Michael McAleer answers your queries
From David Herman:
Has anyone noticed the many illegal 'Glencullen' signs in south Dublin on and close to the N11? They are mostly neatly executed on existing signs but in some cases special signposts, white on brown, have been erected. Since Glencullen is an insignificant location and highly inappropriate on a national route I rang the NRA, who confirmed it wasn't their doing but promised to 'look into it'. Over a month later they are still looking.
One unusual feature of the signs is that the Irish version does not appear and this must cause problems for Irish-language monoglots.
However, since they are both over 90 and have never moved from Carna (or wherever) I suppose this version isn't absolutely necessary.
Whatever about your views on the significance of Glencullen, or of the need for bilingual signage in Ireland, we checked with the National Roads Authority who tell us that the signs should not be there. They checked with their inspector for signs and say that he has already contacted both Wicklow County Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown District County Councils to remove the offending text.
According to a spokesperson: "We have no idea who put them there or what they are in connection with.
"The responsibility for removal lies with the local councils but we have been in touch with them about the matter."
From Tom Nelson:
My question is about air-conditioning and climate control in cars. What is the difference between them? Also, is it true that having either on a car increases the fuel consumption? Finally, is it true that using the rear window defroster increases fuel consumption?
First off, it's worth noting that some car firms describe their systems as being climate control, when all it really has is basic vents that blow hot or cold air. For these, air-conditioning is the better option.
However, the proper difference is that with a climate control system (which will control the air conditioning and heating), typically you set the temperature that you would like the interior to be, and the computer achieves this as quickly as possible by deciding from which vents to blow air, and at what speed, ie the process is automatically controlled.
For those vehicles without climate control, you can do everything yourself that such a system would do, changing the air temperature, speed and directional controls, allowing you as much control as you require. Additionally, with this sort of set-up, there is much less to go wrong.
As for fuel consumption, yes both systems use up fuel. The amount depends on a number of factors, not least the outside temperature and the time it takes to do your journey.
Some figures from manufacturers put the usage at between 5 to 8 per cent of your annual fuel bill.
That may seem significant, but most people would think it a price worth paying if it makes the journey more comfortable. In this job, we often find ourselves in cars without it, and it really makes a difference. While it might be thought of as an unnecessary luxury by some, we'd opt for air-con over the likes of leather seats and the like any day of the week. Just use it wisely, and you'll cut down on the bills.
Finally, the rear window demister will add another 5 per cent onto the fuel consumption while it's switched on. So use sparingly and remember to switch it off.
From Dermot Treacy:
How many times is VRT levied on a single car? If it is only once on completely new cars, then car dealers are collecting the VRT as part of the sale of used cars depreciated in tandem with the car price. This seems like robbery to me.
The margins on used cars would be grossly inflated leading to windfall profits. If however, the VRT is collected each time a car is sold then that's OK but I doubt that it is.
It's an interesting point. Although VRT is paid only once to the Government , it is obviously factored into the resale price of the car as the purchase price is effectively the price of the car inclusive of all taxes.
If it were not, and the new car buyers took the tax hit entirely on themselves, then used car prices would be significantly lower.
The logic of your argument, however, does not apply in any other market either. Tax impacts on the second-hand prices of every other commodity from houses to CDs. Be it VAT or VRT, the tax impacts on the second-hand price. You may think that dealers are "robbing" used car buyers, but then the same is true of everyone who sells on their used car.
When you go to sell on your car, are you going to only depreciate its value on the pre-tax price. If so, you will have a healthy queue of customers lining up outside your door.
And they won't all be car dealers.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie