The eagerly awaited first quarter results for new car sales are in and Motorcheck.ie can reveal that Volkswagen is now officially Ireland’s best selling brand for 2013 (year to date).
The closing stages of the race proved to be extremely significant with 56% of March’s total registrations recorded on the last five days of the month.
Nevertheless the German manufacturer crossed the finish line with 4,882 cars registered; a comfortable 747 units ahead of Japanese rival Toyota who came in at 4,135.
The Volkswagen Golf proved to be largely unstoppable and a major part of the brands quarterly success. Motorcheck.ie figures show that there were 2,083 new Golf’s registered in the first quarter of this year representing a whopping 43% of Volkswagen’s total sales. No surprise then that it’s the most popular car this year ahead of the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Focus in second and third place respectively.
The overall market does however remain somewhat depressed. Total sales for 2013 are 13% down on 2012 with 39,595 new cars registered against 45,593 for the equivalent period in 2012.
The only brands in the Top 10 to show an increase in volumes registered were Hyundai (up 25%), Audi (up 13%) and Kia (up 5%).
Popular brands Renault, Toyota & Ford suffered the biggest losses with a drop of 47%, 29% and 23% respectively.
The industry will now set its sights firmly on July 1st when it’s hoped that the ‘13-2’ number plate will stimulate a ‘second coming’ for new car sales.
Driving whilst under the influence of emotions can be an arduous task. The painstaking planning of a journey can help you in the long run, ensuring the stability of your emotional well being and that of those around you.
Stuck in traffic after a long day at work
There is nothing worse than getting into your car after a long day at work, and realising you are in for a tedious drive home! Finding the right song to help you unwind is imperative to your mood. If the day has been long and you need to relieve that stress, try the relaxing sounds of Kenny G to sooth the mind. May I suggest ‘forever in Love?’
Nerves can often get the better of us. If you’re on your way to a job interview or to ask for that raise, be sure to get yourself into the right frame of mind for the task ahead. Survivor’s ‘eye of the tiger’ is perfect to supply that much needed positivity and faith in yourself; essential before a difficult task.
The kids are screaming in the back seat and you’re close to pulling your hair out! Yes, it is family holiday time! If your scalp is still intact, ensure your music for the journey will be pleasing to their ears by including the catchy dance tune ‘Gangnam Style’ by PSY. Adored by children worldwide, this global hit will surely keep them occupied. At least for 4 minutes anyhow!
There comes a time in everybody’s life where we’ve been dumped. What is it about being dumped that we feel the need to listen to songs of heartbreak, to make us feel more of an emotional wreck than we already are?! I call it purging the soul. If you are unfortunate enough to be in this situation, can I recommend the smooth tone of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Because of You’ to drown your sorrows?
You’ve bought the ring and you’ve planned the night for months; now it’s time to get in the right mood. Yes, you’re in the mood for love! Planning a proposal is a work of art. If done right, it will create the right memory for your special someone forever. Get in touch with your romantic side and set the tone on your journey with the beautiful ‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton. The lyrics will not be forgotten by your future wife!
A long journey with your partner can be a difficult time, cooped up together with only a playlist and conversation to keep you company. Ensure a smoother journey (and perhaps relieve some tension!) by picking some classic music to get you singing along to! Can I suggest ‘Highway to Hell’ by ACDC? It’s an oldie, but a goodie!
If you spend a lot of time in your car, you will probably want to have a music collection to match your every mood. Whilst it is true, journeys can be long and tedious, with the right music to suit your needs; you can make the journey an easier task to undertake. Your car may see a range of your emotions over the years, but, with some careful planning, it could also be the place where your emotional needs are met, becoming a safe haven for you and your family.
The Eagerly Awaited Dacia Brand Arrives In Ireland
Shockingly Affordable Duster to hit Irish Roads
Having taken the global car market by storm in recent years, the arrival of Dacia in Ireland is
expected to shake things up - a lot!
At a time when prices seem to be climbing for almost everything else, Dacia brings a
refreshing smart-buy concept to Ireland and is one of the most exciting motor stories of
2012. Its arrival here will see the Duster SUV in Irish showrooms in January 2013, at a
shockingly affordable €14,990.
However, customers will be delighted to know that they can test drive and order their
Duster now through their local Dacia Dealership. The launch of Dacia Duster in Europe in
2010 saw such a demand from eager customers that resulted in a six-month waiting list for
the much anticipated vehicle in Germany and France.
The SUV segment is the fastest growing segment in Ireland and is up 9% YTD on 2011.
Almost 90% of vehicles in the SUV segment are over €22,500 to buy new or even over
€24,500 to have the equivalent diesel engine for the best seller of the segment, so with that
in mind, the Duster will quickly become a very attractive contender for those looking at
buying a new SUV, a new family car or even a used car.
The multi-award winning Duster will wow buyers with its chunky and unpretentious styling,
impressive and versatile interior space, peerless build quality and unbeatable value for
money. The eagerly-awaited Duster SUV is expected to kick its segment competitors into
touch with its super-mini or in some cases city-car pricing. Quite simply no other car in the
country will offer the same price, size and equipment for the money.
The Duster will be available in Ireland in both 4×2 and 4×4 guises with one diesel engine size,
a punchy 1.5 dCi 110Bhp in Band B with two trims, Alternative 4×2 and Signature 4×2, 4×4,
and comes with an up to five year unlimited mileage warranty.
Everything that Dacia does is centred on simplicity and eliminating the unnecessary. Its
model range in Ireland, Duster, Sandero Hatch launching in January 2013, Sandero CrossOver and Grand Sandero launching later in 2013, reflect this, giving customers the ability to
A COUNTY Donegal man who took on Customs over VRT and won has told others facing court cases to get rid of solicitors unwilling to challenge attempted prosecutions.
John Doherty says Gardai and customs officers are ‘knowingly breaking EU Law’ every time they seize a vehicle in connection with VRT charges.
He says legal representatives who do not challenge the VRT charges and the laws which are used to collect them should be dismissed by clients.
Mr Doherty did not specify any solicitors here in Co Donegal, and said his comments are directed generally at the legal profession throughout the country.
He told donegaldaily.com: “Victims of Customs/ VRT are being failed and misled by some members of the legal profession who are leading people into the courts like a lamb to the slaughter.
“They are not informing them that there are both constitutional and EU law rights that should be raised in court leaving a very easy conviction for the judge to rule on the bogus 1992 Finance Act.
“On the first instance the solicitor should inform his client that the 1992 finance act breaches the 3rd amendment of the constitution under the 1972 European community’s act, Ireland’s accession to Europe.
“The legal profession are also failing to inform their clients that fixed roadside penalties by customs or Gardai breaches their constitutional right to a fair trial in court.
“There is also a failure to inform clients of their treaty rights under the Treaty of Rome where Customs dutys are prohibited under Article 25 and also free movement of goods as between member states in Article 39.
“There is also a failure by the legal profession to raise these matters in court leaving the victim with a €2500 fine leaving court. These cases are very easily won in court if solicitors were representing them properly.
“We in the Irish Drivers Association are advising people that find themselves in this position and are not being informed by their solicitor to dismiss them and find a solicitor who acts for them under the constitution and their treaty rights and object in court to any summons issued under the 1992 Finance Act.”
Under the Finance Act, Gardai are given the power to seize cars at the roadside for non-payment of VRT. This is even if they are properly registered in, for example, the North, and fully insured to be driven in the South.
But Mr Doherty says the Act stands in contradiction of both Irish and European Union legislation, a ruling they claim has already been upheld at Letterkenny Court.
He claims precedent set 18 months ago has already been established in the case of his son when three charges against him were struck out by Judge Kevin Kilraine.
He ruled that the seizure breached Article 25 of the Treaty of Rome Act (free movement of products within the Union). When the car was taken, they also denied him the right of due process, as he was not convicted of any crime yet his car was taken from him.
As infallible as celebrities may seem to us mere mortals, many of them have experienced car crashes that have been near escapes. While some have occurred as a result of negligent driving on the behalf of the celebrity, others have happened due to sheer idiocy. Regardless of the cause, each event has stood as a mishap that has shook fans worldwide.
Barely a month goes by when the unpredictable Charlie Sheen hits the headlines, and in the year of 2010 he shocked fans worldwide when he crashed two of his cars in the cliffs of Hollywood Hills. In both February and July, Sheen plunged two cars off the Hollywood Hills cliffs. Despite each crash being horrific in terms of damage, Sheen managed to escape with his life. This was much to the surprise of the Los Angeles police force, who found his Mercedes at the bottom of Sherman Oaks cliff.
Closely following Charlie Sheen’s epic performance on the road is the rap star once known as ‘Lil Bow Wow’. While on a blazing night out with fellow rap star Chris Brown, Bow Wow decided he would like to tweet to their fans that he was drunk and ready to let Chris take the wheel. Moments later the star was involved in a near crash, which is apparently what spurred him to allow Chris to drive.
While the alcohol-fuelled exploits of Lil Bow Wow and Chris Brown are shocking enough, George Michael managed to pull his own drug-driven stunt in London. After smoking copious amounts of marijuana, the British singer managed to crash his car into a Snappy Snaps store in the capital. Despite his car being a total write-off, George managed to escape the disaster with only a few minor injuries.
Finally, one of Britain’s most unlucky celebrity car crashes is that of Cristiano Ronaldo. As the Manchester United footballer drove through his team’s city towards the airport, he wrote off a £200,000 car he had only just purchased. Thankfully the star was not hurt, and was able to continue with his footballing career afterwards.
No matter what the cause, all of the above celebrity car crashes serve as a stark reminder to all of us and highlight the importance of taking caution on the road is a necessity.
About this article: It has been provided by GetCover.ie, an Irish based insurance company who offer online car insurance quotes. Visit www.getcover.ie for more information.
Most of our trade customers will know the company National Vehicle Distribution or ‘NVD’ very well. The company has over 100 car transporters on the road in Ireland and accounts for over 70% of all new car movements in the country.
Unfortunately we don’t see them as often as we’d like now that new car sales have shrunk to just under 90,000 but you don’t have to be a major car dealer to use NVD. They were just as happy to take my 1973 Mercedes 280CE up to Donegal for some restoration work and bring it back to Ben at Lichtenberg classics in Enniskerry for some TLC under the hood.
Cian Royston, NVD’s Sales Manger called into Motocheck HQ this week to tell us about the companies latest services and an exciting new device they have brought to the Irish market.
The ‘Heatshot’ is a heated winscreen wash system that clears ice, snow, grease, bird droppings and dead insects from the windscreen, whilst prolonging the life of your wiper blades. With predictions of a harsh winter around the corner it looks like the ‘Heatshot’ will be a on many a Christmas present list. My Merc will certainly be a client!
To order one today
The Heatshot comes supplied and fitted at €250 per unit. You can find an approved ‘Heatshot’ dealer on the NVD website here. Mention FunkyMotors.ie when you’re ordering and you might manage to shave a euro or two off the price.
Bavaria City Racing Dublin bring Vodafone McLaren F1 Team to Dublin
Vodafone McLaren F1 car to race on the streets of Dublin
Bavaria City Racing Dublin today announced that for the first time ever, one of the leading F1 teams in the world will take to the streets of Dublin. Thanks to Vodafone Ireland, the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes F1 team has been signed up for the street racing exhibition in Dublin city centre on Sunday 3rd June.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will fight for the right to race their F1 Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes along the Dublin city track which starts at the Convention Centre Dublin, continues along Customs House Quay before crossing Butt Bridge, chicane’s at D’Olier Street, zips past College Green and the Central Bank on Dame Street before reaching the chequered flag on O’Connell Bridge.
Bavaria City Racing Dublin is a free public event and over 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of Dublin to enjoy the best the world of motorsport has to offer.
For those who want to get closer to the action there are three ticketed premium performance zones on the track at Customs House Quay, O’Connell Bridge and at the Main Paddock on North Wall Quay. Tickets for these areas are priced from €75.90 and are available from Ticketmaster.
Bavaria City Racing Dublin Ambassador, Eddie Jordan commented “I’m hugely excited about Bavaria City Racing Dublin, this is something spectacular, something you’ve never witnessed before and I for one can’t wait”
Gavin Collins of Bavaria City Racing, commented, “We are delighted to be able to announce that the Vodafone-McLaren F1 team is coming to Dublin to be a centrepiece of the Bavaria City Racing Dublin experience. They are a premier F1 team and Jenson and Lewis are two of the leading drivers in world motorsport. Our thanks go to the Vodafone Ireland team, at their headquarters in Leopardstown, who were instrumental in ensuring that the team will be in Dublin next summer.”
Robert Hyland, Sponsorship Manager at Vodafone Ireland, commented, “We are truly excited at the prospect of bringing the Formula 1 experience to Dublin. Jenson and Lewis are great sports ambassadors and we are delighted to be able to help showcase what they and the cars can do in front of an Irish audience. It will be a massive event for the city that will be remembered for years to come.”
Patrick Cooney, Managing Director of Gleeson commented, “Gleeson is delighted to be working with Bavaria to bring Bavaria City Racing to Dublin, having witnessed the event first hand in both Rotterdam and Moscow, I am confident that this will be a great event and will be supported by the people of Dublin, from all over Ireland and we also expect a large contingent from abroad. With the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team onboard, this will be one of the most exciting events for Ireland in 2012.”
For more information:
David Ó Síocháin, Pembroke Communications david@pembrokecomms.ie/ 087 936 2440 / 01 649 6322
The BavariaCity Racing Dublin event is subject to licenses being granted
About Bavaria City Racing Dublin
Bavaria City Racing transforms the city landscape into a racetrack to bring the world of motorsport onto the streets of major European cities. It has been successfully hosted in Rotterdam and Moscow and comes to Dublin for the first time on Sunday 3rd June 2012.
Although 94% of the event is free to the public, there are special ticketed premium performance zones along the racetrack that bring you closer to the action. Performance zone ticket information is available from the Bavaria City Racing Dublin website and from Ticketmaster.
Official event partners include Vodafone, BestQuote.ie and Monster.
