Michael McAleer answers your questions
From AC, Co Dublin:
I bought a used car six months ago from a local garage. It was a 96-registration and the salesman who sold it to me gave me a full service history for the car.
He sold it to me with a one-year warranty. However, there seems to be a serious problem with the brake fluid. The problem is that the warranty deal was never written down on paper.
I brought it back and the mechanic said the problem seems to be wear of the pipe. However, he says that the salesman has left the dealership and that cars of that age are never sold with such a warranty from their dealership.
It's not an official dealer for any brand.
Your first port of call has to be with a solicitor. He should be able to find out the facts behind the deals done at this particular dealership and try to locate the salesman in question.
A cheaper option may be to chase up the dealership through the small claims court. Unfortunately, as with all such deals, word of mouth is never enough.
You need to get the offer down on paper when you take hold of the car.
Otherwise it's your word against theirs. Hopefully you will win out in the legal process, but there is a lesson for all buyers of used cars: if something is part of the sale then make sure you have the paperwork to back it up.
There is also a lesson to be learned about the benefits of dealing with someone you know. While you might get a better deal from some strangers, there is a great peace of mind to be had from buying from someone you know you can go back to if a problem arises.
From TM, Co Sligo:
I'm retiring from my job and I'm considering buying my first new car.
Previously all my cars were paid for by the company - though recently I have paid my share through BIK. My previous cars were Ford Mondeos and VW Passats. However, I always wanted a Mercedes and would like to treat myself now.
My children think I'm mad to buy a new car, but I am used to driving something that has not been in the hands of someone else.
Do you agree with my children and what are the benefits of a new car?
As a car fan, I can completely understand the desire to treat yourself once you reach the time for retirement. However, this desire should be tempered with your current financial situation - of which I am not savvy - and your future motoring needs (future annual mileage, how long you will keep the car, etc).
In fairness, the depreciation on a new car is a bitter pill to swallow and I can understand the point made by your children. Depending on the marque and model, a car can lose up to 40 per cent of its value over the first two or three years.
It's a seriously depreciating asset, particularly for someone who has been cushioned from that sort of financial loss in the past.
As much as a new Mercedes will put a smile on your face on the day of purchase, I think in the long-term you will be better off getting a used Mercedes, which has suffered the worst of the depreciation hit.
As you are not in an immediate rush to buy, shop around and find a car with a high line of specification. Again, referring to the previous e-mail query, be sure to get some form of warranty with the car from a dealer and have it in writing.
As much as my heart says buy new, my head dictates you should buy used.
From G Brennan:
My relatives from Germany are coming over to tour Ireland in January and have asked if their Sat-Nav device will work over here. I remember reading in the supplement about the poor quality of mapping on such systems here. Has it improved? Will their system work? Is there any other option besides buying one of those rather outdated maps?
If their system is in any way modern it should work over here. Satellite navigation systems come with CDs that update the mapping information so if they have a recent CD-map of Europe then Ireland will be on it.
The mapping of Ireland has improved dramatically in the past two years and tourist routes in particular are featured on even some of the older systems.
They should have no problems here.
As for other options, several websites offer route planning services.
Notably the AA offers such a facility on its website. It's very good and can be printed out. The only problem is that if you take a wrong turn you are in trouble.
For those buying cars in Ireland, Sat-Nav is no longer the high-risk accessory that you will lose money on when you go to resell the car. However, the retro-fit systems, such as Garmin are still much better value and can be removed from the car anytime you want.
In fact, they are now small enough to be able to operate while you are walking around.
Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, Tara Street, Dublin 2, or e-mail motorshelp@irish-times.ie