Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50: 10 Things to Know
Volkswagen is celebrating 50 years of its most famous hot hatch with the Golf GTI Edition 50. Here are 10 things worth knowing. It marks 50 years of GTI. This is more than a badge-and-wheel special: Volkswagen has added serious power and chassis upgrades. It is the most powerful production GTI yet. Its 2.0-litre turbo produces 325 PS and 420 Nm, sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG gearbox. It is fast. It reaches 100...
How Technology Is Making Long Irish Road Trips Feel Shorter
Long road trips have always needed something to make them go faster. Years ago, that something was a strong FM signal, a sleeve of CDs everyone was already sick of, or a passenger who took it upon themselves to keep spirits high with silly road trip games. Times have definitely changed. Your phone can play music, stream movies, load up games, pull up podcasts, and get you where you’re going without any help from anyone...
Buying an Older Car: 17 Things You Need to Know
Buying an older car can be an affordable way to get behind the wheel, but here are the key things you need to know. Check the mileage: Mileage can be a better indicator of future maintenance costs than the car’s age alone. Get a complete service history: Look for evidence of regular servicing, repairs and replacement parts. A well-maintained older car can be more dependable than a neglected newer one. Run a history check: Confirm...
Petrol and Diesel Prices in Ireland Rise Sharply as Further Increases Loom
Petrol and diesel prices increased significantly in August, according to the latest fuel price analysis from AA Ireland. Diesel recorded the steepest rise, increasing by 19 cents per litre in just one month. The increases were driven by movements in wholesale markets rather than changes to excise duty, which remained unchanged throughout August. However, motorists face additional pressure at the pumps as the phased restoration of...
EU Tariffs on Chinese EVs: Six Things You Need to Know
The EU introduced tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars to protect European manufacturers from what it considered unfair competition. But did they work? Here are six things to know. 1. Why were the tariffs introduced? The European Commission found that Chinese EV manufacturers had benefited from significant state support, allowing them to sell cars at prices European companies struggled to match. The tariffs were intended to level...
Ireland’s E-Scooter Ban: Why Enforcement, Not a Blanket Ban, Is the Answer
As Taoiseach Micheál Martin considers an e-scooter ban in Ireland, the real question is whether banning legal, regulated e-scooters will improve public safety or simply distract from the failure to enforce existing laws on illegal vehicles and criminal misuse asks Geraldine Herbert It seems an extraordinary response that Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is “leaning towards” a ban on e-scooters following growing...