MICHAEL McALEERanswers readers questions
THIS WEEK: Alternatives to diesel and VRT
From JF: You mentioned in your help desk recently that in some cases a petrol model is more satisfactory than a diesel.
I have always purchased Peugeots; first a 309 then 306 and at present a 307. The car is 10 years old with 45,000 miles. We only travel short journeys. I have been offered €2,500 for my car in exchange for a 2012 model 'Good As New' diesel version. The only problem is there is no petrol choice as they have stopped importing petrol models.
Do you have any suggestions either an alternative model or older petrol versions? In any event I was hoping to keep to about €17,500. We would like a fairly good boot.
You have a couple of alternatives and can still stay within your budget. Two cars come immediately to mind: the first is the new Kia Cee'd, reviewed in this section today, which will come with a 1.4-litre petrol engine and offers good boot space. The seven-year warranty will help as well, and although it has a limit of 100,000kms, by the sound of it you won't hit that figure before the seven years are up.
The other is the Skoda Octavia with Volkswagen's 1.2-litre petrol engine. It's a very big car and while the 1.2-litre engine is a little underpowered, if you are only doing small mileage then it should fit the bill.
From RD: I mailed you before Christmas about an issue paying for VRT on a car I imported from the North, which you printed on December 14th. I just wanted to let you know that I went ahead with the VRT appeal, and was refunded €1,059 out of an initial charge of €4,516. So, add me to the ranks of the majority of people whose appeal succeed.
It's also worth mentioning that I only looked into appealing because I was annoyed that after being quoted a figure for payment the VRT increased by €100 over the weekend between the quote and my payment. When I researched the appeals process and the way VRT is calculated I estimated that I should have been charged €1,059 less, and I was given a refund of the full amount that I claimed as a result of the appeal.
That's great news and should inspire others to look carefully at the VRT being charged on any imports and see if it is based on the actual equivalent market value of the same car in Ireland. The appeals system works but more people need to be aware of it. Got a query?
Send it to motorshelp@irishtimes.com