Where have all the Renault dealers gone?

HELPDESK:Answers to all your motoring queries

From N O’C: I am the owner of a 2008 Renault Grand Scenic. We like the car, but in recent months Renault wrote to us telling us our local dealer is no longer an authorised Renault dealership. As a consequence we have to go to an approved Renault dealer for servicing to continue our warranty. But there are now just three dealers listed in the Dublin area: Liffey Valley, Swords and Lusk. In 2008 there were seven main dealers.

We managed to get through to the service department of one of the dealers only after two days of trying, so Renault is not doing itself any favours by reducing the number of service dealerships. Do you have any insights as to what is going on here with Renault in Ireland?

Across the motor industry at present, there are major upheavals in the dealer networks. There is a view held by some that Ireland has more dealers than either the market or the size of this island warrants, and that a smaller network means the remaining dealers get a larger slice of the action and are in a better position to reinvest.

The problem, as you have encountered, is with servicing. People will travel to buy a car but not to get it serviced or repaired. That’s why some firms are looking at the network model adopted by continental Europeans, whereby there is a select number of official sales outlets but a more widespread network of servicing agents. While the new-car market has started to recover, there is a fundamental change underway in how cars are being sold in Ireland and this is being led by several major brands, including Renault.

From M McArdle: I am currently working in the Middle East and have bought a new Hyundai Santa Fe, 3.5-litre petrol, left-hand drive automatic, as part of my job. I may have an option to purchase this in a year or so when I finish my contract. Do you think it’s worth my while doing so and importing it into Ireland?

I wouldn’t import this car, even if they give it to you with a free Dubai apartment thrown in. Servicing and spare parts would be the least of my worries. The car would carry a hefty VRT charge, compounded by the fact that it will be taxed on emissions. So while you might have bought it for a pittance, every year it spends on Irish roads will cost you €2,100 on road tax alone. Then there is the issue of fuel consumption, the servicing issues you refer to and, finally, when you go to trade it in, any sane dealer will run a mile.

When you go to sell your Santa Fe it will be competing against 2.2-litre diesel versions that offer better fuel economy and annual road tax of €630. There is a 2-litre diesel version arriving in September in an even lower tax bracket of €447. Insurance rates vary widely, depending on several factors, but most insurance firms will add a sizeable premium for you to drive a left-hand-drive car permanently over here.

Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, Tara Street, Dublin 2, or e-mail motorshelp@irishtimes.com