What is the best way to pay for your new car?
Nov21

What is the best way to pay for your new car?

When buying a new car figuring out the best way to finance the deal is crucial writes Geraldine Herbert Hire Purchase (HP) Finance With a hire purchase agreement, you pay an initial deposit and pay an agreed amount in monthly repayments and the balance is divided equally over the finance period. Once all the payments have been made you own the car. HP finance agreements range from three to five years. The main difference between using...

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Key considerations when you’re buying a Family Car
May28

Key considerations when you’re buying a Family Car

From finance options to fuel types, Geraldine Herbert outlines five things to think about before choosing your next family car   1 Hatchback, estate, saloon, people carrier or SUV? For small families, hatchbacks are ideal and there is a huge choice of both new and used models on the market. Estates and saloons are a good option if you need that extra boot and cabin space. Nothing beats the versatility of MPVs and while not as...

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Beware of hidden charges before you sign on the dotted line
May07

Beware of hidden charges before you sign on the dotted line

  ‘Delivery and related’ charges can come as a nasty shock to car buyers writes Suzanne Keane Buying a new car can be a minefield. Choosing the right manufacturer, model, engine and specification is one thing but negotiating the right price while keeping within your budget can be a real headache. To avoid further uncertainty before you sign on the dotted line be sure to check out any additional charges which could be added...

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A new tougher test comes in this week for all new cars.
Aug30

A new tougher test comes in this week for all new cars.

From September 1st, the new WLTP standards will come into force  so what does it mean for new car prices and motor tax writes Geraldine Herbert   What is changing? The current method of testing fuel economy and emissions for new cars is to be replaced. Condemned for its inability to reflect real-world mpg, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced across Europe, including Ireland on September 1, 2018 by the Worldwide...

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10 cars worth waiting for
Jul10

10 cars worth waiting for

Summer’s about to get a whole lot hotter as the new arrivals hit the ramp, writes Geraldine Herbert 1) Audi E-Tron SUV Slotting between the Q5 and Q7 in terms of dimensions, Audi’s first all-electric vehi­cle, the sporty SUV e-tron is expected here in early 2019. With a promised range of around 400km, the new SUV will take on Jaguar’s I-Pace and Tesla’s Model X. 2) Dacia Duster Arguably the most anticipat­ed model from the Romani­an...

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Stricter new CO2 test may cause slump in car sales
Jul04

Stricter new CO2 test may cause slump in car sales

A new system to test emissions will bring more accurate measurements, but may also lead to higher taxes and car prices, warns  Geraldine Herbert A new emissions test for cars that is providing more accurate carbon dioxide (CO2) ratings may cause car sales to fall. The test, which was introduced last year for new models only will apply to all new cars sold in the EU from September 1 and is designed to deliver more realistic figures for...

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