Michael McAleer answers your queries
From L Cullen, Co Dublin:
I'm shopping around for a new car but several I've seen in showrooms feature miles-per-hour clocks.
I thought this was now illegal, but the dealer tells me that there's nothing wrong with it at all. He's also suggested a discount if I opt for the mph clock.
What's the legal situation with the mph clock and should I consider the offer?
Surprisingly, despite the agreement with the EU to introduce kilometres per hour as the national measurement of speed, the Government has no power to force companies to sell cars with either km/h only or km/h dominant speed dials. To do so, according to the authorities, would be to go against single market competition rules by imposing special demands of car firms selling into the Irish market.
I'm surprised that any dealer would have a car on display with the old mph clocks. Even if they are in stock, most dealers wouldn't put them to the front of their showrooms.
With no legal imperative on the dealers to sell you a km/h model, everyone needs to be extra wary when ordering their car. They should state clearly that they want a km/h clock. Otherwise it could become rather tricky to straighten the matter out when the car is delivered.
As to whether it's worth getting a mph model with a discount, the simple answer is that it depends on the discount. People seem to have adjusted really well to the changeover and those involved deserve to be congratulated on the smooth transition.
Motorists also seem to be well able to work out the conversions. However, you might prefer to take the plunge and go for a km/h clock now, particularly if the km figures are hard to read. There's also the issue of resale.
In four years when you go to resell the car, it will be up against 05-registered models with km/h clocks.
In a like-for-like comparison, you can be sure that buyers will look for a discount from you for the inconvenience of the old-fashioned mph speedometer.
From Morgan O'Connell:
I have a Nissan Terrano which I hope to trade within the next year. I will again be looking for a seven-seater 4 X 4 but not too pricey.
The Terrano is great but access to the third row is a bit of a joke if you have child seats in the second row. The engine is fantastic but I really don't need all that much power.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara might fit the bill but hasn't got great reviews and is probably due a makeover.
Nissan is bringing out a seven-seater 2.5-litre Pathfinder in Britain which looks good on paper but Nissan Ireland hasn't replied to an e-mail enquiry about its introduction into Ireland. Any idea if it's going to be sold here?
The Pathfinder is on its way and will be on sale in March/April. I've seen it - it's a large beast so there's no fear that you will not have enough space in it.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a completely different sort of animal, and wouldn't really compare to the Pathfinder, certainly not in terms of spaciousness.
From H. O'Brien:
Is there a way I can put a speed limiter on my car? My car-crazed teenage son is about to receive his provisional licence and I would prefer if he could be restricted to certain speeds.
Sadly, we have failed in our search to find such a device on the market.
We have contacted several motor factor shops and car firms and most seem to point in the direction of a tracking device such as the one used by some of the insurance companies.
Axa, for example, operates the Traksure system for young drivers. Speeds and distances travelled are reviewed by the insurance firms through a dashboard tracking device, which sends signals every three minutes through satellite and mobile infrastructure. Those that break the limits will be penalised by hefty premiums.
Of course, education may be just as important as limiting the speed. Several good courses are on offer, such as the Ignition scheme run by Hibernian, which was recently extended to include provisional licence holders, with discounts of about 23 per cent available.
It might also be worth checking with your son's school whether it would be possible to get him on the Early Drive course run by Mondello and the Irish School of Motoring. Ed Power recently reported on the course for Motors and was very impressed.
Send your queries to:
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie