Andrew Hamilton, Motoring Editor of The Irish Times, answers motoring queries from readers here every week.
Depreciation is inescapable
MG Rover Ireland has sent us a copy of its reply to our distressed woman reader in Dublin 6 - she was upset about the level of depreciation on her 1999 Rover 200. Her letter featured in our first Helpdesk column last week.
John Donegan, the marketing and commercial director, says that the letter raises an issue which has developed in the motor industry over the past two years and affects all motor distributors.
"The market has seen a significant reduction in the value of second-hand vehicles," he says. "This has been largely due to the buoyant consumer demand for new cars. Declining residual values affect all makes and models of cars and are not specific to particular brand.
"The Rover 200 and the new Rover 25 are very popular cars. In fact, contrary to your comment that Rover has 'allowed their reputation to be tarnished', we have invested heavily in our brand which continues to develop in this competitive market.
"Already this year the result of this investment is evident with MG Rover Ireland's sales up 38 per cent in a market that is down 3 per cent".
According to Mr Donegan, MG Rover Ireland and its dealer network are committed to offering exceptional levels of customer satisfaction. He has asked our correspondent to make contact with a MG Rover dealer regarding a trade-in with her current Rover 200. He points to special offers on the 25 model this month including free 12-month road tax, a free three-year warranty, free AA roadside assistance and a waiver of the 1 per cent VAT increase which applied from the start of this month.
He concludes by hoping she will continue to enjoy motoring with the Rover brand. "If I can be of further assistance to you, please feel free to contact me," he concludes.
Morgan magic
How many Morgan owners are there in Ireland, asks David Walsh of Dun Laoghaire. Is there a Morgan owners' club? He is interested in acquiring a second-hand model.
We have been in touch with our good friend, Seanie Barry, who runs a busy Opel dealership in Bantry, Co Cork - in his spare time drives a Morgan +4. He tells us that there are, in fact, about 25 Morgan owners in this country.
"There isn't a recognised club but we all keep in touch with one another," he says. Seanie suggest that David contact Richie Conroy, 1 Glenwood, Herbert Road, Bray, Co Wicklow - phone 01-286 3199.
The Morgan Motor Company can be contacted at Pickersleigh Road, Malvern Link, Worcestershire, WR142LL, United Kingdom. The web site is www.morgan-motor.co.uk
Skinny spares
The "skinny spare" on his car is agitating John Byrne from Ashbourne, Co Meath. He has had to use it recently. Why, he asks, could he not have a normal spare?
The answer quite simply is that punctures are more and more a rarity these days. For car manufacturers, tyres are sourced from outside and a much greater cost saving can be made by fitting the "skinny spare". There's also a saving in weight - and more boot space is released.
• Readers should send their queries by
post to: Andrew Hamilton, Motoring Editor, The Irish Times, Fleet St, Dublin 2. Envelopes should be marked "HELPDESK". Queries may also be sent by e-mail to: ahamilton@irish-times.ie We regret that queries can not be taken over the telephone