Michael McAleer helps readers with their motoring problems
John Egan writes:
I am considering leasing a car. Someone told me it was a good deal but I'm not so sure as I thought only businesses leased cars?
Not necessarily. If you are a relatively low mileage motorist who wants to change car at least every three years, car-leasing deals deserve consideration. However, it is better to consider a product like a personal contract purchase (PCP) rather than a standard, contract hire-type lease, which is geared more towards business users than private motorists.
The PCP combines elements of both hire purchase and leasing arrangements. The monthly payments are usually much lower and the interest rate is fixed, but you must have a cash deposit or a car to trade-in.
From Richard Jordan:
I have a full driving licence and when I'm working I carry in it my suit. However, when I get home I change in to casual wear but would never think of changing licence from one to the other. Now, thanks to the new rules making drivers always carry their licence, to save myself from penalty points, I will have to carry it in the glove compartment.
My son carries his licence in the pocket of his car. If his car is stolen, someone will be going around with his licence. In Chicago you use a credit card-style that is easy to carry in your wallet. Whenever you change clothes you automatically change your wallet around.
I'm not going to get a new licence for six years and in that time our paper licence, with its plastic cover is going to disintegrate with constant use. I think it's madness.
While we concur with your views on the durability of the current licence - I have already washed mine twice - good news may be around the corner. Our energetic Minister for Transport recently announced that he was planning to change the format of the licence to a plastic smart card, similar to the one you refer to.
While there is a big difference between a ministerial proposal and its implementation, according to a department spokesperson a team of officials are looking at the practicality and logistics of changing over and there should be some more news on the issue by the end of the week.
Brian Mac Gonagle writes:
On a recent visit to Galway I saw an "original Beetle" with 97D registration. Could this be an error? VW has long since finished manufacturing VW Beetles.
A second query: growing up I remember a motorbike by the name of JAWA. I think they were Czechoslovakian. Do they still exist?
VW is still producing a small number of the original Beetles in Mexico (was there a sombrero in the back seat?). However, better get your skates on. According to VW's ever-helpful spokesman Don Hall, it will cease production in 2004 with the introduction of two new regulations in Mexico. First, new requirements relating to emissions and secondly, a new law that all taxis must have four doors. Suggesting therefore, that the Beetle is still alive and well and transporting paying passengers about the world'
As for the JAWA, there is indeed a motobike of that name. Popular with motorcross fans it was also a road bike with the peculiar set-up that meant the gear level doubled as the kick-start. Manufactured in eastern Europe, our amateur sleuthing failed to locate any dealers here or in Britain. However, our very own motorbike guru John Wheeler believes they may still be in production. We will endeavour to get more information for you by next week.