motors

Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008

S U P P L E M E N T

INSIDE
THE NEW
FORD KUGA
 motors S U P P L E M E N T Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 2

VRT CHANGES
TO BRING BARGAINS GALORE
The Society for the Irish Motor Industry believes motorists are
getting the best of both worlds with VRT and road tax changes.
At the time of the budget the
Government announced the changes in
VRT and road tax that will take effect
from the 1 July. The new systems
being based on CO2 emissions rather
than engine size (cc) as previously for
VRT and road tax, have produced far
reaching changes and have created a
fair degree of confusion among con-
sumers as to how they will affect them
in buying a new car. The Minister for
the Environment has since implement-
ed the concession that gave the benefit
of lower road tax to those who buy
more environmental friendly cars
before July but there is still a lot of
confusion among consumers.SIMI has
received calls from many potential
new car customers seeking clarifica-
tion as to whether they might be better
advised as to buy now or wait till after
July.
It believes at the present time con-
sumers have a great opportunity to
take advantage of the best of both
worlds, the best bargains under the old
and the new tax systems. By shopping
around now, you could get a great deal
and take the opportunity to get out into
the various dealerships around the
country. Check out www.simi.ie for
further information.
SIMIs also has a car history check, a
new website designed by the motor
industry, which provides professional
dealers with the possibility of offering
greater peace-of-mind to used car buy-
ers.
Using data from a number of sources
in Ireland and other countries from
which used vehicles are imported,
www.carhistorycheck.ie will allow a
vehicles history to be checked based
on its registration number.
SIMI President, Jim Cusack said this
will “give customers great reassurance
when they are purchasing a used car.
They should look for the new Car
History Check Certificate, which will
be available for each checked vehicle,
confirming its history."
The SIMI Car History Check
Certificate is designed to inform a cus-
tomer on details of the car they are
buying including: outstanding finance,
the number of previous owners, NCT
information, and the odometer
(mileage) reading as well as additional
details on imported vehicles.
Clocking is a major issue for con-
sumers in Ireland and is a real concern
when purchasing a used car. The SIMI
Car History Check is designed to col-
lect mileage information on Irish vehi-
cles, which will build up over time into
an accurate database. Should a check
reveal that the car was imported,
details of the country it came from will
be included. In the case of a vehicle
imported from the UK, the check will
show if the vehicle has been stolen,
has outstanding finance, whether it
was previously written off and details
of mileage previously recorded.
Jim Cusack notes that; "The website
has gained great attention already in
the motor industry with hundreds of
dealers having signed up to the system
in recognition of the need for such a
service."
He points out "There has already been
one instance where a dealer discovered
through Car History Check that a used
car being traded in had previously
been written off." The service will pro-
vide great protection for the customer
and of course for the dealer, who may
previously have been caught with such
vehicles.

Sizzling Summer Campaign Miss Ireland Blathnaid

McKenna promoting the AXA Insurance giveaway
which was launched this week.
 motors S U P P L E M E N T
T.P. WATERS TO OFFER
ICONIC AMERICAN BRANDS
CJ IRELAND ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF T.P. WATERS LTD.,
KILDARE, AS AUTHORISED MAIN SALES, SERVICE AND PARTS DEALERS
FOR THE CHRYSLER, JEEP AND DODGE BRANDS.
T.P. Waters Ltd., based at Monasterevin Road, Kildare,
was started by Tom Waters 35 years ago and became one
of the leading farm machinery suppliers in the area. Tom
diversified into the motor trade over 10 years ago and has
sold SEAT cars since then. The company were SEAT
Dealers of the Year 2005.
It is very much a family business with Tom being sup-
ported by his sons, Peter and T.J. This progressive motor
dealer has just moved into a state of the art 20 car show-
room with 50,000 sq.ft. of open space for displaying pre-
owned cars. The company is very quality conscious in all
aspects of customer service and are ISO 2000/2001
approved They offer 24 hour breakdown assistance and
have a fully equipped diagnostic workshop with fully
trained technicians.
T.P. Waters appointment is timely as the Chrysler Group
introduced a wide range of exciting new models in 2007.
Chrysler launched the awesome Chrysler 300C SRT 6.1
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 3
Hemi engined model to join the successful 300C range. A
family size saloon, the Sebring followed. The Chrysler
range includes the Grand Voyager, transport of choice for
the stars, and the cool PT Cruiser.
Jeep, the original 4x4, has a new Wrangler to come in
both 2 and 4 door models. The Jeep range will be further
broadened by the Compass and Patriot models later this
year. These new models will join the successful
Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Commander, the first
ever 3-row 7-seat Jeep.
Dodge, the third brand of the Chrysler Group just intro-
duced the Caliber saloon to Ireland. This iconic brand
features bold assertive styling and powerful engines. Two
new models, the Nitro SUV and Avenger saloon will be
added this year.
So with three new brands and lots of new models,
2008 will be a busy year for T.P. Waters in Kildare!
motors S U P P L E M E N T Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 4
 motors S U P P L E M E N T Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 6

VOLVO OCEAN
RACE TOUR ENJOY THE THRILLS AND SPILLS
OF LIFE AT THE EXTREME
Volvo will also be launching a limited
edition range of cars to celebrate the
Volvo Ocean Race.The new Volvo
Ocean Race Edition encompasses three
models: the Volvo V70,Volvo XC70 and
Volvo XC90. New is that customers can
David Baddeley, Managing Director of Volvo Car Ireland with Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism,
Debbie Hadwen, Chief Duty Officer of the Volvo Ocean Race and Jamie Boag, Chief Executive of Let's Do It Galway at the choose between two exterior colours:
official countdown of 12 months to the race stop-over. Ocean Blue and Electric Silver.
The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's
most grueling ocean adventure. An
extreme race that consists of 10 legs,
the vessels start off on 4 October from
Alicante in Spain.The finishing line is in
St Petersburg, Russia, on June 27, 2009
after stops in Cape Town (South Africa),
Kochi (India), Singapore, Qingdao
(China), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Boston
(USA), Galway (Ireland), Göteborg
(Sweden) and Stockholm (Sweden).The
2008-09 event also includes an inshore
race in most of the ports.
The Volvo Ocean Race
Be sure to drop by any of the above
locations and enjoy the thrills and spills
of life at the extreme.
To commemorate the race launch,Volvo
brought a race simulator to Ireland last
month. Speaking about the arrival, David
Baddeley, Managing Director,Volvo Car
Ireland, commented, "We are delighted
to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race simu-
lator to Ireland and are really excited
that it will be touring the country. It
provides the public with the opportunity
to see and feel exactly what it will be
like for the sailors involved in the Volvo
Ocean Race and experience what life at
the extreme is really like."
The simulator started its Irish tour in
Eyre Square in Galway on the 22 May; a
year to the day the Volvo Ocean Race is
due to arrive in Galway Bay. It then trav-
elled to Dublin where it was the main
attraction at the Maritime Festival in
Dublin's docklands.

Watch out for emergency vehicles

Driving tips from Irish Advanced Motorists (IAM)

EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Deciding what to do when you hear an emergency vehicle
approaching can be a dilemma. Do you stay where you are and
potentially block the progress of an emergency vehicle? Or do
you move into a position that may put you or other road users
at risk?
Unfortunately, some drivers over-react to emergency service
vehicles travelling on "blues and twos" (blue lights and two-tone
horns). This is often because they don't hear or see the emer-
gency vehicle until it's too close, and then take drastic action to
get out of the way.
Irish Advanced Motorists says that good driving practice will
alert you early to emergency vehicles: regular mirror checks
(side and rear) for example, and keeping the windows slightly
down around town, so you can hear sirens approaching.
Don't panic and just brake. It's natural to want to react. But
instinctively putting your brakes on immediately in front of an
emergency vehicle doesn't help: it slows the progress of the
emergency vehicle and jeopardises other road users.
Think about where you are on the road. You should deal with
the problem in the same way that you deal with any other
potentially hazardous driving situation.What is the safest option
available to you?
Don't cross red traffic lights or speed to get out of the way.The
emergency driver has specialist training. Bus lanes and box junc-
tions can be problems too, but let them resolve the problem of
breaking the rules - not you.
If you are moving it may well be that you can continue at a rea-
sonable pace and the emergency vehicle can follow you out of a
pocket of congestion (such as a blocked one way system). In that
scenario, attempting to pull over too soon, or slow down, might
just cause a needless obstruction and so hamper the progress of
the emergency vehicle.
Indicate your intentions clearly. Don't pull in opposite other
obstructions, such as centre bollards. If you are thinking about
pulling over across an entrance to a school or factory, you may
be unwittingly preventing the emergency vehicle reaching its
destination.And do think about where you are asking the emer-
gency driver to overtake you - on the brow of a hill or a blind
bend can be placing him or her in a very difficult position.
Get out of the way as soon as you can do so in safety.
IAM is Ireland's leading advanced driving organisation. IAM is
part of the Institute of Advanced Motorists the UK Road Safety
Charity dedicated to raising driving standards and reducing the
number of accidents that occur on our roads.
 motors S U P P L E M E N T
It wasn't very long ago that the concept of a diesel-
powered convertible was a very foreign one. How
things have changed. Now, the best diesel drop-
tops are usually preferable to their petrol-powered
counterparts. Volvo's C70 is a case in point. The
variant to have in this line-up is the 178bhp D5
version.
This 2.0D engine is used across almost every other
model that Volvo makes but it's especially well
suited to the C70, with plenty of lazy torque -
320Nm to be exact. You can expect a top speed of
127mph and 0 to 62mph in 11 seconds. At the
pumps, this older engine doesn't quite match up to
its more powerful D5 stablemate, recording a
46.3mpg combined fuel consumption but CO2
emissions are much better at 161g/km. Like all
Volvo C70s, this one is available in four trim lev-
els - S, Sport, SE and SE Lux.
Many owners will order their cars with Volvo's
clever Powershift gearbox. Available on the 2.0D
engine only, it reaches 0-60mph in 10.5 seconds,
features a combined mpg of 44.8 and boasts a
167g/km CO2 figure. This Powershift six-speed
unit features twin wet clutches to provide the gear
changing comfort of a fully-automatic transmission
with the performance of a manual gearbox. As well
as offering gear changing comfort and high per-
formance, Powershift also contributes to delivering
improved fuel efficiency.
The C70 is no slouch but it's not a particularly
rewarding car to drive fast. The pleasure with the
C70 is to be gleaned from folding that roof down
and going for a leisurely cruise on a sunny day.
The throttle response is quite lethargic and the
steering isn't particularly sharp but wind-buffeting
is minimal when the roof is stowed and engine
noise is far from intrusive.
Volvo's designers have done a commendable job of
styling the C70. With the hood in place, you proba-
bly wouldn't guess that the car is capable of flip-
ping its lid at all. The rear deck isn't overly long
(the usual giveaway) and the roofline is smooth
and beautifully integrated with the rest of the
bodywork. The old C70 coupe used to sell within
five seconds of customers clapping eyes on it and
there's no reason to think this car will be any dif-
ferent.
After all, many of the basic ingredients are much
the same. The stance and proportioning are similar,
it'll still sit four adults in comfort and it still
adheres to Volvo's impeccably high safety stan-
dards. Volvo has developed the C70 to offer new
standards of preventive and protective safety in the
convertible market, the car includes an advanced
body structure, greater torsional rigidity and sever-
al innovations that make it unique among open-top
cars.
"This 2.0D engine is used across almost every
other model that Volvo makes but it's especially
well suited to the C70..."
An example of this is the door-mounted Inflatable
Curtain (IC), part of the C70's integrated Side
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 7
COMFORT
AND STYLE
Volvo's only four cylinder C70 could
be the one to have. Jonathan Crouch
on the 2.0D variant....
Impact Protection System (SIPS). As the IC cannot
be fitted in the roof, as with the rest of the Volvo
range, it has been innovatively fitted in the door to
inflate upwards instead of downwards. Volvo's
safety engineers have also fine-tuned the IC to be
extra stiff, so it can stay upright and help protect
the head more effectively. In addition, the curtain
then deflates more slowly to provide additional
protection if the car rolls over.
Volvo claim the C70 to be the only four-seater pre-
mium convertible with a folding steel roof and as
such, the Swedes believe they've stolen an impor-
tant march on any perceived competition. Indeed,
top brass reckon that the range as a whole will
continue to double the sales of its predecessor and
that the UK will continue to be the C70's second
biggest market after the US.
The standard equipment levels on the C70 leave
little cause for complaint. If the British weather
does its worst and the hood has to remain in place,
there's electronic climate control to fall back on.
All models also receive cruise control, powered
heated door mirrors, 17" alloy wheels and a good
quality CD stereo. Over and above the Sport, the
SE adds an auto-dimming rear view mirror, a pow-
ered driver's seat with memory functions, wood
trim, leather upholstery, a CD autochanger and rain
sensing wipers.
The SE Lux lays on a cargo net, a ski bag, a pow-
ered passenger's seat, a further upgraded stereo,
18" alloys which look great but firm the ride-up
considerably and folding door mirrors with lights
to illuminate the ground as you exit the vehicle.
The generous specifications are extremely well
integrated in to the C70's high quality interior.
Build quality is solid throughout and the controls
are refreshingly easy to use without recourse to the
owner's manual. The latest models feature a multi-
function storage area between the front seats and a
more compact handbrake design.
In the C70, Volvo have produced an extremely
well-executed luxury convertible with a beautifully
unhurried feel to it. Buyers seeking real dynamism
and sharp handling from their drop-top may need
to look elsewhere but in terms of refinement, build
quality, safety and style, the big Swede comes up
trumps. The 2.0D diesel engine is well suited to
the C70's relaxed character with its abundant
torque making for effortless cruising and decent
straight-line performance. Overall? Well the only
four cylinder engine in the C70 line-up could well
be the one to have.
motors S U P P L E M E N T
FINLAYS DRIVE FOR SUCCESS
IRELAND'S LARGEST FORD SHOWROOM OPENS IN NAAS
Gary and Mike Finlay at their new state
of the art showrooms in Naas.
The Finlay family name has been synonymous with the
Kildare motor industry for decades but with the opening
of the largest Ford dealership in Ireland, brothers Mike
and Gary are taking the business to new heights.
Its new state of the art premises on the outskirts of
Naas covers a massive 42,000 sq.ft. with the equivalent
of an acre in floor space.
"We are really excited about the opening. Its going to be
fantastic. Our Newbridge showroom will remain open as
well. It will be like the shop window, the high street win-
dow if you like, for our premises here.This will be the
main dealership," explained Mike.
The ultra modern headquarters at the M7 Motor Park
has a vast used car showroom with a capacity for 60
vehicles, a new car showroom, an impressive top class
workshop with all the latest equipment, and comfortable
offices.
"We have one of the best workshops in the country
with the highest spec technology - its very much state-
of-the-art.We can test suspension, brakes, four wheel
alignment, headlights, and emission tests.We have a full
automatic air condition service and we have branched
out into tyres.We have really competitive rates on tyres
and we've had a great response," added Mike.
With today's emphasis on green energy and reducing the
carbon footprint, the Finlays have come up with a unique
and impressive way of reusing the waste oil removed
from the cars they service. It is filtered and pumped into
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 8
a high tech heating system which services the whole
building.
The company has also employed an innovative new sys-
tem in the workshop, which allows customer's cars to
be serviced while they wait without excess delays. Each
mechanic and apprentice operate two bays, which means
more complicated jobs can be processed along side
smaller repairs.This allows the work to be carried out in
a super efficient manner.There is a professional team of
six technicians working alongside six apprentices. Karl
Dolan is one of just eleven Ford Master Technicians in
the country and he is based at the Naas facility.
"We can do all the basic repairs and service while you
wait.We can also do a full NCT specification test and
get computer print outs for customers," said the busi-
nessman.
When it comes to motors, to say the business is in the
Finlays blood would be an understatement.This is the
third generation of the family to serve the motoring
needs of people across the region.
"Our grandfather was actually known as Captain Michael
Finlay. In 1936 he set up in the Finlay dealership
Monasterevin and then he joined the Irish Army during
the "Emergency" in 1939 where he served his time as
captain and the name stuck with him when he left," said
Mike.
In 1972 the Newbridge showroom and garage opened
its doors and was run by Mike and Gary's well known
motors S U P P L E M E N T Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 9

father, Mick. It was later awarded the Ford agency
in 1987. Today, the Naas showroom is now one
of the biggest in the country.The fact that 60
used vehicles can now be displayed indoors
means they are ready to be sold and driven out
the door straight away.
"Traditionally the used cars stock was displayed
outdoors which meant that they had to be
cleaned regularly and were exposed to the ele-
ments.With our new 50 car used showroom cus-
tomers can view our large range of used cars in
the comfort of the fabulous new surroundings.W
have put a system in place where we service and
fully recondition every used car within 8 days of
coming into stock.This means that the majority of
our used cars can be purchased and driven away
on the same day. Supreme efficiency is also the
key to the new parts department.
"We have an overnight parts department service
from the UK. If we get an emergency order, we
can send it in before 5.30pm and we should have
the part by 5am the next morning.We are also
the main supplier of spare parts to the Irish army
and we were recently involved in the Chad
mission," he said.
Servicing costs have also been slashed with the
introduction of a standard set fee. A Ford Focus
will cost just 130 for its annual service for the
first two years of its life.This means that people
will know exactly what it will cost them to get
their car serviced.
It's been an exciting time for the family business
with the launch of the new Kuga earlier this
month. Meanwhile, the Finlays are not concerned
with the introduction of the new carbon based
Co2 tax. In fact, this will mean 80 per cent of the
Ford range will be cut in price.
On the commercial side of the business, Ford
have the largest share of the market in Ireland.
Transit vans have been Ireland's number one com-
mercial seller for 40 years with 26 per cent of the
market.There are over 140 different models of
various types on offer.
So why not call down to the Naas
showroom and check it out for yourself.
Finlays Naas, M7 Motor Park, Exit 10,
Naas. 045-431725

DIRECTIONS TO FINLAY FORD NAAS

FROM NEWBRIDGE:
Take M7 northbound at the Curragh – Take Exit 10 - At roundabout take 1st exit – take 1st left

FROM NAAS:
Take Newbridge road past B&Q – At roundabout take 3rd exit to cross motorway - At roundabout
take 1st exit – take 1st left

M7 NORTHBOUND:
Take Exit 10 - At roundabout take 1st exit – take 1st left

M7 SOUTHBOUND:
Take Exit 10 – Turn right at to cross motorway – At roundabout take 1st exit – take 1st left
motors S U P P L E M E N T
Child Safety
USED CHILD SEATS
THINKING OF
SAVING MONEY AND
GETTING A USED CHILD
CAR SEAT RATHER THAN
A NEW ONE?
THINK AGAIN.......
IF you’re a parent of a small child, you’ll know only too
well just how easily the costs add up. Clothes, high
chairs, cots and car child seats.
Of course, you could save yourself money by buying
some of these items second-hand. And for all but one cru-
cial item, that would be fine. The crucial item? The child
seat for your car.
Want to know why? Then you want to talk to the Baby
Products Association (BPA). They’ve been doing some
research into the hidden dangers of buying second-hand
car seats and child restraints.
BPA is a charity, backed by Mother & Baby Magazine,
set up to make parents aware of the risks they take with
their children’s lives if they choose to follow the bargain
basement route. This is even true when it comes to home-
based children’s items. Around 15,000 kids under five are
injured in home accidents involving nursery equipment
in the UK every year. When it comes to buying these
items second-hand, there are all kinds of hidden dangers,
such as worn fittings and harnesses and hairline cracks.
Buy a used child’s car seat and the problems can be
even greater. If the fitting instructions are missing, can
you be sure that both the seat and your child will be held
secure in the event of an accident? And does that bargain
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 10
seat meet the very latest safety standards?
Fortunately, it seems that the populace at large is now
getting the message. Sales of second-hand seats have
dropped considerably in recent times. “This is excellent
news for our campaign,” says a spokesperson for the
BPA. “Our initial research showed that at least a third of
pushchairs, car seats and other nursery products are
bought or passed on second-hand. These ‘bargains’ can be
dangerous, even fatal, to a small child. The fact that sec-
ond-hand sales are at their lowest ever indicates that con-
sumers are now more aware of the hidden dangers and
are making more responsible decisions for their chil-
dren.”
Unfortunately, even new children’s car seats can be dan-
gerous if not used properly. A recent survey threw up
some surprisingly worrying answers. One in two parents
wrongly believe that a passenger airbag offers extra pro-
tection for children in rear- facing child seats on front
seats. The shocking truth is, in the event of a collision,
the airbag can inflate with such force as to cause severe
or even fatal head injuries.
If you have any doubts about the passenger airbag fit-
ted to your car and the effects it could have on any child
seat fitted, then contact your local main-dealer. There
may even be a very simple solution, since many cars are
now fitted with airbags that can be de-activated to
remove any possible danger.
motors S U P P L E M E N T Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 11
THE POWER OF A STRIKING NEW DESIGN
The new 2008 Tribeca was developed with an enor-
mous amount of input from consumers in the luxury
SUV segment who were very clear about the features
they want at this level of pricing and prestige. With
powerful new styling, a new, larger displacement 3.6-
litre H6 engine, and improved performance and fuel
efficiency, the new 2008 Subaru Tribeca delivers a
unique balance of style, safety and functionality in a
progressive SUV form.
The exterior design of the new Tribeca is both stream-
lined and powerful, with a new, wider and taller grille,
new front fenders and new hood design. The grille is
now integrated into the front bumper, featuring a new
chrome spread-wing design, with the Subaru star clus-
ter badge as the focal point.
A raised hood line, deeper front valance and new head-
lamps visually widen and heighten the Tribeca, estab-
lishing greater road presence with a more SUV-like
appearance. The new grille flows into a powerful sil-
houette, enhanced by new rear three-quarter windows.
The rear quarter windows and the addition of new
larger side-view mirrors improve side and rear vision
as well as increasing visibility for third row passen-
gers. The side profile also features powerful fender
and wheel forms that enhance the Tribeca's signature
rising character line. All-new rear styling includes a
new rear valance below the tailgate and new, wider
taillamps.
The sophisticated twin cockpit design features a flow-
ing, sculpted dash and centre console design.
Aluminum-look trim highlights the sculpted shapes of
the dashboard. Electroluminescent dials and subtle
ambient interior lighting provide a sophisticated
touch, illuminating the front and rear footwells, the
centre console and cup-holders. The centre console is
dominated by an information centre that groups the
readouts for the audio system, clock, fuel economy
and outside temperature. A seven-inch touch screen
information centre is standard.
Comfort for five or seven passengers
The Tribeca is available as a 7 passenger model with
standard 50/50 split fold-down third-row seat with
integrated headrests and carpeted back surface. For
added passenger comfort it features an auxiliary rear
cabin air conditioner with fan speed control in the sec-
ond row.
the rollover test.)
Occupant safety a top priority
The new 2008 Tribeca was designed to achieve the
highest ratings in the auto industry. The previous gen-
eration B9 Tribeca achieved top honours in the U.S.
Department of Transportation's National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car
Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests with 5 stars
in both the frontal and side-impact crash tests for both
the driver and passenger seating positions. These
results are in addition to the 4 star rating in the
NHTSA tests for rollover resistance. (No SUV to date
has earned 5-stars in the rollover test.) In addition, the
Tribeca features Brake Assist on its standard ABS
brake system, Vehicle Dynamics Control and four-
wheel traction control.
For the 2008 model year, Subaru has equipped the new
Tribeca with an all-new 6-cylinder 3.6-litre SUBARU
BOXER engine that delivers more power, more
torque, improved fuel economy and emissions per-
formance - all on regular gasoline.
motors S U P P L E M E N T
New Ford Kuga
takes on the compact
SUVs
The battle is about to begin as the new
Ford Kuga revs up to take on all the
compact SUV’s and in particular the
trendy Nissan Qashqai.The new Ford
Kuga was first shown at the Frankfurt
Show last September, went on sale in
Ireland in June, and is well worth waiting
for. In fact when motorists see and drive
the Kuga, there will be a rush to buy this
very stylish and compact SUV, which
arguably is the best and certainly the
most versatile of all the current Fords,
and that even includes the Mondeo and
Focus! With it’s handy car-size footprint
and user-friendly character, Kuga is set to
be a big time rival to other compact
SUV’s and the extremely popular Nissan
Qashqai in particular. Let the battle com-
mence from the forecourts to the high-
ways and byeways, and the street fight for
VRT RATES REDUCES MAZDA PRICES AT P.G DUFFY AND SONS
THIRTY MODELS REDUCED IN PRICE DUE TO ECO FRIENDLY RATES
Thirty of local Mazda dealer P.G Duffy and
Sons most popular models will be cheaper in
price from July 1, following significant
changes to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
The changes, announced last December,
mean that VRT rates will now be based on
CO2 emission levels rather than engine size,
which is good news for Mazda buyers in
Kildare.
Thanks to the light-weight strategy adopted
by Mazda when developing its newest mod-
els, the prices for many popular models
including the Mazda6 and the 2008 World
Car of the Year, Mazda2, will be reduced.
For example, the Mazda2 bucked the trend
from many competitors in the super-mini
segment by shedding up to 100 kilograms of
space.The 2.0 litre Kuga diesel model
comes with full-time, intelligent All-
Wheel-Drive (AWD), while a (cheaper)
Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD) model is
available for drivers not requiring AWD
(off road) capability.
With its best-in-class CO2 emissions
performance of 169g/km, the Kuga will
be placed in the 28 percent VRT band.
Under the pre-July VRT regime, the car
will attract a VRT rate of 30 percent. ESP
(Electronic Stability Programme) is stan-
dard. Ford now offers six passenger mod-
els with ESP as standard on the Irish
market making Ford the leader in the
provision of this safety technology which
will be compulsory on all passenger cars
in Europe by 2012. In addition to ESP, the
Kuga features combined Anti Rollover
Mitigation (ARM), and ABS with
weight, resulting in low CO2 emissions of
114g for the 1.4D model and 129g for the 1.3
petrol model, placing these Mazda2 models
in the lowest VRT bands of A and B respec-
tively. Mazda2 1.3L petrol models will see a
significant fall in VRT with prices starting at
n14,495*.
Mazda6 1.8L and 2.0L petrol models will
also enjoy noteworthy reductions with prices
for the former's Executive model starting at
just n26,995*. Its rigid, light construction
and vastly improved aerodynamic perform-
ance, due to its sleek design, has resulted in
it having one of the lowest CO2 levels of its
class, 159g for a 1.8L petrol model.
"This summer, Kildare customers will bene-
fit from significant price reductions as well
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 12
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD),
both significant driver assistance tech-
nologies, plus all Kuga models are
equipped with a ‘Ford Power’ start
button.
Finlays of Naas and Newbridge
are quoting n32,565 ex works.
They got a great response
when they launched the new
model earlier this month.
as savings on road tax and lower running To find out more about the full range of
costs," said dealer principal Gerard Duffy. exciting July reductions or to arrange a test
"Thanks to its low CO2 emissions, the year- drive call P.G Duffy and Sons on 045-431
ly road tax for the Mazda2 1.3L petrol model 340 or visit the company's showroom on the
has been reduced to n150, while delivering Naas Road, Newbridge.
excellent fuel economy of 5.4L per 100km *Retail prices exclude metallic/mica paint
(54mpg). Similarly, road tax for the new and dealer related charges.
Mazda6 1.8L petrol model falls to �430
while it delivers beneficial fuel consumption
of 6.7L per 100km (42mpg)," he added.
The Mazda3 is Ireland's most popular Mazda
model, thanks to its stylish design, excellent
dynamics and spacious interior. Mada3
petrol models will also benefit from low
CO2 emissions ensuring no price increase
for the majority of petrol models.Prices for
the Mazda3 range start from only n20,495*.
 motors S U P P L E M E N T Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 13

The fifth generation Volkswagen
Golf aims to distance itself from
the family hatchback competition
with higher quality, lower prices
and an air conditioned specifica-
tion. Andy Enright checks it out...
What is a Volkswagen Golf? Twenty
years ago, that would have been a
simple question to answer. The Golf
was an inexpensive, no nonsense car
that ran and ran. Nowadays howev-
er, Volkswagen have loftier aspira-
tions for their staple family hatch-
back and the question is far trickier
to tackle. In fifth generation guise,
the car has been taken even further
upmarket with an even higher quali-
ty look and feel but it also reprises a
strand of Golf DNA that seemed to
have been an evolutionary dead end
- driving fun.
If this Golf has had a problem, it has
been that some customers have
equated quality of build and driving
experience with a price outside their
budget. Hence Volkswagen's more
recent attempts to set the record
straight in this respect by reducing
prices and increasing specifications
(which now include climatic air con-
ditioning as a standard feature).
In the standard three and five-door
hatch range, there's a choice of two
trim levels - S and Match. The
Match level that many customers
choose looks particularly tempting
thanks to a leather steering wheel,
cruse control, automatic headlamps
and wipers, a trip computer, a multi-
function steering wheel, an MP3-
compatable CD stereo, 15" alloy
wheels and a full complement of
body-coloured exterior addenda.
Need more practicality? Volkswagen
offers the Golf Plus and the Golf
Estate.
Aside from the entry-level 80PS 1.4-
litre engine, petrol buyers have the
choice of a 1.4 (90PS) or a hi-tech
turbocharged 122PS TSI engine.
Volkswagen
pleads
the fifth
amendment
Diesel buyers can opt for the proven
75PS SDI engine or the slightly
more modern 105PS 1.9-litre TDI
powerplant.
If you want something sportier, then
the GT Sport series offers a choice
between 140 or 170PS versions of
the 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged/super-
charged petrol engine or 140 or
170PS 2.0-litre TDI diesel units. The
next step up is the GTI series, where
as you'd expect, the pace hots up a
little more. Here you get the superb
200PS 2.0T FSI engine. Of course,
if the GTI models don't do it for
you, there's always the option of the
range-topping R32. Here you get a
248bhp 3.2-litre V6 with the
4MOTION transmission system. At
the other end of the economy scale
is the BlueMotion derivative which
eeks maximum economy and mini-
mal emissions from the 1.9-litre
diesel engine.
One criticism levelled at the two
previous generation Golf models
was that although the cars offered a
ride and refinement package that
was hard to beat, they never really
offered the sort of infectious han-
dling that many rivals could boast.
The fifth generation car adopts a
pragmatic tactic in 'benchmarking'
the suspension of the Ford Focus
and first impressions are promising.
The body is eighty per cent stiffer
than its predecessor and the new
electro-mechanical steering feel and
composed body control are leagues
ahead.
The styling is evolutionary rather
than revolutionary insofar as most
will know it's a Golf they're looking
at without recourse to clocking the
badge on its rump. As company boss
Bernd Pischetsrieder explained:
"The only mistake the Golf can
make is to stop being a Golf."
There's little doubt that the fourth
generation Golf was - and is - a
handsome piece of car design, but
the fifth generation marks probably
the biggest evolution in the Golf's
design language since the Mk 2
became the chubbier Mk 3.
Everything is just that little bit
curvier, sleeker and more elegant.
Volkswagen have made great strides
concerning the refinement of these
TDI engines and the effects are pal-
pable as soon as you turn the key.
The TDI system was once derided as
being far less effective than the new
wave of 'common rail' diesel engines
that have become popular and in
terms of refinement, Volkswagen's
solution has lagged behind. No
longer: the difference is now
virtually negligible.

STAY ALERT ON THE ROAD THIS SUMMER

Road users are being warned to expect
an increase in the number of agricultural
vehicles using the roads over the summer
and autumn period.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and
the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have
issued a joint road safety appeal. This is
the busiest time of year for farmers as it
coincides with silage and harvest season.
All road users are being advised to watch
out for tractors, trailers and other farm
machinery exiting from fields and farm
yards and to exercise caution when trav-
elling behind or meeting such vehicles
on the public road. Watch out for agricul-
tural vehicles and only overtake them
when safe to do so. Road users are
advised to expect the unexpected.
Drivers of agricultural vehicles are being
reminded that they are governed by road
traffic laws on driver licensing, insur-
ance, standards in relation to vehicle
roadworthiness, vehicle lighting and
motor tax.
IFA President Padraig Walshe said "I am
advising farmers to be safety conscious
whenever bringing a farm vehicle onto
the public road. Farmers should be aware
of traffic building up behind them and
keep left where possible to allow other
vehicles pass safely. I would appeal to
other road users to show patience when
encountering farm machinery on the
road. With understanding on both sides,
the roads can be safer for everybody."
Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority
also advised farmers that "Your driving
mirror must provide an adequate view of
the road to the rear. Do not carry a pas-
senger unless the tractor is equipped to
carry one and the trailer should not be
used for transporting people unless it has
provision for carrying them."
He added; "all agricultural vehicles must
have proper working brakes on both trac-
tor and trailer units and must be fitted
with lights, reflectors and indicators. In
addition a vehicle should not be loaded
in such a way that would make it unsta-
ble on the road, and beware of low
bridges, overhanging trees, overhead
cables and uneven road surfaces which
could cause the load to shift and possibly
overturn."
Drivers of agricultural tractors and trail-
ers are reminded to ensure that wheels
are regularly washed down to avoid car-
rying mud and stones onto the public
road. Be particularly careful when trans-
porting material such as silage, slurry,
sand and gravel so that it does not spill
on the road and pose a road safety risk.
All tractors must be fitted with safety
frames. This is to protect the driver from
being crushed underneath if the tractor
overturns.
For large vehicles consider whether there
is a need for advance warning of other
road users and whether an escort vehicle
is required. Make sure that the drivers
you use are competent and that tractors
are driven at an appropriate speed for the
road conditions. Watch out for vulnerable
road users especially children, pedestri-
ans, cyclists and motorcyclists.
All road users should remember that this
is harvest time. When using roads espe-
cially in rural areas expect the unexpect-
ed, danger could literally be around the
next corner. Look, listen and keep your-
self safe.
For more information on legal require-
ments and road safety regarding agricul-
tural vehicles using the public road
please contact the RSA at info@rsa.ie.
Or view the rules of the road at
www.rotr.ie
 motors S U P P L E M E N T
MERCEDES
brings it's A game
S afer, greener and slightly better looking,
the latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class contin-
ues with its unorthodox approach to the pre-
mium hatchback sector. Unlike its rivals, it's
not sporty in any meaningful way and the
engines that flattered to deceive in that
regard have been dropped. Today's A-Class is
content to offer comfort, quality and interior
versatility and should continue to find a
ready market.
With its tall shape and MPV overtones, the
Mercedes A-Class has always looked some-
thing of a misfit in the premium hatchback
sector. While Mercedes stuck to its guns,
developing the first generation model's prac-
tical themes to create the superior second
generation car, its big German rivals were
busy perusing more dynamic directions with
their entry-level products. Now buyers are
presented with the facelifted version of the
second generation A-Class. Its core values
remain but the hope is that the package is
now even more persuasive.
The engine range gives UK buyers four
choices to mull over. Two petrol options are
the most straightforward: there's the A150
with its 1.5-litre 95bhp unit and the A170
with its 1.7-litre lump producing 116bhp.
The diesel options are more vocal than the
refined petrol units but have extra strength at
low revs for launching the A-Class about
town. The A160 CDI is an 82bhp 2.0-litre
affair while the A180 CDI has that same
capacity and 109bhp.
The A-Class prioritises safety and comfort
over power and exhilaration. As a result, it's
well suited to the kind of driving most of us
are forced to do most of the time. The car
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 14
remains instantly recognisable in its latest
form but anyone looking to tell the original
second generation car apart from this
facelifted model has a far tougher task on.
For the record, the usual facelift suspects of
light clusters, grille and bumpers have been
tweaked but we'd be lying if we said that the
alterations are groundbreaking. The MPV
shape of the exterior remains, as do the peo-
ple carrier design features that make the A-
Class interior so easy to use.
The A-Class looks more attractively priced
these days and that's despite the unceremoni-
ous axing of the entry-level Classic trim
level.
Perhaps the most salient addition to the latest
A-Class is the BlueEfficiency package which
aims to regain some of the ground lost to
BMW's outstanding EfficientDynamics ini-
tiative. The name might be less catchy but
the results could be similarly compelling.
BlueEfficiency runs to aerodynamic
improvements to the radiator grille and a ride
height lowered by 10mm that will also
reduce drag. There's a generator management
system that charges the battery with energy
that would otherwise have been lost on the
engine overrun and, the highlight, a stop/start
function that turns off the engine when the
petrol A-Classes are stationary. An A150
with the BlueEfficiency modifications can
return 49mpg and emits just 139g/km of
CO2 but an A160 CDI with the technology
gets an outstanding 63mpg with 119g/km
emissions.
The latest A-Class largely sticks at what it
does best but the BlueEfficiency technology
keeps it competitive with BMW's finest.
 motors S U P P L E M E N T
CONSIDERAT
I O N S
BUYING A MO WHEN
TORHOM
How many people will use the
motorhome?
It is very important first of all, to establish who will
use the motorhome. If you are purchasing with the
intention of accommodating guests, choose a layout
that suits your immediate requirements as a first port
of call, with the option to accommodate more people
as a second. It is more important that you choose a
motorhome that suits you 90% of the time as
opposed to purchasing something that doesn’t match
your requirements and regretting that decision later.
What type of motorhome should I
choose?
If the motorhome is to be used predominantly by two
people – recommended options would include low
profiles and A-Classes which accommodate from 2, 3
or 4 people depending on your budget and your
motorhome layout requirements.
If you have a family, the Luton overcabs are the most
popular with the choice of bunk beds, u-lounges and
raised fixed bed layouts. A-Classes with raised fixed
double or twin beds to the rear can also be another
Leinster Leader THURSDAY 19TH JUNE 2008 15
E
option for families who wish to opt for luxury living
for extended
periods of time. If you are challenged from a mobility
point of view it is advisable to choose a motorhome
with a low habitation entry step and a fixed bed with
easy access.
New motorhomes Vs used motorhomes?
New motorhomes are becoming more and more
price competitive each year! New models feature the
latest design concepts and are very well equipped,
insulated and feature more comfort options as stan-
dard.The engines are also the latest on the market
and can be more economical regarding emissions etc.
Used models are a very good option for first time
buyers! It provides you with the opportunity to invest
in a motorhome that still meets all your requirements
but at a lower cost. It is also easier to upgrade to a
newer model once you are happy that this lifestyle is
the right choice for you. Used motorhomes are often
fitted with extras which could include solar panels,
satellite dishes, reversing cameras and awnings, making
them very good value for money.