HELPDESK: Michael McAleeranswers all your motoring queries
From M Shovelin, Co Sligo: Like many other motorists, I am looking at the possibility of importing a used car from the UK.
However, when I use the VRT calculator on the Revenue website it appears that the valuation being used is grossly overstated. For example, I can buy a 2002 BMW 735 in the UK for £8,000 (about €10,000) The VRT calculator assesses the value as almost €28,000. With VRT at 36 per cent, that brings the tax charge to over €10,000.
Yet a glance at the main motoring websites shows the asking price of such cars to be between €16,000 and €18,000. When I contacted one garage, they told me they would accept €14,000 for a 2002 model. How can Revenue use such inflated values?
We have received several letters and e-mails over recent months on this issue and, while Revenue officials reiterate that they keep a constant eye on the movements of the used car market, clearly there are some discrepancies due to the dramatic fall in used car prices lately.
Cynics may suggest that there is little incentive for them to follow the rapid downward trend - for all that ends up doing is reducing the Government's tax take.
However, if you are determined to import a car, then you can always appeal the Revenue valuation.
Alternatively, you may now re-consider buying at home. What we are seeing in the rapid fall in used car prices is a reduction in the savings being made by importing from abroad.
In your case, for example, the 2002 model, for €14,000, will actually save you nearly €6,000 over an imported model after tax. Even with an appeal against the Revenue valuation, it still seems like you would be hard pushed to make any savings. Compared to that offer you got from an Irish dealer, even if Revenue accepted the price you paid as an accurate valuation then you will save €400, which will barely cover the cost of going over and collecting it.
It's actually getting to the stage where it no longer makes sense to import some cars from the UK. These low prices, of course, are not sustainable from the motor industry's point of view, but for now in a buyer's market, it's worth shopping around here before you head across the water or border. Keep your options open.
From T Madden: What age do you have to be to legally drive a tractor on the public road? There were young guys driving around on enormous tractors all summer long, and they're still coming around with trailers on the back, yet they don't look like they are a day over 12.
The age limit is 16 for driving what are described as "work vehicles or JCBs", according to information published on the citizen's information website (citizensinformation.ie).
These vehicles should only be driven on the public road, however, when commuting between worksites.
Even then, it does seem to be something of a discrepancy that someone can legally drive a heavy work vehicle at the age of 16 but can't get behind the wheel of an Opel Agila before the age of 17.
Many tractors these days are quite fast, particularly on country roads, so the old defence that they were much slower so less dangerous seems increasingly irrelevant.
From EH, Dublin: A family of five that regularly canoes seeks a car that can take the load, as yet another of our offspring takes to the water.
We're now trailing four canoes with us. It's less about towing and more about boot space at this stage. We have a trailer, but the extra gear is taking up more space in the car. We currently drive a Ford Mondeo.
An estate car would seem the perfect buy. There are plenty of decent diesel estates on the market at present and I'd look to the likes of the caravan club favourites for advice.
Recent winners there include the Subaru Forrester - which is now available with a diesel engine - or the epitome of big estates, the Volvo V70.
Alternatively, the likes of the Honda Accord estate and the touring versions from Citroën or Peugeot are well worth considering. The latter French offerings are simply enormous in the back and offer good diesel engines with plenty of low-end pulling power.