What do you think of the Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel?
What is your opinion of the new Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel?
P Bruton (Killarney)Jun 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
The Octavia is a car that makes so much sense for so many reasons. For a start, it is superbly built, with build quality as good as a Volkswagen. There is plenty of space both inside and also in terms of luggage space. The 1.6-litre engine offers low emissions and therefore is cheap to tax and to run. To drive, it is geared more towards comfort than outright agility (that is why it is a car so favoured by taxi drivers), so what you get is a car that is great for long trips. They have proven themselves to be ultra reliable too.
The price of the Octavia 1.6 is also very attractive and residuals have remained strong. It is definitely a car we would recommend without too much trouble.
How does the new tax on employee parking spaces work?
Can you please tell me about the new tax on parking that is supplied by one's employer?
John Flynn (Waterford)Jun 2010 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi John,
The new tax has not yet been fully implemented and there's a minefield of complications yet to be worked out, but trials are soon to begin in restricted parts of Dublin City before it is rolled out to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Take a look at the official details here on Revenue.ie and come back to us if you have any specific questions that are not answered by that.
Thanks
Which diesel automatic compact SUV to buy?
What do you think of the new Toyota RAV4 4x4 2.2 D automatic compared to BMW X1 D auto, Hyundai ix35 4X4 D auto, Kia Sportage 4X4 D auto or the Nissan Qashqai 4x4 D Auto?
Eamon Horan (Cork)May 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Eamon,
That's quite a wide selection! Let's go through each model first of all:
Toyota RAV4:
Going by your shortlist you obviously need four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. There's only a single Toyota RAV4 on sale fitting that, the RAV4 Sol in 4wd powered by the 'D-Cat 150 (2.2)' engine. That's a 2.2-litre turbodiesel. Choice stats:
- Price: €39,465
- CO2 emissions: 189g/km
- Tax band: E
- Annual road tax: €630
- Combined cycle fuel consumption: 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres
- Maximum power: 150hp
- Maximum torque: 340Nm
- Towing ability: Up to 1,800kg
BMW X1:
The cheaper xDrive18d model doesn't seem to have an automatic option so you'd have to go for the xDrive20d SE at least. The stats:
- Price: €43,091
- CO2 emissions: 155g/km
- Tax band: C
- Annual road tax: €302
- Combined cycle fuel consumption: 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres
- Maximum power: 180hp
- Maximum torque: 350Nm
- Towing ability: Up to 1,800kg
Hyundai ix35:
This is one of the newest SUVs on the market, but it's more of a crossover than an SUV really. That's emphasised by Hyundai only listing the two-wheel drive model with a manual gearbox on its website. It does say that "Automatic subject to availability. Please contact your local Hyundai Dealer", but we're not sure there is an automatic option available for this car as yet. We've asked Hyundai for clarification.
Kia Sportage:
There's an all-new Sportage launching later this year, so we assume you're thinking about that. Full details have yet to be released, though Kia tells us that, along with a new 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine a 2.0-litre turbodiesel 4x4 model will be offered on special order with an automatic gearbox. Tax will be band D, costing €447 per year. I'm afraid that's all we know at this stage. We're driving it next month for the first time.
Nissan Qashqai:
Nissan gave the Qashqai a facelift this year and it looks better than ever. For some reason the new look has not been applied to the seven-seat '+2' version on Nissan Ireland's website. However, the figures below refer to the regular five-seat version. The cheapest available with a diesel engine, four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox is the Qashqai 2.0d A/T 4x4 SV. The stats:
- Price: €37,995
- CO2 emissions: 191g/km
- Tax band: F
- Annual road tax: €1,050
- Combined cycle fuel consumption: 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres
- Maximum power: 150hp
- Maximum torque: 320Nm
- Towing ability: Up to 1,400kg
Summary:
So, let's leave the Kia and Hyundai out of the equation for the moment, as we don't have enough information to make an informed decision.
The Toyota and Nissan compare well to each other. Like the Qashqai, the RAV4 was given a makeover for 2010 so it's fresher than ever. In diesel, automatic, four-wheel drive guise, the Toyota appears to win that battle, as the Qashqai is very expensive to tax. The Toyota is the better tow car too.
It looks like the Toyota probably wins outright on paper. The BMW X1 xDrive 20d is more powerful, significantly better on fuel and a newer design than the RAV4, but it's also a lot more to buy to begin with. Even paying less tax and fuel costs, it'd take a long time to claw that price difference back. Pity the xDrive18d doesn't come with an automatic transmission, as that could be a better choice, but in this list, the Toyota wins the logical argument.
Make sure you test drive examples of both before you decide and please do let us know in the comment box below what you end up doing.
What do you think of the Peugeot 3008 Ecomatique?
Any comments on the Peugeot 3008 "Ecomatique"?
Pat Fitzgibbon (Castelbar)May 2010 Filed under: automatic
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
First up, we thoroughly recommend the Peugeot 3008 itself. It's an excellent family car with a high quality, well thought out interior and it drives pretty well.
However, we're not sure that the Ecomatique version makes any sense in Ireland, unless you absolutely have to drive an automatic car. It's not a conventional smooth automatic gearbox; instead it features a robotised manual, which means that the clutch and gear change are operated automatically. Sounds great in theory, but in practice the gear changes feel slower and progress is jerkier than in a manual car. That's partly perception and you can learn to smooth out the changes yourself, but overall we reckon it detracts from the driving experience.
On the positive side, the Ecomatique 3008 is a little more economical than the regular 1.6 HDi 110hp version. However, it's only a difference of 0.2 litres per 100km on the official combined cycle. Given that the Ecomatique is more expensive to buy in the first place, you'd have to cover a lot of distance to start making savings and even then we'd argue that in real world conditions the manual version will be just as econonomical.
In some countries, the Ecomatique's lower CO2 emissions would reduce your tax bill, but it's still in band B in Ireland, just like the regular version.
Hope that helps with your decision. If you'd like to know more, feel free to add a comment in the box below.
How much road tax on a BMW 520d?
How much road tax will I pay on a 2009 BMW 520d? Is it cheaper under the new car tax law?
Robert Quinn (Laytown)May 2010 Filed under: road tax
Expert answer
On the manual version of the 520d you will pay €156 annual road tax. If you get an automatic version from 2009, annual road tax will be €302. This is considerably less than you would have paid under the old system, which based on the engine size of the car (1,995cc) would have meant that road tax would have been €614 per year.
Which car should I buy under the scrappage scheme to be a taxi?
I want to buy a car for use as a taxi. My budget is €15,000. Can I avail of scrappage? I have a 1998 Fiat Brava.
Robert Murphy (Dublin)May 2010 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Yes, your car is eligible for the scrappage scheme. The best car you could get, if your budget stretches, is the Renault Fluence, which would cost €15,800 under the scrappage scheme.
Renault also has a special option for taxi drivers:
"Renault has a specific extended warranty programme of up to 5 years with unlimited mileage for taxis.
Renault Ireland is the first car company on the Irish market to offer very high mileage customers like taxi drivers who purchase a Renault, this extended warranty programme. Drivers can opt for a 4th year or 5th year extended warranty with unlimited mileage from €529.00."
Hope that helps.
What car suits being a taxi?
Can you suggest a car to be used as a taxi In Dublin?
Robert Murphy (Dublin)May 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
There are lots of suggestions, but we need to know what your budget is. Pop the details into the comment box below.
Thanks
Which diesel for €10,000 or less?
I am changing my car. I fancy a diesel 1.3 or 1.4-litre and I have €10,000 to spend, maybe a little more. Any ideas? I am scrapping a car under the scheme.
Yvonne Hogan (Dublin)
May 2010 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi there,
There are very few small diesel cars available under the scrappage scheme that match your budget, but there are quite a few small petrol models that run the diesels close in terms of fuel economy.
You could have the Fiat 500 for €9,995 under the scheme, which although it is petrol, is Band A, with just €102 per year road tax.
You could have a Fiat Grande Punto, a much larger car, for €9,995 or, if you really wanted a diesel one you could have that for €12,495.
The Ford Ka, a similar car to the 500, would cost just €7,995 under the scheme, with the even better Fiesta costing €11,700, but again these are petrol models.
Similarly, the Renault Clio is a smashing little car and a petrol one will cost you just €8,990 under the scheme, but a diesel one will cost you €12,200.
The Hyundai i10, a five-door model, is also worth a look. The 1.2-litre, 78bhp petrol i10 is a good little car and comes with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Hyundai will add a further €2,000 to the Government's €1,500 discount, so the i10 effectively starts at €8,495.
Our advice is that you forget about a diesel under scrappage unless you are prepared to up your budget.
Out of that lot, I'd take a strong look at the Fiesta, or if you must stick to €10,000, perhaps the Ford Ka or the Fiat 500.
Mazda6 or Passat to replace my Vectra?
I am looking closely at buying a 2008 Mazda6, but I am not sure whether to go for diesel or petrol. The petrol is 1.8 and I am wondering how thirsty it would be. I do approx 12,000 miles per year on mainly good roads. Was looking at putting about €10,000 with my own car. I have a 2006 Opel Vectra with 38,000 miles on it. It is a 1.6-litre petrol.
Was also looking at a 2007 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI, but heard a lot of mixed reports. Looking for something comfortable and reliable mainly.
Michael Mulvey (Ashbourne)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
We found an identical car to yours with the same mileage for sale for €8,950. You probably won't get offered that much as a trade in, but you could have an overall budget of about €17,000.
In terms of the Mazda6, that is a really good car and there weren't too many of the diesel models sold initially. The petrol models sold in higher numbers initially because they were cheaper than the diesel ones at the time.
You would pay about €16,950 for a 1.8-litre petrol model like the one we found here at a SIMI dealer.
Here is another excellent one in Cork, for €16,900.
Diesel models cost quite a bit more, with a 2008 model at a SIMI dealer costing closer to €20,000.
For the mileage you do, you could get away with a petrol model without totally breaking the bank and you certainly won't save in fuel costs by spending the extra on the diesel model. Granted, road tax will be higher on the petrol.
You could probably get into a 2008 Passat BlueMotion with your budget and that too would be a good car. Yes, I've heard of some occasional issues with the latest Passat, such as a problem with the power steering and with the electric parking brake, but they have been pretty well dealt with by Volkswagen.
Is a used BMW a good first car?
Hi,
I have a budget of €4,000 and I am looking for a car that will fit the golf clubs and a trolley. I'd like something sporty and was thinking of a BMW but that may cost too much with road tax etc. It will be my first car.
Edward Murphy (Dublin)
May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Edward,
There is no such thing as a cheap used BMW. I just recently sold a 2002 BMW 318i Touring and I loved it, but the repair bills when things went wrong were high, even from independent garages, so you need to bear this in mind.
Having said that, you could get something that will be similar, like a Lexus IS 200 perhaps, which should be less costly to put right if things go wrong.
Here is one for €3,975 and it is from a main SIMI dealer.
Or how about this? A nice Subaru Legacy for just €2,950? This would be a great car for the money.