Michael McAleer answers your queries
From D O'Reilly:
Whatever happened to the proposals to review our silly speed limits? Before the local elections the previous Minister for Transport said he had identified over 40 problem locations. Since then, nothing. Was this just a political move to take the speed limit issue off campaign agenda? In particular why is the ridiculous 100km/h limit still in place on the M50 from Tallaght to Dundrum.
The Government's efforts to increase speed limits on a number of major roads have met with near-total failure. Limits are set by bye-laws of county councils or local authorities.
While you may question the timing of the review, there's no doubting the frustration felt by Department at the time. The then minister, Seamus Brennan, clearly accepted that these limits "harm the general acceptance of the penalty points system".
The Government now needs to put forward new legislation to take back control of the limits.
As for the M50 stretch you mention, South Dublin County Council turned down the Government's request to change the limit on the grounds of "geometric constraints". Apparently the road was built with 60mph (100km/h) bends.
However, it's unclear if the limits on these bends were set with modern vehicles in mind. A 1975 Ford Cortina may have problems rounding those corners at 120km/h, but it would be no problem for even the smallest modern car. Cars today are better designed and handle better. Do the planners need to get behind the wheel again?
The Council's response begs another question: why did it build the road with 60mph corners, knowing it was going to be part of a dual carriageway.
From R O'H:
I'd like your opinion on the following scenario: I test drove a new model Alfa Romeo 147 in March 2005 and took delivery of my car on April 1st - not a joke. I discovered as I was leaving the forecourt that the car has a mph clock, not a km/h one. (The test car that I drove had a km/h clock).
The dealer was as surprised as I was. He said that he would look into it and I drove off. When he contacted me later he told me that there was no option to change the clock. The only way around it was to cancel the order and give me back my old car and restart the ordering process again. This would have to happen more or less immediately and I would have to decide there and then.
I decided to proceed with the purchase - the deal I was getting on my old car would be in doubt otherwise and there would be a further delay in getting the new car.
I'm anxious to review the legality of this sale - the car is a new version to the market and was launched after the law came into action. I'd like to add that I had no problem with the salesperson.
We've had several e-mails on this issue, all ending with the same disappointing news: the car manufacturer is under no legal obligation to fit km/h speedometers, even on new cars.
The Government initially intended to force car-makers to change all speedometers as of January 1st, in line with the changeover. However, it quickly discovered that any such order would fall foul of the EU law. It would have been prejudicial to makers producing right-hand- drive cars with mph speedometers.
The only recourse we can think of is that you can argue that the car you tested - and upon which you based your decision to buy - differed from the one you bought. However, the garage is, no doubt, covered in this regard as the demonstration model is not meant to be an identikit of the car you will get.
On the questions of speed clocks, it's back to the old Latin phrase, Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware). Motorists should always specify at the outset that you want a km/h speedometer.
From Paul Cosgrave, Dublin:
You mentioned in last week's review of the BMW 3-Series that it needs a set of 17-inch alloys to really set off its looks. I have the older version (99 reg) but I'd like to get a new set of alloys for it. What are the largest I could fit and what of the impact on ride/handling?
My remarks were driven largely by the appearance of the high sidewalls on the run-flats on the test car. Like everything in life, there's a trade-off: you may improve the looks, but you'll suffer on ride quality.
The largest wheels your car can take are 18" alloys (MV spoke 72s) - but you'll need to get the steering rack adjusted to stop the wheels rubbing against the arches, something some image conscious car fans forget.
There is also the little matter of taste. There's a fine line between looking sporting and making your car look like something from a modified motor show. If you want to impress the general populace, choose wisely.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie