CompleteCar
Search Ask Us Anything
Showing 411 - 420 results (out of a total of 609) found for "vat" in Ask Us Anything

Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento?

Hi,

I'm getting a new company commercial SUV. I regularily drive remote country roads and am mainly based on site. I have the option between a Hyundai Santa Fe or a Kia Sorento with a budget of around €40k including VAT. Which would be the best to go for?

JP Heraty (Dublin)

Oct 2017 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi JP,

They’re basically the same car — same engine, gearbox, electronics etc, just with different bodies. Our preference comes down, slightly, on the side of the Kia, just because we prefer the styling and the interior, but you won’t go wrong with either. Here are our reviews:

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Kia Sorento review


How will an imported L200 pick-up be taxed?

Hi,

I'm looking to bring in a 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian, but want to bring it in for private use so not commercial. I have called the tax office and Revenue and no one can tell me whether it will be taxed on the CO2 emissions or on the engine size. Can you help?

Karen Odonovan (Carlanstown )

Oct 2017 Filed under: taxation

Expert answer

Hi Karen,

The tax system for using a commercial as a private car is a bit of an odd one, as it means reverting to the old by-engine-capacity rating. No-one seems to know quite why, and I suspect that the lack of knowledge in official quarters is because you’re possibly the only person honest enough to actually ask up front. Most people just tax them as commercials and hope they don’t get caught…


Value for my 2011 Honda Accord?

Hi, I am looking for valuation for my 2011 (revised in 2011) Honda Accord Executive 2.2 D-TEC with 187,000km on the clock, a full Honda service history and in excellent condition. I tried usual car valuation websites, but with imports on market, it looks like they are priced high. Looking for trade in value and private sale value.

Any idea?

Thanks

Garret Hearns (Laois)

Oct 2017 Filed under: used car values

Expert answer

Hi Garret,

I think a realistic trade-in value is going to be around €8-9,000, with a private sale price of around €10,500.


Will hybrid VRT relief change in the Budget?

I would welcome your opinion on the upcoming 2018 Irish Budget in November. The current VRT relief on hybrid cars is €1,500. In light of current poor sales of hybrid cars in Ireland (two per cent of total Irish sales), do you see them raising this value or could they possibly withdraw it?

I ask this because I am planning to purchase a hybrid for 181 and I would like to take advantage of the 'increased' value.

Michael Carey (Letterkenny)

Aug 2017 Filed under: hybrid

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

I would expect to see little to no change in the hybrid subvention in the coming budget. Although there will be some pressure to incentivise low-emissions cars that aren’t diesel, the focus will probably be more on higher incentives for battery-electric cars, and possible plugin hybrids, and some changes to the reclaiming of VAT on petrol for company users. The Department of Finance will be well aware that there is a huge number of new hybrid cars due for launch, and they won’t want to risk a fall-off in revenue by increasing the subvention, so I think, at this point, it’s unlikely to change very much.


Will there be Budget changes for 2018 VRT?

Budget 2018 and the hybrid reduction amount of €1,500 on a new Kia Niro: in your opinion. would you expect this figure (VRT reduction) to increase, based on the fact that hybrids have not been selling very well this year (two per cent of total sales in Ireland), and the government needs to encourage hybrid sales. Hence, I would wait until the budget is announced before buying my 2018.

Thanking you as always for your expert opinion.

Michael Carey (Letterkenny)

Aug 2017 Filed under: VRT

Expert answer

Hi again Michael, 

Our answer on your other question is relevant here too: I would expect to see little to no change in the hybrid subvention in the coming budget. Although there will be some pressure to incentivise low-emissions cars that aren’t diesel, the focus will probably be more on higher incentives for battery-electric cars, and possible plugin hybrids, and some changes to the reclaiming of VAT on petrol for company users. The Department of Finance will be well aware that there is a huge number of new hybrid cars due for launch, and they won’t want to risk a fall-off in revenue by increasing the subvention, so I think, at this point, it’s unlikely to change very much.


Latest exhaust tech in Skoda's 1.6 TDI?

Hi,

Does the relatively new 1.6 110hp diesel engine in the Skoda Octavia have the new manifold in head technology that's meant to make real world emissions lower and make the EGR valve more durable or do you have to have the 1.6 diesel 120hp engine up, say in the Volkswagen Passat, to have this more modern technology?

I'm not really interested in the 2.0-litre diesels as I'm still a relatively young male driver and I believe you pay too much of an insurance penalty for this engine size.

Thanks

Kieran, Thomastown.

Kieran Hallligan (Thomastown)

Aug 2017 Filed under: diesel

Expert answer

Hi Kieran,

Yes, the 1.6 TDI engine in the Octavia should have manifold-in-head tech. All EA889 derivative engines, built from 2013 onwards, have manifold-in-head construction, and that goes for 1.6 as well as 2.0 diesels.


Why are cars not properly changed to RHD?

Hi! Hope you're well and hope you don't mind having a read of my rant to see what you think.

I'm wondering lately what is it with car manufacturers, in particular European ones, who in recent years have decided to skimp on doing full right-hand-drive conversions on their cars. For example, in the current Skoda Octavia, the bonnet release is on the left, as it was designed to be. The access buttons for the stereo are also to the left for easy access by the driver. If you take a look at the right-hand-drive model though you see the handbrake, bonnet release and stereo controls still placed for the left-hand-drive market. Same applies to the latest Golf; Volkswagen has been doing that with the Golf since the MK3 model.

And marques outside of VAG are also guilty - in particular Renault and Peugeot stand out as prime offenders for this - so much so as not bothering to convert the wipers to the right side.  It looks so lazy - and I presume it's saving a meager sum on each car sold. You'd know this is the case as the premium brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes still go to the trouble of doing the conversions properly - but what's frustrating is that Skoda was doing proper conversions until recently. Their MK2 Octavia, sold until 2013, had it done properly. So it's a shame to see it going in the wrong direction.

Is there any way you could run this by your people in the motoring industry? I love new cars, but I'm sure most people would be willing to pay the extra €100 per car or whatever it is to have it as intended for the market. I'm sure some acknowledgement of it might make them reconsider. The poor attempts at the minute look very, very shoddy and I wish they'd give us the same attention as they do the left-hand-drive world.

Thank you for reading. I know - first world problems right?

Colin Moynihan (Waterford)

Aug 2017 Filed under: miscellaneous

Expert answer

Hi Colin,

Yup, first world problem right enough, and actually not a new phenomenon at all. The old left-hand-drive-right-hand-drive swapover has been done better and worse by various car makers down the years, and it varies hugely from model to model. Anyone who’s driven a Mazda RX-8, and found the handbrake digging into their left thigh, for example, will have no doubts that even the Japanese, in spite of their right-hand-drive home market, often design cars for left-hand drive and then switch things around on the cheap.

Generally speaking, there should be no safety issues from the switch (wipers, as you point out, should really be swapped across and I can’t think of a model in recent years that hasn’t had that) although there was the old issue with the second generation Renault Megane that used a rod to switch the brakes across and which could still be activated by a passenger poking their shoes into the footwell…

As you point out, some buttons, switches, etc are often left the same and it’s all down to the investment needed to swap them around and the likely return on sales from right-hand-drive markets. Car makers do the maths very carefully, and while you’re right that it might only be €100 a car, that’s a multi-million up front investment, and one with no guaranteed return.

Incidentally, if you think it’s bad now, wait until after Brexit — if the UK car market slips, then the business case for right-hand-drive cars will fall further still.


What'll I do with my petrol Mazda5?

Hi,

According to every car salesman I speak to I am apparently in an unfortunate situation. I currently own a Mazda5 Exec, 1.8 petrol seven-seater with 127,500km on the clock, which I no longer have a need for. So, I am considering trading it in, but I'm also considering selling it privately (as I may get more money for it that way). The best trade in price I have been quoted so far was €4,450 against a 2011 Ford Focus TDCi and the worst price I've been quoted was €2,500 against a 2012 Opel Astra GTC (worth €11,750).

What I'm hoping to buy is a good reliable small car (hatchback style) that is economical to run and tax and that will last me a long time. I test drove a few in the past few weeks and unlike my past car purchases I'm in no hurry to buy. I am considering buying a car from Northern Ireland with the sterling being rumoured to becoming equal to the Euro soon enough.

The Astra GTC has caught my eye, but going by some reviews I've been reading it may not be the best fit for me. Some other cars I would consider are Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus or SEAT Leon, but I'm open to persuasion.

Basically, I don't need a seven-seater anymore, so I want a stylish, modern, economical smaller car to get around in. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Del.

Derek Bailey (Dunleer)

Jun 2017 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Derek,

OK, you haven’t told us the year of your Mazda so that makes it a little hard to value, but seeing as it’s the 1.8 petrol I’m going to guess that it’s around 2006-2007. If so, then I’d say that the €4,400 trade-in offer is actually pretty good.

As to what car to get, if you’re looking for a small hatch then it’s very hard indeed to look past the Volkswagen Golf. It’s one of the world’s best-selling cars for a reason, and as long as you buy one with a full service history and keep it looked after, you should get plenty of years of reliable service out of one yet.

Ditto for the mechanically identical SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia. The Opel Astra GTC is a fine car in many ways — handsome, good to drive, decent quality, but it was hamstrung by poor diesel engines (other than the range-topping 2.0-litre) and unless you’re looking at the 1.4 petrol turbo model, it’s possibly not the best purchase.

The Focus is definitely a good buy, and that TDCi diesel is frugal to run, but you just have to be slightly cautious about diesel power right now. If you’re not doing big miles, you’d be better off with a petrol car.


Can you check this Mercedes for me?

Mercedes-Benz C-Class CDI Sport: reg no 12 D XXXX: is this car ok to buy from a private sale?

Nora Cohalan (Lissarda Co Cork)

Apr 2017 Filed under: history

Expert answer

Hi Nora,

I'm afraid we can't do that check for you, as there's a small fee. Your best bet is to go directly to Cartell.ie and pay for a full history and finance check. It's not expensive and a great investment. We do it ourselves when buying used cars.


Can I get the owner's name from a car reg?

Can you tell me the name and address of the registered keeper for a Mercedes-Benz C 220 CDI, reg number DE12 XXX?

Michael Blanchfield (Bray Co.Wicklow)

Mar 2017 Filed under: registration

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

I'm afraid that's not information that we have access to. That's a UK car so the only ones that would have that information is the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority) and the British Transport Police, neither of which are in the habit of disclosing such private information to the public.

It makes no difference that it is a British car; the same limitations would apply to an Irish one.


-->