HELP DESK: Michael McAleeranswers all your motoring queries
From DR:We recently inherited a house and car, the latter a 15-year-old Opel. While the house is worth a tidy sum, we want to get rid of the car.
Frankly, it's not worth paying for the advert, given the fall in used prices. It doesn't have an NCT and, though it starts, it hasn't been on the road in at least two years. Is there any procedure for getting rid of these cars? Do I bring it back to the local Opel dealership?
You can contact your local Opel dealer for some information, but I wouldn't think he will be happy to see you pulling up outside in a 15-year-old car and handing him the keys. Your best port of call is to contact your local authority about disposing of what is called end of life vehicles (ELVs). Each authority is obliged to have a scheme to collect and dispose of these vehicles. The good news is that it shouldn't cost you anything if you are the registered owner and have the requisite paperwork. You do, however, need to ensure that essential parts - such as the engine, gearbox and the like - are not removed.
Be aware also that if it hasn't been driven in two years, it's probably got no motor tax so you can't drive it on the road. It will have to be towed.
When you locate your local ELV centre, you should be issued with a certificate of destruction. These reycling centres make some revenue from the likes of the transmission and engine parts, which is why it's important not to let anyone strip it for parts before it's scrapped.
From E Cusack: We are waiting for a new family arrival at present, but we can't find a car that fits three baby seats in the back. My husband is determined not to purchase a people carrier, but our current Volkswagen Golf won't take a third child seat and, even if we put one up front, there's no room for someone sitting in between the two seats in the back.
Help is at hand. We get many such requests and we're happy to say that the new Skoda Superb solves your problem. It does mean buying new, but it's big enough to take three child seats in the back, with enough boot space to load the accompanying buggies. That's an important element that many forget: getting the children in up front is only part of the problem.
The Superb is a huge saloon that starts at €26,895 for the 1.9-litre diesel (€25,910 for the low-emissions Greenline version). That's mid-range VW Golf money, but for a saloon car that has the rear seat legroom of a Mercedes S-Class.
From TA:I'm looking at buying a used hybrid Lexus RX but there don't seem to be any benefits in relation to motor tax. I thought the Government was taking a "green" approach to the car market with emissions taxation. The seller tells me the road tax hasn't been changed. Is that right?
If the car was registered prior to January 2008, the old system of tax - based on engine size - applies. There was, however, a 50 per cent reduction in Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) when the car was originally sold and this is no doubt reflected in the used price you are being quoted, so in a way you are benefiting from a lower emissions tax incentive already. Price this car against the equivalently aged BMW X5 with a 3.0-litre petrol engine and you will see the difference.
From Kieran D, Co Offaly:My 15-year-old son is car crazy and is counting the days until he gets his licence. He is saving up to pay for the insurance costs of adding him to my car policy. I'm concerned that he needs to get proper training before he takes to the road. I've heard there are courses for under-age drivers.
For a start there's the Early Drive course, run by the Irish School of Motoring and Mondello Park. It's aimed at transition-year students and is a half-day course that teaches them some important first lessons. Talk to his school or visit earlydrive.ie
Alternatively, there is the recently-opened Leinster Driving Campus in Maynooth, Co Kildare. Elaine Edwards reported on it for Motors some weeks back (September 17th). It offers personal tuition on a dedicated training site. Details at drivingcampus.ie.