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Previously answered questions

EV or hybrid with €50,000 to spend?

Hi there,

My parents are in the market for a new car (sub €50k). They like the height of the crossovers/SUVs and are interested in a hybrid or electric model. They do about 18k km per annum, mostly on country roads, and the odd road trip to Dublin (300km each way). Wondering would you recommend full EV (Skoda Enyaq) or hybrid (Peugeot 3008 &and VW Tiguan)?

Many thanks,

Michael, Ennis

Michael Sweeney (Tulla)

Feb 2022 Filed under: choosing new car

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Why is my Santa Fe tax so high?

Hello,

I brought home a Santa Fe from Australia - it's a 151 2.2 litre and it's the exact same car as the Santa Fe here as all the parts for servicing and all fit no bother. It has an automatic transmission. My question is the tax on it is €750 a year; how is it so high compared to any other Santa Fes here?

Regard Phelim

Phelim Moran (Wicklow)

Jan 2022 Filed under: importing

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Any bargains on the Citroen C5 Aircross?

My question is, seeing as the Citroen C5 Aircross is getting a facelift and new features will be available in Ireland in June, will there be a price reduction in the current versions now awaiting availability in dealers?

Kieran McGlynn (Bunbeg)

Jan 2022 Filed under: choosing new car

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Why differences in Suzuki tax prices?

I have a Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS with a DPF filter from 2009 and the motor tax is €1,250, while the 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS tax is €750. Why, because both are NEPC qualified? They have the same engines. I also found the same 2009 DDiS model on DoneDeal, but registered in a different county and the tax was €750. Where are the differences in prices and qualification from?

Yours sincerely,

Robert

Robert Gambin (Ennis)

Nov 2021 Filed under: taxation

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Why no sunroof on Irish Octavia RS?

Been looking at a Skoda Octavia RS, but can't see the option of a sunroof on the Irish website on the configurator,  but it's available on the UK ones. Is the lack of availability due to our wonderful VRT rules?

Simon MacMahon (Navan)

Dec 2021 Filed under: optional extras

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Should I buy a Maserati Quattroporte?

I’m in the process of changing my car, which is a 2018 Mercedes E-Class saloon - diesel - and a 2015 Maserati Quattroporte 3.0-litre diesel with low mileage has caught my eye. My concerns are about the maintenance cost and reliability of such a different kind of car. Or am I mad? I’d appreciate your professional opinion on this.

Thank you

John Muldowney (Kilkenny)

Jan 2022 Filed under: choosing used car

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Is a Citroen Ami ok without smartphone?

Is a smartphone necessary to drive a Citroen Ami?

KK Ho (Tseung Kwan O/ Hong Kong)

Dec 2021 Filed under: choosing new car

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I am importing an EV from the North...

Hi,

I am looking at getting a new electric car, and availability/waiting time for the model I'm looking at seems better in the North than here, even if the price saving is limited, so I am looking at buying from a dealer in NI and importing the car.

I have two questions:

1. What's the current status of VRT on imported (pure) electric vehicles? Do I have to pay 7% of OMSP, is there a €5,000 discount, or what?

2. SEAI offers a €5,000 grant for new EVs. However this is applied for/paid out via the dealer (who has to be in the State), and this doesn't make sense to me - it's surely meant to incentivise putting new EVs on Irish roads, and provided I import the car properly, where I bought it from shouldn't matter. In other words, why can't I get that grant on my new EV even if the car is properly imported rather than bought in the State - isn't there a Single Market implication here?

Thanks!

Patrick

Patrick Edmond (Limerick)

Nov 2021 Filed under: importing

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How much to tax our Renault horse truck?

I am wondering if you are able to help me as I find the car tax system confusing. We have a 1991 Renault horse lorry that is now 30 years old, a 3.5T model. What should it cost to tax?

Olivia Hodges (Cahir)

Nov 2021 Filed under: taxation

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Can extension lead be used to charge a hybrid?

Hi,

Is it true that you can't recharge a plug-in hybrid using an extension lead? I read that somewhere, but surely if they can be charged from a domestic three-pin socket, why can't an extension lead be used for longer distances?

Thanking you

Philip

Philip Donegan (Ballina)

Oct 2021 Filed under: hybrid

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4,966 Irish motoring queries answered to date

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