Can I fix my Audi's slow gearbox response?
Hi,
I have a 2019 Audi Q3 35 TDI S tronic and it's a great car, but with an annoying trait, especially in heavy traffic in Galway, Dublin etc. The gearbox is hesitant and dim-witted and changes into second gear in about five metres after take off, even going uphill, which leaves it very lethargic. It seems to hesitate for 1 to 1.5 seconds, which means it's hard to nip into gaps in traffic. Have you heard of any cure or is this a trait of this gearbox?
Thanks,
Pat Higgins, Galway
Pat Higgins (Galway)Nov 2019 Filed under: gearbox
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
We certainly have noticed this trait in all Volkswagen Group DSG-based gearboxes (that's what the S tronic transmission is) and their attendant engines of late. The only explanation seems to be that VW’s various brands have trimmed back both engine power and responsiveness at low speeds, and especially at idle or when waking up from a stop-start cycle, in order to optimise their figures in the new WLTP emissions and economy tests. VW is certainly not the only one to do this, but it does seem to be more obvious with VW Group models than with some other manufacturers. Shifting the gearbox into Sport helps a bit, but it’s not a total fix.
One cure might be a total vehicle upgrade — we’ve noticed that the new ‘Evo’ versions of the 1.5 TSI petrol and 2.0 TDI diesel engines are noticeably less sleepy. Or, alternatively, trade in for a version with a manual gearbox — that is the simplest cure of all.
Which fuel to get for lots of commuting?
Hello,
I have a 1.4-litre 171 hatchback Volkswagen Polo with manual transmission and a diesel engine. I drive approx 100km a day five days a week for work, and the car currently has a mileage of approx 116,000km on the clock. Given that diesel and petrol cars are currently being phased out of the market, what's the best car for me to invest in, going forward given that I drive long distance and also do a lot of driving in cities? Is hybrid or electric the best option for long distance commuting and city driving?
Thanks
Anne O'Sullivan (Cork)Oct 2019 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Anne,
Is that a 100km round trip every day? Or 100km each way? Either way, you could potentially get away with a fully-electric car, assuming that you can charge at home and charge again at work. Either way, though, you’ll have to spend big and go for one of the latest electric cars with a 50kWh or 62kWh battery, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric or the new Renault Zoe. What could well be an easier (and much cheaper) option would be to go for a hybrid. There’s only one hybrid-engined car in the Polo-size class at the moment, and that’s the Toyota Yaris. The current version is pretty good, but there is an all-new one coming next year, so you might be best off waiting for that to appear. By then, the new Honda Jazz, also a hybrid, should be available. Or, you could keep it a lot simpler and go for a new Polo with the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It'll be tough to beat your diesel Polo for outright economy, though.
Is the new NOX tax in place now?
Has the extra cost of VRT on a diesel car, for example a 2014 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel, been effective since the latest budget?
Shane Mcloughlin (Ballina Co Mayo)Oct 2019 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Shane,
No, not just yet. The new NOx tax (which could add a significant amount of extra cost to importing a car, especially an older one like that 2014 Focus) won’t take effect until the New Year. It will be applied to all new cars and imports from Jan 1st.
Can I export a Grand California to the USA?
Can I buy a Volkswagen Grand California camper van and ship to the USA?
Betty Li (Hayward CA)Oct 2019 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Betty,
It's theoretically possible, but it will depend more on the US state laws than Ireland's. The instruments will be in the wrong units, though those could be changed of course, and the European Certificate of Conformity may or may not be acceptable to the US authorities. It is likely to have to go through some form of single vehicle approval test and its safety and emissions must conform with the US laws. On top of all that, the import duty could be high.
One final thing to consider: you can't buy an unregistered car from Volkswagen Ireland - it would have to be registered before you take delivery.
Will my private van be given a CVT still?
Hi there,
I’ve just bought a van it’s described as a goods vehicle on my registration document. I’m taxing it for private use as I’m not farming anymore. Do I need to get goods changed to private on the registration document? And how much will DOE test cost and will it be still tested in centre for vans?
Regards Catherine
Bridie Kenny ( Galway)Aug 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Bridie,
Yes, if you’re going to use a van or pick-up as a private vehicle, then you really ought to change the classification on the registration document. A trip to your local motor tax office will help in this regard. As for the test, yes, even though it’s now being used for private driving, it’ll still have to go through the Commercial Vehicle Test (CVT — the new name for the old DOE test) and that costs €94 for a van or 4x4 commercial.
What are the new BMW 330e seats like?
Hi there.
I'm interested in the new BMW 330e plug-in hybrid. I test drove the older version and found the sports seats very cramped (as I'm a big lad!). Have you any info on the G20 sports seats? Have they been improved/made bigger?
Austin Molloy (Dublin)Aug 2019 Filed under: seating
Expert answer
Hi Austin,
So far, we’ve only test-driven the BMW 330e in one specification — M Sport, which does include sports seats. Now, I’m a fairly chunky guy myself (38-inch waist, bigger tummy, 44-inch chest) and I didn’t notice the seats being especially tight. For reference, I find the bucket seats in the Ford Fiesta ST WAY too tight across the back and thighs. You could always get one that’s not M Sport — Sport spec on the 3 Series is a good half-way house between the basic SE versions and the M Sport models, and comes with seats that are not too heavily bolstered.
How to change pick-up to private?
Hi,
I have a 2001 Iveco pick-up; how can I change it to private classification from commercial?
Thanks
Micheal Conneely (Galway )Aug 2019 Filed under: pick-up
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
You’ll need to go and talk to your local motor tax office to get it re-registered, and you’ll almost certainly end up paying more motor tax, as you’ll be taxed on the capacity of the engine. You’ll still have to put it through the Commercial Vehicles Test (CVT) every year, and don’t forget to advise your insurer of the change of use.
Can I convert an estate to be an LCV?
Hi guys,
Just wondering whether it is possible to convert an estate/touring/wagon into full commercial vehicle to avail of the €333 rate of tax etc? If so, what do the dimensions of the space in the back need to be and are there any other requirements and stipulations such as no spare wheel?
Cheers
Nick, Dublin
Nick Symmons (Dublin)Jul 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Nick,
Theoretically yes, it is possible to convert an estate into a van. Obviously you’d have to remove the back seats and weld a plate in place over the floor. There are also some minimum dimensions that must be adhered to for the vehicle to qualify as an N1 commercial. Sadly (and oddly) the requisite page on the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) website is returning a 404 'not found' right now. The good news is that your local motor tax office (MTO) will have all the relevant details that you’ll need to be sure that the car you’re thinking of converting qualifies. The conversion work will have to be carried out by someone with the appropriate qualifications and standards (again, the MTO can help there) and you’ll have to bring it for a CVRT test every year, not the usual NCT.
Can you export the California to the US?
Do you know or offer the service to export a left-hand-drive VW California camper to the US? I have heard via the rumourmill that it may be possible to do this if it is the camper model and classified and US titled as an ‘RV’.
Thank you,
Steve
Steve Barker (Yarmouth, Maine US)Jul 2019 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Steve,
I’m going to say probably not, but this is an utter minefield and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers from as many people. The problem is that Volkswagen doesn’t sell the California, or any current T6 Transporter variant, in the US, so you’d have to try and get it past the personal import regulations. If, for any reason, the car can’t pass those tests, then there’s no appeals process, at least not as I understand it. You can import it temporarily as a tourist, but it would have to be re-exported again within 12 months.
Is the new Dacia Duster safer?
Hi,
I'd like to purchase a 2019 Dacia Duster petrol, but I am concerned about its EuroNCAP safety rating of 2017. I do not find the latest rating for 2019 version. Could you please advise?
Thanks
Abala, Dublin
A Bala (Dublin)Jul 2019 Filed under: safety
Expert answer
Hi Abala,
I'm afraid that the 2019 model is the same one as tested by EuroNCAP in 2017, at this link.