Michael McAleer answers your queries
From John Shortall:
The Irish customs in Donegal have been very busy in the past two months targeting Donegal drivers with Northern Ireland registered cars. I have heard they are trying to collect as much VRT tax before the rate is reduced by the EU in January 1st 2005.
Although we are in the common market since way back in 1973, the Irish Government is maintaining an economic border similar to that which applied when Britain ran the Customs in the border in 1973-74.
Can you tell me will VRT be reduced in January?
The Revenue officials may be busy chasing up NI cars around the border counties, but it's not part of a campaign to get the jump on any changes to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). I don't know where you got this news but we are sorry to say there will be no changes to the punitive tax regime next month.
There may be some confusion with new rules called Block Exemption, which are aimed at levelling pre-tax prices in all EU member-states. The aim is to create a market where the only difference from country to country will be the tax paid.
As for life in the border towns and driving northern registered cars, the rules are quite strict: Irish licence-holders are not allowed to drive foreign registered vehicles.
To drive a car registered in the North, therefore, you need a northern licence and you need to have an address in Northern Ireland.
From Eoghan Banks, Dublin 12:
Further to Paul Hughes query regarding iPod compatibility with CD car stereos (Motors Helpdesk, December 1st), a solution is available from Belkin.
I bought the Belkin TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter while living in the US for around $30. This unit wirelessly connects portable music players to the car or home stereo. It broadcasts at four FM frequencies, 88.1, 88.3, 88.5 or 88.7Mhz, with a range of up to 30ft. For some reason it doesn't seem to be available from any of Belkin's websites bar the US.
As far as I can remember I read somewhere it isn't for sale in Europe due to strict radio broadcasting laws, and in essence this is an FM transmitter. See http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=
&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=140984 for specific details.
The only place it would be available for sale would be through the internet.
Belkin actually offers several other "auto kits" for using iPods in your car, though I don't think any are as simple to use as the transmitter one you mention. The one's we spotted require audio out wiring.
Given the massive uptake on iPods expected this Christmas, I expect several interested motorists will be checking out your advice in the coming weeks.
From R Brown:
For the third time in my motoring life I've just bought a car without a handbook. The only way to be sure of a handbook, I realise, is to buy new. However, given the rate of depreciation, I couldn't sleep at night with a new car shedding value in the driveway.
Each of the three cars to which I refer came with a promise of a handbook to follow - "that'll be no problem" - but none ever came. I like a handbook, because it tells you lots of things about a car which you might never discover for yourself - such as how to open the boot without leaving the car or the purpose of the mysterious button beside the handbrake. Is there any easy way to meet my need?
Most official dealers will be able to supply you with a handbook if your car is relatively new, but you should always make sure you have one before buying. Not only is it useful in finding your way around the car and its gadgets, it also usually comes as part of a set with the service book, suggesting that you might not have one of these either. And that spells trouble.
If you don't have any luck with the dealer, there's always the internet. First stop should be www.amazon.co.uk. During our research, we found manuals for 1993 Ford Sierras, 1993-96 Nissan Micras and 1956-68 Austin Healey 100/6s. Prices vary, but rarely exceed £20 (€29). If your car is a Japanese import, it's worth visiting www.car-handbooks.com.
You should also try eBay, where you can buy not only an unbelievable variety of manuals, but everything else as well, from a Mitsubishi Pajero speedometer face for £13.99 (€20) to a set of floormats for $5.99 (€4.50). There's also a lovely 1965 Ford Mustang convertible for auction on the site. With 3,000 miles on the clock and bids standing at $25,000 (€18,900), who knows what you might come away with.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie