Michael McAleer answers your questions
From Paul Dunne:
I've got €19,000 to spend on a family car, and I've been looking at a Ford Mondeo (01) or a VW Passat (01). Do you have any other suggestions as to what I should be looking at?
Both are good buys, though be aware that with a five-year-old car it will have fallen out of warranty. You didn't mention in the e-mail whether you were considering buying from a dealer or buying in a private sale. You may find there is a slight price difference between the two - though it's not always the case. However, it's worth it for peace of mind, as dealers will offer you some form of warranty - six months to a year.
I would suggest you widen your search as well. For €19,000 you can certainly pick up a 2002 Audi A4 or a 2003 Toyota Avensis, the price of the latter may even fall in the coming weeks with the arrival of a new facelifted model in July.
From G McHugh:
I've heard rumours that the French marques are going to bring out SUVs. Is this true and what will they be like? I thought the French had more sense? Whatever your personal views of the SUV's role in modern life, it would be economic madness for a major marque not to offer some form of vehicle in what is one of the most competitive market segments around.
You are right: PSA has joined forces with Mitsubishi to bring out an SUV under the Citroën and Peugeot brand names - it will be based on the Japanese brand's Outlander model, using that platform (which is shared with the Lancer). It's due for launch in the middle of next year and the main difference between the three will be body stylings, though Peugeot is also likely to use its own engines rather than opt for Mitsubishi units. As with the Outlander, it will not be a fully-fledged off-roader, but rather a suburban soft-roader.
From P O'Brien:
Why are motorcycles allowed free runs down the bus lanes? Surely they neither qualify as public transport nor multiple user vehicles, unless there is a hackney service I don't know about. The gardaí seem to ignore the motorcycles entirely, yet when I use a bus lane outside rush hour I get a lecture and a ticket. Is it because all the Garda Traffic Corps in Dublin also ride bikes themselves?
It remains illegal for motorcycles to use bus lanes. However, there is a lot of sense to these lanes being opened for bike use.
The fact is that motorcyclists contribute to the reduction in traffic problems. Motorcycles do not hold up buses the way that bicycles do, for the simple reason that they are capable of regular speeds. It's true that an untrained motorcyclist may be a menace in traffic, but the same can be said of an untrained car driver. That's less an issue about motorcycles and more about our overall training and testing regime in Ireland.
Several cities in Europe have opened their bus lanes to motorcyclists, including Barcelona and Stockholm. There, traffic planners have noted the benefits to overall traffic flow of attracting more urban motorists to two-wheeled transport, and at the same time have noted that it doesn't seem to impede the steady flow of public transport.
While the law is clear in Ireland that motorcycles are not permitted to use the lanes, perhaps the decision of individual gardaí not to make an issue of it when they see a motorbike in a bus lane is simply a case of someone on the front line of traffic management applying some practical common sense to the situation. I think you will agree it is something that's sorely lacking in most approaches to gridlock.
From J Cosgrave:
My daughter is taking a year off to travel, and will be visiting several countries in Asia and south America. Will her Irish driving licence suffice, or will she have to get something special to drive in these regions?
She is probably going to need an international driving permit and it's worthwhile to get this before she goes. There are actually two types of permit: A 1949 Convention International Driving Permit, which is recognised in most countries; and a 1929 Convention permit, which is required for the following countries - Brazil, Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia. If she is going to South America, then it is best to get both.
To apply for an international permit she must have a full Irish driving licence. She should always carry her Irish licence with her as well, as they will often need this if she wants to hire a car, for example.
An international driving licence is valid for one year. It costs just over €5, but if you require both the 1949 convention permit and the 1929 one (for Brazil for example) then it will cost €10.16.
It is best to contact AA Travel, 56 Drury Street, Dublin 2 to discuss the individual requirements for each state she plans on visiting. You can get an application form for an international driving licence from them, or alternatively download one from http://www.aaireland.ie/travel/application_IDP.htm
Send your queries to Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, D'Olier St, Dublin 2 - or e-mail motorshelp@irish-times.ie