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Yearly Archives: 2010
Latest edition of our Partner Publication: eDrive!
You can view and download the latest edition of our Partner Publication – eDrive. As well as featuring Cartell.ie – concerning our latest well-publicised initiative to track up to 40,000 UK write-offs in Ireland – the magazine has many other interesting bits and pieces: including where it argues that Irish people should buy more ‘interesting [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged BMW, Cartell.ie, EDRIVE, honda, mini countryman, peogeot rcz, write-offs Leave a comment
Google and “driverless car” technology.
A few weeks ago, Google announced it had put up more than 140,000 road miles on its driverless test cars including the Toyota Prius hybrid and Audi TT. The underlying technology consists of a combination of radar and laser technology, GPS and video cameras. And while Paris Hilton isn’t driving one of them yet it [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged driver safety, driverless cars, google, lasers, paris hilton, Prius, road maps, sensors 1 Comment
Irish and UK insurers set to track 40,000 write-offs
PRESS RELEASE Cartell.ie says initiative is the first-of-its-kind Up to 40,000 imported cars on Irish roads could be write offs according to a new report from car history analysis company ‘Cartell’. Cartell has today launched a new initiative to help keep track of UK write-offs which are put back on the roads and exported to [...]
Posted in Blog, News & Press, Trade News Tagged Cartell, Cartell.ie, categorisation of write-offs, insurers, miaftr, miaftr ireland, miaftr uk, motor insurance, write-offs 1 Comment
The “Clocking” Case this Week in the Courts
Earlier this week Cartell featured in the national media when we published – among other things – a list of car manufacturers and models which were most frequently clocked in 2010. Clocking of a vehicle also featured in evidence in a criminal prosecution successfully brought in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday. However – [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged audi a4, audi tt, beere case, clocking, engineers inspection, fraud Leave a comment
One in three imported vehicles have serious issues
PRESS RELEASE An article in today’s Irish Sun (Wednesday 1 December) features statistics provided by Cartell.ie concerning vehicles imported from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The results – based on a sample of 5,430 vehicles – show 11.4% of imports have been clocked (i.e.had their odometer altered to incorrectly reflect a lower number of [...]
Posted in Blog, News & Press, Trade News Tagged Cartell, Cartell.ie, imports, outstanding finance, the sun, write-offs Leave a comment
On the subject of “women’s cars”!
John Walsh courts controversy when he considers what women – in his view – look for when buying a car I was given a verbal broadside last week whilst eating with some friends. Jennifer asked “why don’t you write about women’s cars?”. Hmm, alright Jennifer, I will. But is there even a woman’s car? Is [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged audi tt, car colours, ferrari enzo, fiat 500, lamborghini, men's cars, range rover, volvo c30, women's cars Leave a comment
Car Cloning: UK issue new V5C Registration Document
The licensing authority for new vehicles in the United Kingdom – the DVLA – has recently launched a new look V5C registration document, together with a ‘Buyer Beware‘ initiative. From the 15th August, 2010, the new documents – which are easier to understand than the older versions – will be issued for all newly registered [...]
Automated Car Technology
We want to have a quick look at automated cars: cars that drive themselves! There have been some significant developments in the area lately. Most notably earlier this year German researchers based in Berlin – led by Raul Rojas – have developed a new technology that lets drivers steer using only their eyes – called [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged automated driving, berlin university, cybercars, dodge, eyedriver, johnny cabs, technology Leave a comment
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
In a month when the realities of Ireland’s property boom became apparent Ferrari World – a huge feat of construction – opened in Abu Dhabi. The 200,000 square metre roof of Ferrari World makes it the largest indoor amusement park in the world. Among other attractions the Park is home to the Formula Rossa – [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged aby dhabi, amusements, Cartell, ferrari, ferrari wortld Leave a comment
Motorsports Update: Spectacular finish to F1 season!
After a season of ups, downs and unthinkables the final stamp on this year’s season fell in favour of the one everybody thought would win it when the season began. Despite failing to lead the Championship all year until crossing the line in Abu Dhabi young Vettel made it count when it mattered: at the [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged Cartell, Cartell.ie, f1, motorspeak, motorsports, red bull Leave a comment
Le Mans cars: more advanced than F1 counterparts?
John Walsh considers in some detail the differences between F1 and Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars before concluding that F1 cars are still at the apex of car technology Have you ever seen a Le Man car in action? If you’ve ever looked at images of one up close you’ll see that this obtuse lumbering [...]
Posted in Blog, Car Review, Trade News Tagged cars, Cartell, f1, le mans, motorsports, peogeot, racing 1 Comment
‘Ferrari’ Abandoned in Dubai
Abandoned ‘Ferrari’ in the Desert To start the week on a lighthearted note: there have been a few stories on the web about expensive cars abandoned in Dubai including quite a few of this Ferrari F40 (top photo) which was supposedly found in the outskirts of Dubai covered in dust. Spot the problem? The car [...]
Average Mileage in Ireland
Average Mileage in Ireland: Some Statistics Courtesy of the NMR One query we get from time-to-time from consumers concerns the average mileage for a vehicle in Ireland. Understandably potential buyers want to know whether the mileage on the vehicle they are considering buying is more or less than the national average. So the question arises: [...]
Posted in Blog, Statistics, Trade News Tagged average mileage, Cartell, Cartell.ie, mileage, National Mileage Register, NMR, Statistics, sustainable energy ireland 1 Comment
Motorsports Update: The Formula 1 Circus
As the F1 season reaches its climax John Walsh comments on the way money effectively bars all but the very rich from participating: Riches, contacts and marketability: no these aren’t just the rewards in motor sport, these are the criteria needed to get into it. For those of less affluent origin, however, international motorsport exemplifies [...]
Stolen vehicles recovered by Gardai in Balbriggan
PRESS RELEASE Following the appearance of Cartell’s Jeff Aherne on RTÉ News on Saturday in connection with the seizure of stolen vehicles by Gardai in Balbriggan Cartell.ie advise consumers to be aware of an increased risk of unsuspectingly purchasing a stolen vehicle. Jeff Aherne, Director with Cartell.ie, says: “The unfortunate thing is that an unsuspecting [...]
Posted in Blog, News & Press, Trade News Tagged Balbriggan, Cartell, Chassis Number, Press, RTE, Stolen vehicles, VRC Leave a comment
AA Ireland is 100 Years Old!
Cartell.ie would like to congratulate AA Ireland on its Centenary! We are delighted that AA is one of our Partners and we’d like to extend our best wishes to everyone there for the tremendous effort: 100 years in business in Ireland is a fantastic milestone and deserves mention. To celebrate the occasion AA Ireland have [...]
Nissan Juke hits Irish roads!
Cartell.ie understands that the new Nissan Juke – originally envisaged as a replacement for the Micra though Nissan have since decided to keep the Micra too - has already hit Irish roads: with 8 of them registered in the capital and 4 of them in the rest of the country. The Juke has been described as [...]
Latest edition of eDrive now online!
The latest edition of our Partner’s eDRIVE magazine is available to view online. As well as featuring some latest info from Cartell.ie – concerning our recent story about the NCTS collecting VRT – there are some other interesting pieces including: a preview of the first diesel electric hybrid to go on sale – the PSA [...]
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Binary Day: computers and car technology
Today is Binary Day: the 10th October 2010: or put another way: 101010 and we’ve posted this message at 10:10 – just to emphasize the point – so really it’s 1010101010! (Though astute readers will see that the full code for today at this time is actually 101020101010)! Or for fans of the books of [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged air conditioning, binary day, car technology, computers, diesel engines, electric seats, engines, parking sensors, petrol engines 4 Comments
New VRT rules sees vehicle imports decline
New VRT rules sees Vehicle Imports decline to lowest level in three years Figures for September show a fall in imported vehicles to less than 3,000. This was the lowest number in three years and a decline of over fifty percent when compared with August (6,144). A spike was seen in August before the new [...]
Posted in Blog, News & Press, Trade News Tagged Cartell, Cartell.ie, imports, nct, Revenue, Statistics, VRT, write-off Leave a comment
Have the Irish embraced Telematic Technology?
Dennis Foy, who was one of the leading automotive technology experts, considered in 2003 the role which telematics can play in preventing clocking. As our readers know the “clocking” of a vehicle is when the mileage reading on the vehicle is altered, or manipulated, to display a lower reading than the actual miles travelled by [...]
Motorsports Update: Gary Thompson
Cartell.ie is delighted to see the continuing good progress of Irish racing car driver Gary Thompson. Gary recently scored another podium finish at the Japanese F3 Championship: a springboard for F1 drivers like Pedro de la Rosa and Adrian Sutil. In fact F3 lies just below GP2, Formula NIPPON, and F1 on the Formula pyramid. [...]
TRADE FOCUS: Michael Grant Motors, Santry
The Grant family has been in the motor trade for 35 years. Michael Grant moved the companies operation to its current location in Santry in 1999. Cartell.ie stopped by for a chat about trading conditions for this months Trade Focus. “Business is up on last year” says Michael “but things are still far from where [...]
International Motor Trade Fair- Frankfurt
Automechanika the leading international trade fair for the automotive industry closed in Frankfurt on Sunday. It is considered the global meeting place for the sector and record visitor numbers have been seen at the event in recent years: 161,000 visitors from 146 countries came to Frankfurt for the show in 2008. A major reason for [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged automechanika, cars, environment, frankfurt messe, green, industry, trade fair Leave a comment
Outstanding Finance: Some Information From Cartell
Cartell.ie understands that Finance is a critical issue for consumers. This was always the case, even before the current economic downturn, but now, more than ever, customers are concerned that a vehicle they purchase may have finance outstanding on it from a previous owner. We’ve been highlighting this issue for some time based on our [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged banks, Cartell, Cartell.ie, Finance, finance check, guidelines, UK Finance Check Leave a comment
Cartell Donates to Rimini Rally 2010
Cartell was delighted to donate some cash to a good cause as part of this years Rimini Rally which got underway on 4th September. The idea behind the Rally is that 5 countries are visited in 5 days – and plenty of donations are generated too! The rally crew this year stopped off at some [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged Cartell, Cartell.ie, ferrari, maranello, rimini rally, top gear Leave a comment
Future Concept Vehicles
We thought it was time to have a look at a few future concept vehicles. Obviously saving the environment is a serious concern for vehicle companies at the moment as they develop their ideas. One particular idea caught our attention: This is a Bamboo Car – made entirely from recycled materials designed by some clever [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged bamboo car, bmw world, capca, Cartell, Cartell.ie, concepts, electric vehicles, future vehicles, isetta, omni, peogeot Leave a comment
Cartell on Newstalk Motormouth
You may know already that Cartell appears weekly on the Motormouth show on Newstalk 106 when our own Jeff Aherne gets the chance to talk about the thing he most loves to talk about – cars! This weeks topics included driving in wet weather and new driver training rules to improve road safety – and [...]
NCT to collect VRT and carry out ‘Verification’ test for all imports
From September 1st, the collection of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) will be the responsibility of Applus+, the Spanish based company currently administering the National Car Test (NCT). Therefore it will no longer be possible to register a vehicle at a Revenue Vehicle Registration Office (VRO).
Posted in Blog, News & Press, Trade News Tagged Applus+, Cartell.ie, Cloning, nct, Revenue, The AA, V5, VIC, VRC, VRO, VRT, write-off 2 Comments
Car Spoiler: Aerodynamics
The Aerodynamics of a Spoiler What is a spoiler for a car? A spoiler is a wing or aerofoil attached to the back of the vehicle which causes downforce, or increases drag, depending on the speed the vehicle is travelling. In the case of an airplane, the wing pushes the plane up or creates lift [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged abs plastic, aerodynamics, aerofoil, bernouilis principle, fiberglass, ford, mondeo, spoiler Leave a comment
Buses of the Future
Public Bus Transportation: Designs and Concepts In 1999 Dublin Bus introduced the “Bendy Bus”, 18m long, with capacity for 140 passengers – twice as many as the traditional double-decker. However the Chinese have gone one step further in terms of their public bus transportation. This is the new public bus service planned for Beijing later [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged china, dublin bus, future vehicles, london bus, red double decker Leave a comment
How Irish Garda Cars Compare
On Mondays Motormouth, Daragh, Jeff and Tony outlined the high speed vehicles deployed by police forces to enforce traffic legislation. A fantastic self explanatory blog entitled The Twelve Coolest Police Cars in Action highlights some seriously fast police cars that we can only dream of having over here. Number one on the list with a [...]
Posted in Blog Tagged cars, evo x, Garda, garda vehicles, Lexus, mercedes cls, mits, Motormouth, tune it safe 1 Comment
Lower VRT on ECO friendly cars
CompleteCar.ie’s Paddy Comyn and Shane O’ Donoghue are calling for the addition of an Eco VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) rate of 10% and the removal of road tax on newer, lower-emission vehicles for a period of two years. They claim the existing VRT and motor tax band system fails to offer an incentive to buyers [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged atv, CO2, commercial vehicles, department of transport, diesel, eco friendly, electric, emissions, hybrid, Motor Tax, petrol, selling price, simi, VRT 1 Comment
Motor Tax “Off The Road” self declaration to be replaced
If a person does not make a SORN or tax the vehicle, they could be stopped by the police. It is an automatic penalty of £80, as well as the requirement of paying for a new tax disc.
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged ANPR, DVLA, End of Life, Garda, irish times, Motor Tax, RF100, SORN Leave a comment
New Tolls, Levies and Penalties for Irish Car Drivers
The idea of putting more tolls on the M50, M1 and national roads is hard to believe. However, the VRT take was down a massive €700 million in 2009 when compared to 2008, a mere €375 million was taken in 2009. The money has to come from somewhere..
Car Clamping and Car Parking on Motormouth
In Ireland the local authority is responsible for creating bye-laws that list places in your town/city where parking fees will be imposed. It also decides the value of parking fees. Before making bye-laws that restrict parking, your local authority must consult with the Garda Commissioner and give public notice of its intention to make bye-laws [...]
Posted in Blog, Trade News Tagged boards.ie, Clamping, DVA, fine, fines, Motormouth, Parking 1 Comment
Cosworth, real men cars by Cartell’s Jeff Aherne
Last Monday on Motormouth we discussed the controversial topic of what defines a man’s car versus a woman’s car. Needless to say it stirred emotion. However just to ensure that my opinion is fully understood, here are a few cars that are driven by more men than women. Subaru Impreza CS400 STI Cosworth and Ford [...]
Cartell Sponsors Motormouth
I am delighted to announce Cartell is the proud sponsor of Motormouth on Newstalk once again.
Drive For Work
Whether you drive for work in your own vehicle or your employers vehicle it is your employers responsibility to ensure you know what to do should your vehicle breakdown, catch fire etc. There should be procedures and policies in place so that you know what to do to ensure you are safe at all times.
Posted in Blog Tagged Cartell, Drive For Work, Garda Checkpoint, penalty points, Road Safety Authority, Road Traffic Accident, Safety, Speed Fallacy Leave a comment
Peugeot 3008 test drive by Daragh O Tuama
I’m glad to say however that I’m impressed by what Peugeot have to offer at the moment.
Posted in Blog, Car Review, Trade News Tagged bhp, CO2, diesel, Motor Tax, Motormouth, Ncap, Peugeot, prices, Test Drive Leave a comment
Toyota Avensis test drive by Daragh O Tuama
For a long time now this car has been the taxi drivers favourite and it’s no surprise as to why. This car is a work horse that allows more miles than the average car. It’s spacious, comfortable and feels safe.
Posted in Blog, Car Review, Trade News Tagged CO2, diesel, Motor Tax, Motormouth, newstalk, prices, Test Drive, Toyota Leave a comment
Citroen C3 1.4 HDi test drive by Daragh O Tuama
Citroen C3 1.4 HDi Firstly, in comparison to the last C3 it’s a small bit longer, and just a little bit wider. What does that mean? Well, a little bit more leg room and a little more space and maybe even tighter handling. The C3 also has what’s called the visiodrive. What’s that? I hear [...]
Posted in Blog, Car Review, Trade News Tagged C3, Citroen, CO2, diesel, Motor Tax, Motormouth, newstalk, Test Drive Leave a comment
Cartell Extends Sympathy to Thomas Maguire’s Family and Donegal Motor Club
Cartell wishes to extend it’s sympathies to the family of Thomas Maguire of Longwood Co. Meath, who was killed on the 19th June 2010 at the Topaz Donegal Rally.
Posted in Blog Tagged Donegal Rally, Rally, Rally of the Lakes, Thomas Maguire, Tim McNulty, Topaz Donegal International Rally, WRC Leave a comment
Cartell.ie submits Bill to make Clocking Illegal
It is time that Ireland sends out a clear message that it will not allow its citizens be ripped off and put in harms way when laws can be passed to protect them. At present, the Gardai do not have sufficient powers to prosecute offenders.
Dublin City Council Extension of 30km/h Zones
Dublin City Council (DCC) wants to introduce 30km/h speed zones on the Long Mile Road, Sliabh Bloom Park and Chapelizod Road when children are entering and leaving schools. At all other times the limit will remain at 50km/h. Members of the public are being asked for their say and all of the proposals will be [...]
Cork gets Ireland’s first Electric Sports Car
On the 20th April 2010, Cork registered its first Tesla Roadster – some say the electric sports car of the future. Costing a tidy €100,000, it’s the first wave of electric cars in the pipeline from American car producer Tesla. But for anyone who thinks electric cars are modest in terms of speed, think again [...]
Posted in Blog, News & Press, Trade News Tagged Cartell, Civic, Electric car, honda, Lexus, Peugeot, Prius, Roadster, Tesla, Toyota Comments closed
2010 RSA International Conference on Speeding
You note I said Safety Camera instead of Speed Cameras as every speaker on the day wanted to ensure that’s how we would look upon them and not as a money making exercise.
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Motorsports Update: Spotlight on Luca Di Grassi