Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Gerald Bowen:
I'm overdue for a replacement of my company car and management are keen for me to choose a car. I currently drive a Nissan Primera, but I've been upgraded and can shop in the price region of €35,000 with a two-litre limit. Any suggestions as to what I should get? I don't have to worry about fuel costs as it is on a company account.
First off, we would always advise that you test drive at least three cars before making a decision on which to purchase. We are continually surprised by correspondents who complain about their cars after they have bought them, yet freely admit that they did not even bother to take them for a test drive before they bought them.
While most of us are thorough in our examination of cars when buying used, we seem to work off a very simplistic criteria when shopping for a new car. The details you supplied are not enough to determine your exact requirements as far as mileage is concerned. However, your lack of concern about fuel costs will certainly help, even though we doubt your employer will be overjoyed by your lack of concern.
Another positive feature of fleet motoring is that depreciation is not a concern of yours. However, fleet motoring has its downside when shopping for a new car. Most notably, it often removes the ability to bargain your way to a better car, as most fleet managers determine the car on the list price rather than on the price you can negotiate with the dealer. It also means you must buy new, rather than shop around on the used market. Your price range and engine size would qualify you for the upper end of the usual collection of mid-range executive company cars: Toyota Avensis, Opel Vectra, VW Passat, Mazda 6 and Ford Mondeo and a mid-range Alfa Romeo 156. You could also opt for base versions of higher end models like the BMW 318ti and the Audi A4 1.6. Unfortunately, it falls just short of the likes of the Saab 9-3 (by € 400 according to the latest SIMI price list).
If you want space, perhaps the Rover 75 1.8 Club Elite, or the Skoda Superb may be worth consideration.
While you have undoubtedly considered the mainstream options such as Avensis, Vectra, Passat and Mondeo, and are tempted by the likes of the BMW and Audi, both very worthy purchases, we would advise you to take a test in the Skoda. While the marque often determines the man in the carnivorous world of the company car park, the Superb does offer more spacious motoring. If, however, you look for driver enjoyment and performance in your cars, then the first car you should test to set the marker for the rest should be the Ford Mondeo two-litre Executive 145 bhp.
From Michael Hunt:
How reliable are the signs on the road that state the number of fatalities in each county each year? The sign near our house has not changed this year and I was wondering if any of them have been changed since they were put up?
Quite a number of the signs have not been updated and they are all due to be replaced in the coming months with what the Department of Transport claims will be more effective warnings over penalty points.
The 500 signs across the State which currently list the number of people killed on the roads, will be replaced with signs warning motorists that they run the risk of losing their licence if they collect penalty points.
From Ted Morrissey:
Regarding unusual, odd, confusing road-signs this photo (right) was taken in Tallaght last week. My question is, has Tallaght quietly introduced a drive-on-the-right roundabout?
We now have roundabouts with traffic lights, yellow box junctions and zebra crossings right at the exit, so why should we be surprised that they now want us to go around on the right-hand side. Our favourite example of planning chaos is the junction of the Long Mile Road and Naas Road. On a very busy road, drivers are forced to criss-cross between a series of barriers and work out which of the forest of lights refers to their lane. It's the type of motoring nightmare that would persuade you to take the bus, or Luas. On second thoughts, perhaps there was some planning behind it.