Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Sarah Quinn:
What should I look for in a small car? I've got several potential models in my sights but I'm wondering what sort of criteria to apply, apart from the obvious one of price.
As you mention, price is all-important. Similarly, for many, looks come into the equation. Next would be the reliability and quality of the dealer network. The latter one is often taken for granted, but unless you change your car on a yearly basis you'll probably have some relationship with the dealer during your time with the car.
Remember price is not as simple as the bottom line figures. Working within a budget, look at what the various models have on offer. The following are things we would want in a small car:
Safety: In all honesty, safety usually comes pretty low down the list for Irish buyers. However, as a minimum we would want at least dual front airbags and ABS. Ideally, ESP - the system that intervenes when the car slips out of control - should be fitted in most cars as standard these days, but until then it may be a useful thing to look for.
Comfort: A height adjustable driver's seat and steering column are always good, particularly if you are not regulation size, and it will count well when you go to resell it.
Air-conditioning - once you've lived with it, it's very hard to live without it. This is normally optional, but I would always add it on and see what the end prices are like then.
Space: Given that boot space is small in these cars, make sure the rear seats can fold. Otherwise it will not pass the famous golf bag test. If it doesn't, then it will not pass the baby buggy test either.
For a buyer who is single and doesn't play golf, that may not matter, but when you go to sell it, you limit your pool of potential buyers. Also check how many people you can really fit on the back seats.
Of course, styling is crucial as well. You want a car that fills you with some sense of pride every time you open your front door.
Finally, don't forget to take the car for a good test drive, preferably without the salesperson. If they are with you, don't necessarily follow their set route. I am presuming you are not looking for a "hot hatch" (if you are, then performance will be up near the top).
On the test drive, you don't have to test out the top speed, but check the acceleration between 50km/h and 100km/h (on the right road). That will reveal the sort of overtaking power the car has.
Performance is often ignored by drivers who claim they just want to "get from A to B", but they often reconsider when overtaking a tractor and finding themselves short on power and rapidly heading towards a corner or oncoming traffic. One or two scares like that will make any sensible driver take more interest in mid-range performance.
From Kevin Buckley:
A correspondent enquired about a conversion table for mpg to litres per 100 kilometres. A useful website for this is: www.garfnet.org.uk/tools/index.htm?convert.htm
We can also recommend the following website for fuel consumption conversions:
http://www.projects.ex.ac.uk/trol/scol/ccfuel.htm
From P Boyle:
What's the best bike to start out on? My son is determined to get a motorbike but I want him to get a good one. However, if this is just a fad then I don't want to waste too much money on it. Can John Wheeler offer any advice?
John responds: "Young people are usually restricted in the choice of bike by regulations (restricting them to machines not exceeding 25kW power output for two years after passing the driving test), by the cost of insurance(an 18-year-old could be paying as much as €5,000 to insure a small machine), and by the depth of their, or their parent's wallet.
There is no such thing as the one and only best bike to start on, despite what manufacturers may claim. These days the majority of machines are well made and reliable.
More importantly the machine must be fit for the intended purposes. A 50cc moped, by far the cheapest option, could suit if all travel was over short distances within the 60 km/h limits. It would be useless for a Dublin-Galway trip.
Also the bike has to appeal to the rider. There is no point forcing a young person to have a machine which, in his/her view, however misguided, simply does not appeal. Under the heading of not wanting to waste money, good quality riding gear that gives protection against impact and abrasion and professional rider training should be regarded as essential outlays.
Send your queries to: Motors Help Desk, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or by e-mail to motorshelp@irish-times.ie