The following is a guest blog from a long-standing contributor to Cartell.ie: Daragh Ó Tuama

This week I had the pleasure of spending a night at the Ritz Carlton near Powerscourt in Wicklow. And if I was a hotel reviewer, instead of a motor hack, I’d certainly have to give it the full five stars. But I don’t review hotels. Instead I talk about cars, car issues and generally moan a lot. But cars, however, are the reason for me spending a night in the luxury of the Ritz Carlton.

We were at the Ritz to help celebrate 150 years of Opel as a manufacturer, to have a look at their new GTC Astra (also featured in eDrive), the 2012 Insignia and to have a sneak peak at the pre-production Opel Zafira.

Now today I’m not really reviewing these cars, that’s another week’s work. Today I’d like to talk about the image that is Opel. I mean they’re celebrating 150 years and they’ve had an incredible sales turnover since establishment. They also have a reliable name to match their sales over the years.

So lets look at points of their past. I’m not going to give any of you a history lesson – you can go to Wikipedia or the likes and check dates etc for yourselves. Nope, I want to bring you back to the 80’s and the 90’s in this wonderful island of ours. When by 1990 it was still common to see a yellow 1983 Opel Kadette humming around the roads and streets of Ireland (and if you had a Kadette E (1984-1991)…you were clearly loaded! Do you remember being a fan of Italia 90 and gladly sporting an Irish jersey on your person with a big OPEL logo across your chest? I remember thinking as a young fella that Opel was a uniquely Irish brand…and then these imported Vauxhalls started showing up and I was educated to the fact that there was indeed a world outside of Ireland.

I have to be honest; a lot of my memories of that time remind me of yellow, orange or green Opel Kadettes. It’s sad really, that there are very little to be seen nowadays (wow I’m starting to feel old!). I’m sure some of your memories include one of these driving by.

Then came the 90’s, and the Kadette transformed into the Astra and the Opel Vectra was becoming more popular – especially with An Garda Síochána. Opel was getting more and more curved and aerodynamic as the years went on – as was every brand I suppose. But despite high sales of the time I feel the 90’s right up to about 2008/2009 was when Opel were at their most boring. And in terms of style, they just weren’t at the races. True, they had a good reputation for safety and reliability, but they had a serious lack in the style and excitement department.

Now, however, it’s beginning to be a different story. I don’t always buy into TV and radio ads, but two car manufacturers really stand out for me. Skoda, because their ads make me feel like they’re being honest “Good made better” – it’s quiet modest when you think about their current range of cars. And for some reason “The Insignia is the best we’ve ever built” is one I’m beginning to believe. And I’m not just talking about its driving capabilities and its safety features, etc; I’m also talking about its style.

I mean from my experience the Insignia is wonderful. It’s stylish, powerful when it needs to be, jam-packed with safety equipment; it’s comfortable and has an interior as interesting as European cars should be. But, before I get too off-track here, this is not a review on the Insignia, that’ll come in a few weeks. What I am doing however is giving them a bualadh bos. I believe in giving credit where it’s due.

Anyway, 150 years of Opel, a nerve wrecking 2012 ahead for the whole motoring industry. How will things fair for Opel on this 150^th year in existence? How will other manufacturers fair? The range Opel have in line for 2012 is very exciting, as are other ranges coming from their competitors, but will their prices entice Irish customers to start spending their money? Will banks start lending more to ensure this market becomes more buoyant? Will the government see some sense and realise that we need the scrappage scheme back as a long term incentive to buy? Watch this space and we will see. In the meantime I would like to wish Opel a happy birthday, and to all manufacturers out there and to the Irish motoring industry in general, Good luck and let’s hope for a great one.

Daragh Ó Tuama

It looks at the new Ford Mondeo – still a year away and remarks, similar to other publications, that it does look a bit like an Aston Martin! The Mondeo will certainly have the option of the 1.6 and 2.0 Turbo Diesel-aspirated engines in its lineup but it might also include the new 1.0 litre turbo 3 cylinder engine.

The eZine also features Cartell’s recent media story on the breakdown of imported vehicles in the Irish fleet. Remember, a used-car buyer has almost a 1 in 2 chance of buying an imported vehicle if they gun for a 2009 car. That’s no bad thing necessarily – just remember you have to add all the previous owners and previous history to the Republic of Ireland history to get a complete view of things before you make that all-important decision whether to buy or not!

eDrive also considers the new Opel Astra Sport Hatch – a competitor to the successful Golf GTi as well as the Zafira Tourer – a vehicle which ‘looks, feels and drives the part”!

You can check out the latest edition on the eDrive site. (No download required)

Volkswagen Polo Mark III – 1994 – 2002

Continuing our series of Used Car Reviews by completecar.ie we focus on this popular model.

Overview: Regarded as the quality choice in the segment, the Volkswagen Polo Mark III carried on this tradition. While not the company’s most exciting work, the Polo does however make a great used buy, even if prices remain quite high.

Tell me all about it: The third-generation of the Polo might seem light and a little flimsy by today’s standards but back when it was launched in 1994 it had a solidity that few of its rivals could hope to match. At launch the engine line-up consisted of a 45hp 1.0-litre and a 55hp 1.3-litre, although the overwhelming majority sold here in Ireland had the 1.0-litre engine. It was also the first time that the Polo became available with five doors and – in small numbers in Ireland – with a diesel engine. The 64hp 1.9-litre diesel wasn’t particularly powerful or refined. There was also the option of an automatic transmission for the first time and in terms of safety a driver’s airbag was introduced.

Anything I should look out for? With older cars it is always advisable to get a Cartell Car Check. It is also good to bear in mind that power steering isn’t something that came standard in the Polo until much later in the life of the Mark III (circa 2001). If you are taking a test drive, make sure to check if the gear change is smooth, as some of these cars have had pretty tough lives with less than mechanically sympathetic drivers. Spanish-built models weren’t always up to the quality you would expect from Volkswagen. Check for patches of rust low down and also make sure to check front brake discs and front pads. The front discs tend to need replacing every 50,000 kilometres or so.

What are my options? The options here in Ireland are reasonably limited – most early examples are going to be the 1.0-litre models and while these are tough little cars, do expect them to feel a little tired at this stage. If you find a saloon in good condition, these are a lot of car for very little money. Most of these will be powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine, but there are some 1.9-litre diesels around too, though they aren’t turbocharged and can be sluggish and pretty noisy.

How much will it cost me? The early examples, from the mid-1990s are now very cheap and start from as little as €700, but you get what you pay for in this instance. Face-lifted 2001 models will have an asking price of around €1,800 and the most you should be asked to pay for this generation of Polo would be €3,000 for a very clean, low-mileage 2002 example with the round headlamps.

This review was produced courtesy of completecar.ie

Continuing our popular series – Used Car Advice – we want to start 2012 by helping Helga and her husband Gerry buy a vehicle. They contacted us over the holidays:

“We heard through the grapevine that Cartell does case studies on people looking at buying second hand cars?? And that you give recommendations…? Gerry and I know absolutely zero about cars so we would be so grateful for any recommendations from people who know about cars.

We are looking just to buy a good, cheap little motor run around – something like a Ford Fiesta (little, zippy, older, reliable, runs on the smell of an oil rag). We had one once and I loved it but other cars of this calibre would be fine too. We only want to spend around €4000. Oh it would have to take carseats – but sure they all do these days right?”
Helga (mum of two)

Ok, so, lets quickly deal with the child seats issue first: The safest child seat is iso-fix for group 0-1-2 (Babies up to 2/3 years old). However these came into being around 2006/7 so it would have to be assessed which vehicles fitted them in our price range: €4,000. In other words, it’s something Helga and Gerry are right to take a closer look at when they’ve picked out a few options for their next vehicle!

Reliability

Helga and Gerry are looking for something reliable – that’s the key concern here. They have €4,000 to spend and they want this cash to go as far as possible. What they don’t want is to spend the money on an unreliable vehicle that causes countless trips to the garage, stress, money down the drain…that’s the worst possible scenario here because the capital they invest is completely wasted in that case – they can’t even sell the car onwards until it’s repaired – a real nightmare.

Service History

The most important thing for Helga, regardless of what model she goes for, is that a full service history comes with the vehicle. We’ve all heard about ‘one lady owner’ which is a phrase thrown around in showrooms around the country – but the reality is often quite different. Lower-value-vehicles often have several previous owners so the most recent one, whether she’s a lady scooting around town or not, doesn’t matter so much. What does matter is that the vehicle has a service book with full set of stamps – that’s the vital consideration. Also, look to get a solid warranty from a dealer. Getting a dealer close to home would facilitate any fixes that might occur within the warranty period. Obviously you’d like to get a warranty from a dealer that survives the recession…otherwise you’ve lost cash…but then it’s hard to know these things…and anyways we like to think positively at Cartell!

Low Mileage

Buying a lower mileage vehicle is more preferable if you’re looking to stretch your cash further in terms of longevity. Helga doesn’t appear to be too worried about the style, or even the size, of the vehicle, and that’s a good thing: it means she can opt for a cheap and cheerful low mileage vehicle instead of looking for a higher mileage, snazzier, alternative.

Options

Helga mentioned the Ford Fiesta so lets begin with it. For €4,000 she could buy something like a 2005 Fiesta Steel 1.25l petrol, 5-door. We’ve spotted one on the market at the moment for €3,999 and with 52,383 miles on the clock. That’s exactly the type of vehicle Helga might like to test-drive. The Fiesta for that year is considered a pretty reliable car – provided it’s been well maintained – and there’s plenty of space in the boot for shopping and other bits and pieces. The 5-door gives easy access to the rear seat – an important consideration for children.

Another option in this price bracket is the  VW Fox. This vehicle is not as popular in Ireland as the VW Polo but there are some bargains out there. We spotted a 2006 VW Fox 1.2 litre with 45,000 miles on the clock for €3,850. This could be a decent shout if it’s been well serviced. The draw-back will be the number of doors. In that price range Helga would be looking at a 3-door option: so if access to the rear seats is paramount then the Fiesta is still a better bet.

Finally, we recommend she considers the Toyota Yaris. This was generally a popular vehicle with its owners when it was first launched in Ireland – and included many innovative cabin features. On the downside, the popularity of the vehicle reflects in the relatively high residuals: bottom line: Helga would have to drop down to a 2003 Yaris if she’s looking for a 5-door or 2004 if she’s prepared to settle for a 3 door.

Cartell Recommends…

Faced with these three choices Cartell would opt for the 2005 Fiesta – it’s a newer vehicle and provided it’s been fully serviced it should be relatively trouble-free. Dropping from registration year 2005 to 2003 for an equivalent Yaris is probably not a wise move. Good luck!

Trend continues in 2011

The Irish Sun today (Mark May) publishes an article relying on Cartell statistics displaying the percentage of imports in the Irish Fleet (Private/Hackney/Taxi) since 2000. The figures show a significant increase in the prominence of imports in the fleet over the 12-year period. While the 2009 figure is particularly high this was due to the large fall in new car sales of indigenous Irish vehicles resulting in the number of imports achieving a higher percentage of the fleet that year. Still, it stands to reason that a person in the market for a 2009 vehicle should be aware that they stand nearly a 50:50 chance that the vehicle they wish to purchase has a “hidden” history from the UK or Northern Ireland.

The figures from 2011 show a trend in the market consistent with 2010 – imports are around 30% of the fleet total. Overall the figures show that a person in the market to buy a car up to five years old has between a 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 chance of buying a vehicle with a hidden history. And those in the market for a 3-year-old car, or newer, will have approximately a 1 in 3 chance of hitting an import. Through various research drives Cartell has consistently highlighted the problems with imported vehicles: as many as 30% of imports have finance outstanding, or were previously written off, or have been clocked. Remember also that a “hidden history” reveals previous owners which the purchaser may not have been aware of – leading to increased risk of incurring mechanical problems resulting from different driving styles and vehicles that are not well serviced and maintained. Always check the history of a used car before you purchase it.

The chart published today by Cartell runs as follows:

Ford Fiesta Mark IV – 1999 – 2002

Overview: The Fiesta has been immensely popular in Ireland for several good reasons and it remains a top used car choice. The Mark IV was a real step up in quality for this popular little car, especially following its facelift in 1999.

Tell me all about it: The fourth generation of the Ford Fiesta marked quite a significant departure from the Mark III, as the car’s design began to come in line with the recently launched Ford Focus, and it was quite a fundamental update from the rather doe-eyed looking predecessor. This was not a totally radical redesign, however, and the car was still cramped in the rear. This model isn’t blessed with great luggage capacity either.

Anything I should look out for? With older cars it is always advisable to get a Cartell Car Check. Unfortunately, this model was still prone to rust so make sure to check over the car thoroughly. The Fiesta was not always bought by buyers who took great care or attention of their vehicles and this showed at times. So look for signs of basic maintenance and ask for a service history. It’s not a good sign if any services have been missed. Check the front suspension too, as this is often prone to wear and the brakes should be noise free. Avoid the 1.3-litre petrol engine and the 1.8-litre non-turbo diesel where possible, as they are not the best.

What are my options? The choices in Ireland in this model Fiesta weren’t huge. There was the 8v 1.3-litre petrol engine, which unfortunately was found in large numbers of the early models and was underwhelming. Putting out a miserable 59hp it took the guts of 16 seconds to get to 100km/h and as an illustration of how things have moved on, it had emissions of 161g/km. Much better was the 16v 1.25 Zetec engine, which eventually was to become the big seller. This newer unit boosted power up to 73hp and shaved more than three seconds off the 0-100km/h time. Also available, but sold in tiny numbers because at the times were taxed by their cubic capacity, was the 1.8-litre diesel engine. With 59hp, this engine was pretty noisy and slow and is best avoided.

How much will it cost me? Early 2000 1.3-litre models will set you back around €2,950 from a SIMI-registered dealer, but you can find cheaper 1.25-litre models and this is the better engine. We found these from as little as €2,000 and they make a great starter car. The most you will pay for a 2001 model is around €3,000 with low mileage so consider both of these prices as your price range. The best thing about this model Fiesta is how easy and cheap it is to maintain and service.

This Blog was reproduced courtesy of Completecar.ie

In total 7,703 vehicles were exported out of Ireland this year to November with an estimated annualised value of €100 million. This represents an increase of 16% year-on-year, while exports have risen by 64% in the last five years.

This trend is set to continue following Budget 2012 when the Government further emphasised the importance of vehicle exports by offering a VRT rebate. This was reported as one of the final changes made by the Government to the Budget. However, a relatively small number of vehicles are exported out of the State in comparison to those imported into Ireland – especially from the UK.

Nonetheless, the 16% increase recorded in 2011 is not the highest in the last five years: in 2008 a year-on-year increase of 23% was recorded – just as the Celtic Tiger economy began to wind down. The figure for exports in 2008 and 2011 are significantly higher than in other years.

Of the vehicles exported this year 31% were classed as goods vehicles. The economic problems, particularly the housing crash, would have significantly contributed to this development: as the market contracted in Ireland these vehicles would have proven costly to retain domestically.

Of the private vehicles exported there was an almost identical distribution between petrol and diesel variants. While it was anticipated that a higher number of petrol vehicles would be exported, particularly larger engine variants (which are costly to tax in Ireland since 2008), the statistics do not point to such a distinction. In fact, considering diesel is still in the minority in the Irish fleet, it appears that private diesel vehicles and goods vehicles are more likely to be ear-marked for export than any other.

The number of vehicles exported has remained consistently higher in the post-boom years. There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, the economy took a crash and there was no market for large commercial vehicles; second, fluctuation in currency valuations meant that second hand vehicles could be resold for more on export; and finally, Irish residents brought vehicles with them as they emigrated.

The trend shows that both year-on-year increases and total numbers of vehicles exported will continue to rise over the following years.

Resulting from analysis conducted by Cartell.ie it was discovered that approximately 10% of commercial fleet exports have finance outstanding. In many cases the sums involved would be significant in these cases. These vehicles would be sold onwards to unsuspecting buyers in the UK who are unaware that an Irish finance house can repossess the vehicle.

Finally, of the commercial vehicles exported 118 fell into the mobile machinery tax class: 22 were dumpers or forklifts, and 19 were general haulage vehicles.

END

For further information please contact John Byrne (Cartell.ie) on + 087 4199018 or email or check out http://www.cartell.ie/for further information.

Toyota Corolla 2007 – 2011

The following is the next in our series of used car reviews written exclusively for Cartell.ie by Completecar.ie

Overview:

The Toyota Corolla isn’t exciting but it is popular for a good reason. It is a model of reliability and offers a pain-free motoring experience.

Tell me all about it:

The Corolla has been a family favourite in Ireland for generations and despite the fact that the Corolla isn’t offered in most of Europe or the UK, the Corolla saloon remains on sale alongside the Auris, which replaced the last-generation Corolla hatchback. The Corolla is a handsome enough saloon, if not dramatically styled, but these sober looks have aged well since it first arrived. A major plus point for the Corolla saloon is the fact that it is such a generously sized car for such little money.

Anything I should look out for?

Of all the cars that you could buy used, a Corolla saloon is one of the most painless to own. The Corolla is incredibly well built with hugely reliable engines and whether you choose either the 1.3-litre petrol or 1.4-litre diesel engines, both will have low maintenance costs and will be more than capable of racking up huge mileage. Make sure any diesel models have been serviced properly and that the particulate filter is in good condition.

What are my options?

The choice is very simple in the Corolla saloon; you can have a 1.3-litre petrol engine or a 1.4-litre diesel. The 1.3-litre petrol has 99 horsepower and has low emissions at 133g/km. It is a better value choice on the used market and it will return close to 50mpg on the combined cycle. The diesel model is more expensive and holds its value better. It makes a shrewd used-car buy if you intend to rack up higher mileage or if you will be buying a higher mileage example. A word of caution though, a poorly serviced diesel car won’t last as long as a poorly serviced petrol one, so make sure not to take any shortcuts.  

How much will it cost me?

Early 2007 petrol saloon models will set you back around €8,000 for the 1.4-litre petrol version from a main dealer with a full service history and this is perhaps the least you should spend on any model. You might find some cheaper examples but they would not be economically sound. You’ll only pay about €9,000 for a 2008 model, again with petrol versions more plentiful. The 2007 diesel Corollas start at around €9,000. A 2008 1.4-litre petrol model will set you back €10,500 and there were few diesels sold in 2008, so you’ll have to get into a 2009 diesel, which will cost you around €11,500. 

This Blog was produced courtesy of completecar.ie

Cartell welcomes Government review of Motor Taxation

Band B Motor Tax Hit Hard – as we predicted

In a recent blog Cartell proposed an alternative method of generating motor taxation. We were delighted with the coverage our proposal got, both in social media, and here on the site. While not everyone agreed with us – and we never expected any different – it was heartening to see discussion generated. It was also noticeable that motor taxation is an issue that Irish people are keen to see re-considered.  Here are some of the comments we received and a few points we’d like to make:

Jon Cashman didn’t like the fact that motor tax is set too high in Ireland – and set to increase again. Tom Murphy liked our proposal that we pay less tax as our car gets older while Greg didn’t accept our methodology here at all – saying that older cars are cheaper to maintain as they can be serviced in street-corner garages as opposed to the main dealer network while the car is in warranty: it’s a valid point. M Keeshan felt there should be a greater effort to collect tax saying that 10-15% of vehicles have no taxation at all.  We agree with this. In our blog earlier in the year on a related point Cartell noted that more effort will be done to track down vehicles with unpaid tax using the SORN system if that system is introduced in Ireland. Another point that was mentioned by both Eddie and Anuj in our first blog on this issue was the merits of abolishing road tax altogether. While this idea is in line with our general theory that increases in tax may take some vehicles off the road – or outside the tax net altogether – it’s difficult to envisage the Government actually abolishing road tax  as its such an important revenue stream – in a recession every revenue stream is important. Finally, both Donal and Greg weren’t too happy with our proposal to use power as a variant. On this point we have a slight clarification: in our original workings on this issue power was penciled as a factor for electric vehicles, predicting a rise in their use in the future, however in the final analysis it was entered in its PS/BHP/Kw context to create a certain uniformity across electric, petrol and diesel aspirations.

Band B Motor Tax up to EUR 225 from EUR 156

In any event Cartell was not surprised with today’s announcement to increase motor tax in 2012, to be applied from 1 January. Band A Motor Tax is up to EUR 160, Band B is up to EUR 225 and Band C is up to EUR 330. The bands themselves remain unaltered. These increases are in line with our prediction that Band B would be hit hard. We are also interested in the Government announcement to review motor tax (and VRT) in consultation with the motor industry. We welcome this initiative.  In the spirit of that dialogue we want to continue by offering another alternative aside from the formula which we proposed last week: Instead of continuing to focus on CO2 as the sole determining factor for calculating motor taxation we propose an emphasis on the original manufacturer value of the vehicle with discounts for vehicles with lower CO2 emissions. This would incentivise manufacturers with higher base-value vehicles to curb their CO2 emissions in a bid to keep taxation lower. Like last week’s proposal it’s only a suggestion. Still, it appears for another year at least we will continue to calculate our taxation on the basis of CO2 emissions – and at least it’s relatively easy to formulate.

Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s historic rally in Killarney. Below are the winners and their times:

Historic

1: Ray Cunningham/Ross Forde – Morris Mini Cooper S – 1:19:53.2
2: James O’Mahony/Paddy McDonnell – Volvo 144 s – 1:22:30.8
3: John Spiers/Suzanne Niedrum – Porsche 911 - 1:24:13.4

Post-Historic

1: Denis Moynihan/Eamonn Hayes – Ford Escort Mk1 – 1:14:26.3
2: Mark Falvey/Colin Moynihan – Ford Escort Mk1 – 1:14:59.0
3: Keith McIvor/David Burns – Porsche 911 - 1:16:27.2

Classic

1: Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies – Ford Escort – 1:14:12.4
2: Diarmuid Lynch/Mark Horgan – Ford Escort Mk2 - 1:15:43.1
3: Todd Falvey/Gerard Conway – Porsche 911 – 1:18:28.3

Modified

1: Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity – Ford Escort RS Mk2 – 1:12:06.3
2: Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery – Ford Escort Mk2 – 1:12:39.5
3: Kevin O’Donoghue/Joe O’Leary – Ford Escort Mk2 – 1:13:43.3

Cartell offers alternative motor taxation calculator

Like everyone else who drives a car in Ireland we were all disappointed in the Cartell office to learn the news that the Minister for Finance is set to increase motor tax in the upcoming budget. We are told he will increase motor tax and adjust the motor tax bands. To be honest we are not surprised. The reality of taxation is that it follows the revenue stream. Motor Taxation, adjusted by the Green Party/FF Government in 2008 was always liable to be adjusted upwards – principally this is due to the enormous impact the 2008 revision had on consumer spending. 

Remember, before the change in 2008 motor taxation was calculated on the basis of engine size, so, regardless of whether a vehicle was diesel or petrol motor taxation was the same. The system penalised those who drive vehicles 2.0l or above, in particular, and benefited those who drive smaller cars. It all made sense, in many respects, until the Green Party endorsed a move to save the environment. Instead of calculating taxation on the basis of engine size, it would be calculated on the basis of CO2 emissions. The effect was startling. Overnight two prominent events took place: (i) the value of pre-2008 petrol vehicles plummetted in the second-hand market, and (ii) the consumer switched allegiance from petrol to diesel. Immediately new-car buyers opted for diesel vehicles, which produce significantly less CO2 and which record higher MPGs making them cheaper to run.

Something else became apparent too: something which the Government had not been aware of: the car manufacturers started to roll out new technology which made their vehicles emit less and less CO2 meaning they qualified for lower and lower rates of motor tax. Perhaps the most startling of all was the BMW 5 Series which qualifies, in its basic form, for Category B road tax – one of the cheapest around. This is a luxury vehicle, its owners are more than capable of forking out a few bob extra in taxation. Yet, the news that it qualified for annual payments of €156 must have impacted on Government thinking. Certainly the vehicle manufacturers were several steps ahead of the Government. They had been working on lower-emission vehicles for decades and the Government were caught blind-sided by the technology. What the Government assumed was  that lower emission vehicles would continue to be a niche in the market. What they didn’t realise was that these vehicles were ready to go mainstream – and the Irish buyer was more than willing to save a buck or two by buying them.

In its previous blog post on ‘Buying New or Second Hand?’ Cartell pointed out the savings when buying a new car if you make your calculations over several years and take into account motor tax and MPGs.

Of course back to the obvious problem: as more and more consumers opted for the diesel vehicles, and as the vehicle manufacturers rolled out more and more fuel saving enhancements, and better fuel-efficient engine technology, the Government purse strings were more adversely affected by the lost revenue stream.

Enter budget 2012. So, what will the Minister do? While the most likely thing is that the Minister will adjust the CO2 emission bands – most likely in line with Departmental research which points to estimates of how many vehicles would be caught by the adjustments, it’s likely he will also increase the amounts paid. So, gone will be Category A at €104 and Category B at €156. We’re guessing Category A will increase to €130 and Category B will increase to €198 – but these are just guesses! At the middle end of the scale Category C at €302 will likely increase to above €350 and Category D currently set at €447 will almost certainly go beyond €500 maybe to €560. At the top end of the scale, Categories E, F and G will all be hit hard. We won’t be at all surprised if Category B and Category C vehicles are hit hardest as these are where the vast majority of sales have taken place since 2008.

New Approach Needed

In any event, we think the Government approach is wrong. We think a complete re-think of motor taxation is in order. We think there should be more focus on Power as a variable and an all-encompassing approach. For that reason Cartell proposes the following formula:

Motor Tax =[Power x A + CO2 x B] minus Age x C

The A, B and C values could be fixed by the Government: perhaps set at a certain fixed amount like 2 and 0.5 and 10.

So a 5-year-old vehicle with 123 BHP and producing 140 grams of C02 would work out as follows:

Motor Tax = [123 x  2 + 140 x 0.5] minus 5 x 10 = €266

Currently the Ford Mondeo 1.8l Econetic variant, which roughly fits these variables for CO2 and Power (but which has not been around 5 years yet), is listed at Category B €156 motor tax. Of course we could adjust the variables: maybe to 1.5, 0.4 and 10. This would result in the following result:

Motor Tax = [123 x  1.5 + 140 x 0.4] minus 5 x 10 = €190.50

This figure, of €190.50, is more or less what we expect the Category B figure to look like at the end of the Budget. We also think this is a fairer system for two reasons: it would mean motor taxation would get slightly cheaper as a vehicle gets older – which is only fair considering servicing costs will increase, and it would also mean that a broader range of variables are taken into account: Power, and CO2 and Age.

The downside with introducing a system like this is that it could only apply prospectively, or into the future, meaning it would only start to apply from January 1, 2012. This won’t happen for two reasons – first, a system like this, while fairer, is probably more complicated to implement and form calculations, and secondly, the Government wants extra revenue now so it will most likely apply increases to the old system before it will introduce a new system.

Still, food for thought, none the less.

The edition is available now for viewing online (no download required). It announces the launch (Summer 2012) of the new Ford Kuga which is larger than the current version and will be larger than the Focus (currently the Kuga and Focus are built from the same platform). The new Kuga, which is popular in many European countries (though not so much in Ireland), is considered a more significant launch than the upcoming Mondeo launch principally because Ford anticipates selling more of these – although that remains to be seen.  For racing enthusiasts it features an article on the Peugeot 908 Le Mans which Cartell blogged about last year. This car is incredible powerful but also incredibly silent (relatively speaking) for a vehicle with over 700bhp. What is more interesting is the fact it runs on Diesel fuel. Check out the following video by one enthusiast (from 0.27). Le Mans vehicles are perhaps not as stylish as F1 cars, it’s a question of taste, but in terms of performance they are unbeatable over long distance. The Ezine also features a piece on the innovative new future technology by Citroen for vehicle fuel entitled EHDI. This technology is premised on the assumption that we will continue to use fossil-fuel-based vehicles for at least another 30 years, and therefore technology which reduces consumption will remain critical for that time frame. The technology uses a combination of diesel, battery and gearbox to achieve this. BMW and Rally School of Ireland (in Monaghan) also feature for their focus on the benefits of the Winter tyre. There’s a piece featuring Cartell too where we write about some coverage we received in the National Media for our work on seeking the criminalisation of vehicle clocking – something we feel very strongly about. All-in-all then the latest eDrive is a great read.

Thanks to everyone who entered our competition to win the Cartell jacket. We had a great response. I can confirm that the winner is:

Declan Casey from Banteer, Co. Cork

Congratulations. Your jacket will be posted out to you this evening. We also have 11 Hi-Vis waistcoats to give away to those of you who shared our competition amongst your friends on Facebook. The 11 winners are:

Gerard Brett

Sean Walsh

Eugene O Connor

Una Ni Chinnseallaigh

Jules Thomas

Garrett Mccord

Lorraine Brennan

David Lysaght

Ellen Bow

Jonathan Scales

Kieran Glover

Congratulations to you all. In order to receive your prizes, could you all please email facebook@cartell.ie with your names and addresses so we can post out your prizes.

Keep checking our Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/CartellCarCheck for you chance to win more great prizes. And dont forget as a Cartell fan on Facebook, you can get a 20% discount off our two and three star checks!

Today’s Sunday Independent credits Cartell.ie with prominent drive to criminalise vehicle clocking in Ireland

In a piece written by journalist Shane O Donoghue Cartell is mentioned in connection with drafting a Bill which seeks to send out a clear message that vehicle clocking is a serious issue worthy of criminal penalty as well as data which highlights the extent of vehicle clocking. Cartell has estimated that 208,978 vehicles in Ireland are clocked. These numbers apply to both imported vehicles and indigenous vehicles alike with as many as 11% of all imports from the UK showing false mileages.

An imported Audi has higher risk of being clocked

In June 2010 Cartell presented to the Oireachtas a Bill which sought to introduce the offence of clocking of a motor vehicle among related offences. This Bill received the support of the Labour Party and recently was firmly endorsed by AA Ireland. Cartell continues to call for the introduction of this offence in a climate when consumers must be especially careful about unwittingly parting with hard-earned cash for a vehicle which is potentially unroadworthy.

The article states: “The AA renewed calls to criminalise the act of car ‘clocking’ in Ireland following a report last month (October) that revealed that up to 11 per cent of car imports from the UK have false mileages. Data from Cartell.ie, the official vehicle records experts in Ireland, was also used to illustrate how the number of imports has increased substantially in the past decade, putting Irish buyers at risk. “Some Irish consumers are being taken for a ride as Ireland is seen as a dumping ground.” Says AA Ireland public affairs manager Conor Faughnan. Yet there is no legislation to prevent the act of changing a car’s mileage reading (‘clocking’), nor to penalise those that knowingly sell clocked cars.

The AA referred to Ireland’s existing laws as weak and has called for clocking to be made an offence. John Byrne, Legal and PR Manager of Cartell.ie, drafted a Bill to make clocking and interfering with an odometer a specific offence and submitted it to the then government for inclusion into the 2010 Road Traffic Act. The Bill was not passed.

The AA say clocking has never been easier

Amid fresh calls to criminalise the act of clocking the AA points out that it’s not just fraud, but potentially dangerous: “Clocking is a major safety concern as a vehicle with more mileage than indicated may not have had the correct servicing at manufacturer’s recommended intervals. This makes breakdowns more likely and increases the chances of an expensive repair like a timing belt. More seriously, critical parts such as braking and power steering systems may be in need of repair without the driver knowing it. ”

It was hoped that the advent of more sophisticated instruments would make clocking impossible, but in fact it’s easier than ever. The AA cites the availability of the technology to carry out the clocking for less than €100 – and it’s rarely necessary to dismantle the dashboard nowadays. In effect, there is precious little deterrent for a non-scrupulous seller to alter the odometer reading. “If you are planning to bring in a car from Northern Ireland or Great Britain make sure that you check its history.” Says Faughnan.

While the new data refers to imported cars, the National Mileage Register (NMR), operated by Cartell.ie, reveals that Irish cars are far from exempt, with mileage discrepancies across the board. The NMR holds over five million readings and was set up to protect consumers. To further boost the usefulness of this database the AA would like to see the release of the NCT mileage readings. Anecdotal evidence suggests that NCT test centres regularly observe mileage discrepancies, but they are not bound to act on this. It is proposed that the penalty for vehicle clocking would be a fine of up to €5,000 or up to three months imprisonment on summary conviction or up to €10,000 and up to two years imprisonment on conviction on indictment. Jeff Aherne, Director and co-founder of Cartell.ie commented: “It is time that Ireland sends out a clear message that it will not allow its citizens be ripped off and put in harm’s way when laws can be passed to protect them.”" END

For further information please contact John Byrne (Cartell.ie) on + 087 4199018 or email or check out http://www.cartell.ie/for further information.

In a widely-read blog published in October 2010 Cartell highlighted the signifiance of binary code and computer technology in the development of the automobile. Today we consider another important numeric code: 111111  - which is the date tomorrow. Of course, as we pointed out in the earlier article in this series, we are missing a couple of important digits because tomorrow’s date in full should read: 11.11.2011 which does not make it operable as binary code. Still, the basic premise still stands.

A photograph of the original Benz Patent-Motorwagen, first built in 1885 and awarded the patent for the concept (according to Wiki)

So, on the day that’s in it, we thought we’d look at the significance of the number 1 to cars and car technology. The best place to start is with the first car. A quick look at that most reliable of sources – Wikipedia – tells us that steam powered vehicles have been in existence for some time – since 1672 to be precise. However, the automobile as we know it today takes its origins from the 1885 Benz Patent-Motorwagen (see picture).

The first factory mass-produced affordable vehicle was the Ford Model T – the precursor, both in design and manufacture, to the modern motor car (see picture). It’s interesting that both Benz (a fore-runner of modern-day Mercedes Benz) and Ford have largely retained their titles as innovative manufacturers who are first to bring innovative concepts to market. The Mercedes Benz S-Class is probably the most significant passenger road car of modern times: introducing innovations like airbags, accident avoidance, ABS braking, traction control and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Likewise the Ford Mondeo was the first car to introduce a drivers airbag in all of its versions.

as reigning F1 World Champions Red Bull have produced the best performance car in the world

Of course the number one has been a significant number in other aspects of the car industry too: Formula 1 for instance is a motorsport featuring high velocity cars requiring a team of qualified engineers to construct every time the vehicle is set to race.

These light and highly sophisticated vehicles are the best performance cars in the world over shorter distances and present a spectacle viewed by millions worldwide annually as well as spawning a multi-million dollar industry of marketing and advertising.   Of course Formula 1 is a sport too and with the money involved it attracts the best talent globally both to the ranks of its engineers and drivers.

The number one is also an important number within the context of vehicle technology and the computers required to build and enhance that technology. At the moment, the most important concept is fuel consumption, diverse fuel and engine types, and fuel-saving measures employed by the industry to combat the ‘fossil fuels’ issue and protect the environment.

Among the manufactuers leading proceedings here are Honda – who are looking at Hydrogen as a fuel option – Toyota – who were among the first to introduce electric engines – and BMW – who are looking at various ways of increasing fuel consumption levels to rates unimaginable a few years ago.

Finally, we admit, this article could just as easily be about the number 11. So, with that in mind, check out this blog here.

Oh, and by the way, remember Cartell is the first and number one car history check company in Ireland

Cartell is delighted to announce our nomination for the prestigious eircom Golden Spiders 2011. This is the first time the company has been nominated. Cartell is nominated in the EBusiness category.

The Ebusiness eircom Spiders 2011 award, sponsored by webfactory, is for exclusively web-based businesses that provide site visitors with an intuitive, user-friendly and viable means of doing business securely online. This category applies to e-Business, e-Commerce, and B2B and B2C websites and excludes portals. Judges will be looking for innovative tools and processes with a clever use of contextual technologies or an original use of the internet to trade or deliver a service.

Reward for 5 years of work

Cartell has been in business for 5 years and we are proud to be the first company to bring the car history check to Ireland. We consider this nomination as reward for the years of hard work we put into setting up our business, both at the front-end which customers interact with, and where we always strive to provide the highest levels of customer service and personal attention to detail; and at the back-end where we continue to strive to improve all aspects of our business and service delivery.

We’re delighted to be listed beside other prestigious companies in the EBusiness category. The complete list is as follows:

• Adverts Marketplace
• BoardsDeals
• Bonkers.ie
• Cartell.ie
• Grab One
• Siternity
• Smurfit Kappa Direct
• Winetimes.ie

Update 14/11/2011

Congratulations to BoardsDeals on winning the eBusiness category and our thanks to the Spiders team on putting on a very enjoyable event and excellent networking opportunity. See you next year.

The results of research released by Cartell partners AA Ireland says that clocking of imports is a significant problem. AA Ireland say from a survey of 5,430 cars imported from the UK this year 11% of the cars have had their mileages doctored – or ‘clocked’. The report also lists the vehicles most likely to be clocked saying these are:

Audi 14.30%
Honda 13.70%
Mercedes 13.10%
Toyota 12.70%
VW 11.70%
Ford 11.30%
BMW 10.10%

The AA Press Release calls for the creation of an offence of clocking of a motor vehicle saying:

“Most people are surprised to hear that clocking a car is not an offence in itself under Irish law. You may not mislead a customer about any aspect of a car, and you cannot sell a car that is unroadworthy but no law says that you cannot change the odometer dial. The AA wants to change this and introduce the offence.”

It also mentions a Bill drafted by Cartell.ie which was presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Transport:

“In 2010 a Bill was submitted to the then government for inclusion into the 2010 Road Traffic Act to make clocking and interfering with an odometer a specific offence. While it was moved by Labour at the Transport Committee June 16, 2010, it was not passed. The AA would also call for the release of the NCT mileage records to further boost the NMR.”

Vehicle advice experts Completecar.ie also cover the story and refer to our work on this issue:

“Cartell.ie has consistently highlighted potential issues with imported vehicles. It previously estimated that as many as 30% of imports have finance outstanding, were previously written off or have been clocked. On top of that, the importation process may mask the true number of owners a car has had. Overall the figures show that a person in the market to buy a car up to five years old has between a 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 chance of coming across a vehicle with a hidden history.”

The latest edition of our partner ezine – eDrive – is now available for free view. The edition features some cracking content including:  a great review of the Suzuki 4×4 SX4 which describes the new vehicle as: “a hidden gem in the Suzuki range”; a great piece on the Megane RS Trophy with some superb press shots describing the new hot hatch as “hot, hot, hot” and informing us that it’s expected to go on sale in Ireland for about €39,000 – “one of the best performance bargains of the decade”; and it also includes the results of research by Cartell which points to green cars being “not so lucky” after we noticed they are considerably more likely to be written off! 

You can view the issue here – all completely free of charge!

Completecar.ie report on the unveiling of the new Series 3 BMW: 

Turbo power seems to be the name of the game in the all new BMW 3 Series, revealed today (October 14). For the first time all variants of the best-selling car in the premium segment will feature BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology from the 116bhp 316d up to the twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-pot under the bonnet of the 335i.

The 316d and 318d diesels will produce 116- and 143hp respectively, while the 320d will come in both a 184hp version and an EfficientDynamics model that produces 163hp, just 109g/km of CO2 and combined consumption of 4.1 litres/100km (68.9mpg).

On the petrol side of things both the 320i and 328i will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with 184hp and 270Nm of torque for the 320i and 245hp and 350Nm for the 328i. Many have lamented the death of the naturally aspirated six-pot, but with the new 328i recording a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds and fuel consumption of 6.4 litres/100km (44mpg) it at least goes some way to making up for it. The big-six’s only outing is in the guise of the 335i that uses the same engine as before. Not that Irish buyers care for anything other than a diesel engine in this segment of the market. All cars will be available with a choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes.

In addition to BMW EfficientDynamics technologies like start-stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and Optimum Shift Indicator expect to see advanced features such as a full-colour heads-up display, active cruise control, lane change warning system and the BMW Connected app for social networking on the go.

The new BMW 3 Series will make its public debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2012 and will go on sale in Ireland soon after.

Blog Reproduced courtesy of completecar.ie

In its press announcement this week Mazda said they were now in a position to ‘better accommodate the demand for finance’ a clear indication that high street options are drying up for consumers. We spoke to BMW spokesman James Dullaghan, from Murphy & Gunn BMW who told us: “the vehicle manufacturer is confident in the resale value of the vehicle so a finance package directly from the manufacturer makes sense. It provides access to credit for certain purchasers which in turn helps maintain high residual values for vehicles across the brand.” The Renault Ireland Press Release, announcing that Renault would be offering finance from this September, said it was launched at a time when “people are finding it more difficult to access finance”.

There’s no denying that these various vehicle-manufacturer packages are filling a gap left by the High Street banks inability to meet consumer demand. It’s a smart move by the companies because they can accommodate buyers needs in the showrooms at a time when new vehicle sales data shows a slowdown since the abolition of the scrappage scheme.

However, while offering finance direct to consumers is a good move, it probably isn’t ideal for the car-makers – owing to extra overheads among other issues – and we’re sure they’ll be secretly hoping the banks move back into the business of lending to meet demand sooner rather than later.

The following is the second in our series of used car reviews written exclusively for Cartell.ie by Completecar.ie

Overview:

The Volkswagen Golf is well built, reliable and one of the most desired cars in the segment. Currently in Ireland there are 99,346 Golfs on the road – meaning the car is not quite as popular as the Ford Focus – featured in our first review.  Of those on the road 44,409 fall between the years 2004 – 2008 (14,660 diesels and 29,749 petrols).

Tell me all about it:

The fifth generation of the Volkswagen Golf marked quite a significant departure from the Mark IV, yet the design of the car has only ever  gradually changed over the years. But this model saw a step-up in quality and was much less meagre than the model it replaced. It also saw the introduction of some more powerful engines throughout the range. 

Anything I should look out for?

Volkswagen Golfs are usually bought for their reliability, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check every example thoroughly and put each car you see through a thorough Cartell Car Check. The Golf has sold massively in Ireland and the Mark V was no exception, but many were also imported from the UK during this period due to poor equipment levels on the Irish models at that time, so these examples need to come with a proper service history and a mileage check. Early examples of the DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission were prone to mishaps and some of the diesel models on sale will have put up with high mileage and may have had diesel particulate filter (DPF) problems.

What are my options?

Like most cars at this time before the change to the emissions-based tax laws, the majority of sales were the lowest capacity petrol engines, so you will find plenty of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol examples from this generation, but it would appear that the 1.9-litre and 2.0-litre diesel models, while expensive at the time, have perhaps lasted a little longer and will age better. The 1.4-litre 75hp petrol model, while plentiful, isn’t really that good, but the 1.4-litre TSI models that came later are much better. The GTI is always a good buy and they are great value now, but many have been thrashed so tread carefully.

How much will it cost me?

Early 2004 examples from a main dealer will set you back around €5,800, which will get you a high-mileage 1.4-litre five-door with a full service history and one-year warranty. A sum of €7,000 will get you a 1.6-litre petrol version from 2005 and this for us would be a better place to start. Diesels tend to be more expensive and the first of the 2004 1.9-litre TDI models will cost you around €7,000. The 1.4-litre Golf GT makes a great buy. A 2008 example will cost you €9,500 and this is a super car. A 2006 GTI from a main dealer with 70,000km on the clock will set you back less than €11,000, which is a serious amount of car for the money.

This Blog was produced courtesy of completecar.ie

Our data, provided to Completecar.ie, shows that – on the basis of all finance checks carried out by Cartell on behalf of our customers in 2011 to date – the manufacturer-own-banks are already featuring in the overall picture – significant because these banks have only been lending for a relatively short time – since the crisis started – and yet have already made their mark. This suggests that these banks are lending at high volumes for the years in which they operated in the Irish market. The overall top-nine reads as follows: (remember these statistics do not represent market-share)

1 – Irish Permanent Finance – 20%

2 – Lombard and Ulster 18%

3 – Bank of Ireland Finance – 17%

4 – Allied Irish Finance – 15%

5 – Bank of Scotland 11.5%

6 – Woodchester (GE Money) – 10%

7 – Friends First Finance – 4%

8 – BMW Financial Services – 2%

9 – Volkswagen Finance – 1.6%

And as the guys at Completecar.ie rightly point out: “A finance check, like that offered by Cartell.ie, is a necessity when buying a relatively young used car. It will indicate if there is any outstanding finance, which could become the responsibility of the new owner.”

Statistics published today by Cartell.ie indicate that buyers have a 1 in 5 chance of purchasing a three year old or four year old vehicle with finance outstanding. From a sample of over 5906 vehicles offered for sale and checked on the Cartell.ie website in 2011 the figures show that for 2008 and 2007 registrations, the percentage of vehicles on finance is 21 and 20% respectively.

Another noticeable development is the overall increase in the numbers of 2011 vehicles offered for sale in the first half of 2011 which are still on finance. Prospective buyers are advised to check the financial background of a car they are interested in with a vehicle checking company such as Cartell. With most car finance running for between three and five years the percentage of cars offered for sale with loans declines in older vehicles although, shockingly, there is still a 1 in 10 chance of buying a 2004 vehicle on finance. 

Jeff Aherne, co-founder and director of Cartell.ie, comments on the figures:  “While the trend up until 2009 showed a year-on-year increase in the numbers of vehicles sold on finance that figure dipped last year, probably because finance was more difficult to obtain. The first half of this year indicates a return to increased-numbers of vehicles sold on finance. One explanation for this is that while the recession made it more difficult for buyers to secure finance from High Street Banks car manufacturers stepped-in to offer loans which were more obtainable.”

Finance Probability by Year

*Results as of Q3 2011, percentages rounded to 0.5%

You can read our equivalent report on 2010 finance levels here.

 

With January fast approaching – traditionally one of the worst months in the year for expenses – Cartell offers some advice to consumers.

January is a miserable month for most of us: Christmas is over, the turkey is eaten, the beer and wine consumed, and then it’s back to reality – with a bang. Credit Card bills, central heating bills, and other household expenses fall due before anyone even mentions the car.  What many people ignore is that January is generally the worst month for vehicle expenses. There’s a very simple reason for this: most people buy their cars in January.

And this simple fact affects everyone in the market – not just the original purchaser. Where a car is bought in January it means the insurance premium, by and large, falls due to be paid in January; it means the NCT – after 4 years – falls due; it means the motor tax on the car will fall due; it means the car will need its annual service in January. These four things together could set back a vehicle owner €2,000 – and that’s before you’ve gotten around to paying off the money owed on those Christmas presents! And, as we say, even if you bought your car in the used car market, remember that it’s likely your car was originally bought in January so these expenses will – generally speaking – still fall due.

Is there anything the owner can do about this?

One option is to look to spread your capital payments across the year – rather than allow them all fall due in the same month. There are two ways to achieve this: 1. You can pay by instalments therefore spreading the pain over the entire year; or 2. You can move the capital payments to another month.

On the first option many insurance companies, for instance, will allow you to pay your insurance premium in instalments across the whole year. The Motor Taxation office, too, will allow you pay for your tax quarterly or 6-monthly instead of annually. The downside with both those options is  they are more expensive. If you spread payments across the year like this you will be charged a premium for that luxury: i.e. your annualised costs will be higher than if you paid the entire capital amounts when they fall due.

NCT

The second option may be more inviting to some of our readers. With this option you are looking to spread the burden of the capital payments across the year without paying a premium for doing so. For instance, as regards your motor tax, you could pay motor tax in January for the first 3 months of the year. In March, when your tax falls due again, you could pay for 12 months – meaning that you consequently move the 12 month anniversary for your tax from January to April each year. Likewise instead of having your NCT in January, with your other expenses, why not apply to have your car test carried out early: the company who carries out the NCT will allow the test to be carried out up to three months before the due date, for a second or subsequent inspection (6 months for a first inspection). Ditto your servicing – you could have your service done earlier in the year too, therefore moving the due date for your annual service. It might serve you well to do these two before the Winter anyway – good opportunity to check your brakes, lights and tyres before the snow season starts.

Applying a few strategies like this will help to avoid incurring several large capital payments together.  Hope this helps!

Today’s Irish Sun, in a feature written by journalist Mark May, features statistics provided by Cartell which show that Green is the riskiest car colour in Ireland – by far. Following extensive research based on a sample of 5,430 write-offs taken from the Irish Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR IRELAND), Cartell.ie uncovered that 11% of the total number of vehicles written off were green-coloured. This was less than the corresponding number of green cars in the fleet making green the highest risk vehicle to drive.

A write off is where a vehicle sustains damage sufficient for the vehicle to be written off the books of the insurance company These are categorised from Category A to Category D.  While the highest number of vehicles written off were blue-coloured (22%) this corresponded with the number of blue coloured cars in the fleet and so blue is not considered a higher risk colour.

Similarly red, silver and black are written-off consistent with fleet averages. At the other end of the scale the colour white is the clear winner for safest vehicle colour. A very small number of white vehicles were recorded as written off (6%) in comparison with the fleet average for that colour. The research indicates that a driver of a green car is more than 40% more likely to have their vehicle written off than a driver of a white car.

The reasons for the colour green appearing at the top of the list may include:

- hedgerows in Ireland are green coloured making green vehicles more difficult to spot

- the army use green vehicles because they are easier to camouflage (which strengthens the argument that green is more difficult to spot on the road)

- green vehicles may not be picked up as quickly by the human eye – particularly using peripheral vision

-  the colour green calms the mind which may – theoretically – lead to slower reactions times when confronted with a green vehicle

- In terms of air navigation Aer Lingus are green coloured but in the sky they are set against a blue/white background making them easier to spot – they also use navigation lights

- And Remember: all drivers should use day-time running lights for road safety. It is now mandatory in the EU for all manufactured cars and light commercials to be sold with day-time running lights (since February 2011)

Ford Focus 2005 – 2011

The following is the first in a series of used car reviews written exclusively for Cartell.ie by Completecar.ie

Overview:

The Ford Focus has been a top seller in Ireland for more than ten years now and with good reason. It is well-built, good value and excellent to drive. There are 109,729 of them on the road in Ireland today. By far the most popular Focus is the Mark II – 52,822 are still on Irish roads. Most of those have petrol aspirated engines (35,656 petrol vs 16,650 diesel) with a smallish number sporting flexible fuel capabilities (516). 

Tell me all about it:

This second-generation Focus followed on from the hugely popular first-generation model, which itself had replaced the iconic, but ultimately poor Ford Escort. There is always plenty of choice on the used car market, as it continues to be a big seller. 

The Focus competes against cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Opel Astra and Toyota Auris. It is generally regarded as the ‘driver’s car’ out of this bunch, as it is considered to have the best chassis in its class by most experts.

Anything I should look out for?

By and large the Focus is a pretty well built car, with few major issues in terms of engines, electrics or components. We have noticed that some early models can have problems with flaking paint and you also need to make sure that the Irish roads haven’t taken their toll on the suspension – look out for knocking noises and have someone check the shocks. Interior quality can be a little brittle in places too, so make sure that everything is intact and working properly.

The bonnet opener, which was operated by a key behind the Ford badge, was prone to damage. Make sure on diesel models to check the quality of the diesel particulate filter, as this is an expensive fix (circa €950) to put right.

What are my options?

The overwhelming majority of early models of this generation of Focus in Ireland had a 1.4-litre petrol engine. This unit wasn’t very potent but it was ‘adequate’ in terms of acceleration and wasn’t too heavy on fuel. There was a 1.6-litre petrol engine available on earlier models too, which provided a little bit more pep and it is a better engine to go for in an early second-generation Focus.

When it comes to later examples, you are going to find lots of 1.8-litre and 1.6-litre diesel models available and the latter is the engine to choose, if your budget allows. They will probably show up as more expensive than petrol versions, which are starting to become unloved and unwanted, but they will put up with higher mileage – although they need servicing intervals to be adhered to strictly. In terms of trim levels the entry level was the LX, which was available as a special edition ‘Steel’ specification, but there were Zetec and Ghia grades available too. Zetec and Ghia grades had air-conditioning as standard and alloy wheels so they’re still more desirable. 

How much will it cost me?

Early models will now start off at around €5,000 from a main dealer with a full service history and you will tend to have to spend about 15-25 per cent more to get a diesel version in most instances. On the old taxation system the 1.4-litre petrol is going to be the cheapest to put on the road each year, but this obviously changed when you get to 2008, where the 1.6-litre diesel models are the cheapest to tax. In terms of fuel economy, the diesels are king, but check your mileage, because you might not earn back the extra money that you will almost certainly pay for a diesel model if you are a low mileage driver.

… and of course don’t forget to get a Cartell Vehicle History Check on the vehicle before you buy!

This Blog was produced courtesy of completecar.ie

An article in today’s Irish Independent advises consumers to service vehicles themselves and look at other cost saving options in a bid to keep household expenses down. John Cadden writes:

“It will probably come as no surprise to learn that our cars are getting older. After all, new car sales fell off a cliff in 2009, and only recovered last year thanks to the scrappage scheme, which ended in June. According to figures from car history checking website Cartell.ie, the average age of a car in Ireland has risen from less than six years old in January 2006 to 7.4 years in January 2011, with a month-by-month increase.”

Shane O’Donoghue, director of Completecar.ie, says: “People are holding onto their cars out of necessity and not, in my opinion, because they suddenly think that older cars are just fine now.” 

The article continues by saying that skimping on the servicing of a vehicle is a false economy. It relies on anecdotal evidence from garages which suggests that while people are holding on to their cars for longer, many are putting off their service or repair work until something serious goes wrong – quoting the Society of the Motor Industry (SIMI).

The paper notes that  while the cost of maintaining a car begins to rise once it reaches four years old there are lots of ways to save money on running costs without skimping on essential maintenance. 

Representatives for both SIMI and Completecar.ie are in agreement that cars are inherently more reliable today than they were 20 years ago. However, the downside of this is that with this advancement in technology cars have become complicated machines much too difficult for the average punter to service themselves.  Conversely, the complexity of cars which assists their reliability also means more things can go wrong with the car – catch22!

There are, however, lots of simple checks that can be done by the average motorist to save money:

“Before you bring your car to be serviced, check all the lights and fluid levels for yourself, as it’s easy to do and garages charge more than it would cost you to remedy anything for yourself,” says O’Donoghue.

Suzanne Sheridan, spokesperson for SIMI, says motorists can still carry out basic maintenance themselves on a regular basis, such as checking tyre pressure, thread depth, oil, coolant levels and so on, “which will all make the car run more smoothly and improve a car’s miles per gallon”.

The article also advises consumers intent on carrying out their own servicing to consult the Haynes manuals, still regarded as the bible of the DIY mechanic with its easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, which can be bought at Halfords or from online car parts retailer Micksgarage.ie for about €25-30 — well worth the money.

The article explores various other options for savings including savings on a major service, mobile mechanical services, and options for acquiring replacement parts cheaply.

Cartell provided the newspaper with information showing the car fleet in Ireland is aging – there has been a significant shift in the last five years: in January 2006 the average age of a car with up-to-date motor tax in Ireland was less than 6 years. That figure had risen to 7.4 years at the start of this year. The statistics also showed a month-on-month increase over the entire period.

Reasons for the increase include the increased reliability of cars over time including the fact that significant rust issues are largely a thing of the past and the fact that drivers are consequently happier to hold onto cars longer. Other contributing factors include the drop in new car purchases  particularly in 2009 – which can be attributed to the global recession and credit crunch.

Completecar.ie, who analysed the results, say the figures reflect a larger than normal number of used imports into the Republic of Ireland in 2009. In fact nearly half the total number of cars registered in Ireland in 2009 were used imports.

You can read more about the Cartell results here.

Ireland’s population is aging. But it’s not just the good citizens of the State; it’s their cars too. That’s what the latest data released by official vehicle records experts, Cartell.ie reveals as we approach the final quarter of the year and car buyers consider their options for 2012.

In January 2006 the average age of a car in Ireland was less than six years old. By the start of 2011 this had risen to 7.4 years, with a month-by-month increase.

The simple reason for this is that significantly less new vehicles have been sold in Ireland since 2009. Cartell.ie’s data reveals a less well publicised factor, in that nearly half of the cars registered in Ireland in 2009 were in fact used imports. That too will age the overall fleet of cars in the country.

You don’t need to be an economist to know that the sharp drop in new car sales in 2009 was primarily to do with the credit crunch and an ensuing global recession. However, it’s believed that drivers are happier to hold onto their cars for longer too, as reliability and durability has improved dramatically in the past decade. Significant rust is a thing of the past too.

This is illustrated by the considerable number of cars on the road that were originally registered in the year 2000. That year saw the most registrations in Irish history, and nearly 220,000 cars from that year are included in the current national fleet.

During the boom times more people bought more cars, the effect being a larger overall fleet and more cars per capita than ever before. Now those cars are aging and, despite the scrappage scheme, less are being de-fleeted.

Figures for 2011 to the end of July suggest that there is a slow down in the aging process, with the average age of a car seemingly flattening out at a little less than 7.4 years. It’s too early to tell for sure if the scrappage scheme has had an effect on that, though Cartell.ie’s data to the end of 2012 will surely answer that question.

What does this mean for the Irish economy? Well an aging fleet requires more maintenance and more NCTs so it will sustain those industries and jobs, though if new car sales remain suppressed the downside is fewer jobs in retail and a lower overall tax take.

About Cartell.ie

Cartell.ie’s tagline, “You find the car… We’ll tell the story” says it all. Following a free car identity check a buyer has a choice of four different reports on the history of the car they are considering buying. It ranges from a useful history and mileage check to a report that also looks for any outstanding finance in Ireland or the UK. Cartell.ie even offers an engineer inspection. Thousands of Euros may be saved by using this service.

About CompleteCar.ie

Along with the delivery of concise test drives and news, our experts are at your disposal to assist with any motoring matter. Most importantly, our advice is completely free and independent. Visit CompleteCar.ie for more information.

Cartell.ie is delighted to announce a new partnership with car advice experts Completecar.ie. Fronted by Ireland’s leading motoring journalists Shane O Donoghue and Paddy Comyn, Completecar has already established itself as one of the foremost Irish sources for consumer buying advice – offering practical and readily accessible information in a unique and authoritative way. As a result of this partnership you will find unique Completecar information appearing regularly on the Cartell site as well as other exclusive features.

In an environment where money is understandably more valued consumers are anxious to make the right decision and to seek advice from a trusted source before making a car purchase. The new partnership between Cartell and Completecar is principally designed to assist the consumer, but also to provide informative information to the motoring enthusiast and those with a special interest in the automotive market and its development.

Our new partner, Completecar.ie

Set up in 2010 Completecar.ie is fronted by: Shane O Donoghue, Ph.D. in automotive engineering, who founded the Car Enthusiast Editorial Agency in 1999, writes regularly in the national media, and is a member of the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) with a vote in the annual Irish Car of the Year awards; and Paddy Comyn, who has been writing about cars in Ireland for over 10 years, is a regular contributor to The Irish Times, and frequently appears on radio and television stations. Paddy is likewise a member of the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) and has a vote in the annual Irish Car of the Year awards.

Cartell very much looks forward to this new venture.

Car Platooning – is this the future?

The newspaper The Economist in their most recent Technology Quarterly considers whether a technology that lets drivers remain in their cars, but asks them to relinquish control on long journeys, have any chance of success. The article cites automobile “platoons” as a possible solution to congestion and would afford reduced fuel consumption.

The idea, says the article, is that “by joining platoons as they snake along motorways under the control of a professional lead driver, motorists will be able to sit back and enjoy the ride. As passengers they could catch up on some reading, watch a film, surf the internet or even have a snooze. The benefits would come from reduced congestion and lower fuel consumption. Somewhat counter-intuitively, platooning might also make roads safer.”

Reduced fuel consumption is obtained by reducing drag brought about by slipstreaming – a concept readers familiar with Formula 1 racing will understand. Effectively when a car tucks itself into the slip stream of the car in front it can attain an identical speed and burn less fuel in the process – effectively the car in front is propelling the follow-car forward.

The gap between vehicles in the platoon will be small, but computer-controlled systems would respond to any sudden braking or other hazards. The close spacing would allow more cars to fit on the road, reducing congestion.

The Economist says any car wishing to join a platoon would specify its desired destination, making it possible to identify a nearby platoon heading the right way. The car then pulls up behind the moving platoon and a wireless standard developed specifically for communications between vehicles, called IEEE 802.11p, enables the car to be enslaved by the lead vehicle, probably a lorry or coach with a qualified driver. The car stays under the control of the leader until its driver wishes to leave the platoon.

The article also points out that as ambitious as this sounds, it is more than just theory. Earlier this year road tests were carried out. The initial goal was modest: to put a single car under the control of a lorry, with both travelling at 50kph (31mph). After the success of these first tests the speed was pushed up to 70kph, and this summer the first multiple-vehicle tests will begin with up to three cars and two lorries.

Yet despite the result in that case there is no offence of clocking a motor vehicle on the statute book in Ireland. While there is consumer legislation which affords limited protection to the Irish consumer, and while the Beere case was prosecuted as a case of sale by deception, there is no actual offence of ‘clocking’. This means Irish law is out of sync with UK law on this particular point. Cartell sought to remedy the matter by introducing a Bill to criminalise the clocking of a motor vehicle in June 2010. However our attempts were shot down at Committee stage in the Oireachtas – despite the support of the Labour Party.

In any event we are continuing to raise awareness about this particular issue. You can read our story here – which received extensive coverage in the media – which shows the number of clocked cars in the country broken down by county.

You can view Cork’s 96FM website here.

As part of our research for that blog Cartell contacted various interest groups in the country including the Road Safety Authority and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland in order to gauge their interest in the introduction of an equivalent approach in Ireland. Generally speaking, while there was interest among all concerned, it appeared the consensus view was that there were no plans to introduce a similar regime here. That, however, may be set to change.

The Irish Times today consults those same interest groups among others to gauge reaction following an announcement by Minister for Transport, Dr. Varadkar, that Ireland may very well introduce the same regime. While there are some logistical hurdles which would need to be surmounted – particularly in relation to up-to-date records of vehicles which are off the road – it appears the Government is anxious to resolve the issue of insurance on off the road vehicles in-line with a series of measures aimed at keeping account of vehicles which are declared off-the-road but which are illegally in continuing use.

The centrepiece of the new Government initiative is a Garda Number Plate Recognition System which is currently being rolled out and which has been placed on a legislative footing since the introduction of the Road Traffic Act 2010. It’s the equivalent of the SORN system in the UK.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system

While Cartell recognises the logistical difficulties in setting up an Irish equivalent to the UK off-the-road system we are broadly in favour of this approach. We hope the Government continues to consider its options in this respect and any changes are phased-in when the technology is in place to accommodate the adjustments required.

One of the services which Cartell makes available to our customers is to inform whether a particular vehicle is the subject of a financial agreement – so you don’t inadvertently buy a car which is owned by a bank. If, however, you’ve not carried out a Cartell.ie Finance Check and you’ve already bought the vehicle – what happens next? Well, one of the things which might happen is the car is repossessed.

Cartell.ie wanted to find out more about what happens when things go wrong: when a person simply can’t afford to re-pay the loan on their vehicle; or when a person inadvertently buys a vehicle which is already on finance.

First we contacted the Dublin County Sheriffs Office and the Dublin City Sheriffs Office who look after the county and city districts in Dublin respectively. Both of these offices have a similar story to tell: officers act on foot of either court orders or revenue warrants made out against a particular person. This gives officers the right to seize property in the name of that individual – including motor vehicles.

Officers also have the right to seize vehicles designated as specific chattels by the courts – in other words when the court gives an order to seize a specific vehicle as opposed to simply the assets of an individual – but this is far less common.

However, officers are not entitled to seize vehicles which are the subject of a hire-purchase agreement on the basis that these vehicles remain the property of the banks until the loan is paid off in full. For that reason Sheriffs offices handle a relatively small amount of repossessions. Another factor in this is the value of the vehicle. Obviously a vehicle with a lower market value stands a lesser chance of being repossessed by officers who are intent on recouping money on foot of a court order or revenue warrant made out against an individual.

 Paddy Kelly after he re-takes car following its first repossession (The Irish Times)

In August 2010 the BMW Series 7 of developer Paddy Kelly was lifted from his house in Donnybrook on foot of a warrant to the Dublin City Sheriffs Office. The vehicle was subsequently returned the following day when it was found to be registered in the name of his wife. However it was re-seized in December after Mr. Kelly was presented with evidence that he was the ‘beneficial owner’ of the vehicle based on an interview he gave several years earlier.

The majority of cases of repossessions are bank repossessions – where financial institutions seize their own property after individuals stop making payments on foot of a hire-purchase agreement. Often times the bank will hire a Repo Agent to carry out the task of lifting the vehicle. The bank may or may not need a court order to affect a repossession – it depends on how much money is outstanding on the agreement.

Generally speaking if the vehicle is subject to a personal loan, as opposed to a car loan, then the  bank is not entitled to repossess the car unless they hold a judgment against you for the amount that is due, and sought to have the car seized in order to discharge the judgment. This is the type of scenario which the Sheriffs office deal with – and there are not that many of these repossessions in a given year.

A hire purchase agreement is where a bank owns the vehicle – they have a lien over the vehicle and legally the property remains in their name until the final payment is made.

However, usually, the finance company can repossess the car – without taking legal action – if less than one-third of the hire purchase price has been paid off and you are in arrears.

Finally, just to note, the half-rule says that where the customer has paid half the balance on the hire purchase agreement they can return the car and end the agreement, provided the repayments are up-to-date.

Disclaimer: the information in this article does not constitute legal advice of any kind as it is intended to give general indication only. Please consult a solicitor or relevant banking institution if in any doubt about your exposure to repossession.

NCT

The National Car Test (NCT) now applies annually to vehicles 10 years old since June 1. Up until that date vehicles were subject to their first NCT after four years and another test every two years thereafter. The new rules mean a vehicle will still have its first NCT after four years and will then be subject to a test every other year for a further three cycles before the requirement to have the vehicle tested will come into effect after ten years. While the new rules will apply immediately to all vehicles registered before June 1, 2001 the rules will not apply to classic cars registered before 1980.

The NCT was recently the subject of controversy when a number of employees were sacked following an RTÉ programme which highlighted bribery in at least one NCT centre.

Cartell Discount for Older Vehicles

We at Cartell appreciate the annual NCT  - coupled with the recession – will make things a little more difficult for older vehicle owners. To assist a bit – and for a limited period – Cartell is delighted to present a Ten Euro Discount on our 2-star and 3-star checks if your car is at least eight years old. In other words any vehicle which is registered ’03′ or earlier can avail of great rates…

A 3 Star History and Finance Check will cost you 25 Euro (reduced from 35 Euro)

A 2 Star History Check will cost you 10 Euro (reduced from 20 Euro)

To avail of this offer simply enter your vehicle registration number – as you would do anyway – and our system will apply the discount!

The numbers not paying motor tax are as high as 1 in 10 drivers resulting in a significant loss of revenue to the state. The confiscation rules, when enacted, will bring Irish law into line with the UK.

See also our previous post about the new UK rules – set to be introduced this month – which make it illegal to fail to insure a vehicle which is off-the-road but not declared as such.

The purpose of the new approach in the UK is to crack down on uninsured drivers who are reportedly costing drivers an estimated £500 million in additional premiums per annum.

In a blog we published in August 2010 we noted that the UK had coupled the existing SORN system with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)  to pin point vehicles which are unlawfully on the road. The introduction of the new insurance rules – which will apply to vehicles both on the road and off the road – means that the net is further tightened on those who are unlawfully using their vehicles – without road tax and insurance.

The situation in Ireland is already broadly similar to the new regime. In Ireland motor tax is backdated meaning that where tax has not been paid for a period it will still fall due unless the vehicle owner signs a declaration at a Garda Station swearing the vehicle is off-the-road. It is already a criminal offence to drive an uninsured vehicle in Ireland.

The new UK regime makes it an offence to fail to insure a vehicle which is off-the-road and which has not been declared as such.

Of course we all like a good deal! Especially in this difficult economic climate! However when is a good deal literally “too good to be true”! Cartell was designed to assist and over the past five years we have helped thousands of customers in the market for a vehicle to reach a decision.

We want to thank all of you who have sent us testimonials – proof that our work is having a positive impact – and have helped us get to this point.

Promotion

To celebrate our five years of success we are offering all our consumer customers a 30% discount on Cartell Two Star and Three Star Car Checks. This means that a Cartell Three Star Check which retails at 35 Euro can now be purchased for 24.50 using the voucher – a saving of over 10 Euro! To avail of this fantastic birthday discount just enter Cartell5 into the promotions step when performing a car history check.

Agus go raibh maith agaibh go léir!

His car was co-driven by Tony McDaid. They finished three minutes and 50.4 seconds ahead of second-place Denis Cronin/Coleman Hurley (Subaru WRC), and third placed Eoin Doyle/Peter Brennan (Subaru WRC).

The investigation was carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) under its contract to audit the NCT systems and equipment on behalf of  Applus – the company that operates the NCT. While the Prime Time programme concluded that bribes changed hands in return for a favourable test result an anonymous letter to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which triggered the investigation, suggested there were “reliable” lanes which were used for trade cars or vehicles belonging to motorists who had complained after failing a test.

NCT

In its response to the allegations, issued to the RSA board two weeks after the letter was received, PwC said the NCT had an “inbuilt random-allocation feature” which assigned a customer vehicle to an inspector who determined the lane.

PwC said Applus was “firmly of the view” that all 91 test lanes were standard and there was no concept of reliable lanes. The AA’s most recent consistency test, in September, found a 99 per cent compliance rate, “which compares favourably with similar tests in previous years,” PwC said.

AA Ireland was mentioned in the anonymous letter to the RSA when it was suggested that representatives of that organisation “can’t even get the same result in two lanes beside each other”.

You can read the full article here.

In fact the Ford Focus was one of the vehicles at the bottom of the risk ranking.

Robin Reames, claims director at the insurer swiftcover.com, who compiled the research says:

“Our analysis shows that luxury cars are more likely to be targeted by vandals however it’s interesting to see the Mini ONE in the top three. The majority of vehicles in the top ten are what we call ‘executive cars’, likely to be driven by high earners who see their car as a status symbol, with just one 4×4 making up the top ten.”

The list of top ten vehicles most likely to be vandalised reads as follows:

1 Lexus IS
2 BMW Z4
3 Mini One
4 Mercedes CLK
5  Audi TT
6 Mazda MX-5
7 BMW X5
8 Skoda Octavia
9 BMW 525
10 BMW 530

While vandalism is difficult to prevent motorists can take some steps to protect their cars – principally by leaving them off the street – a garage is ideal if available. Alternatively security enhancements such as cameras and motion detection sensors will assist matters.

In Ireland, according to the CSO, vandalism was the most common form of crime experienced by households in the 12 months prior to their last survey on the matter with 4.8% of households nationally  reporting at least one incident of vandalism with households in Dublin registering 7.9%.

* wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Insurance UK PLC which forms part of AXA Group

Guaranteed Future Values (GFVs) often centre on the arrangement where the driver puts a down payment on a car direct with a manufacturer and pays-off a certain amount per month on the vehicle over an agreed period of time. At the end of that period the driver can pay off a remaining balloon payment which is the GFV of the vehicle or the driver can hand the car back or can trade onwards and start the process again. The GFV depends on the mileage on the vehicle and there can be significant penalties for drivers who exceed the agreed mileage.

While the concept of GFV is relatively new in Ireland the practice has been prominent in the UK for some time. Motor Trade Insider give the example of  an individual who has agreed to do 8,000 miles per annum over a 3 year period  - their penalty for exceeding that is normally 10p per mile. The article says that owing to the current economic climate companies are adjusting the clocks on their vehicles to avoid paying the penalty and protect the residual value.  The article continues by saying:

“Of course this is not being widely reported at present and car dealers are very careful in ensuring that the used cars they have for sale are mileage checked against service records etc, however with variable servicing prevalent in lots of cars this information cannot always be totally relied on.”

Interestingly, the article notes that some car makers are taking steps to eradicate the possibility of clocking by developing technology which will ensure that all the mileage and maintenance information is stored within a code in the key, thus allowing dealers to make a simple check to verify the cars authenticity.

Insider also give some basic tips to spotting a car which may have been clocked:

– Look for a smooth steering wheel which would indicate long use should the wear be so pronounced on the age of the car.

- Look at the pedals and surrounding carpets for signs of excess wear and tear as this could also indicate far more use than the stated mileage may indicate.

- How does the driver’s seat feel? Is it still firm and comfortable or is lopsided or spongy?

- Always check the service history in the service book and ensure the mileage stated adds up with the servicing parameters. Also ensure that the stamps are genuine, if necessary contact the dealer whose stamp is in the book for verification.

Finally, always get a Cartell.ie/HPI check to verify the mileage details against the millions of mileage readings stored in the National Mileage Register (NMR) and NMR (UK)

Aoife, and husband Dermot, are living in Westmeath and are currently driving two cars. Aoife is driving a 97 VW Polo 1.0 with 124,000 miles on the clock. Dermot is driving a 02 Golf 1.4. The plan is to give Aoife the Golf and find Dermot a new used car. Their budget is about 7k.

So Aoife is driving this (or something similar)

Because this vehicle is already 14 years old it is unlikely any garage will accept it as a trade-in or part exchange. Aoife could try to sell it privately – and there are similar vehicles on the market for around €500 – but in all honesty it’s unlikely she’ll get a buyer for it – especially if there are question marks over whether it’ll pass its next NCT.

Husband Dermot is driving this (or something similar):

Dermot drives about 40 miles per day during the week with one long round trip to Galway every weekend. So we calculate his annual mileage at between 25,000 to 28,000 kms.

So the new car must:

*be economical

*have good residuals (good resale value)

*be reliable

*have low servicing costs

A few options:

The scrappage scheme was designed to take cars like Aoife’s off the road! This government scheme would give Aoife and Dermot a super discount off a brand new vehicle. One option under the scheme is the Opel Corsa – a car which drives well and has triple scrappage:

There’s no mistaking its a nice car and with fuel economy at 53MPG for the petrol version it’s certainly an option. The difficulty for Dermot is that he would be stuck with a petrol aspirated engine which is still about €3k above budget!

07 Opel Corsa (1.3 litre Diesel) €6,950 (59,060 miles)

We spotted a 07 Corsa with low mileage within budget. The best aspect of this vehicle is the diesel engine. This would save Dermot a considerable amount of money and even though a 07 vehicle will fall within the old tax regime the 1.3 litre engine will be relatively reasonable to tax at €310. We think this car is an option.

Class Leader

The VW Golf is a class leader. Its reliability, comfort and handling leave it top of its segment according to virtually all of the experts. The only vehicle that comes close is the Ford Focus – which arguably handles better and has been complimented for its interior design in contrast to the dour-ish Golf. Would Dermot consider getting another Golf – leaving the couple with two versions of the same vehicle?

…Another option entirely

06 Alfa Romeo 147 (1.5 litre Petrol) €6,995 (17,398 miles)

This Alfa model is worth considering. It’s got a lovely fresh interior and we think the car looks good from the outside. Its low mileage is really what attracted us to the car – it should give Aoife and Dermot years of relatively trouble-free driving. On the negative side some drivers don’t like the firm suspension of this model – test drive is important. Also, the 1.5 litre petrol aspirated engine loves trips to the service station for a fill-up! Considering Dermot’s high mileage we couldn’t recommend this as a vehicle for him – but maybe Aoife would be more suited to it.

…Cartell recommends:

07 Ford Focus (1.6 Turbo Diesel) €7,995 (61,639 miles)

The Focus is a super vehicle for the money and its versatility and driveability coupled with great fuel economy (particularly the diesel models) means – generally speaking – it represents one of the best used-car purchases of any vehicle in the market.

It’s got great space, and quality interior, with plenty of power, and is a pleasure to drive, particularly in corners.  We reckon Dermot will save between €800 and €1,000 per year on fuel costs over a comparable petrol.  While it’s a bit over budget we think they might be able to bargain with the sales person – or wait a few months and save a few quid more!

Warning: All used cars require careful consideration before purchase. Get a Cartell.ie check to find out the history of the vehicle. This blog is a general guide only and Cartell.ie is not recommending the purchase of any particular vehicle – just giving some general advice!

If you would like to feature on this page – and get a Free Car History Check in the process – then send us an email for your chance to appear!

]]> http://www.cartell.ie/2011/05/used-car-advice-ive-got-about-7k-for-a-new-used-car/feed/ 0 http://www.cartell.ie/2011/05/applus-report-nct-bribery-claims-to-gardai/ http://www.cartell.ie/2011/05/applus-report-nct-bribery-claims-to-gardai/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 08:37:47 +0000 Cartell.ie /?p=11889 Cartell.ie understands that Applus+, the company given responsibility to conduct the National Car Test (NCT) will launch an internal investigation following revelations last night on RTÉs Prime Time programme which claimed bribes had been accepted by NCT officials in return for allowing defective vehicles pass the test.

This calls into question the integrity of the NCT process not least because angry motorists will now question why they are spending significant amounts of money to ensure their vehicle meets the required standards.

The vehicles in question on the programme were defective taxis which had initially failed the NCT but which subsequently were granted an NCT certificate following the payment of a bribe of €100 per vehicle. In a statement by Applus the company said it would ‘vigorously investigate the matter and had reported the issue to the Gardai.’

You can watch the Prime Time investigates programme here.

UPDATE: Three employees of Applus+ have been sacked in response to the RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme.

The Irish Independent conducted an investigation which measured the likelihood of a motorist getting caught for failure to pay for tax, insurance, or arrange an NCT for the vehicle, and discovered that the chances of getting caught are considerably higher owing to a Garda clampdown, principally due to an expansion of the Garda Traffic Corp.

The number of motorists prosecuted for driving a car without a valid NCT has has increased dramatically. The newspaper reports that in February 2010, 198 drivers were convicted for using a vehicle without a test certificate. As of April 31, the figure had risen to 2,810. In the first three months of this year, 8,180 vehicles were taken off their owners at roadside checkpoints.

Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett said:

“We are delighted with the high level of garda enforcement but it is very disappointing to see that 26,000 cars were seized last year. These are 26,000 cars that have no tax or no insurance and many of them would be unroadworthy.”

The article states that seized cars are kept by Gardai for six weeks, during which time their owners can reclaim them providing they present evidence of having paid their tax, insurance or passed their NCT.

Owners have to pay €125 for the first 24 hours their car is in the pound, plus €35 a day after that. After six weeks, if the cars are not reclaimed, they are crushed and recycled. Around a third of all vehicles are returned to their owners.

As part of the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes 2011 we were delighted to give away a fantastic weekend for an enthusiast of the Rally including:

• 3 nights accommodation at rally HQ, The Gleneagle Hotel
• 2 free tickets to see Jenny Greene play the ‘Electric Disco’ in the INEC on Saturday the 30th of April
• 2 free tickets to the rally Awards Ceremony the following night also in the INEC!
• Cartell and Rally merchandise.

The winner was selected from among the hundreds of people who found Cartell.ie on Facebook – and “liked” our page. Katie Kelly was the lucky winner and she touched base with us this week. She says:

“I thoroughly appreciate winning the Rally of the Lakes prize with Cartell.ie! Having never been to a car rally before it was an eye-opening and extremely enjoyable experience. I had a great weekend at the rally with my sister, cousin, friends and my boyfriend.

The Rally itself was exhilarating and definitely something I would love to attend again, although on the drive back to Waterford I was seriously tempted to drift around bends and the likes!! I would like to thank Cartell for this great prize and experience”.

Thanks a lot Katie for the feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the prize and we’re delighted with the warm reception Cartell.ie received in Killarney. The Rally was won by Daragh O’Riordan following a superb performance from him in his SI2B Subaru WRC.

We’re already looking forward to next years event!

That statement was issued in response to research conducted by RTÉ which found that Renault Ireland was not compensating the owners of the cars concerned in the same way as UK customers were receiving about 75% of the repair costs even when the vehicle was out of warranty.

The problem concerns the window regulator in certain Renault’s – both the Mégane II and Scenic II are named by Renault Ireland as affected – and can result in a window opening when the engine is turned off. It appears the fault can strike brand new Renault vehicles as well as older used vehicles. Even when repaired the fault can return – often hitting the same vehicle several times. It also poses obvious security concerns when vehicle owners return to their cars and find the window(s) completely retracted.

The full Renault Ireland statement can be read on the RTE website.

Then things took a turn! Clare liked the look of a 04 Citroen Xsara and we gave her a FREE Cartell History Check. That was a wise move! The vehicle had been previously written off! And it had a mileage discrepancy! And the vehicle had recently had its Vehicle Registration Certificate re-issued increasing the risk of fraud.

Then she put a deposit on an 06 Suzuki Liana but found out there was an issue with service history records! So she pulled out of that deal too!

Anyway, Clare has been in touch to say she decided to follow Cartell’s advice. Here’s what she says:

“Just to touchbase, we finally purchased a car yesterday… we purchased a 04 Nissan Primera 1.6 petrol, it had 97,000 miles on the clock which is a bit more than we would have liked but she was is good condition, had been serviced every 10,000 miles and we bought her from a second hand car dealership who both us and members of my family have bought from before … the car also came with a three month warranty on engine and gearbox, the car was advertised at €4,000 we paid €2,700 with the Lanos. Fingers crossed she lasts a few years.”

Well done for following our advice Clare! Not only did we predict the car you might buy – or one which seemed like it fitted the bill – but we also got the trade-in value of the Lanos correct!

Good luck and happy motoring!

Primera on the market - similar to the one Clare purchased - and which we mentioned in the first blog of this series

Warning: All used cars require careful consideration before purchase. Get a Cartell.ie check to find out the history of the vehicle. This blog is a general guide only and Cartell.ie is not recommending the purchase of any particular vehicle – just giving some general advice!

If you would like to feature on this page – and get a Free Car History Check in the process – then send us an email for your chance to appear!

Another Government incentive, introduced earlier, appears to have an equally large impact on sales – the change in the Motor Tax regime in 2008. In that year, in July, the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, changed the criteria from engine size to CO2 emissions. This move immediately benefited Diesel engines which emitted lower CO2 emissions. Manufacturers also began to reduce those emissions, both for petrol and diesel vehicles, and had particular success for Diesels – even larger saloon diesels began to qualify for the lowest category of road tax.

In today’s market there is consequently a significant difference in the value of an old-regime and new-regime vehicle: anything registered in the first half of 2008 can differ markedly from the equivalent vehicle registered in the second half of that year – the best proof of the impact of the new taxation regime. On examining our partner website Carzone we  found differences of up to €4,000 between the asking prices for identical vehicles – with similar mileage and condition – in 2008 – entirely down to the tax regime.

We spoke to Marcus in John Hayes Cars and he said:

“How can anyone stand over the new motor tax regime! It massively affects market value of vehicles – artificially. One consequence is that the value of petrol vehicles is too close to diesel equivalents for certain years. Although one upshot is the tremendous value a buyer can get if they’re in the market for an 07 vehicle.”

He goes on to comment: “If I had to name vehicles that we would buy in bulk for re-sale they’d all be diesel vehicles: the likes of the Citroen C4 Picasso, the BMW 318D, 320D and 520D, Ford Focus 1.8TDCi and Audi A4 – these vehicles will each sell in days – they’re moving off the market very quickly now”.

Of course you might ask how the tax regime is pushing the sale of new vehicles in 2011? Well considering that many owners of new vehicles change their car after three years – and considering the high residual value on second-half 2008 vehicles and 2009 vehicles – there are quite a lot of individuals in the market to buy a new car in 2011 – a fact backed up anecdotally by trade sources.

There is another factor too. The car market is a complicated market and there are different segments. Some buyers, currently driving a ten-year-old vehicle show they are accustomed to driving older vehicles. Traditionally speaking these drivers might be expected to buy a new used car as opposed to a brand new car. However the scrappage scheme is drawing these buyers into new car showrooms. This may well be having an indirect impact on residual values for 07 and 06 vehicles – the traditional buy for ten-year-old car drivers.

At the other end of the market drivers currently driving almost-new cars may often be inclined to change their vehicle every two or three years. These buyers, with entirely different buying habits, are more likely to be drawn back into the market by the high residual value on their current vehicle. In other words they may be more inclined to trade upwards and buy a new car because their current car is worth more than they anticipated.

This suggests that while the scrappage scheme may well be impacting on new car sales (see our latest TRADE FOCUS for the views of one dealer) it isn’t the only impacting factor – the introduction of the new motor tax regime in July 2008 and the consequent impact that move had on residual vehicle values – may also be playing a large part.