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Hi Colm,

It depends — for the most part, all vans are charged VRT at a rate of 13.3 per cent of the Irish market selling price, but some N1 vans qualify for a basic charge of €200 if, according to Revenue, they have always had fewer than four seats, and at any time a laden mass greater than 130 per cent of the mass in service. Better check with the local motor tax office to find out which category your Transporter fits into...

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Hi Ann,

Well, in general, it’s usually better to go for the younger, lower-mileage car — but, it’s far more important to buy on the basis of condition and history. Does one have a full, complete and bulging service history file? Go for that one. Is one in obviously better shape? Is one being bought from a franchised dealer who’s offering a good warranty? All of these things need to be factored in; it’s not just age and mileage.

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Hi Keith,

You've not told us the model year, but if it's a 2010 car or older and it has never had its timing belt changed then it's likely to be a reminder to have it done. The belt in, for example, a 2010 Kuga 2.0 TDCi diesel, must be changed at least every 200,000 kilometres or 10 years, whichever comes first, so, even though yours has only done 106,000km, if it's 10 years or more old, the belt must be changed.

If you'v already had the belt changed, you'll need to bring the car to a garage with a good diagnostic computer so they can reset the computer for you.

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Hi Gino,

That Ford 1.6 TDCi diesel engine is one of the most common engines around, as it has also been used by Mazda, Volvo, Peugeot, Citroen and MINI. It has one major vulnerable spot and that is that sooty, gummy deposits can build up in areas that are supposed to be kept cool and lubricated by oil. If the deposits build up enough, they can block the oil passage and cause component failure — most commonly of the turbocharger. The best way to prevent that happening is with regular servicing (at least once a year depending on mileage) and making sure that you always use a high-quality grade of synthetic oil for the engine.

The 1.6 petrol engine, the 100hp version, is a much simpler unit and it’s pretty reliable, mostly because it’s a much older design. It won’t be as economical nor as punchy in its performance as the diesel, but if it’s reliability you’re looking for, it might be the better option. 

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Hi Stephen,

Taking the 1.7 CRDi diesel as an example, Hyundai recommends a 30,000km or 12 months interval for oil and oil filter changes. Along with all the usual checks on lights, levels, brakes, etc, Hyundai also recommends changing the brake fluid, clutch fluid and cabin filter at that time. 

Every 60,000km or two years, the air filter must also be changed, while the coolant should be replaced every 210,000km or 10 years.

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Hi Herbert,

We’ve been in touch with GoCar, which is the current leading supplier of subscriptions for instant, on-street, vehicle hire and drive, and there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that, normally, GoCar’s insurance only covers those up to the age of 75. However, the good news is that there’s potential for discretion. GoCar might waive the age limit if you meet certain criteria, which include  that you have a valid licence; that you can provide a doctor's letter to say they are fit to drive; and that you can show that you were insured to drive within the last two years, and haven't had an accident in five years. It’s worth a try, anyway...

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Hi John,

The quoted weight on the V5 should be sufficient as the only thing that matters come inspection time is the maximum gross vehicle weight, the limit for which is 3,500kg. As long as you’re not carrying a two-tonne load (which the van wouldn’t take anyway) you should be fine. 

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Hi Steven,

Is that 90,000 kilometres (as opposed to miles)? If so then it’s actually slightly below average mileage for a car of that age. Anyway, the rule when buying is to not buy on mileage, but to buy on condition and history. If the Focus has a service book full of stamps and receipts, has a clear history check (we recommend Cartell.ie) and is in obviously good condition, then it should be fine. If you have any doubts, get an AA inspection done. The price seems absolutely fine for a nearly ten-year-old Focus. 

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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 Tom,

OK, well your 2015 E-Class (condition and service history being equal) should be worth around €17-18,000 on a trade-in, and 2017 E-Classes cost around €30-33,000 (there are cheaper ones out there but beware of those with poor history) so you’ll need to find in the region of €13,000 to €15,000 for the trade-up.