Expert answer

Hi Joe,

It's a really, really lovely car with a peach of a 2.0-litre, six-cylinder engine and wonderful steering and handling. Just beware of a couple of things. A lot of so-called Lexus IS 200s are actually Japanese market Toyota Altezzas, which have been imported and rebadged, so make sure you’re getting an original Irish (or at least UK) market Lexus. Secondly, they tend to fall into the hands of the boy-racer brigade, so if it has out-size wheels or a dustbin-sized exhaust, avoid like the plague as it could have been thrashed and/or crashed.

Other than that, go for it – they’re mechanically long-lived (although with a car that age you’ll need to check literally everything carefully) and if it has a full service history and comes with a sheaf of past receipts and tax discs, you’re probably on to a winner.

Expert answer

Hi Colin,

It depends which models you mean. I presume you’re looking at an Audi A3 and a Volkswagen Golf, which share a 1.6-litre diesel engine. On the base model of both cars, the quoted CO₂ figure is exactly the same – 99g/km. It could be that you’re looking at an A3 Saloon, which,  with the optional 18-inch alloy wheels, has a CO₂ figure of 109g/km, or possibly even the A3 Saloon quattro 1.6 TDI on 18s, which has a whopping (in comparison) figure of 130g/km. Extra equipment (or indeed a complete four-wheel drive system) and bigger wheels all have an effect on consumption and therefore emissions, you see...

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

It’s fine, but you’ll probably find the CO₂ emissions a touch high – it was generally from a time before car makers got really serious on CO₂ so with 146g/km it’s a bit more expensive to tax than newer models.

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Hi Mark,

With a car like that what really drives the value is the history and condition, so if it’s perfect and if all the stamps in the service history book have a Porsche crest on them then it should be worth around €35-37,000.

The VRT export rebate process isn’t especially difficult but there are a lot of forms to fill out and you’ll need a lot of proof of where the car is going and to whom it’s been sold. You can find all the necessary details here:  http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/export-repayment-scheme/faqs.html

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Hi Donal,

Short answer – no. That’s partially down to the fact that such in-depth comparisons have to take into account the type of mileage you do, the electricity tariff you’re on and more. The best I can suggest is that you have a good long look through our various electric car reviews and then use the cost calculators on both the ESB and SEAI websites to further refine your research:

BMW i3 review

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric

Nissan Leaf review

Renault Zoe review

Tesla Model S review

Volkswagen e-up! review

Volkswagen e-Golf review 

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Hi Stephen,

You should do - Peugeot has a 'scrappage' scheme (actually just a trade-in booster really) in place against its commercial vehicle range,  but you may have to get the Hyundai patched up enough to drive it there. Most schemes have a requirement that the vehicle be taxed and insured when you trade it in. 

Expert answer

Hi Ruairi,

Nice idea, but it won't work. Do you really think the good folk at Revenue haven't thought of that particular plan before? The official documents state that not only must the car be insured and taxed, you have to have physically been resident overseas too, in "the place where you usually lived, for at least 185 days in the year ending on the date of transfer, because of occupational and personal ties."

There are a bunch of other restrictions on the transfer of address waiver and you can find them here: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html

Expert answer

Hi John,

Sorry, but you'll have to change the plates - if you're bringing a car into the UK you only have to inform HMRC of the car's arrival within 14 days and then begin the re-registering process. The maximum time you could use the car on Irish plates for would be six months. The good news is that the process is relatively painless - you will have to get an MOT test done as the NCT won't be recognised, but other than that it's just some forms to fill out. If it's an older car you won't be liable for any VAT or duty so it'll only cost a little. You can find more details here - https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/overview

Expert answer

Hi Billy,

The Fiesta EcoBoost is a really sweet little car, lots of fun to drive, roomy and very frugal. It's a little difficult to know how reliable it will ultimately be in the long-term as the engine itself is a relatively new design and hasn't been around long enough for us to be able to tell exactly how robust it is. That said, Ford's quality record has been good of late, so I'd say it's a reasonably safe bet.

As for which model, it just depends on what your priorities are. A Titanium will have more standard equipment, but it may well be that there's a lot of extras that you simply won't need nor use, so you're probably better off going for the better value of the Zetec.

Other cars that are worth considering would be a Toyota Yaris, Mazda2 and Skoda Fabia. Hope that helps.

Relevant reviews:

Ford Fiesta review

Toyota Yaris review

Mazda2 review

Skoda Fabia review

Expert answer

Hi William,

Unfortunately not - all cars registered before Jan 1st 2008 are on the old engine capacity system so with a 3.5-litre engine you'll have to pay €1,808 a year in motor tax.