Do We Put Too Much Faith in Tipp-Ex?

Posted by Shane Teskey on 12 August 2010 in Used Car Buying Tips | 2 comments

As you know dishonest sellers will do just about anything to sell a car. Some of the methods used to deceive people require skill and a certain level of ‘expertise’ (forging logbooks, modifying VIN numbers, etc.).

Others however need nothing more than a bottle of Tipp-Ex to execute a con and you’d be surprised how many of us fall for the latter.

Audi R8 to Go Under the Hammer

Posted by Shane Teskey on 12 July 2010 in Used Car Buying Tips, Used Cars | 1 comment

Expect some famous faces at Merlin Car Auctions this week as an Audi R8, one of only 18 sold in Ireland in 2008, goes under the hammer.

Originally costing more than 200,000 Euro the guide price at Merlin is expected to be a fraction of that at…..

Stolen Irish Cars disguised as UK Cars

Posted by Shane Teskey on 11 June 2010 in Used Car Buying Tips | No comments

Efforts are ongoing to identify stolen vehicles which have been originally stolen in Ireland, had UK identities put on them and are then resold to Irish customers as UK imports.

Motorcheck looks at how this latest scam is being conducted and what you can do to avoid being duped.

There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question

Posted by Shane Teskey on 24 May 2010 in Ask the Experts, Used Car Buying Tips | 2 comments

If you’re thinking about buying a used car privately be prepared to ask a lot of questions. If this makes you uncomfortable why not bring someone along to do the asking for you?

The following email arrived into the Motorcheck help-desk last week. It’s a great example of how someone buying a used car should question all the information available.

Buying a Used Car – An Expert’s Guide

Posted by Shane Teskey on 3 May 2010 in Used Car Buying Tips, Used Cars | No comments

Identifying a ‘lemon’ from a genuinely reliable car is something even the professionals can make mistakes with and they appraise trade-ins every day of the week.

PJ McKenna, one of Ireland’s leading car traders tells Motorcheck what he looks out for when buying a used car…

Beware of Cloned Cars From the UK

Posted by Shane Teskey on 12 March 2010 in Motor Vehicle History Reports, Road Safety, Used Car Buying Tips, Used Cars | 5 comments

The threat of cloned cars being sold in Ireland has significantly increased following a theft of blank registration documents from the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea. Motorcheck peels back the veil on this most dangerous of threats in the used car market.

Motorcheck.ie Calls For National Recall Database

Posted by Shane Teskey on 10 February 2010 in Used Car Buying Tips, Used Cars | 11 comments

Motorcheck.ie has identified gaps in the current methodology which could lead to thousands of cars operating on Irish roads without notification of urgent repairs called for by the manufacturer.

The Real Risks of Buying A Stolen Car

Posted by Shane Teskey on 29 January 2010 in Motor Vehicle History Reports, Used Car Buying Tips | 1 comment

There are over 11,000 cars stolen in Ireland every year. The vast majority of which are recovered within forty eight hours but thousands more go unrecovered and onto the black market as clones, donor cars for parts or exported for sale or breaking in foreign jurisdictions.

What’s not commonly known is that if you as a buyer knowingly purchase a stolen car you are in effect breaking the law and liable for prosecution under the Criminal Justice Act. This post looks at your responsibilities as a buyer and outlines some top tips to avoid buying a stolen car.

Are Dealers Still A Credible Source For Car Finance?

Posted by Shane Teskey on 11 January 2010 in Used Car Buying Tips, Used Cars | 2 comments

The majority of cars sold in Ireland (over 600,000 new and used cars change hands annually) are subject to one or another kind of finance arrangement but with a banking sector in crisis and finance applications being rejected left right and centre – what options are open to us and who can we turn to for a loan?

Does Cheryl’s Audi R8 have the X-Factor?

Posted by Shane Teskey on 5 December 2009 in Used Car Buying Tips | 4 comments

Cheryl Cole’s Audi R8 is on the market and could be yours for a meager £66,000 sterling (74,300 EURO plus VRT).
On sale at Shawcroft Motors the car is described as follows.
Vehicle Description:
2 Doors, Semi-Automatic, Coupe, Petrol, 9,000 miles, Black.
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT THIS CAR HAS AMAZING SPEC,EXCLUSIVE EDITION MODEL R8 R TRONIC SPECIALLY ORDERED WITH...