultiAir. My stop-start system says it is not available and drive mode unavailable with symbols for start-stop and engine fault on the dashboard. This has been happening on and off for some time. The car just seems to reset after a week or so. I have done 58,000 miles and it has just passed its NCT and has had a service.

Ann Godfrey (Irvine)

Jul 2020 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Ann,

We'd suspect the battery or alternator aren't performing at their best. Stop-start issues are very commonplace, across all cars. So much so that we've written a feature for drivers on the subject: Why won't my car's stop-start system work?


I need to tax a 151 Caddy privately...

Can I tax a 151 Volkswagen Caddy 1.6 75hp private? If so, how much? What do I need to tax this vehicle?

Kenneth Carnegie (Ballina)

Jul 2020 Filed under: taxation

Expert answer

Hi Kenneth,

You can tax it privately, and all you need to do is to ring up your local motor tax office (you can look yours up here) and tell them that you want to tax a van as a private vehicle. You’ll be shifted on to the old by-engine-capacity tax system and so, with a 1.6-litre engine, you’ll have to pay €514 per year.


Thoughts on 151 Nissan Qashqai?

I am thinking about buying a 2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.2-litre petrol with 50,000km on the clock. What do you think?

JAMES LORCCAN (SHANNON)

Jul 2020 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi James,

The Qashqai has long been one of the most popular cars on the market, and with good reason — it’s roomy, quite stylish, decent to drive and mostly reliable. We say "mostly” as there have been reported issues with turbocharger problems (although those seem to affect the diesel engined version rather more) and suspension problems. With a five-year-old car, we’d recommend getting an inspection by someone like the AA to ascertain if there are any serious issues with the car, and of course do a full history and background check with Cartell.ie.

Other than that, as long as it comes with a full service history, it should be a good buy.

Read our Nissan Qashqai Mk2 (2014-2021) used car buying guide for more.


When to service my Opel Astra 1.4?

Hi,

Can you please advise when to service a 2011 Opel Astra 1.4-litre hatchback? It was last serviced at 138k kilometers and has done 7k since then.

Thank you, William.

William Ellis (Limerick)

Jul 2020 Filed under: servicing

Expert answer

Hi William,

Officially, it's every 30,000km or every year, whichever comes first.


VRT on this low-mileage motorcycle?

Hello,

I have bought a motorcycle in the UK (registered on 5th October 2016). According to the VRT website - if the bike has less than 6,000km on it - VAT is payable. The bike has 4,000km on it. I work in England (Monday - Friday), but not at the moment with COVID-19 - and am working for home. The bike is still in the UK with the dealer (I have paid for it but not collected it).

Thanks

Mark Kilroy (Galway)

Jun 2020 Filed under: VRT

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

Actually, the rules on this are a little unclear, because the examples given by Revenue don’t relate to a bike as old as yours with as little mileage. I think the best thing to do is to get onto your local motor tax office and check with them before making any decisions. 


What to do about my Mazda RX-8 NCT?

Hi,

I have a Mazda RX-8, which was due a test at the start of April. I am wondering what the rules are as regards emission testing. As you probably know, they have a different type of engine and require two-stroke oil, which would leave emissions very high. Do I need to stop adding two-stroke oil before the test or are they not tested for emissions?

Thanks

Patrick

Patrick Sweeney (LETTERKENNY)

Jun 2020 Filed under: NCT

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

It’s a bit of a catch-22, adding two-stroke oil to your RX-8 rotary. In theory, it can help with delaying the onset of rotor tip wear, but the problem is that it will destroy your catalytic convertor and that means you definitely won’t pass the NCT. I wouldn’t recommend it. Much better merely to make sure that the engine is properly and regularly serviced, rather than trying any short cuts like two-stroke oil. 


VRT rate to import a Land Rover Defender?

Hello,

We are planning to buy a 2012 Land Rover Defender N1 from the UK. It's a five-seat utility model. Will the VRT charge be 13.5 per cent?

Alan Walsh (Oranmore )

Jun 2020 Filed under: VRT

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

It should be, as the vehicle would have conformed to the N1 regulations when it was first registered, but to be safe I’d check with your local motor tax office before making any firm decisions.


How much to pay for 2018 Hyundai i10?

Hyundai i10 2018, 30,000 miles: what’s a fair price to pay?

Kathleen Dermody (Galway)

Jun 2020 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Kathleen,

Mid-market values for a 2018 Hyundia i10 seem to be holding up surprisingly well — in the €10,000-11,000 range. The cheapest go for around €9,000, but they seem to be ex-rental cars. It will depend on service history and condition, of course.