Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Dave Powers:
Regarding Neil Branigan's motorcycle rental query, I was in the same predicament as he was and made a few enquiries about motorbike rental. It may be possible to rent a bike in the North.
For me, in the end I had to buy a bigger bike. I didn't particularly want to do this at that time - I was happy with 125cc but didn't want to be tied to one for the rest of my life.
It's absolutely criminal that the insurance companies have scuppered any attempt to have motorcycle rental in this country.
According to Michael Comer, the chief driver tester at the Driving Licensing Testing Section in Ballina, it is possible to sit the test on a Northern-registered motorbike. This may be the way around having to buy a bigger, and unwanted motorcycle.
Dave Power's e-mail also mentioned a person in Lisburn who was willing to help him get a bike for rental. Undoubtedly others will do the same. It's worth looking into this option before moving any further.
However, you may have to move quickly. The position in relation to sitting the test in any foreign-registered vehicle - car, motorcycle or truck - is currently being reviewed so the days may be numbered for this particular solution.
From David Scanell:
I have a Mitsubishi Shogun and I've heard that it's possible to run a diesel engine on vegetable oil with little or no conversion necessary. I'm considering running my Shogun on vegetable oil. Is there anything I should know before going ahead with this? Does it affect performance? Will it damage the engine?
You can run your diesel Shogun on vegetable oil with only a marginal reduction in performance. We know of several people opting for a similar choice of fuel.
However, Mitsubishi is at pains to point out that, as it has not carried out tests on these various substitutes in its engines, it "will not stand over any problems that may occur due to the use of such products". In plainspeak, it may mean that, if a problem arises that can be linked to vegetable oil, it may impact upon your warranty. In theory, it's possible and the performance gap should be minimal.
From Simon Dunne:
I'm buying a second-hand car privately, and was wondering if there is a phone number I can ring to find out whether any finance is still owed on it?
You can check if there is financing or not on any second-hand by calling Hire Purchase Information (HPI) at 01.2600905. For €15, potential buyers can check if there is any amount still owed on the car. All they need is the make, model, registration and chassis number.
However, you will not be able to find out the amount of finance owed.
From Hilary Lynch:
Last night in the traffic through Blackrock, I saw a 1991 car called a Capella - never heard of it before. It looked like a 2-litre stationwagon. Do tell . . .
The Capella is, in fact, the Mazda 626 as we know it. It's the moniker given to the car in markets such as Australia, for instance.
So, the car you saw was either the family favourite of some newly arrived Australians over for the St Patrick's festivities and after one seriously long drive - or one of the many imports sold on the Irish market.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie