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When buying a Motor Trade Insurance policy, ensuring you provide the right information is vital – providing incorrect information or indeed withholding it completely can have major implications. Campion Insurance, one of the country’s largest Motor Trade Insurance Brokers, have provided these key tips to follow when discussing a Motor Trade Insurance policy: Declare all your motor trade activities to ensure your business is covered correctly. Mention all your trade activity so your policy will cover you for any motor trade driving requirements. For example, don’t limit to servicing & repair if half your business is valeting – a claim would be void if an accident occurred moving a valeted car. Know exactly who you’re adding to your policy If you add a driver who you haven’t fully vetted and they have an accident, it will be your no claim bonus that takes the hit next renewal, not theirs! Use the National Fleet Database website Make sure you log onto the National Fleet Database to link your car to your motor traders policy.  Motor Trader certs and discs don’t show a reg number, so with the increase in ANPR cameras used by the Gardaí, you could be stopped as the camera will not link the vehicle to an active insurance policy. Check your sums insured so claims are paid for the right costs Make sure you regularly review your sums insured, especially if you have tools or a stock of vehicles insured. Tools built up over years could end up being a multiple of the original amount you paid or difficult to source, thus increasing the value. Have proof of your motor trade work to show you’re a genuine motor trader In the event of a claim or dispute in cover, proof of motor trade may be requested. This can consist of receipts for spare parts purchased, records of vehicles bought & sold in the motor trade, copies of advertisements you’ve placed etc. Check exactly what vehicles you are insured to drive Most motor trade insurance policies have a Gross Vehicles Weight limit between 7.5t and 10t. If you drive anything larger, a vehicle with more than 8 seats or a motor bike for motor trade activity, you may not be covered. If your business brings you in contact with anything other than cars, vans, and small to mid-range commercials, you should check with your insurer that your covered. The final tip is to contact Campion Insurance for a discounted quote – 1850 577 777 To receive a discount of €50 off any New Business quote given by Campion before 31st October 2019, simply quote “DoneDeal Newsletter” to the Campion staff member #Motors

Paid post, brought to you by: Campion Insurance Trading links From vehicle distribution, parts and equipment to professional services, the Irish motor industry is entwined with the UK. There are significant volumes of cars and commercial vehicles in Ireland, as well as vehicle parts and accessories, that are manufactured in the UK. There are also a substantial number of cars and commercial vehicles, sourced by Irish dealers from dealers or auctions in the UK, not to mention vehicle parts sourced from UK sellers. What are the short, medium and long term implications of Brexit? In Ireland, used car imports total around 50,000 per year, which is a significant volume. In the medium to long-term, there may well be concerns regarding the potential for tariffs and quotas to be imposed on vehicles or parts manufactured in the UK, as a non-EU country. That said, it’s not just parts manufactured in the UK which will be hit – consideration needs to be given to vehicles or parts, manufactured in another EU member state, but distributed into Ireland through the UK. Although many of these goods are produced in the Eurozone, they are often charged into Ireland in Sterling. It is though the short-term impact on the Motor Trader industry that is likely to provide the biggest and most worrying challenges, especially in relation to currency fluctuations. Global financial companies are suggesting the value of Sterling could fall to parity with the Euro – or even further – if the UK leaves the EU with a no-deal Brexit, a scenario looking more & more likely each day. The key issue here is not the potential for higher volumes of imports, so much as the potential negative impact that it might have on used car values in Ireland. This, in turn, could very well slow down new vehicle sales, if the cost for a consumer to change their car increases as a result of the lower trade-in value. Not only will this impact cars but the same price adjustment will be happening in relation to parts and accessories as well. Similarly, mutual recognition between Ireland and the UK on vehicle approvals and acceptance of mileage-based odometers may need to be resolved in a changed context. For companies currently trading into Ireland from the UK, there may have to be some adjustment or modification in relation to the most beneficial way to structure for the future. In summary, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the market at the moment. If you need advice or a quote for a Motor Trader insurance policy, please contact Campion Insurance on 1850 577 777 or visit: www.campionins.com/motor-traders-insurance #Motors

Just under 15,000 new Electric & Hybrid cars were sold across Ireland in 2019. This represents a 68% year-on-year increase, or 6,085 extra car sales when compared to 2018. In total,14,984 new Electric & Hybrid cars rolled off the nation’s forecourts over the last twelve months. Electric and Hybrid car sales are now the exclusive growth area in new car sales nationwide. Overall, the new car sales market is down nearly 7% (6.82%) when compared with 2018. View the full report here. The analysis was released by Ireland’s largest motor website DoneDeal, as part of DoneDeal’s 2019 Motor Industry Review, which was published today. In the used car market, just under 544,495 vehicles traded hands, a 4% decrease on 2018. Volkswagen was the most popular new and used car make of 2019. 13,508 new VW’s were sold over the last twelve months, while 71,178 used vehicles from the German manufacturer traded hands. Meanwhile, both the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona were tied on 1,086 sales each, making them the joint best-selling new Electric Cars nationwide. In the Hybrid market, the Toyota Corolla was the nation’s favourite with 3,857 new Corolla’s sold. As part of the report, DoneDeal surveyed over 1,000 people looking to purchase a car. 26% of those surveyed indicated they would opt for a Hybrid of Electric vehicle as their next purchase. Diesel remains the most popular choice with future buyers, with 52% preferring Diesel above any other option. 22% were in favour of Petrol. Martin Clancy from DoneDeal said: “Every month – one thousand two hundred and fifty new Electric & Hybrid cars are now rolling off the nation’s forecourts. In Dublin alone, over 6,000 were sold in 2019. It’s a similar pattern across the major cities. In Cork 1,835 new Electric & Hybrid units were sold. Galway witnessed a 55% year-on-year surge with sales of 660 new Hybrid and Electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Limerick (454) and Waterford (270) all witnessed substantial year-on-year increases.” #Motors

By Justin Delaney 2020 has marked the introduction of the 6th generation Opel Corsa and we at DoneDeal are delighted to have participated in the initial test drive. Opel as a brand, have undergone some serious changes including the recent acquisition by the PSA Group. This means there is a lot of attention on the new Corsa as the company produce their first car, since the buyout. Naturally components are now shared with sister cars like the Peugeot 208 but does Opel manage to retain any of its German appeal? First launched in 1982, the Corsa is Opel’s best-selling model, with over 13 million units sold in Europe to date. In 2007 and 2015, Corsa generations four and five still took awards in prestigious events worldwide. This MK6 variant not only looks good but it is well appointed both inside and out. Let’s have a look and see how it performs over the following categories. Opel Corsa Car 2020 Pros Good looks Decent interior space Smooth ride Competitive Entry Prices Opel Corsa Car 2020 Cons Slightly scratchy plastics used inside Features With modern, dynamic lines and a slightly lower body stance, the all-new Corsa offers increased interior space and comfort, all the while retaining its renowned German precision for detail. Whilst the overall exterior height has been reduced to deliver better aerodynamics and lower CO2 / consumption, an increase in front headroom, a longer wheelbase and increased overall exterior length return optimum cabin space and comfort for passengers. The boot volume is increased (+24 litres) to 309 litres, or up to 1,081 litres with seats folded. A weight reduction of 108kg, matched to an improvement in torsional stiffness and lower centre of gravity, delivers greater agility, performance and handling over the previous generation Corsa model. Power Buyers have a choice of 2 petrol engines (1.2 75bhp or 1.2 100bhp), matched to a manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic, and a 1.5 102bhp diesel engine manual, from launch, the improved Corsa delivers a reduction in CO2 of up to 25%. Soon there will be a Corsa-e 134bhp which will return an electric range of up to 337km. Safety Available in three trims – SC, SRi and Elite – safety technology features available as standard, or as an option, dependent on trim include Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian detection, radar-based Adaptive Speed Control, Lane Departure Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition. The new Opel Corsa also brings to the segment for the very first time, adaptive glare-free IntelliLux LED matrix lighting. The new Corsa scored 4 out of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP test. Opel Corsa Car 2020 Prices The new Opel Corsa retails from €17,975 plus delivery and related charges for the entry SR. The SRi starts at €23,000 and the Elite kicks off at €24,300. Prices are not confirmed for the Corsa E yet, but we anticipate it will land priced between €35k – €40k. The entry SR trim is competitively priced but the B segment has many options. Summary Our test drive took us on a mixture of motorway and backroads to get a feel for the Corsa. Our first test car was the 1.5 Diesel Elite and we were pleasantly surprised with how nice it was to drive. The six speed manual gearbox felt perfectly suited to the 102hp Diesel and the ride on back roads was particularly good. For us here at DoneDeal this is the smart man’s buy if you are doing mileage with a small family. We predict it will be popular with rental car companies along with driving schools and the like. Our second test car was the 1.2 Petrol Elite which will no doubt be the volume seller. Again in SRi trim it is well appointed and if anything, even nicer inside than the Elite. Naturally it’s a more rev happy engine and you find yourself working the manual gearbox a little more but it’s still, a very pleasant drive. The 1.2 75hp variant we have yet to drive. For urban commuters it will no doubt make sense but be warned, with four people on board and a motorway spin planned you will feel the constraints of that small engine! Overall Opel have a real offering once again with the Corsa. The new technology and better drive over the outgoing model will for sure make this a contender not to be overlooked. Hopefully we will get to drive the electric version in the not too distant future. 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

Distilled SCH – which is made up of DoneDeal, Daft.ie and Adverts.ie has placed eighth in the annual Great Place To Work Survey for Ireland’s best medium-sized companies category. GPTW (Great Place To Work) is based on anonymous voluntary feedback from employees based in participating organisations and segments results based on company size (Large, Medium, Small). Strategy & Direction Line Management Career & Development Empowerment & Accountability Recognition Work Environment & Processes Performance Management Diversity Teamwork As a fast-growing and dynamic company, Distilled SCH CEO and founder of Daft.ie Eamonn Fallon said he was very proud of the companies position “As our company continues to grow, we are very proud that we continue to evolve and improve our workplace and I’m delighted to see us recognised for all the hard work put in by all our staff. We are committed to making DistilledSCH a great place to work for all our staff.” The business, which has a combined workforce of 153 employees across three offices (Dublin, Wexford and Waterford) has been operating as a joint venture between Irish owned Distilled Media and Oslo based international media giant Schibsted Media Group since July 2015. DistilledSCH excelled in Culture when compared to other workplaces of a similar size. Creative designer, Sayo Bittencourt who has been with the company since May 2019 said: “Since my first day I felt welcomed in DistilledSCH. As a young female ex-pat, it was wonderful to find a company in Ireland that makes such a conscious effort to promote diversity, respect and value creative work, celebrate achievements and foster an environment of caring about one another.” Eamonn Fallon said: “DistilledSCH brings together three iconic Irish brands. DoneDeal – the number one destination to buy and sell cars in Ireland, Daft.ie – Ireland’s leading real estate website and app and Adverts.ie – a mobile-first platform for buying and selling goods and services”

DoneDeal works closely with several animal welfare groups including the ISPCA and Department of Agriculture in order to comply with legislation and meet the standards set out by bodies such as IPAAG (The Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group), of which we are a member. DoneDeal take our responsibilities as an advertising platform very seriously and will continue to introduce measures to further improve animal welfare and advertising transparency in Ireland. As we work on further solutions to improve animal welfare and in light of unprecedented demand in Ireland we have taken the decision to temporarily suspend the dogs section from 7th August 2020. Unfortunately we believe removing the section may push activity offline and lead to reduced transparency when it comes to advertising dogs. Every month, over 200,000 advertisements are placed on DoneDeal across various advertising categories. Given the volume of advertisements on DoneDeal it is not possible for our customer service team to manually review every ad placed and we must therefore rely on technical measures to block improper content. In addition to these preventative technical measures, DoneDeal operate a “notice and takedown” policy which allows any user on DoneDeal to report any ad that is believed to be in breach of our terms and conditions. The ad will be reviewed and if it is in breach will be taken down immediately. Already in 2020 we have introduced several measures in the dogs section to further improve transparency around the advertisement of dogs. Introducing 2 factor phone verification for advertisers in the dogs section Capturing the microchip number of dogs at the point of advertisement and the publishing of microchip numbers Capturing seller registration numbers at the point of advertisement (if applicable) Capturing country of origin on the dog advertisement Introducing educational content on the dogs section around legislation around microchipping The most recent technical change around microchip validation against available microchip databases was launched Monday 27th July. We are working hard to find the right next technical solutions to improve animal welfare in Ireland though there are limits to what is possible for us alone as a publisher which is understood in the legislation: “A person shall not make a statement which the person knows to be false with a view to securing a publication or display of an advertisement of a pet animal for sale or supply, that results in the publication or display being made.” Our intention is to prevent the possibility of advertisers making false statements but in some cases we rely on users of DoneDeal to report these advertisements to us. Our team of 13 customer service representatives are on call 7 days a week to handle queries or complaints from people visiting DoneDeal. At DoneDeal we will continue to work hard with animal welfare bodies to find the best possible solutions to maximise transparency and protect animal welfare when it comes to the advertisement of animals.

By Justin Delaney It’s a glorious sunny afternoon in Dublin City and here we find ourselves with the keys to the all-new Ford Kuga Hybrid at the Irish launch. This is a huge moment for Ford as the brand kicks off its electrified product offensive supported as part of the $11 billion investment for alternative powered vehicles. This new Kuga will be offered two powertrains to include a diesel and for the first time on a Ford passenger car a Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The last Kuga was massive success for the brand so when it came to designing the new model, Ford were heavily influenced by feedback from European customers. The final result was a much more streamlined and modern looking vehicle that looks great from any angle. Yes you can see the traits of Focus shining through and indeed it does share some common parts but the distinctive profile of the Kuga will leave you in no doubt this is something totally new. Ford claim this is now the largest of the top 5 medium sized SUVs on the market in both length and width here in Ireland. Features Like the current range of Ford vehicles on offer buyers can opt for Titanium, ST Line, ST Line X; and Vignale specification. Our test vehicle was the ST Line X and it looked sublime from almost every angle. The sporty bumpers, larger wheels and ST Line badging gives the vehicle a real presence on the road with many observers nodding in appreciation. Inside it’s pretty good too and Ford have went for a simplified, less cluttered design by seamlessly integrated surfaces and using good quality materials throughout. The instrument panel positioning is perfectly within your eye line and optimised for greater space. To the centre console you get a floating 8-inch touchscreen with Navigation, which is also now standard across the range. Below this your eye will be drawn to the optional Rotary Gear Shift Dial for the eight-speed automatic transmission. An electric parking brake keeps things clean and leaves you with that spacious feeling. Power The powertrain choices for the new Kuga are short and sweet. Buyers can opt for the 1.5 litre EcoBlue 120PS diesel manual or the PHEV model with the 2.5 litre Duratec 225PS petrol hybrid engine. It’s at this point I can almost hear you trembling at the thoughts of having to run a 2.5 litre petrol engine! Well fear not, the 2.5l four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle is extremely efficient. In the normal combustion engine cycle the intake valve stays closed when the piston moves up on its compression stroke, creating pressure in the cylinder. In an Atkinson-cycle engine, the valve stays open slightly longer. This means there’s now less pressure in the cylinder and the piston doesn’t have to work as hard to overcome friction. This in turn improves fuel efficiency and the petrol vapour escapes back into the intake manifold through that open valve back into the cycle again. It sounds and reads complicated but it’s a formula that’s been around for years that can now be utilised better with the latest technology. Combining this with the electric motor and you can travel up to 56 kilometres on pure electricity or enjoy up to 202mpg on the open road combined. Again these are ultimate numbers claimed by Ford and until we take the vehicle for a weeklong test drive it will be hard to verify. The power-split technology combines the 2.5-litre Duratec petrol engine, electric motor and generator, and 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery to produce 225PS. All this is routed through a power splitter, which also serves as a CVT automatic transmission allowing the vehicle to seamless, use both power sources. The new Kuga will be supplied with both a home charge cord and a public charge cord as standard. Expect it to take around 6 hours to charge for a regular home three pin or opt for the Ford-approved wallbox for home use, which can charge the PHEV in 3.5 hours. Safety As expected and like the Focus you get standard Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies to enhance protection, driving and parking which also helped to deliver the achieved 5-star NCAP rating. These include front and rear parking sensors, Collision mitigation, Lane keeping aid, Pre-Collison Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection and Post-collision braking. Ford Kuga Prices Prices are expected to kick off on the Titanium 1.5 litre EcoBlue diesel starting at €33,357 and for the PHEV version €35,432. This price difference of just €2,075 is designed to make people really think hard about the possibility of owning the PHEV version. Early signs are that a significant number of Kuga buyers will take the opportunity to go the plug in hybrid for the first time. For the sporty ST Line series we had on test you can expect the diesel version to kick off at €35,985 and the PHEV version to be priced from €37,425. Summary Our time was short and sweet with the new Kuga but it was a very impressive machine. Essentially during the pandemic we were treated to an hour long heavily sanitised test drive that mainly incorporated the city roads out to Poolbeg and back onto the Stillorgan dual carriageway for our return journey. This meant we were predominately enjoying the electric motor but when you lean hard on the accelerator the 2.5-litre Duratec petrol engine barks into life to allow you feel some of that combined 225PS. The power splitter, which also serves as a CVT automatic transmission allowing the vehicle to seamless use both power is fast and not at all noisy like some CVT transmissions. The steering was nice and sharp and there wasn’t a hint of body roll through the bends. It feels planted and surefooted and we can’t wait to spend a little longer with it! Ford Kuga Pros Stunning looking PHEV technology Space Ford Kuga Cons Some extras are pricey! Check out the Ford Kuga on DoneDeal here. #Motors About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for 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.

Online new and used car buying with ‘Deal & Deliver’ services are still an option Customers can get car finance approval without stepping foot on a forecourt. DoneDeal responds to Premium Consumer demand. A shift to online shopping is an inevitable consequence of the move to Level 5 and it will apply equally to car buying as for other parts of retailing. This is the forecast by leading motor finance provider Bluestone Motor Finance’s MD Donal Murphy who notes; “Like many other parts of the retail sector, car showrooms will be forced to operate differently during the lockdown, with many planning to provide online car buying services. At Bluestone, we are ready to help those dealers by providing an online finance capability for car buyers. The move to online for car buying and financing was a key learning point during the country’s previous lockdown period and this time, businesses are arguably better prepared to support people who want or need to change their car or van.” While car showrooms will be closed, many of Ireland’s motor retailers have shown their agility by being able to operate remotely to help customers. While car showrooms will be closed, many of Ireland’s motor retailers have shown their agility by being able to operate remotely to help customers. Both ‘Click & Collect’ services for customers within 5KM of the showroom or ‘Deal & Deliver’ home delivery of vehicles has become widely available. To facilitate a purchase, a growing number of dealers have embraced the proven online financing portal developed by Bluestone and DoneDeal; this is available here. It allows people to find and finance a used car to suit their needs, as Donal points out; “Motor retailers have invested heavily to make not just their proposition COVID-safe; they included both their premises and remote sales approach. Online sales have been increasingly popular and our digital finance service has helped a growing audience to provide a one-stop online shopping experience that works seamlessly. Our message is straightforward; ‘customers can get car finance approval without stepping foot on the forecourt.” “During the last lockdown, we saw that customers’ interest in car buying bounced back early in the lockdown." DoneDeal is host to Ireland’s Trusted Car Dealers, touching over 70% of car sales. It means that the business can offer a ‘birds-eye view’ of what happened during the last lockdown. By sharing their insights DoneDeal’s General Manager, Rob Hume hopes to provide some best practice guidance for dealers as he explains; “During the last lockdown, we saw that customers’ interest in car buying bounced back early in the lockdown and dealers that stayed open online on DoneDeal during this time benefitted the most. The current period of restrictions will end, but before it does, we’ll continue to see customers moving a large portion of their car purchase journey online. We hope that by empowering dealers and consumers with finance options, Irish businesses can continue online.” “It’s as much to do with evolving consumer behaviour." While the pandemic has brought the need for online finance options into focus, it isn’t the only reason DoneDeal and Bluestone Motor Finance have collaborated, Rob concludes; "A long-standing ask from both premium car buyers and dealers has been to empower them with finance options online. Car buyers come to DoneDeal for the best deals and they want those deals easily. They want to get their finance approved quickly and upfront. This initiative with Bluestone Motor Finance means that customers can get both their car, finance, and home delivery from the comfort of their own home now and in the future.” This article was originally released and featured by our friends at Bluestone. Introducing Bluestone Motor Finance Bluestone Motor Finance is a specialist motor finance provider that can offer finance to car buyers, including to consumers who have found it difficult to get finance previously. The Bluestone team are able to offer simple, secure, lending solutions to consumers and business users. Working with a trusted base of motor dealers, unlike other asset finance providers, Bluestone determines the rental amount, so that the customer is only ever offered a realistic, means-tested sum, based on their current situation, personally assessed by a member of our skilled underwriting team. https://bluestonemf.ie 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. #Motors

In this video, David O'Caoimh gives you an in-depth and comprehensive review of the VW California Ocean Edition. It's a home on wheels and what's more is that when driving it you would never know it's got all your belongings, a full kitchen, and two double beds. If you haven't yet checked out our adventure around Ireland, we strongly recommend it as it paints the perfect picture for how you could use a California. The 2.0 TDI engine paired with the 7 speed Dual Clutch Automatic Gearbox (DSG) drives superbly. The 4 motion system means you can access the inaccessible and truly explore. Take a trip with us here and remember, you can confidently decide for yourself by checking out the Volkswagen California stock from Ireland's trusted dealers here 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

Like it or not we are being pushed towards buying electric cars faster than we thought we’d be. Also known as electric vehicles (EVs) or battery electric vehicles (BEVs) the modern EV has been with us for 10 years. The Early adopters have been singing the praises of EVs for years and reveling in their car’s nerdy technical details. They invented a new and barely decipherable electric car language. Words and phrases like ‘kilowatt hours’, ‘regenerative braking’ and ‘CHAdeMO’ fall off the tongue like a concrete block. Hidden behind a cult-like enthusiasm was a lot of suffering caused by interacting with Ireland’s poor public car charging infrastructure, the dreaded ‘range anxiety’ and other issues. There is a famous line from an Irish TV ad where a man publicly admits “I don’t know what a tracker mortgage is!”. At some stage we all need to learn the basics. Let’s demystify ‘what an electric car is’ so you can buy a new EV with confidence. Today’s EVs are much improved, have better range and are near effortless to drive. Even though the choice of electric cars is growing, the 25 models or so on sale right now is far from comprehensive if electric cars are to become the mainstream. Europe is the one doing the pushing as it wants all member states to be carbon neutral by 2050. Carmakers already face heavy fines if they don’t meet the ever-reducing average emissions targets. Not surprisingly fines are a great motivator for businesses and in 2020 a dozen or more new EVs will be added to the menu in Ireland. To help reach this noble emissions goal many governments are planning to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the not-too-distant future. The rest of the world is taking a slower or downright ‘no’ approach to any ban. The electrical infrastructure needed for EV is not globally available. Diesel and petrol engines create emissions, and these emissions relate directly to your car’s fuel economy. Any fuel-burning engine is relatively inefficient next to an electric motor. Engines produce varying amounts of nasty exhaust gases into the air - whereas electric cars don’t. When you drive an EV, it produces zero emissions. So why hasn’t the car industry put us in EVs sooner? Cost. It is very hard to turn a profit on an electric car due to the cost of manufacture and expensive battery components compared to a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE). We’re at peak engine development and all manufacturers make big profits with them. Scale is the answer to making EVs profitable. There is lots to learn about EVs and also a lot of misinformation out there. Here are a few things you need to know before you take the plunge: Is an EV hard to drive? EVs are absolutely brilliant and easy to drive. All are automatic, so stick it in ‘D’ and off you go in near silence. Some EVs have an additional ‘B’ setting on the gear selector that enables added braking when you lift off the accelerator. EVs are really quiet inside and out - so much so they need an external noise generator to alert pedestrians to their presence. When you drive one for the first time you will be amazed at its near-instant response. When you press on the accelerator, all the car’s power and urge is instantly available. This is not the case with petrol or diesel engines where you have to rev them up to get maximum power. How does an electric car move? It is quite simple instead of an engine there is an electric motor that turn its wheels. A washing machine has a lot in common with an electric car as it uses an electric motor to turn the big drum. You know when a wash goes on the spin cycle and you hear the whine slowly speed up - that is what happens when you accelerate in an EV. As you press the accelerator pedal you are speeding up its electric motor, turning the car’s wheels. When you lift off the accelerator pedal you can even regain some ‘kinetic’ energy back into the battery also. Most EVs have a single motor but some have two/dual motors. This means they have a motor for the front wheels and another one to turn the rear wheels. As a result, all-wheel-drive EVs can be incredibly quick and sure-footed as they get more grip from the road with tyres turned by the motors. Of course, two motors are more expensive than one and this is why they are found in more premium or performance models. Where does the electric motor get its power? Power to the motor comes from a big rechargeable battery pack that is hidden out of sight, usually under the car’s floor. Only mechanics will ever see it! The battery is huge compared to the little 12-volt car battery we are all familiar with (EVs have one of these also to do similar jobs). Generally, a rechargeable battery pack uses hundreds of lithium-ion battery cells stacked together (smartphones have lithium-ion batteries). Battery packs are heavy and while in the future we will see much lighter and more compact ‘solid-state’ batteries used in EVs - for now all EVs have to haul around more dead weight than a conventional ICE car. How do you charge an EV? The battery is recharged using a big cable you attach between the car and a home or public charging point. At home, most EVs can fully charge from near-empty overnight. A home has a set amount of regulated power it can access. This is often called single-phase whereas businesses can access more power, and this is often called three-phase electricity. You can charge an EV via a three-pin plug but the power available from a standard plug is low - so charging is very slow. A home EV charge point is essential as it can deliver much more power, up to 7 kilowatts and the best part is, it is grant-aided. Public charge points can deliver much more power (depending on their type) and this means less time spent charging. Slow, fast and rapid are some words used to describe public charge points. The car’s technical specification and ability to accept different rates of charge (through its on-board charger), will dictate the type and speed of charging you can do. Electric car batteries vary in size, why? Now, this is where it can get a little confusing. There is some basic maths to get your head around but once understood you’ll be fine. The capacity (size) of the rechargeable battery is measured in kWh or kilowatt hours, note the little ‘h’ in kWh. The higher the battery’s kWh number, the great capacity it has. Greater capacity in an electric car’s battery translates to greater driving range. Electric cars in general are described by their model name and then by their battery’s capacity. A Nissan Leaf is available with a choice of battery size. The cheaper 40kWh Leaf does not go as far as the more expensive 62kWh Leaf. Most electric cars have an average electricity consumption when driving of 16 to 18 kWh per 100 kilometres. This is the EV equivalent of litres per 100 kilometres with petrol or diesel cars. As a simple guide: a larger EV will need more power to move compared to a smaller/lighter EV. This is why large EVs need big battery packs to power their motors and deliver acceptable driving range. Can EVs self-charge? To a limited degree, yes. An electric car can recover some electrical energy when you use the brakes or when you lift off the accelerator. Initial braking by an EV doesn’t use the conventional ‘friction’ brakes that ICE cars use. Initially EVs use their electric motor to slow the car. Soft braking or lifting-off the accelerator generates a braking force as it generates electricity that goes back into the battery. Hard braking uses the traditional friction brakes (brake pads on discs). This regenerative way of slowing an EV is one reason why electric car servicing costs are incredibly low, as so few things wear out. A fast car has a big engine with lots of horsepower (or hp), how do I know how powerful an EV is? An EV’s power output is measured in the same way as petrol and diesel engines. The main difference is that there is no 2 or 3 litre engine-size number to consider - just the electric motor’s hp or kilowatt (kW) number. The bigger the number the more powerful the car is. Also just like any car the ratio between how heavy it is and how powerful its motor is will determine how fast and efficient the car is. Note, EVs in general are heavier than cars with engines. Are EVs good for out-of-town driving? EVs have zippy acceleration, which is great around town but the faster you go the more an EV will run out of urge – most have very modest top speeds. An EV’s true enemy is the open flat road. On free-flowing motorways and carriageways, there is no chance for an EV to regenerate electricity through regenerative braking plus the motor is running the whole time. Downhill stretches can regenerate some charge but EV drivers become very aware of topography as it impacts driving range. In stop-start traffic, city or town use an EV is at its most efficient. An EV uses minuscule electricity when it is not moving. An EV uses more electricity the faster it goes as aerodynamics come into play. With any car when you travel at speeds above 80km/h aerodynamic drag increase fuel consumption. Often you will see EVs doing at least 10% less than the posted speed limit on open roads in an effort to reduce power consumption. Most EVs will also have an ‘Eco’ or energy save mode you can select to maximise the car’s range. When on, these systems reduce the motors power and other electrical consumers e.g., air conditioning, while also restricting top speed to circa 90km/h. What is an EV’s summer range and winter range? In ideal weather conditions, basically an average Irish summer, an EV will be most efficient. Summer range is the most optimistic driving range from a full charge. With a considerate driving-style the figure is generally close to attainable. Cold wintery weather and electrical efficiency do not work well together. Also, in winter, drivers use the wipers, air conditioning, heated seats, heated windows, heated mirrors much more and these consume more electricity and affect range. Winter range quoted, though lower, will still be an optimistic figure. As a rule you can knock 20% off any range given and this will allow you drive the car normally, most of the time. EV drivers know the value of a good coat. What is range anxiety? You know that sinking feeling when you need to make a phone call and your mobile runs out of power? When an EV runs out of power, it stops, and you’re stuck. If you run out of fuel in a petrol or diesel, there are filling stations everywhere and if you run out on the road you can always walk to the nearest one and get a jerrycan of fuel - you can’t get a jerrycan of electricity! Choosing an EV with the right sized battery that can deliver in excess of the traveling range you need daily, is quite simply, essential. Small EVs are cheaper, why? 2020 saw the arrival of some adorable small electric cars. The adorable and high-tech Honda-e and MINI Cooper Electric both are fun to drive, have four seats, don’t take up much road space, and are relatively affordable. The downside to their cuteness is that they have a restricted driving range. Compact design leaves little space to store batteries and these two EVs typify the new ‘Urban EV’ subclass that is ideal for frequent short trips and city use. EV’s with small battery packs have an upside and that is they pay for themselves sooner. If you need to regularly commute distances look elsewhere. As a rule, the smaller the battery capacity - the smaller the cost of production is and ultimately the asking price. The new Renault ZOE and Peugeot e-208 and its sister car the Opel Corsa-e are classed as small cars (superminis), yet all three deliver better range through their bigger battery packs and cost less than €30K. A EV’s size or class is coupled with its battery size determines it price. This explains why big EVs with big batteries are so expensive. What are the servicing costs like? Servicing costs are much lower than a car with an engine. An EV has fewer components to wear out or that need to be routinely be replaced. There’s no engine oil, oil filter or fuel filter or costly engine belts, spark plugs, and a myriad of things that go wrong with engines. There are some fluids and the usuals consumables like wiper blades etc. that will need servicing or replacement. The main cost will be tyres. EVs are heavy on their tyres because, well, they’re heavy! Specific EV tyres are often needed, designed to take the EV’s additional weight. They also need to have low-rolling-resistance properties to help maximise range. EV tyres can be expensive and should be budgeted for. I commute, what EV should I buy? You’ll need a small EV with a 40kWh battery or bigger. With a larger EV, you’ll need to go much larger with the battery size. The statistics say most motorists never do more than 80km a day, yeah right, try telling that to a commuter. The trick to commuting in an EV is having more than enough range from a full charge to do all the day’s driving and a bit more. This way you need never, or seldom, have to charge at a public charger. You’ll also be able to use the car’s creature comforts, guilt-free – like the heater! Charging at home, on night rate electricity (ideally powered by renewable energy) is the most efficient ‘EV-way’… welcome to the cult! 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. Check out Electric Cars on DoneDeal here. 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. About DoneDeal 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. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. 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

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. The Audi A5 Sportback was originally launched back in 2009 and until 2015 it remained unchanged. 2016 saw the new A5 launched to the international markets with the first of the new models arriving on Irish shores in 2017. That previous model was already a good-looking car and one, which caught the eye as soon as it was introduced. In many ways this was a new age for modern Audi’s as they strived to produce sleek, sporty family cars that didn’t look like sales rep motors. The newest incarnation of the A5 Sportback is no different and if anything, it’s the best-looking A5 to date. Audi has significantly revised the exterior, with the front end getting a lower, wider stance. The singleframe nose with a honeycomb grille is flatter and wider with the iconic ventilation slits above the grille reminding you of the classic Audi Sport quattro from the early 80’s. Features Sitting into the new A5 Sportback you will soon realise that no expense has been spared in ensuring that the materials used throughout are of the finest of quality. In S line trim, my test model had the added benefit of sport seats finished in leather and alcantara. Space throughout the cabin is plentiful, while storage is reasonable. With its new MMI touch system, the Audi A5 is more like a giant smartphone than a car. A 10.1-inch touch display with acoustic feedback replaces the rotary pushbutton used models of old. The graphics are clean and the menu structure is pretty simple to use. It also has what Audi call natural-language voice control and understands many sentences commonly used in the car. Like the last model you can control the full-HD, 12.3-inch display from the multifunction steering wheel and can choose between three views. We preferred to have dials when motorway driving but if you have a destination to navigate to, be sure to use the main driver screen with the addiitional head-up display that projects important information into the driver’s direct field of view. Trust us its hard to go wrong! The Audi A5 also comes standard with a Wi-Fi hotspot for extra connectivity! Power As with all cars of recent it’s now about satisfting the limits of the Euro 6d-temp emissions standard and the A5 does that with a four engine choices equipped with a mild hybrid system (MHEV). These engines utilise a belt alternator starter, which is connected to the crankshaft and allows the engine to recover energy during deceleration and braking. This stored energy is harvested in a small lithium-ion battery. With the four-cylinder engines, the MHEV system is integrated into the 12-volt electrical system and into a new 48-volt main electrical system in the S TDI models. As expected all A5 models are equipped with an automatic transmission, either a seven-speed S tronic or an eight-speed tiptronic. For those that need all wheel drive stability, there is a quattro version as an option for the mid-range engine variants and comes standard with the three most powerful versions. Audi now ask punters to purchase cars more on their power needs rather than engine size. Our test car had the 163hp 2.0 Diesel which is now badged 35 TDI and in our opionion its still all the engine you will ever need in a car like this. Safety Like many Audi’s the A5 can brake on its own with standard automatic emergency braking, while adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and other active safety tech are reasonable options. It has a host of airbags and ISOFIX child seat mountings, Blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning systems. The active safety features include Audi Pre Sense Side, which can detect impending collisions from the side, and Audi Pre Sense Rear, which includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. There's also a rest-recommendation system, which analyses your steering and pedal inputs. If the system detects a change in your driving patterns, it can warn you visually and audibly that you might need to take a break for that much needed coffee. Audi A5 Sportback Prices Prices for the new Audi A5 Sportback kick off at around €46,000 plus delivery and related charges. Our test car in Glacier White was coming in at €53,502 plus options. On the options front our car had the glorious 20-inch Alloys, a Panoramic Sunroof and Interior Ambient lighting which all come as part of the Style Package for an additional €2,205. Add to this the black exterior mirrors at €152 along with the Black Styling Package at €775 and the price quickly rises to €57,900. Summary Our time with the Audi A5 Sportback was enjoyable to say the least. We found ourselves out around some great driving roads in Sligo and enjoying all the A5 had to offer. With 380Nm of torque and that seamless gearbox it was more than powerful enough whilst still returning 6.3 litres per 100km. It feels like a well-built and cleverly engineered car on the road. Even on Sports suspension the damping still feels adequate to help the 20-inch wheels soak up rough surfaces and even in this two-wheel drive version, it felt surefooted at all times. Would we have it over the normal A4 Saloon? Well yes because it’s a better looking car although I fear our hearts would still lean towards the A4 in wagon/estate trim for that extra practicality in particular if you have children to ferry about. We will leave that difficult choice to you but be sure to take a test drive from your local Audi dealer nationwide. Audi are dishing out some fine cars at the moment. Audi A5 Sportback Pros Build quality Good looks Drive Audi A5 Sportback Cons Slightly cramped headspace in rear To check out Audi 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. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. Mercedes-Benz are not slowing up for anyone at the moment and the onslaught of new vehicles continues. The new GLB furthers the choice to the brands compact SUV model offering at a price point that might surprise you. The new GLB comes to Irish roads as the first Mercedes-Benz in its class to offer a 7-seat option with a third row of seats concealed beneath the luggage floor that can be raised to expand capacity to that all important seven seat configuration. Unlike some manufacturers who claim to have seating for 7 adults, Mercedes have done the decent thing and stated the third row offers ‘comfortable seating for passengers up to a height of 1.68m’. With that said they are perfectly comfortable for children and even have charge points for tablet devices perfectly located each side. The seat layout allows a second row split of 40.20.40 making it a little easier to access the third row of seats. Looks can be deceiving but at 2,829mm, it has the longest wheelbase of Mercedes-Benz’s current compact generation and front headroom is a generous 1,069mm with ample rear legroom, regardless of the 5 or 7-seat option. Features It has a strong and purposeful look with striking headlamps, sloped roofline, short front and back overhangs, and it kept reminding me of a car I’d tested in years past. Mercedes Benz might not thank me for this but it was actually the proportions of the Skoda Yeti that the shape alluded to and that’s no bad thing. The Yeti was a fantastic all-rounder for Skoda and the GLB can only be described as a slightly bigger more luxurious version of same. Buyers can choose entry-level two-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive with a special off-road light, which helps the driver to detect obstacles at low speeds. Like most new Mercedes models the equipment line choices include progressive or AMG which we have on test. Our test car also had the ‘Night Package’ option, which essentially de-chromes the trim in favour of piano black. In the driver seat you get the expected high-quality in seating, spiral-look dashboard, instrumentation and controls elements. The now familiar MBUX control centre and ‘Hey Mercedes’ command system, (which can be temperamental) are operated via two 7-inch instrument cluster and media displays with touch screen facility. The AMG Line sports steering wheel also has touch controls to make shifting between the various menus easy. Like the E-Class we recently tested you also get comfort elements such as mood lighting, musical chimes and seat massage features. Power The GLB gets the latest updated 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, all now with increased power, better efficiency and lower emissions. Buyers have a choice of the GLB 200 (1332cc/Nm 250 torque), GLB 250 (1991cc/Nm 350) and GLB35 4MATIC AMG (1991cc/Nm 400) with petrol power whilst diesel fans can opt for the GLB 180d (Nm 280 torque), GLB 200d and GLB 200d 4MATIC (both Nm 320) and GLB 220d 4MATIC (Nm 400), each certified to Euro 6d. All cars come with either 7G/8G automatic transmission. On a personal note our test vehicle was fitted with the 2.0 litre diesel (GLB 200d) and we found it a pleasure to drive. We have since tested the 1332cc petrol variant and found it a little racy and rev happy through the gears. Safety Independent crash-test experts Euro NCAP awarded the Mercedes GLB the full five stars giving it strong scores across the board. It received 92% and 88% for adult and child occupant protection respectively, along with an impressive 78% in the Vulnerable Road Users category. Standard safety kit includes a driver fatigue monitor, autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and active lane keeping assist to help keep the GLB from wandering out of its lane on the motorway. Also included in the mix of optional driver assistance systems is a camera and radar system that can scan the road up to 500 metres ahead and, in semi-automated mode, can adjust speed when coming to bends, crossroads or roundabouts. Off road drivers will be happy to know optional lighting and adaptive main beam features can be introduced to enhance the off road driving experience and safety. Mercedes-Benz GLB Prices When launched in Ireland it had the most competitive package possible tagging affordable prices to high-level specifications with the focus on the GLB Progressive 180 Automatic from €47,340 and the GLB Progressive 180d Automatic from €45,210. Our test car was the GLB 200d Automatic with the AMG Styling pack and Night package amongst others bringing the price up to €52,231. PCP options are available from your local dealer also. Summary It’s hard not to like the GLB really because there isn’t a lot of competition at this price point wearing a premium badge. The 2.0 litre diesel engine mated to the smooth automatic gearbox makes it a really nice drive with 150hp and 320Nm of torque. It doesn’t feel to tall or slab sided on B roads and soaks up potholes and uneven surfaces with ease. The third row of seats although priced at an additional €1451 is a must for us. Yes you loose the majority of the boot space when in use but with a roof box, family holidays are still very much do-able and it will be in sheer comfort. Good residual values are expected on this vehicle also so it’s well worth taking a test-drive in your local Mercedes-Benz dealership as soon as possible. The GLB is yet another strong offering from Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz GLB Pros Premium quality 7-Seat option Stylish Drive Mercedes-Benz GLB Cons Lane assist a little intrusive ‘Hey Mercedes’ function To check out Mercedes 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. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors