Motoring Editor Andrew Hamilton's weekly motoring clinic
VRT anger
Michael Byrne from Dundrum, Dublin, B.J. Gaynor from Graignamanagh, Co Kilkenny, and Simon Kerins from Dublin are angered about Vehicle Registration Tax and the enormous effect it has on the cost of motoring.
Mr Byrne writes: "Thank you for your recent consumer story highlighting this unjust and anti-European tax. But why do we tolerate it anyway?
Surely there's an overpowering case to be taken to the European court. Because of VRT, we must always be "stay-at-home" motorists, deprived of the opportunity of shopping for our cars in the wider EU arena."
He says he will be asking the politicians about VRT when they come canvassing. "They must know that there is a case to answer. They were all hot about supermarket items like potatoes when the newspapers and RTE were doing euro checks on prices and complaining about greedy middle men.
" New cars, as you have pointed out, are the worst example in any euro price check and that's the fault of our government. It's time to show our disgust."
No challenge has yet been mounted to the validity of VRT in Europe and, so far as we know, one isn't contemplated. We have been surprised by how little reaction there is to the VRT issue. In our view it is an iniquitous tax, totally contrary to the European ethos of free trade.
Sadly, the fault lies with us, Irish motorists. We haven't been vociferous or angry and that's a godsend to the politicians and the mandarins.
Mr Byrne says he would like to know just what amount of VRT he is paying when he buys a new car. A good idea, although it may not find favour with all motor retailers. Actually there's a precedent. When turnover tax at 2½ per cent was first applied in the early 1960s, new car prices included a figure in parenthesis, the amount that was taken for the new tax.
BJ Gaynor also wonders why some motoring organisation such as the AA or the Society of the Irish Motor Industry would not take a case to Europe. "There may have been some justification for VRT in the past, but in recent years, even with the money rolling into its coffers, the Government has not made any effort whatsoever to reduce it or even begin to lessen its effects." Our correspondent says the present Taoiseach, when Minister for Finance, was forced to drop import duties because of the single market. "He simply replaced this tax with the same by another name. All entreaties have fallen on deaf ears. Must we stand idly by?"
As Mr Byrne suggests, ask the politicians who are going to be very thick on the ground over the coming weeks. For the record, Government revenue from Irish motorists totalled €3,785 million, with €798 million coming from VRT, almost twice as much as VAT which accounted for €412 million. VAT is legitimate but that €798 million should be all back in the pockets of Irish motorists.
Simon Kerins, e-mail from Dublin, wants to make sufficient noise so that the Government will sit up and take notice. Maybe he gives an idea for action with a petition No to Nice unless abolition of VRT.
That should have the politicians shuddering in their shoes. He wonders separately why our roads are not kerbed as in other countries to increase their longevity and durability.
From a safety point of view, we disagree. The hard shoulder has softer access without kerbs in an emergency.
Warning light
Sean Masterson e-mails from Galway city about his 1993 Toyota Carina E which has covered 60,000 miles. "Recently the engine management warning light appeared and remained on. I have been told at my local Toyota dealership that the exhaust emissions sensor has failed and, although I can continue to drive, the car will fail its next NCT appointment and will probably cost more than €500 to repair.
"Am I being ripped off by unnecessary technology?"
No, it's not a rip-off. The Carina E and its successor, the Avensis, have a specialised oxygen sensor for their lean-burn engines.
Had the car been much younger and,, under Toyota's three-year warranty scheme, Toyota would probably have assumed responsibility.
Buying a Merc
Geoff Coller from Dublin is considering buying a second-hand Mercedes-Benz car, around five years old. He is thinking of a 180 or 200. His worry is reliability - could a car of that age begin to cost money?
Buying a used Mercedes is a prudent choice: good resale value has always been one of its biggest ownership attractions.
But so much depends on where it is bought and who the previous owner was. That's one of the prime reasons for buying from an authorised Mercedes-Benz dealership.
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