Moving To Ireland...Advice on Car Purchase, Please

KingOfBreifne

Hello, everyone.

My wife and I are moving to Galway in a little less than two weeks from the U.S. We sold both of our cars here and will be buying ONE car with cash when we arrive in Ireland.

I've been researching cars to the point where my head is now spinning. Here are the parameters I've set for the moment:

- Budget topping out around €10,000
- Less than 70k miles
- No older than 2005 or 2006
- Diesel
- Manual transmission
- 2.0 liters or less
- Hopefully fuel economy of 50 MPG or better

The models I'm currently looking at the most are the Volkswagen Passat, Volvo S40, Ford Mondeo, and a handful of others (all the usual suspects, I suppose). I know the 2006 Passats have had some issues, so I'd want to look at 2007 or 2008 models there.

I really do not like the look of the Mondeo, but I know they are nice cars -- just not sure I can get around the aesthetics.

How about some advice?

Thanks!

~ ryan

CiniO

Mondeo probably will be a wise choice, as there is plenty of them, so it is always easy to find garage which know how to fix them. It's easy to find second hand parts. And generally ford parts seems to be very cheap in Ireland.

In general maintenance cost of mondeo will be the lowest.

mickdw

S40 would really be a ford focus equivalent so might be a bit smaller than you are thinking.

_Nuno_

Not sure you are aware but the tax system changed for cars registered after 2008. Many 2008 diesels will pay 104 or 154 tax yearly while the exact same car from a previous year will be taxed on engine size and will pay over 500 per year or sometimes even more.

Over the years it will make a difference.

Remember this is Europe, you will be taxed on everything and then on anything else that might come up.

CiniO

_Nuno_ wrote: »

.

Remember this is Europe, you will be taxed on everything and then on anything else that might come up.

The best example is VRT, which is a tax on OMSP (open market selling price), which price includes 2 taxes - VAT and VRT.

So the funny thing is, that you pay VRT on VRT, which in reality makes VRT percentage rates higher that they are listed.

_Nuno_

CiniO wrote: »

The best example is VRT, which is a tax on OMSP (open market selling price), which price includes 2 taxes - VAT and VRT.

So the funny thing is, that you pay VRT on VRT, which in reality makes VRT percentage rates higher that they are listed.

I didn't know that was the case in Ireland. I bought a new car last year so I got scammed too...

Portugal and Poland did that as well. Portugal got wrist slapped so they just increased the vehicle tax and stopped calculating it on top of the VAT. Double taxation is illegal in the EU, but the government is the law, so....

dr.fuzzenstein

I have an 06 Focus CMax 1.8 diesel.
Cost me a little over E8k when I bought it last year, it has loads of room (more than the Mondeo I'm sure), gets 50 mpg, is quick enough and comfortable.
When you get a pre-08 car make SURE it hasn't got a DPF, it may be cleaner, but you get no incentive motor tax wise and it will cost big when it goes wrong.
If you buy a post 08 car you will pay less motor tax if it's got low Co2 emissions (so DPF becomes viable), but you will pay a premium on the price, so you will have to drive it a long way for a long time to break even, never mind save money.

Max_Damage

Moving to Ireland!? Are you stoned? :eek:

dr.fuzzenstein

Max_Damage wrote: »

Moving to Ireland!? Are you stoned? :eek:

There's that too, remember, we only get one or two good summers per decade.

_Nuno_

Max_Damage wrote: »

Moving to Ireland!? Are you stoned? :eek:

If you have a job that pays you a good salary and no debt, Ireland is a good place to be.

I resigned from my job and moved out of Ireland in December 2009, and came back in August 2010 after the company I used to work for offered me my job back.

Don't regret it at all.

_Nuno_

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

There's that too, remember, we only get one or two good summers per decade.

I won't argue with that :mad:

KingOfBreifne

Ah, thanks for succinctly summarizing the 2008 tax scheme thing. I had read a lot about that, but nobody had put it in such a straightforward manner.

So I need to narrow my search to '08 and newer vehicles.

CiniO

_Nuno_ wrote: »

I didn't know that was the case in Ireland. I bought a new car last year so I got scammed too...

Just a little example calculation.

Imagine a car on UK market worth 10,000 euros.

The same car on Irish market is worth say 12,500.

Now... You buy this car in UK for 10,000 euros, and pay VRT.
VRT is f.e. 20% (according to emissions), so you pay 20% on 12,500, which is 2500 euros.

So in total you paid 12,500, of which 2500 in VRT.

Now, if you look on this, you bought a car for 10,000 euros, and paid a tax on in, which was 25% of it's value.

So generally 20% VRT rate seems to be 25% rate.

Here's the trick, as government shows VRT rates between 14% and 36%, but real effective rates are way higher.

The same way banks were hiding real interest on mortgages by using some calculus tricks, but government requires them now to show real APR, which makes it fair.
In the same time, government itself, is doing the same trick with VRT rates.

_Nuno_

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

Ah, thanks for succinctly summarizing the 2008 tax scheme thing. I had read a lot about that, but nobody had put it in such a straightforward manner.

So I need to narrow my search to '08 and newer vehicles.

The downside is that because of this 2008 and onwards diesels do come up at a premium. It won't be easy to find a 2008 mondeo for 10k. I was looking at a few last year and they were quite a bit more at the time.

Good luck with the move

bazz26

Renault Laguna III are good value used these days:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201109201422789

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201114201925479

KingOfBreifne

Okay, so help me understand the VRT, then.

Is that only done on new cars and cars imported to Ireland, or am I going to be on the hook for this huge tax when I buy a used car in a couple weeks?

andyseadog

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

Okay, so help me understand the VRT, then.

Is that only done on new cars and cars imported to Ireland, or am I going to be on the hook for this huge tax when I buy a used car in a couple weeks?

honestly, i don't even know why there is a VRT discussion in your thread. if you buy an Irish car in Ireland VRT doesn't concern you, so it's not something you need worry about. VRT only applies if your importing a car, which you aren't.

i'm not suggesting these cars are anything special, but if your looking for ideas

have you considered the citroen c5

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2050767
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2044930

opel/vauxhall vectra

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1893837
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1808319

you might just find a toyota avensis d4d or skoda superb tdi for that kind of budget too

KingOfBreifne

andyseadog wrote: »

honestly, i don't even know why there is a VRT discussion in your thread. if you buy an Irish car in Ireland VRT doesn't concern you, so it's not something you need worry about. VRT only applies if your importing a car, which you aren't.

Well, that's exactly what I was hoping to find out. Thank you, sir!

Regarding the Opels and the Citroens, I guess it's just the American side of me that's unfamiliar with these brands. They just look strange to me. Volvos, Fords, and VWs are all familiar to me.

I've wanted to own a Passat since I was a teenager (late 1990s), so there is probably a fair bit of prejudice there.

UpstateEMS

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

Opels and the Citroens, I guess it's just the American side of me that's unfamiliar with these brands.

Opel is a GM brand on the Continent and in Ireland. (They are Vauxhall's in the UK.) Think of the late model Saturns in the States before the brand was discontinued, they were basically rebadged/rebodied Opels.

andyseadog

if your heart is set on a passat then you may aswell go for it, there are certainly worse options out there. but if your considering a passat you could also look at the skoda superb/ audi a4/ seat toledo which are all based on the passat.

(give or take)

colm_mcm

Also look at the vw jetta, its the same size as the s40.

Have you priced insurance yet?

galwaytt

colm_mcm wrote: »

Have you priced insurance yet?

OP - welcome home, esp to the Cultural Capital

Where in Galway, btw ??

Colm beat me to it: insurance will be a BIG deal.

I have relation who moved home from the US after 15 years. Had spent time in the Services, but when he came home..........had to get an Irish licence: there is NO recognition of his US licence, here, and you have to start from scratch. That's right - a learner permit. L-plates. Mandatory lessons now too !

Insurance - no one would touch him (and he in his late 30's) - had to start in a small car, no No Claims Bonus, big insurance price, just to build up a record.

Start with those two, then think about buying a car.

And, I wouldn't rush out buying an expensive car for your first one. Better to bank a few €€€ and start out modest - you never know what you'll need cash for, once here.

PS - are ya mad ? I want to move to Atlanta...........

Ali Babba

bazz26 wrote: »

Renault Laguna III are good value used these days:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201109201422789

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201114201925479

Give the poor guy a break, he doesn't need this kind of grief............

Wolverine_1999

Max_Damage wrote: »

Moving to Ireland!? Are you stoned? :eek:

Ha, my thoughts exactly

Insurance won't be cheap though as far as I understand.. not having an EU license and all.

bazz26

Ali Babba wrote: »

Give the poor guy a break, he doesn't need this kind of grief............

Listening to the man down the pub again? Laguna III is a decent car and much better car than the Laguna II. I'd have one over the overhyped Passat anyday.

Vicxas

Volkswagen Passat
Ford Mondeo
Honda Accord
Or the firm favorite for most people the Toyota Avensis.

Or go mad and buy an Audi A4

MAndrew

Im driving Ford Focus and I don't complain. It's a very good car for its price. Go check forums or reviews. Here is one of Ford Focus reviews (shortened the link). So you can see that this is a really good car.

KingOfBreifne

GM cars have pretty well been crap in the U.S. for a long time now, and I never did like Saturns.

I have been pricing insurance right along, yes, and I know how expensive it is. Hopefully the "no claims" discount will apply in my case.

I have looked at the Jetta a bit, and I'd be fine with that as well.

Please keep the advice coming...this has already been very helpful.

~ ryan

bazz26

US Jetta and Euro Jetta are pretty much the same car bar engines and spec. Euro ones tend to have less spec and smaller capacity engines. Might be worth taking one for a test drive in the US to get a feel of it.

Honda Accord is definately worth looking at too, the Euro Honda Accord I think was sold as the Acura TSX in the US and is more compact than the Accord you get in the US. It is also available in diesel form here but pre 2008models cost nearly €900 to tax per year. On your budget you probably are limited to a pre 2008 model.

Also manuals are more common here than autos, though that attitude is slowly changing now.