Hyundai rises on Irish car market

Thu, Feb 07, 2013

Hyundai, Ireland’s fastest growing car brand, has moved into fourth place on the Irish car market, ahead of other brands such as Nissan, Skoda, Audi, BMW, Renault, Peugeot and Opel.

Driverless cars to save rural Ireland?

Thu, Jan 31, 2013

There was quite a kerfuffle last week with an embarrassing act of public stupidity by Kerry Co. Council. As you know, independent councillor Danny Healy-Rae put forward the ridiculous idea that people in rural Ireland should be allowed to drink and drive.

Lexus hybrid sales pass the half-million milestone

Thu, Jan 31, 2013

Since the first RX 400h took to the road in 2005, Lexus has amazingly sold more than 506,000 vehicles equipped with its Lexus Hybrid Drive system.

Super new 1.6 diesel engine for Honda Civic

Thu, Jan 31, 2013

Honda is set to take on the big sellers in the family car market with an advanced new Civic 1.6 diesel.

Pajero Commercial down €1,700

Thu, Jan 31, 2013

Mitsubishi Motors Ireland has announced a price reduction for its Pajero Commercial range as well as the introduction of a five-year warranty as standard across its entire commercial vehicle range.

Winter is biting financially even without a big freeze

Thu, Jan 24, 2013

So how has winter been for you so far? I’m tempting fate because we are not out of January yet but it looks as if it will go into the books as a relatively mild one.

We have had just a tiny bit of snow intermittently, with some parts of Munster and the East coast getting the worst. But no sign, mercifully, of any giant freeze events. I wonder if the NRA are actually disappointed as they had loads and loads of road salt ready to go.

Mini absorbs VRT rise on two diesel models

Thu, Jan 24, 2013

Mini is offering Irish customers a unique opportunity to beat the VRT tax hike in 2013 by absorbing the tax increase on the One D and Cooper D Hatch models, which output a low 99g/km of CO2.

Flexible finance options at Skoda Galway

Thu, Jan 24, 2013

Skoda PCP Solutions offers flexible finance options and the convenience of a guaranteed future value of any Skoda purchased.

Volvo V40 Cross Country and V40 R Design arrive

Thu, Jan 24, 2013

Volvo Car Ireland is set to launch its V40 Cross Country and V40 R Design at its open week which runs from January 21 to 27 in dealerships nationwide.

Beware the One-Eyed Monster

Thu, Jan 17, 2013

If part of your job involves talking to people you know that it will never be boring. I had a fella onto me this week who had a perspective on road safety that was so warped and bonkers that he should be studied by expert psychologists.

Special rate car loans at St Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union

Thu, Jan 17, 2013

Car buying can be a daunting experience. St Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union can help with some simple tips to help in the search for a dream car:

New Skoda Octavia to debut in the spring

Thu, Jan 17, 2013

The third generation of Skoda's popular Octavia will be launched here in March. It will be bigger, more spacious, and packaged in a new attractive and functional design. It is based on the same platform as the new Volkswagen Golf and Seat Leon.

Toyota GT86 is Top Gear’s Car of the Year

Thu, Jan 17, 2013

When Toyota set about creating the GT86, the guiding principle was that it should be a car devoted to the pure passion of driving. It is an ethos that has helped earn the sports coupe worldwide acclaim, and now the honour of being named Top Gear magazine’s Car of the Year 2012.

2012 road deaths is lowest on record

Thu, Jan 10, 2013

Provisional road casualty figures for 2012 show a total of 161 people tragically lost their lives on Irish roads in 2012.

2012 – Roads got safer but using them got more expensive

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

As we close the book on 2012 Ireland’s motorists will not have much to remember fondly. The year gone by saw no relief from austerity. Fuel prices, car tax and motor insurance all went up as the cost of moving around in Ireland became more expensive than ever before.

Fuel was the worst. It began the year at an all time record high and just kept rising. Motorists were contacting us on a daily basis in frustration and anger. This was at its worst around September when the price hit €1.70. Every time the price went up people were furious at the garages and the oil companies.

New MINI Clubvan delivers on many levels

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

The all-new Mini clubvan with five doors has just gone on sale. It is the first new Mini to be classed as a commercial vehicle. Mini Ireland will only market Cooper D Clubvan with an entry level price of €20,800

We have not come as far as we think on drink driving

Thu, Dec 20, 2012

The drink driver is still with us. I wonder if we have been deluding ourselves a little bit about how much progress we really have made in road safety and to what extent Irish social values have moved.

The Garda issued figures last week that show that they are genuinely out and about catching people who drive while drunk. They are setting up checkpoints and they are breathalysing drivers. They tell us that they are catching fewer people and we hope that is because there is less of it going on.

New Clio is top Golden Steering Wheel small car

Thu, Dec 20, 2012

Just weeks after claiming the RTL/ Auto Plus Best Production Car prize at the October Paris Motor Show, the new Renault Clio has scooped the 2012 Golden Steering Wheel - an international award.

It is safety and not sexy that is selling cars these days

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

As we all know by now there will be new reg plates next year. The trade fervently hopes that the ‘131’ and ‘132’ plates will mean they start selling cars in numbers again. Drop into a car showroom anywhere and they will be only too pleased to tell you all about it.

Honda Civic celebrates 40th anniversary

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

After nine generations and more then 20 million sales globally, the Honda Civic is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

E-paper

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