Search Results

DoneDeal has donated €2,000 to LGBTQ+ charity ShoutOut from their #DrivingPride Taxi campaign during Dublin pride. Over the course of Dublin Pride, DoneDeal had a specially designed #DrivingPride Taxi on the streets of Dublin, offering free trips around the capital. As part of the campaign, Ireland’s favourite car website also committed to donating €10 to LGBTQ+ charity ShoutOut for each trip that took place. Martin Clancy from DoneDeal said: “We are delighted to be able to make this donation to ShoutOut and to thank them for all the work they do in the community and in education. This year for Dublin pride, we were committed to giving back in a tangible way to the LGBTQ+ community in Dublin. Our #DrivingPride Taxi made a colourful addition to the streets of Dublin and offered everyone the chance to avail of free trips during a busy and celebratory time in the capital.” DoneDeal’s #DrivingPride Taxi ran from Thursday, June 27th through Sunday, June 30th.

DoneDeal, the online farming marketplace, has invested significant resources in its platform in the last week in an effort to empower farmers to trade online during level 5 restrictions. The move means that beef farmers who currently list their stock on DoneDeal can now accept payments securely online for their cattle through DoneDeal’s secure digital payments solution, powered by Stripe Payments. Rob Hume, General Manager of DoneDeal, explains, “We are seeing the demand for Cattle online accelerate significantly online with the views on beef cattle listings growing over 48% year on year to September. During the first lockdown in April-May, DoneDeal saw an even greater growth rate reaching as high as +107% in April. Early data following the most recent lockdown on Wednesday 21st October shows an increase of +18% in online demand in the 7 days after lockdown as compared to the 7 days previous. At DoneDeal, we wanted to quickly provide an easy way for our beef farmers to ride the wave of demand as Level 5 restrictions continue.” Private Negotiation and secure payment. Rob continues, “Farmers can negotiate privately within DoneDeal’s messaging service as usual. Once both parties are happy, the seller can request payment directly from the buyer within the messaging service on DoneDeal. The transaction will then be processed safely and securely with the payment flowing to the seller’s bank account using Stripe Payments.” Below: DoneDeal sees another acceleration of demand and transaction in Beef Cattle stock online due to Level 5 restrictions. Easy Set Up The Irish owned site says that getting set up with this world-class payment facility on DoneDeal.ie is easy, with farmers just needing to hit the ‘Connect with Stripe’ button in their DoneDeal Profile to accept fully digital payments online. Interest in Farming overall is growing 25% year over year on Donedeal, with over 13M ad views per month on the site’s farming section. Rob concludes,” After the last lockdown, you can see that the trend stayed steady with interest in beef cattle on DoneDeal staying at levels above 2019. We hope that this move will help farmers trade securely and easily online and capitalize on that demand.” About DoneDeal Employing over 50 people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell farming machinery and stock online. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing online. Stripe secure payments are just one of the ways that DoneDeal has been furthering this mission. Interest in Farming overall is growing 25% year over year on Donedeal, with over 13M ad views per month on the site’s farming section. DoneDeal has had over 40M unique advertisement views on listings for beef cattle so far this year. This post was originally featured by our friends in the News. #Farming

By Justin Delaney I recall my first drive in the BMW M235i back in 2015. It was a traditional BMW in the sense that it had a big straight six-cylinder engine and rear wheel drive. Although not a full M car from the motorsport division the 235i did produce 322hp and could certainly move. Now some five years later BMW have taken the new 1 Series hatchback and morphed it into a good-looking Gran Coupe and again borrowed some expertise from the motorsport division. For a start the engine size has dropped in favour a punchy turbocharged 2.0 litre four-cylinder unit and it has been mated to an all-wheel-drive xDrive system. Prices kick off at €52,030 before you start ticking option boxes and our test vehicle also had the, M Sport brakes, 19-inch M V-Spoke alloy wheels, M Sport seats/steering wheel, Harman/Kardon premium sound system, adaptive LED headlights, two-zone climate control air-conditioning, power-adjusted front seats and a subtle rear spoiler. This pushed our test car north of €60k and firmly inline with its competitive friends in the form of the Audi S3 and Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG when you give them a little spec! The 2 Series Gran Coupe is a nicely proportioned car that borrows some design elements from 4 and 6 Series Gran Coupe including the frameless side windows. It doesn’t portrait that hardcore coupe line looking somewhat more saloon but its nicely styled and the new bold kidney grille actually looks really good on this car. Our test cars storm grey metallic paint looked great against the contrasting shadowline diffusers and fog-light surrounds and give it a modern and mean stance. Inside it’s a beautiful cabin with ample space especially up front. Although this M235i is technically bigger that the old E46 3 Series BMW inside, headroom is still a little compromised for rear passengers if you are anyway close to the six foot mark. Features Luggage space is pretty generous at 430-litres but like many cars in this sector, long objects can be a struggle thanks to the narrow aperture. The M Sport seats are a work of art and incredibly comfortable to spend time in with excellent side bolstering. On the tech side you get a modern 10.25-inch central display with an equal-sized screen used for the digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that no longer require the paid subscription are also included. For Waze navigation users like me, you now have the ability to project directions on the head-up display when using any navigation app. Like most new BMW’s you can also make use of the Intelligent Personal Assistant that allows you to perform various tasks via voice activation starting with the “Hey BMW” command. Power So what is it like to drive compared to that M235i of old? Well for this test we decided to put the 2.0-litre turbo, which is actually BMW’s most powerful production four-cylinder engine to the test in Mondello Park. First off lets look at the figures. Producing 301hp and 450Nm of torque through all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission results in a 0-100km/h time of just 4.8 seconds. This is exactly the same as the turbocharged 3.0 litre 6-cylinder of old. It doesn’t feel earth-shatteringly quick, but throttle response is sharp and gear changes seamless and there’s a meaty exhaust note that lets out the pop of un-burnt fuel when changing gear. The all wheel drive system favours the front wheels and sends power to rear axle when needed but crikey, it doesn’t half grip! Even pushing hard through the twisties at Mondello there is huge traction. The M Performance suspension is incredibly compliant even on the big 19-inch alloys and it absorbs the rumble of an apex surface with ease. BMW M235i 2020 Prices Priced at €52,030, the M235i xDrive is considerably more expensive than the three-cylinder, entry 218i at €34,010 or indeed the diesel 220d at €44,180. Standard kit in all cars includes a head-up display, wireless phone charging, all the Connected Drive tech and a reversing assistant that will self-reverse about 50 metres in the same direction you just drove forward great for getting in and out tricky situations. The M235i’s 2.0-litre turbo consumes 7.6L/100km combined, compared the 218i’s frugal 1.5-litre three-cylinder’ 5.9L/100km consumption and the 220d does 4.9L/100km combined. Like all of the current BMW range, it is covered by a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Safety As expected, standard equipment includes collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function. Lane Departure Warning with active lane return is also included, as is Cruise Control with braking function. The optional Driving Assistant additionally comprises the Lane Change Warning system, which prompts the driver to guide the car back into the correct lane at speeds from 20-250km/h by means of a visual warning and, if necessary, a steering input. The Driving Assistant’s other functions include the route-ahead assistant, rear collision warning and crossing traffic warning, which reduces the risk of a collision when reversing into roads obstructed from the driver’s view, and Active Cruise Control system with Stop & Go function. Altogether it’s a strong safety package from BMW. Summary To summarise I’d say this is a strong offering from BMW in a sector they needed a new car to compete. The M235i offers a great overall package and drives very well. The ride comfort and suspension setting were just perfect in all driving modes, especially in COMFORT and ECO PRO for everyday use. In SPORT, the car becomes sharp and precise as we discovered in Mondello park making this the perfect week day commuter with a cheeky side, for weekends. It drives better than its predecessor of old but the big question is would you pay €60k for one or buy the 220d and a trackday toy? That’s a choice for you to make. You can check out DoneDeal's range of BMW's from Ireland's trusted dealer's here . #Motors About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for premium car deals to feel great about from Ireland’s local trusted Car Dealers. Employing over 50 people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell premium cars online. DoneDeal has onboarded Ireland's trusted car dealers to become the number one touchpoint for Irish consumers when buying premium cars. To put this in perspective, when scaled for Ireland, DoneDeal is comparable to AutoTrader in the UK. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing a car. The result has been the development of products and services that empower the Irish consumer, e.g., free basic history check on verified cars, in-depth history checks, warranty, and finance options. Buy Premium cars confidently with DoneDeal.

Poor ventilation in existing facilities is usually because inlets and/or outlets are absent or too small. Inlets and outlet areas should be at least brought up to the sizes outlined in the DAFM specification S101. Inlets typically used in Ireland are vented sheeting and spaced boarding. These are effective as long as there is at least a 1.5 m depth along under each eave. Fabric mesh materials are also effective and have the added advantage of letting in more light. Another method of improving airflow entry is to angle out the side cladding, at the bottom. Moving out the side cladding to leave a clear opening between the side wall of the shed and the side cladding, just below the top of the side wall, will provide a good inlet. Air is deflected upwards from the side wall as it enters. This can be done easily enough with box section steel. The box section will make it secure and will allow the gap width to be maximized. Where sheds have a wall built right up, the easiest solution is to knock off a few lines of blocks to provide a continuous opening. Monitor how it works to see if any more needs to be done. Small, inexpensive, changes are the best approach, followed by careful observation for improvements during the following housing period. Perhaps the ridge outlet area can be increased by, for example, raising the ridge cap. Spaced sheeting is really not practical unless all the sheeting is being replaced. With round roofed sheds raising sheets (2 per bay) along the top by about 225 mm is effective. Raising sheets is a practical method to turn the roof into a “breathing roof”. One or two lines of sheeting per bay can be raised above the plane of the roof by about 100 mm to 150 mm with an overlap of about 100 mm to 150 mm, at each side, to prevent in-blown rain. The raised sheets run up along the slope of the roof (which is usually across the width of the shed) and possibly up and over a round roofed shed, as well, if one is present. The size of the outlet can be calculated by multiplying the total length of all the openings by the raised height and comparing them to the guidelines. Some new sheets will have to be used also. These are wider (960 mm or 990 mm) and may be used over the opening as a single line of sheets (most common way), or possibly could be cut into three strips to be used with existing sheets. The new sheets are available in the 750 mm width also. There are different ways to fix the raised sheets. The simplest way would seem to fix box irons (weld cleats on them and bolt to the purlins) above the purlins at the right height and secure the sheets to the box iron with tech screws. The box iron should be long enough to support the overhang of the sheeting at either side. Light is also very important in animal housing, mainly for the animals but also for the person looking after and observing them. Any improvements to natural light that can be made in conjunction with making improvements in ventilation should be availed of. Checklist: Water An adequate supply of clean water for housed livestock is essential. • To avoid water freezing. locate pipes underground. • Do not locate troughs on external walls. • Use heavy gauge piping and minimise the number of joints. • Consider feeding each trough individually with un-jointed pipe runs. • 20 mm bore piping will be provide adequate flow rates for most situations. • Proprietary anti-fouling troughs will minimise requirements for cleaning. This information is publically available as part of the Teagasc Beef Manual available on Teagasc.ie #Farming

This week on the DoneDeal YouTube Channel we're reviewing the all new Volkswagen ID.3. It's a very important car in the electric world as it's VW's first attempt at a proper EV, and a very good one at that! It will come in a 45kWh, 58kWh and 77kWh electric motor. The first edition which we reviewed has the 58kWh which was very impressive with over 200bhp giving it plenty of poke. For years the Nissan Leaf wore the crown for 'best affordable EV', then it was stolen by the Hyundai Kona Electric, however the ID.3 is probably the most up to date and respectable EV in the 'affordable' market. The standard equipment is phenomenal with lane assist, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, just to name a few. The car handles beautifully with all 4 wheels in their respective corners and being rear wheel drive. The ID.3 will be the platform the Volkswagen group will use the build the majority of their EV's and so this is a great glimpse into the future. Comparing it to the new MK8 Golf is difficult, the infotainment system is very similar however that's just about it. The styling is very different, the way it drives is completely different and it also has a much more futuristic feel to it. Check out the Volkswagen ID.3 on DoneDeal here #Motors About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for deals to feel great about from Ireland’s local trusted Car Dealers. Employing people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell premium cars online. DoneDeal has onboarded Ireland's trusted car dealers to become the number one touchpoint for Irish consumers when buying premium cars. To put this in perspective, when scaled for Ireland, DoneDeal is comparable to AutoTrader in the UK. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing a car. The result has been the development of products and services that empower the Irish consumer, e.g., free basic history check on verified cars, in-depth history checks, warranty, and finance options. Buy Premium cars confidently with DoneDeal.

Collecting pen Where the handling facilities are located independent of buildings, the collecting pen should ideally be able to hold a number of cattle that fits in with group sizes within the herd. Where handling facilities are located in, or adjacent to, e.g. a slatted unit the pens in the slatted unit could be used for collecting and holding animals. The floor area required per animal will vary depending on size. As a general guide allow: • Young cattle: 0.9 to 1.1 m² • Finishing cattle: 1.4 to 1.7 m² • Suckler cows with calves: 2.3 to 2.75 m² It is easier to control and move cattle in a long narrow pen rather than a wide square one. Pen widths of 4.5 to 6 m are recommended (depending on herd size). The entrance to it should be at least 3 m wide to allow easy access. Forcing pen The forcing pen leads from the collecting pen to the race. The forcing pen should be funnel shaped as it approaches the mouth of a race. One side of the funnel must be straight. The angle of the funnel is critical and should not exceed 30°. If the angles are wider, cattle may block or turn at the mouth of the race or two cattle may become jammed at the race entrance. The widest point of the pen should approximately be 3 to 4 m. The forcing pen should hold enough cattle to fill the race. Circular forcing pens leading to a funnel entrance to the race are preferred to rectangular ones. Animals should not be tightly packed into the forcing pen as they may need to turn to enter the race. Race • Length: The race or chute should be 3.6 m minimum. A race of 9 m will hold 5 to 6 adult cattle. Long races (e.g. handling over 12 cattle) are not recommended. • Width: the internal width of the race will depend on the size and type of the largest cattle using it. As a general guideline, allow: adult stock 700-750 mm clear internal width. Exceptionally large stock (e.g. pedigree) may require facilities up to 900 mm wide. Young stock require an internal race width of approximately 500 mm. Very wide races may have to be altered temporarily for young stock e.g. fitting panels/planks to the side. • Height: 1.4-1.5 m above floor level. All surfaces must be smooth. Avoid protruding objects. Uprights should be spaced about 2 m apart. Side bars are normally spaced 350-400 mm apart. • Floor: Non slip concrete surface. • Tailbar: It should be possible to use a tailbar at various points along the race to prevent stock reversing out. • Facilitates drainage, e.g. via split drains. • Incorporates opening side panels/gates for easy release of animals if necessary. Catwalk A catwalk running outside the race: • Reduces the risk of injury to the operator. • Improves access and reach when handling stock. • Prevents cattle’s feet slipping out under the bottom rail. • Catwalks should normally be 250-400 mm high. The width of the catwalk should be wide enough to facilitate a safe and efficient working area. The recommended width should be approximately 1.1 m. The catwalk can be omitted along side the crush section if it is seen to restrict the operator’s access to the animal. Crush The crush may be part of the race or a separate facility at the end of the race. A well designed crush should incorporate the following features: • Quick release restraining gate. Different designs of proprietary head gates are available and the choice depends on the frequency of use and type of work to be done. • Have a tailbar/gate to prevent and control backward movement. • All around access to the animal, including at the rear. • A secure gate to hold back animals in the race is essential when accessing the rear of an animal. The animal in the crush must also be prevented from backward movement. • Removable side bars/gate for access to feet, udder, etc. • Have equipment for hoisting and restraining limbs. • Facilitate weighing if necessary. The weighing facility can be in a separate section of the race behind the crush • Preferably be under cover. • Free from sharp edges. • Non slip floor surface. • Facilitate access of a vehicle for loading of animals. Purpose-built crushes are commercially available. Typical dimensions are: • Length: 1,830 mm. • Width: 790 mm. • Height: 1,625 mm. Dispersal Pen This pen holds cattle until all cattle are treated or handled. It can facilitate the sorting of stock afterwards. Handling facilities in or near housing can use the pens in the housing for holding and dispersal. And most importantly, we want YOU to be safe. Safety passes or personnel passes are narrow vertical openings in gates or fences. They typically provide 300 to 350 mm of clear space for people to pass through. Locate passes wherever it is expected that people would otherwise have to climb over a fence or open a gate on a regular basis. Have a least one safety pass in each pen and one every 7.5-8 m in animal movement and handling passageways to allow someone to exit quickly. Avoid locating passes where animal flow is directly in line with, or at the pass, as excited animals may try to use the safety pass as an escape route and become trapped. Safety passes also allow someone to get in front of or behind a group of animals safely and with relative ease. We wish you every success this Winter and all the Winters to come. This information is publically available as part of the Teagasc Beef Manual available on Teagasc.ie #Farming

Animal behaviour It is better to rely on animal behaviour principles instead of sheer force to restrain and control animals during handling. Fine-tuning the design of animal handling facilities will enhance animal welfare and reduce stress and injuries. Herd instinct Cattle prefer to remain in groups. Isolating individual cattle from the group (unless sick) causes stress and agitation and should be avoided. Keep back a companion animal if necessary. Vision Cattle are poor judges of detail and distance. They dislike dark or shadowy areas. Provide good natural and artificial lighting in and around handling facilities, particularly where the crush is. Handling facilities under a roof overhang will have plenty of natural light. Use extra rooflights for facilities within buildings. Use extra double fluorescent lamps for artificial lighting. Key facts • Cattle are wary of any changes in their path, e.g. abrupt changes in floor material, outside visual distractions, etc. • Cattle are less surefooted on downward slopes and prefer to move uphill. • Excessive noise e.g. shouting, machinery and dogs can alarm them and cause unpredictable behavior. About DoneDeal #Farming Employing over 50 people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell farming machinery and stock online. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing online. Stripe secure payments are just one of the ways that DoneDeal has been furthering this mission. Interest in Farming overall is growing 25% year over year on Donedeal, with over 13M ad views per month on the site’s farming section. DoneDeal has had over 40M unique advertisement views on listings for beef cattle so far this year.

Car models are continually being refreshed, renewed or reinvented. The best sellers from 2020 will continue to be best sellers in 2021 but we will also see cars launched in 2020 gain a foothold. Gems like the electric VW ID.3 , the multi-fuel Peugeot 208 , Ford Puma & Kuga , and a favourite of mine the all-electric Honda-e will all take off. A lot of motoring’s household names will be refreshed (new) with many more ‘all-new’ (really new) models arriving in 2021. Here are just a few worth looking out for: Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA This version of the stunning Giulia Quadrifoglio has been fed extra steroids. It is an incredibly exciting car to drive and will appeal to many and sadly only bought by the lucky few. The GTA represents the best in old school petrol power with its Ferrari sourced engine and deliciously fruity exhaust note. For many the GTA is performance perfection. Alfa will also give us the all new Tonale. It’s a great looking compact SUV crossover (based on the Jeep Renegade) and is powered by petrol, diesel and PHEV versions. Tonale will challenge the usual premium compact rivals: Audi Q3 , BMW X1 , Jaguar E-Pace , Volvo XC40 and Range Rover Evoque . Like all Alfa Romeos it will be a niche seller. Audi Q4 e-Tron Audi’s all electric mid-sized SUV is set to be a very important car for the premium brand as competition in this class rises. The mid-size Q5 SUV range gets a sleeker model in the Audi Q5 Sportback . The Sportback shape has been a hit in the smaller Q3 and is a welcome addition to the otherwise predictable looking Q5. A new Audi RS3 arrives too – yum! BMW will have a busy year in 2021 expanding its ‘i’ electric sub brand range. The all-new BMW i4 EV is a four-door electric car that promises to challenge the Tesla Model 3 for range and power and is a game changer for the Bavarian brand. SUV buyers can go electric too with the BMW iX3 SUV . This car annoys the anti-SUV brigade who won’t be able to argue with its manageable size and zero emissions from its non-existent tailpipe! The petrol engine powered 260hp 128ti compact car will find a few homes in 2021 with it iconic ‘ ti ’ badge. A new 2 Series Coupe is due too. At the other end of the size scale the all-new BMW X8 will certainly catch the eye. The 5-seat coupe-ish version of the huge 7-seat BMW X7 SUV won’t be easily lost in a carpark, that’s for sure. Citroen C4 The new multi-fuel compact crossover should turn a few heads and represent good value for money. We think the electric powered version will attract most attention and interest. Cupra El-Born The all new El-Born is a Spanish twist on Volkswagen’s ID.3 electric car, but with more attitude. Cupra is SEAT’s sub brand and SEAT is owned by the VW Group. As the nursery rhyme goes “The El-Born’s connected to the ID.3 ” – sorry I couldn’t resist. In every sense the two VW Group EVs are inter-connected. Like all Cupras the El-Born will be a rare enough sight on Ireland’s roads. The all new Cupra Formentor (in picture above) will be a relatively popular car as it is a mid-size SUV. The engine choice has petrol, diesel or PHEV. Depending on your spending power you can get modest or loads of power. The all-wheel drive version is the one to covet. DS 4 The second generation of the posh Citroen will be a niche seller but oh so stylish. FIAT 500 The 500 returns in all electric form. This version will join the list of cute EVs that people will find near irresistible like the 2020 launched Honda-e, MINI electric and Peugeot e-208. Ford Puma ST The hybrid Puma launched in 2020. When you add ST sports performance to any Ford the car becomes a lot more interesting. Ford Mustang Mach-E Ford’s first all-electric car will be a game changer for the US brand. Ford has been slow to embrace electrification - but it is catching up. Hyundai Ioniq 5 This electric powered SUV is part of a newly announced ‘Ioniq’ electric only sub-brand from Hyundai. A number of new models will be released in the coming years. Not sure if we’ll see the Ioniq 5 here in 2021, but we might! Jaguar refreshed its range late in 2020 with new technology taking centre stage. The compact Jaguar E Pace and its sister car the Jaguar XE along with the larger Jaguar F Pace mid-size SUV and its sister car the Jaguar XF all received facelifts and tech-lifts (I may have made that word up, but you know what I mean). The all-new flagship Jaguar XJ arrives in 2021. The once gas-guzzling barge has gone all electric! Wonders will never cease with this dual motor, all-wheel drive, luxury saloon. Lexus UX300e The compact Lexus UX SUV now comes with an electric only version. This will create a good battle among premium rivals in the compact EV market. Mazda MX-30 This electric SUV may be low range but is great to drive and looks the part. Urban EVs (a nice way of saying low range) can make sense and are more affordable than large range EVS due to their smaller battery packs. The MX-30 is very impressive. Mercedes-Benz C-Class The latest version of Merc’s excellent business machine arrives in 2021 with new hybrid technology. Also coming our way from the Germany brand is the full-size luxury SUV Maybach GLS , CLS Coupe , AMG GT four-door and SL. The ‘EQ’ electric MB sub brand range is expanding rapidly in 2021. The compact SUV Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQV full size people carrier arrive first. An EQS and EQE are due at the end of the year. The daddy of the company carpark the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrives also in 21 and is a technological tour de force. The CEO’s parking space will look very smart with this new and tech loaded super saloon – there is a Mercedes -Maybach S-Class version also – good news for multi-millionaires. MINI Countryman The new PHEV plug in hybrid version of their popular compact SUV will be built for the first time in BMW’s ultra-efficient Leipzig plant in Germany. Nissan Ariya This exciting electric powered SUV crossover is due in late 2021. 2021 will see the new Nissan Qashqai continue to be a significant vehicle for the Japanese brand. At its launch Qashqai was a game changer as it brought SUV styling to the masses at an affordable price. The new car has countless more rivals to deal with but has a deservingly loyal customer base. Opel Mokka The new baby SUV will shock and delight Opel buyers as it shows a new journey for the now French-owned German brand. The Opel Zafira E as the name implies is an electric car that thanks to being van-based has loads and loads of space. Perfect for large families or as a shuttle or taxi. Range Rover A new electrified flagship is due later in the year and promises to be a lot greener. Renault Arkana This stylish SUV crossover will attract a lot of attention when it arrives. Renault is making very stylish machines these days and has also added new E-TECH hybrid technology to its range. The Zoe EV will continue to grow in sales as will the new Mégane . The Mégane Sport Tourer E-TECH Plug-in hybrid has a 50km electric-only range and ultra-low emissions. Skoda Enyaq The all-new electric-powered crossover SUV from Skoda is in high demand. Two versions arrive in June 2021 with different ranges. The Enyaq uses VW’s ID.3 electric car platform and its running gear under its skin. The new Skoda Fabia is one to watch. The petrol-powered supermini from the historic Czech carmaker will deliver more than the sum of its parts. A sister car of the VW Polo, SEAT Ibiza and Audi A1, Fabia offers a lot - for less. Suzuki has partnered with Toyota and this year two close collaborations will go on sale in Ireland. Suzuki Across PHEV plug-in hybrid is basically a Toyota RAV4. The Suzuki Swace is a hybrid estate car and essentially a reworked Corolla SW, hence the name SW-Ace. Tesla Model Y The SUV version of its Model 3 will eventually go on sale but when it comes to Ireland is anyone’s guess. We tend to be last on the list. Toyota Highlander The 7-seat hybrid all-wheel drive SUV was launched late in 2020 and will become a more frequent sight on Irish roads in 2021. The Toyota RAV4 PHEV Hybrid is an impressive and powerful plug-in hybrid version of the popular SUV. The Yaris launched late 2020 and some variants will be added in 2021. Toyota Yaris Cross is a rugged looking version. The Toyota Yaris GR Gazoo Racing is a stunning 260hp performance hatchback wrapped in a car designed to take people to bingo. The new Golf arrived mid 202 and will continue to be popular in 2021. The niche Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake will turn heads from the start of the year. The 8th generation Volkswagen GTI is the definitive hot hatch, arrives in early 2021. The most significant VW next year will be the Volkswagen ID.4 This all-electric SUV crossover will really hit the spot. It uses the same platform as the VW ID.3 but is package in a way that is on trend. Even if it wasn’t an EV it would be attractive and desirable, so it is a win win for the German firm. Fun fact: VW designed the ID.4 before the 3 but decided to release the more affordable ID.3 first. The ID.4 is Volkswagen’s first carbon neutral car at the point of manufacturer. This is an impressive list and far from comprehensive but if I were to choose one car from it that will define 2021 and the direction carmakers and buyers wish to go? It has to be the Volkswagen ID.4. This article is an independent review by Journalist Michael Sheridan. Michael Sheridan has been a Car of the Year Judge for 20 years, more recently a judge for Van of the Year. Note to Reader: The links in the article are filtered to show cars with a reg plate no older than 2020 . Simply adjust the filters in our search panel if you would like to broaden your search for cars or research cars in a different year range. About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for premium car deals to feel great about from Ireland’s local trusted Car Dealers. Employing people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell premium cars online. DoneDeal has onboarded Ireland's trusted car dealers to become the number one touchpoint for Irish consumers when buying premium cars. To put this in perspective, when scaled for Ireland, DoneDeal is comparable to AutoTrader in the UK. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing a car. The result has been the development of products and services that empower the Irish consumer, e.g., free basic history check on verified cars, in-depth history checks, warranty, and finance options. Buy Premium cars confidently with DoneDeal. #Motors

Not long after the Irish launch of the ID.7 which, we recently reviewed on the DoneDeal YouTube channel and Volkswagen are back expanding the ID.7 portfolio in Europe with the introduction of an estate car. This all-new ID.7 Tourer is set to be one of the first all-electric estate cars in the upper mid-sized class segment. It differs significantly from saloon variant at the rear thanks to its long roof line and its elegant transition to the boot lid.  In many ways this Tourer is a fusion of a classic estate with inspiration from the Passat, and perhaps the modern shooting brake style that VW have used with the Arteon. Thanks to the increased height at the rear, the luggage compartment volume is more substantial and even with five people on board, the ID.7 Tourer has a luggage capacity of up to 605 litres. When loaded up to the backrests of the front seats and up to the roof, this figure rises to up to 1,714 litres which is super impressive! Features As this is a preview article we have been told that the ID.7 Tourer will be launched with innovative technological features, including an augmented-reality (AR) head-up display equipped as standard. This projects information relevant to the journey into the driver’s field of vision, so their eyes can stay focused on the road. At the same time, the AR head-up display changes the cockpit architecture because it allows classic instruments to become compact. Comfort levels inside are set to make a big jump forward with details such as vents that are automatically operated by small control motors, and ergoActive seats with a new pressure-point massage function and automatic air conditioning. Another innovation buyers can expect on board is the panoramic sunroof with smart glass. These glass layers can be electronically switched to be either opaque or clear. The Wellness In-Car app is also completely new. This allows various vehicle functions to be adjusted by means of three preconfigured programmes (Fresh Up, Calm Down and Power Break) which can help to enhance wellbeing during the journey or breaks. Depending on the vehicle equipment, the app accesses the background lighting, sound, air conditioning, smart glass function, seat air conditioning and seat massage as well as the ID.LIGHT and the infotainment screen. All very clever stuff! Power As expected theID.7 Tourer is equipped with the latest-generation electric drive system which we have seen in the saloon variant. Volkswagen will offer two different battery sizes for the ID.7 Tourer. Depending on the battery energy content, the electric touring car is expected to achieve WLTP ranges of up to 685 km. The largest battery is designed for a maximum charging capacity of up to 200 kW at DC quick-charging stations. At this power level, the battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in significantly less than 30 minutes. Safety Not leaving any safety elements to chance the ID.7 Tourer will be launched with state-of-the-art assist systems. These include the optional Park Assist Plus and the memory function for the Park Assist system - this function enables fully automatic parking over distances of up to 50 m - for example, in the parking space at work or the carport at home. The optional Travel Assist has also been further developed and is now called Connected Travel Assist with Online Data in the latest version. The other assist systems equipped as standard include the autonomous emergency braking system Front Assist and Dynamic Road Sign Display. Costs It’s early days yet with the first ID.7 Tourer not due here until late this year. We estimate a few will be on the road late 2024 but most orders will be submitted ahead of the 251 registration period. With that said we have yet to review Irish pricing but we will keep you informed. Summary The new ID.7 Tourer looks set to combine the emissios advantages of electric mobility with long WLTP ranges (up to 685 km) which will make it highly desirable. The new high-quality cockpit landscape, outstanding travel comfort and superior spaciousness will no doubt make it an ideal business car for the people of Ireland. Europe-wide pre-sales are scheduled to start in the first quarter of this year but as we get more info we will bring you the latest details. For now, watch this space!

Our new DoneDeal Motor report finds that with a crunch in supply, it’s a good time to buy a new or used vehicle as prices are expected to climb on used vehicles. Brexit Impact on imports and the decline in new car sales, and therefore trade-ins, means there are less nearly new used cars (Reg. 2016 - 2019) in the Irish Market. Demand is driving up prices on used cars. Similar trends are visible in the UK where leading car sites have seen increases of 8.5% in the price of used cars across the board. DoneDeal’s Market data, for both New and Used cars, shows that as the price gap closes between nearly new cars (Reg. 2016-2019) and new cars, people are making the leap to enquire about brand new cars on the site. A good time to buy: With a crunch in new supply, vehicles are expected to better hold their value. 1 in 2 Irish consumers intends to buy Hybrid or Electric as their next car. Diesel is still king but DoneDeal research says one in two buyers are now open to buying hybrid or Electric as their next car up from 1 in 4 last year. Competitive Finance Options are expected to make it easier for consumers to trade up to newer and more aspirational car types like Hybrid and Electric vehicles. Among many cohorts, Cash is plentiful as car buyers use funds that would have been used for holidays, creche fees, etc, as deposits on a new car. DoneDeal’s motor report reveals an industry in crisis but one that is transforming to be future proof with the adoption of online selling. In 2021 it is not a matter of ‘if’ Irish consumers intend to buy cars online; they are buying cars online. In 2021, cars are being sold through Car dealerships entirely online, end to end, and via DoneDeal. Car commuters don’t miss the traffic but really miss the contemplation time that commuting gave them. About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for premium car deals to feel great about from Ireland’s local trusted Car Dealers. Employing people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal is host to all of Ireland's trusted car dealers and is the number one touchpoint for Irish consumers when buying premium cars. Our mission at DoneDeal is to remove all uncertainty when it comes to buying and selling a car, and we continue to listen carefully to both customers and our trusted dealers in order to make car buying better for the Irish consumer. DoneDeal is well-positioned to address car buyers’ challenges, hosting the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 72,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, 51,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties and history checks, and service options like delivery, click and collect and finance. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. Who remembers the first Renault Scenic? Well believe it or not, this vehicle appeared in 1996 as the Megane Scenic and went on to become widely regarded as the first compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) in European automotive history. The concept car was unveiled in 1991 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the road-going version reached dealerships in 1996. It was designed from the inside out for comfort and became a cocoon for cross-country travel with pioneering safety and a super relaxing drive. For this era it was full of trailblazing technology and featured windows that were larger than life for excellent visibility. It was voted European Car of the Year in 1997 and Renault has sold more than 5.4 million units in 110 countries. This impressive sales number is set to grow further with the re-introduction of the Scenic brand now powered by the E-Tech electric platform. We recently took a trip out to Spain for an initial test drive to see if this vehicle simply pays homage, or is it a worthy successor to the Scenic of past. Features So what have we got here in terms of proportions? Well, looks can be deceiving because although sizeable, it weighs in at just 1.85 tonnes with a compact wheelbase of 2.78 metres. Purposeful and well thought out is how we would describe it with Renaults modern design language commanding your attention as you walk around the vehicle. Whilst some DNA elements are visible from the previous generation Scenics, this isn’t a reborn example like Renault have recently done with the 5 on which, it shares some of its underpinnings. Instead the new Scenic was aerodynamically designed to maximise efficiency and thus resulting in better looking vehicle with hidden MPV qualities. This for us is a good thing because MPV’s have somewhat lost their cool over the last ten years resulting in the mass movement to SUV’s and Crossovers, which we are all too familiar with. Do, or did we ever really need this to happen? Probably not if truth were told but peoples tastes change and this new era of vehicles seems to blur the lines between MPV and SUV. This new Scenic E-Tech electric comes six colours with four trim levels to include Evolution, Techno, Esprit Alpine and the top of the range Iconic trim. Our test vehicle was decked out in Iconic trim and boy does it look good. Opening the drivers door reveals a cabin of generous proportions, comfortable seats and two screens in a continuous L-shaped configuration. The horizontal TFT screen directly in the drivers eye measures 12.3-inches corner-to-corner, whilst a vertical 12-inch touch screen in the middle of the console display’s crystal clear vitals with ‘ease of use’ very much a factor. Jumping into the rear and all six-foot of me was swallowed up with ease! With 278 mm of knee room and a generous 884 mm of head room, it is plenty big even for those families with lengthy teenagers to transport. A panoramic roof lets in ample light but this is no ordinary panoramic glass, its actually Renaults pioneering Solarbay opacifying sunroof which can be see-through or opaque at the flick of a button. This heat insulated window needs no blind and has multiple settings including partially open to the front or rear. Another ingenious feature is the rear armrest which has storage space for smartphones or tablets with fold-out stands to comfortably watch screens. Two drink holders, and two USB-C outlets also aid with rear passenger comfort. Opening the tailgate reveals a class leading 545 litre boot that can swallow 1,670 litres of your finest French orange juice with the rear seats down. Power The Renault Scenic E-Tech electric will come with a choice of two battery options one of which is the entry 60 kWh and our test car which was powered by the 87kWh battery.  Both have eight-year, 160,000km warranty and separate modules can be individually repaired or replaced in the event of a failure. Expect 160hp from the entry level motor with a range of up to 430km and 220hp with a claimed 625km range in the larger variant. Will it actually do this claimed range? Well, only time will tell but if you are hogging the motorway overtaking lane or exploring the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of just 7.9 seconds, then we should think not! Drive it sensibly and you should see north of 500 kilometres which, is perfectly acceptable. Quick charging of up to 150 kW is also possible and Renault have clinched a deal with Ionity through it’s Mobilize card service to avail of better charging rates across Europe. Safety All versions of Scenic E-Tech electric are equipped with more than 30 ADAS and safety features that include innovative systems tailored for each driver. As we know, all new vehicles have to come with these driving aids but some can be intrusive and off putting. With that in mind the Scenic will always start with all safety aids turned on, but by configuring the ‘Perso’ settings you can simply double click a button to the right of the steering wheel to dis-engage what you are not comfortable with! Think of it as a ‘hot-key’ as such that makes it much easier than scrolling through vast safety menus. Summary We spent two days enjoying the mountainous routes around the Mijas region flicking between Comfort, Sport, Eco, and the Custom driving modes. The Scenic felt planted, comfortable even rolling on 20-inch wheels and engaging to drive at all times. With four levels of regenerative braking you can enjoy a hint of single pedal driving whilst also replenishing your battery. Road noise is almost non existent with ample sound-deadening used between the drivetrain and cabin giving you a hushed driving experience to enjoy the quality infotainment. For us Renault are on a roll now with some fantastic products on the market. From Megane E-Tech to Austral and now Scenic, each have been very impressive to drive. Soon we will see the Rafale and 5 entering the Irish market not to mention 4 EV and Symbioz also rumoured to be on the way. At the time of writing, prices have yet to be confirmed for the new Scenic but we will report back in due course with a full Irish review on our more familiar testing routes. This all new Renault Scenic E-Tech has already scooped the prestigious award for Car of The Year 2024 at the Geneva motor show, and it’s not hard to see why! For Style Class Drive Against Not a lot really!  To check out Renault stock on DoneDeal, click here. DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks.

Cost savings associated with owning an electric car: A new study by DoneDeal, Ireland's largest car website, found that 90% of electric car drivers in Ireland have noted that their running costs are cheaper than their previous traditional petrol/diesel cars. This figure is up from 85% in November last year. Amidst the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, this highlights the potential economic benefits associated with owning an electric vehicle. High EV repurchase rate: DoneDeal’s latest consumer survey reveals that 70% of new electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Ireland plan to buy another EV as their next car purchase. This finding highlights a growing commitment to electric mobility in Ireland, aligning with the country's national climate action goals. DoneDeal’s latest insights show that the majority of new EV drivers don’t plan to revert back to traditional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles and once a person drives a new EV, the majority are converted and don’t look back. Range anxiety remains a concern: Of those surveyed that drive an electric vehicle, 30% noted that their biggest concern since purchasing an EV has been range anxiety. Range anxiety is defined as “worry on the part of a person driving an electric car that the battery will run out of power before the destination or a suitable charging point is reached.” Charging infrastructure and depreciation concerns: 20% of EV drivers noted that the depreciation in value of electric vehicles is their biggest concern whilst 18% of respondents ranked the lack of charging infrastructure in Ireland as their primary worry. Growing EV demand: In January, DoneDeal found that demand for brand new electric vehicles is up 62% YoY compared to the same period last year. Demand for nearly new EVs, that is 1-4 year old models, increased by 70% YoY. Shifting market landscape: The Volkswagen ID.4 retained its position as the most popular new car on DoneDeal in 2024, continuing the dominance seen in 2023. However, with Volkswagen recently launching the ID.7 as its new flagship EV in Ireland, only time will tell whether it will usurp the ID.4 from the top spot. Furthermore, the inclusion of the BYD Seal in the Top 10 marks a significant milestone, representing the first time the model has achieved such recognition. This development reflects the increasing diversity of EV offerings at various price points and highlights the growing presence of emerging Chinese manufacturers in the Irish market.