Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Depends on the year. If it's post-2008 and especially if it's a GTC coupe then yes, it's lovely - nice to drive, punchy and frugal. If it's an older model then it's going to be pricey to tax and it'll be hard to shift on again as the market doesn't generally like hatchbacks with big engines. The coupe version kind of sidesteps that issue a little. 

Reliability should be fine, but test the electrics (especially the central locking and alarm) and check the boot for any signs of water getting in through leaky seals.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Yes, you can tax and insure it privately, and indeed you should do because if it were taxed as a commercial, you'd be caught rotten if you were stopped with the kids in the back and it's a €4,000 fine. However, you can legally have it assessed for VRT as a commercial so that's a saving. The odd thing is that taxing it as a private car means, under the current rules, you'll revert to the old pre-2008 tax system, which is based on engine capacity. Odd, but there you go.

As for whether or not an import will be cheaper, it probably depends on how many of the specific style of T5 you want are available on the ground here. All I can suggest is that you do your sums, figure out how much the import will cost, and then have a shop around Irish dealers and ask them if they can match the numbers.

Expert answer

Hi Ola,

That depends on what year it was registered. If it’s an original Irish car registered before Jan 1st 2008, then it’s on the old engine capacity tax system and will cost €710. If it was registered after 2008, or is a UK import brought into the country since then, it’ll be on the CO₂-based tax system and, with CO₂ emissions of 198g/km, it’ll cost a whopping €1,200.

Expert answer

Hi Margaret,

I know what you mean. The Honda bug is a hard one to shift once it's bitten you. The good news is that Honda has a new car on the market, the HR-V, which is more compact than a CR-V, but still pretty spacious. It's high-riding, so good for your back, and can be had with Honda's terrific 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine. Looks nice too. Prices start from €23,995 or on a PCP deal from €255 a month and I'd say it's well worth checking out.

Read our Honda HR-V review here

Expert answer

Hi Francis,

If it's a private vehicle then, technically, no - it's your car and you can do what you want with it, but it might be at least morally correct to let anyone who's being recorded know what's going on. And if you intend using the videos for any kind of commercial project then, yes, you must get written clearance from people before you're allowed to use their image in the public domain for profit. 

Expert answer

Hi Naomi,

Pre-2008 cars are taxed according to their engine size, so that Polo, which is actually 1,422cc, falls into the 1,401 to 1,500cc band, at €413 a year, or €229 for six months and €116 for three months.

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Hi Sinead,

How about a Honda Civic? Your budget should get you into a 2007 model with the 1.4-litre V-TEC petrol engine. Frugal, reliable and spacious.

Expert answer

Hi Denis,

Best to stick with a Toyota Verso (neé Corolla Verso) or a Volkswagen Touran so - both have space for seven, and big boots if you leave the rear seats folded down. Both should be endlessly reliable too. Honda's FR-V also worth a look if six seats (in two rows of three) would work for you.

Expert answer

Hi Rose,

Yes, it's a good car. A little quirky to look at and a little bit noisy to drive, but really roomy (hence the name) and very well made and reliable.

But it's not high up off the ground. The front seats are mounted higher than those of a Fabia - 30mm higher in fact, but if it's height you want, for ride height for rough roads, you need to look at the Skoda Yeti.

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

We enlisted the expert assistance of Conlan Crotty Murray & Co (Leopardstown, Dublin 18, 01 295 9090, www.conlancrottymurray.com) to answer this one for you. Here's the response:

"Generally speaking, leasing companies will only lease new cars.  On the basis that the individual decides to lease a new car then the rental payments under the lease agreement should be treated as an expense in the accounts of the self-employed individual.  As the lease period is usually three or four years this provides for a significantly accelerated write-off of cost for tax purposes as compared with the purchase of an owned vehicle where the tax write-off under the capital allowance regime is spread over eight years.  However, at the end of the lease period if the vehicle is traded in against a new vehicle the trade in allowance on the first leased car may trigger a claw-back of lease charges previously deducted for tax purposes. 

To the extent that the individual uses the car for private use in addition to business use then an appropriate restriction on the tax deductibility of the leasing charges should be applied. E.g. if the car is used 40 per cent for private use, then 40 per cent of the lease payments should be disallowed as an expense in computing income for tax purposes.  The benefit-in-kind provisions referred to by the reader do not apply to self-employed individuals.  The benefit-in-kind rules would apply to the extent that a leased car is provided by an employer to an employee in computing the employee's payroll tax liability.  There is no private use restriction on the tax deductibility of leasing expenses for a car where the car is supplied to an employee and that employee uses the car for private purposes.

Some of the annual lease rental expense may be clawed back in the computation of income for tax purposes if the car has a retail value at inception of the lease of more than €24,000 and the CO₂ emissions from the car do not exceed 155g/km.  If the car has CO₂ emissions of more than 155g/km, but not exceeding 190g/km, the value of the expense deduction for income tax purposes is restricted by reference to a reduced capital limit of €12,000.  Where the CO₂ emissions on a car exceed 190g/km, no deduction for leasing costs is permitted in calculating the individual's income tax liability for the year.

Therefore, for new leased cars costing no more than €24,000 with CO₂ emissions not exceeding 155g/km the lease payments may be written-off against income tax over the course of the lease period.  

We recommend that professional advice be sought before entering into any lease arrangement."

I hope that clears it all up for you Shane.