Search Results

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. Here it is, the one so many of you have been waiting for. The Audi e-tron has been roaming our roads for some time now and we have been lucky enough to experience the 50 quattro variant for a weeklong test drive. The first thing we noticed when collecting the e-tron is just how normal it looks. Yes it is well designed and oozes German quality but what we like is the fact that it doesn’t shout, electric car! It’s a product of the carbon-neutral Audi Brussels plant that has been designed to combine a high level of efficiency with the style and quality you would expect from any Audi. To be honest, the untrained eye would probably struggle to even know it is powered by electricity. Features The model we had on test was the Sport version, which featured glorious 20-inch alloys and lovely valcona leather sports seats inside. The cabin is plenty big with all the creature comforts you would expect from an Audi and the build quality is second to none. You won’t find any mix and mash materials used other than leather, soft touch plastics and crystal clear screens. On startup you get a subtle chime to let you know the vehicle is started before you waft off in sheer silence. Power is plentiful like most electric cars with that wall of torque available from a standstill. Paddle shifters offer various levels of regenerative braking allowing you to enjoy single pedal motoring with sufficient braking experienced on lifting the accelerator pedal. This means that the energy from practically all-normal braking manoeuvres is recovered and fed back into the battery. This becomes very intuitive when driving and also helps battery life. Power Just like all Quattro Audi’s, the four-wheel drive system delivers power by utilising an electric motor mounted on each axle. This gives the e-tron 50 a combined total of 230 kW and 540 Nm of torque, which will see you complete the 100km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds on your way to an electronically limited 188kph. In order to achieve the highest efficiency from the 71kWh battery the e-tron is smart enough to use only the rear electric motor in most driving situations. The front electric motor is activated predictively when needed or if the conditions suddenly change. The regulation of the electric all-wheel drive is extremely fast, highly connected and very precise. In other words you would rarely know what motors it is using to power which wheels. Combine this with air suspension and the e-tron’s low centre of gravity and it not only drives but corners excellent. Safety The Audi e-tron claimed a 5-star Euro NCAP rating by scoring 91% in Adult Occupant Protection, 88% in Child occupant protection, 71% in vulnerable road user protection and 78% on the safety assists. The e-tron comes with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Emergency calling, should you have an accident. It also features lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert with reversing collision avoidance. It has Adaptive Cruise control, automatic headlights and blind spot monitoring. Ultimately any car that achieves the top, 5 star rating is something to instill confidence when it comes to parting with your hard earned cash! Audi e-tron 2019 Price At the time of driving our Sport test car was priced at €79,320 (excluding grants). Entry for the Advance model starts at €74,990 and the S-Line was coming in at €85,110. With finance available from 3.9%, the Audi e-tron 50 offers Irish drivers’ considering an EV pretty good value with monthly repayments from €779* on PCP. There are other competitive financial options available to customers so be sure to speak with your local Audi dealer. Summary Ok so after a week what was it like to live with? Well we explained the drive was excellent as was the build quality but unless you are living in the city and doing very short trips we are not sure if the 50 is the best battery option for you. The 71-kWh battery with its two electric motors is supposed to provide a range of up to 330 kms according to the WLTP test cycle but realistically we got no where near that. In reality it was more like 250. Yes the e-tron also has a 120kW charging capability which facilitates recharging to 80 per cent capacity in approximately 30 minutes at fast-charging stations but if you live in Kildare and commute to Dublin you will be pulling in every second day for a charge. Our advice would be to step up into the e-tron 55, which has the bigger 95-kWh battery. This should see you good for a real world driving range of 365 km/h and that is something that you can live with. Audi, along with other car brands are working with Ionity to continue adding fast-charging sites to the six already in operation. If you can obtain a larger battery model and have access to one of these chargers then the e-tron will totally change your perception of electric vehicles. Finally you will have the range with the build quality to match from an electric vehicle. Audi E-tron Pros Build quality Great Looking Drive Audi E-tron Cons 71-kWh battery not enough 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

Thanks to our friends in Connolly Motor Group for supplying the vehicle. To check out more of their range, check out their stock listings on DoneDeal here. 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. Check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships

This week we're reviewing the MINI JCW (John Cooper Works). Instead of reviewing the MINI in an ordinary fashion, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and look into the heritage of the MINI over the last 60 years; from where it started, to the Monte Carlo rally and all the other milestones along the way. Later in the video, we explore the JCW in a little more depth, talk about the power, the automatic gearbox and even the tyres used. It's a fantastic hot hatch that handles phenomenally, in fact, it arguably handles better than the king of hot hatches - the Volkswagen Golf R. It's got the right amount of power to suffice without it being un-drivable or a complete handful. We hope that you enjoy our review/ 'MINI' documentary. Many thanks to Daisy Stewart for supplying her lovely limited edition Paul Smith original Mini. Check out our latest range of MINI's 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

All hail the 7th generation BMW 3 series. Overall the car has a very premium feel to it, plenty of power, and is also quite economical, making it one of the best all-round cars on the market today. See for yourself. Check out the BM3 Series for yourself here. 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

Last week we got the opportunity to test drive the all-new Mazda MX-30. It's a significant car on the Mazda line up and also for EVs. Instead of going for a huge, expensive battery with an enormous range, Mazda have calculated that a 35.5kWh battery would more than suffice. It's got a range of 265km (in the city and 200km on motorways) and can charge from 20-80% in just 36 minutes (on a DC Fast Charger). It's a very comfortable, premium car with plenty of nods to Mazda's heritage. The cork in the center console, the backward opening doors (similar to the Rx-8) are all details that truly passionate drivers will all appreciate. "The lane keep assist will override if it believes there to be a car in your blind spot on a motorway. Impressive." Safety is key for Mazda and the MX-30 has plenty on offer. It has the usual accident avoidance systems, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, however, it also offers a little more. For example, the lane keep assist will override if it believes there to be a car in your blind spot on a motorway. Impressive. Enjoy our review and remember, you can confidently decide for yourself by checking out the Mazda 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

By Justin Delaney With Irish holiday makers being encouraged to holiday at home throughout 2020 under government guidelines, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has seen a 500% increase in demand for its popular California model. With this in mind we decided to touch base with the press department and take a test vehicle for a weeklong excursion. Based on the transporter or its closer sibling the Carvelle, the Volkswagen California T6.1 is the new face-lifted camper and ours was in Ocean specification. Features The California is finished to a similar high quality as the Caravelle. Up front you will find two swivel seats both with their own individual armrests while the rear bench seat will seat two also. That’s just as well because the California will only sleep four in total. Fold down your rear bench seat and hey presto, you have one of your double beds. Activate the aluminium electronic pop up roof from the new panel screen located on the front headlining and you will find another double bed discreetly tucked away. Our test model was also fitted with the optional extra of the black awning which provides cover if you decide to sit out on the supplied deck chairs and table. Kitchen sink, cooker hob, fridge and storage space are all located in the rear alongside the rear bed / seats. The Ocean gets three-zone climate control and a programmable parking heater as standard. This provides heating when the engine isn’t running for those colder than normal nights, which is quite often here in Ireland! The California is the type of campervan which will turns head in any campsite that you visit. Every enthusiast wants one, or at least wants to have a look and see what exactly it is you get for your money. In short, you get enough space to carry you along with three passengers and their luggage with somewhere rather comfortable to sleep to should the mood take you. Power Powered by a 2.0 litre TDi engine and further complimented by 4Motion, Volkswagens four-wheel drive system you will have ample power with 199bhp. The addition of the 4Motion four-wheel drive system means that even in the wettest campsites that the country should offer, you are always assured that the California will pull its way out. Mated to a silky smooth 7-speed DSG gearbox means climbing up or dropping back down the gearbox is effortless as preselected gears drop in without a judder to disrupt your cutlery. Safety Standard equipment on all California models include six airbags and electronic stability control, but the number of active driver aids has increased considerably during the vehicle’s lifetime. This latest T6.1 facelift model has gained electrically power-assisted steering (EPAS), which has made even more active safety items possible, including crosswind assist (now standard on all models), lane-keeping assist and automatic parking. Other safety items available include blindspot monitors, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. Costs Now there is a new entry-level version of the California called the California Beach. The Beach comes with a 2.0-litre 150hp Diesel engine, has 5-seats and a starting price of €55,905. It sleeps four people comforably and features a mini kitchen with a gas cooking plate, a second battery, swivel seats in front and a 230-V inlet with charging feature for vehicle batteries and a 230-V outlet in the interior. Inevitably our Ocean test vehicle did come in considerably more expensive at €85,831. For this amount you could have a larger camper, complete with a bathroom, the only thing missing from the California. However, one of the main advantages to the California is its size, it’s not daunting to drive and is easy to park in regular car parking spaces. The good news is that there are special offers available including 2.9% Hire Purchase and a deposit contribution of €2,750 at the time of writing. Summary We spent most of our time cruising along the picturesque Wild Atlantic Way. For all our routes we used Google maps through Apple Carplay, which works extremely well. The California is extremely comfortable and capable over long distances, we often took breaks in small villages where we could park easily and made fresh coffee and lunch within minutes. The onboard fridge is surprisingly cavernous swallowing up plenty of food and drinks. Once at your chosen campsite it doesn’t take long to setup for the night. The California Ocean is extremely well equipped, with clever storage compartments throughout. All the campsites provide an electrical power point to connect with a 230-volt socket at the rear of the California, saving the California’s two onboard batteries. There are two built-in water tanks, one for fresh water and one for wastewater when using the sink. There is a two-ring gas cooker, which is more than capable of cooking up a decent meal in the evening for when you don’t wish to venture into town. When it’s time to rest your head, the electrically operated roof rises at the push of a button to reveal the double bed. Getting up and down to this bed requires a bit of athleticism, but once up, it’s a tranquil place to sleep. There are power points and lights too. The interior of the side sliding door cleverly houses a table, with two deck chairs tucked inside the rear hatch. There’s a lot of thought gone into the layout and design of the California, there is even a shower at the rear for washing down outside after a swim at the beach. Taking a holiday in the Volkswagen California allows you the freedom to travel at your leisure and visit places you may not otherwise see. There’s also the benefit of having an abundance of luggage space for any holiday purchases. All you have to do is plan your destination! For Style Build quality Drive Against No toilet Decide for yourself across a range here on DoneDeal 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

By Justin Delaney We were fortunate enough to be in sunny Spain for the launch of the previous generation SEAT Leon but now with the world in the grips of a pandemic, we find ourselves closer to home for the launch of the exciting fourth generation Leon. Hot on the heels of the new Golf 8 here we have another car based on the same underpinnings (MQB Evo platform) but with a much more striking design. The Leon looks bigger at 4,368mm long (+86mm) and slightly lower at 1,456mm high (-3mm) over its predecessor. This increased wheelbase of 2,686mm, which equates to 50mm more, gives occupants a larger interior space. There is ample room even in the back for longer journeys but it's what you get for your money overall that really makes the new Leon a must consider machine. Features From standard buyers will pick up the new Leon with a plethora of features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch media system and SEAT Connect. You also get adaptive cruise control, light assist, and fatigue detection, which we are not sure anyone pays attention to. The Xcellence and FR trim levels offer customers even more additional features as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels on the Xcellence spec and glorious 18-inch alloy wheels on FR which is the car we had on test. In these trim specifications you also get a full digital cockpit, full LED lights, sweeping rear lights or ‘Coast to coast” as they are called, wrap around interior lighting, and more tech than you can imagine. Power The SEAT Leon has always had a decent choice of engines no doubt because of its VW partnership and this new model is no different. Five engine options provide decent choice kicking off with two petrol engine choices in the 1.0 TSI 110hp and a 1.5 TSI 150hp. Diesel lovers are catered for also with the strong 2.0 TDI 115hp and a 2.0 TDI 150hp DSG. A new offering for SEAT will be the addition of the mild hybrid electric vehicle available in a 1.5 eTSI 150 DSG. Our FR test vehicle had the 150hp 2.0 TDI and it pulled like a freight train. Is it the best engine in the bunch? Well, it depends on your usage really. If you plan on big motorway miles then we would recommend the diesel option but if your daily round trip is below 150 kilometers, the petrol variants are more than enough. Safety SEAT haven’t been known to scrimp in the safety department and this all new Leon is widely regarded as the safest vehicle the brand has ever developed. With the integration of a state-of-the-art suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) their aim was simple! Lets not just protect passengers from potential accidents, but also to prevent accidents actually happening in the first place. This works by keeping the vehicle safety systems always alert and monitoring the car’s route with data gathered by a camera along with ultrasonic and radar sensors. This means the new SEAT Leon can react when facing obstacles on the road or sudden movements of other drivers. It will activate driver assistance when necessary, alerting drivers to a dangerous situation to help minimise the risk of an accident. This means that predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Assist, and Side and Exit Assist, are all combined to protect the Leon and passengers 100% of the time. Costs This is where SEAT usually shines through and yes the new Leon kicking off at just €23,910 for the petrol is a competitive offer. PCP Finance coming in at 2.9% across the new Leon range is also available meaning you could have a new Leon for as little as €239 per month. Diesel prices kick off at €26,040 and customers can also avail of a discounted 3-year service plan for only €9.99 per month. Summary We think it's safe to say the new SEAT Leon is the most advanced vehicle in the history of the brand. It’s evident in the cutting-edge design and interior. We spent a week with two different variants one of which, we reviewed for the YouTube channel and the other FR version we had here. Both cars impressed immensely and beg the question why would you opt for the more expensive Golf when your money goes a little further with SEAT. Yes the touch displays take a little getting used to and some of the driver assist functions might be a little intrusive but over all it’s a very good drive. It’s not hard to see why the SEAT Leon remains a core model for the brand in the Irish market when they put so much effort in to the design and build. Others have forgotten this sector in favor of putting all their efforts into their next crossover but thankfully SEAT still sees the value in the family hatchback and for this, we applaud them. For Safety Technology Ample Space Drive Against No short cut buttons Make up your own mind by browsing the SEAT Leon yourself 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

By Justin Delaney Believe it or not the original Mini, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1959, was born out of the Suez crisis oil shortage and the demand for affordable motoring. It was a car that served incredibly well and would remain not just an icon but a very capable car right up until the last one was produced in 2000. Now under BMW ownership the MINI brand has taken on a new lease of life and has an incredibly strong following. Since the relaunch in 2001 many variants of the MINI have come to fruition but few have been as significant as the prospect of this completely electric version. The MINI Cooper SE is the second electrified MINI in the model line-up, joining the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid. These two models have proved extremely popular and currently account for 19% of worldwide-electrified MINI sales. A quarter of all UK MINI Countryman orders are now for the plug-in hybrid version and with the popularity of electric vehicles rising, its looking like next year, a third of MINI 3-Door Hatch models built at Plant Oxford is expected to be the fully-electric version. Features So is this new electric MINI as good as the Cooper S we all know and love so much? Well, to look at it, you would think its just yet another cool MINI but the tell tail smooth front grill, power-spoke low drag alloys and the yellow detailing hints at something different. Inside its almost identical to a regular MINI Cooper S but when you flick the start toggle, things begin to change. Gone is the rumble of the combustion engine in favour of complete silence or a faint electro-drone to warn pedestrians of its presence outside. When you sink the go pedal 100km/h comes up in just 7.3 seconds, which isn’t far off the petrol powered Cooper S pace and the wall of torque is evident. But how does it get through the bends and can it still be regarded as a hot hatch? Well thanks to the clever package of battery cells spread along underneath the car, the centre of gravity is 30mm lower and it certainly doesn’t feel the whopping 145kg weight gain over its petrol powered sibling. B roads are negotiated with ease and stopping using the one-pedal’ function adapted from the BMW i3 is addictive. When you lift off the accelerator the re-gen slows the car aggressively in an effort to harvest otherwise wasted power back into the battery. You find yourself rarely touching the actual brake pedal! Power The MINI Cooper SE is powered by a single 32kWh electric motor to the front wheels via an automatic gearbox. It produces 184bhp just like the 2.0-litre petrol-powered Cooper S but as mentioned the electric MINI is considerably heavier. With the 11kW cable you can achieve a full charge in about 3.5 hours or from empty to 80% in 2.5 hours. Now that our Irish charge network is improving you should try avail of a local fast-charge station that will take an empty battery to 80% capacity in just 35mins. According to the WLTP test cycle, the MINI Cooper SE is rated to achieve 234km on a single charge, but realistically with the odd spirted drive and not entirely city use, we got a shade over 170km before we needed to plug it in. Safety The MINI Cooper SE offers driver-assistance technology such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and rain-sensing windshield wipers and headlights. Back when this shape MINI was orininally crash tested in 2014 it scored four out of five stars awarded by EuroNCAP. It scored 79% for adult occupant protection, 73% for child protection, 66% for pedestrian protection and 66% in the safety assist category. A new shape would determine additional crash testing. Costs Buyers can choose between three trim options or ‘levels’ as they are known. Level 1 €27,764, Level 2 €30,405 and Level 3 €35,445, which was the vehicle we had on test. As expected each level adds more standard equipment like automatic air con, leatherette seats, larger wheels, parking assistance and the endless customisation options that MINI’s are famed for. Fitted as standard is a digital dashboard, Navigation including Real Time Traffic Information updates and front LED headlights. We can wholeheartedly recommend the Harmon Kardon sound system along with the 8.8-inch screen, which is now touch-sensitive as well as iDrive controlled that was fitted in our Level 3 spec car. Summary The MINI Cooper SE is one of 13 electrified vehicles the BMW Group currently offers across its brand portfolio. This will be increased to a total of 25 electrified models on the road by the end of 2023, with more than half of those models fully electric. For us the MINI Cooper SE will be one of the more exciting electric vehicles you will have to choose from. Yes it could benefit from a bigger battery to exploit a little more range but for urban dwellers, few electric cars offer this level of cool, at this price point. We think it takes the brand’s trademark go-kart handling into a new era of electrified driving and we would urge you to take a test drive. Be sure to check out our video car review below and you can check out the Mini Cooper S from Ireland's trusted Car Dealer's on DoneDeal here. 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 in Ireland. 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

It’s now FREE to place your ad in these sections on DoneDeal: Clothes & Lifestyle, Baby & Kids, House & DIY, Sport & Leisure & Music & Education. These Freebie ads are exactly what they say they are – totally FREE so there’s nothing stopping you selling off  what you don’t want and try something new without breaking the bank! Everyday there are over 500,000 people searching DoneDeal for the kind of stuff you no longer want. No time like the present to clean out the playroom, wardrobe, shed, attic and sell the stuff you no longer want at no cost to you at all. So how do you get a Free Ad? From today, when you’re placing an Ad one of the above sections, you’ll be able to choose to place a Free Ad. You can place as many of these ads as you like so if you’ve a whole wardrobe of clothes you want to get rid of, or loads of toys the kids have grown out, you can place an ad for each item and not be charged a penny to sell them! Freebie Ads stay on the site for 30 days, plenty of time to get your things sold. You can still choose to place a Regular Ad in these sections for the usual €1 for 60 days, but now we’ve made that option even sweeter too and included a free scheduled bump to the top of the list! So what are you waiting for? Click here to see the full list sections which are FREE to advertise in and get your free ad on DoneDeal today 😉

DistilledSCH is honoured to announce that we have been named one of the best places to work in Ireland for 2019. What makes this recognition so special is that we have shot up nine places to sixth in the latest Great Place To Work Survey for medium-sized businesses. GPTW (Great Place To Work) is based on anonymous voluntary feedback from employees based in participating organisations and results are segmented according to the company size (Large, Medium, Small). Our staff ranked us highly in the following areas: Management Diversity Culture Wellbeing Innovation 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 and growth over the last twelve months: “It’s fantastic to see Distilled SCH climb nine places to sixth in the latest Great Place to Work survey. 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 Distilled SCH a great place to work for all our staff.” At Distilled SCH, we believe our greatest assets are our employees. Here is what a few of them are saying about working at Distilled SCH: “I love working for Distilled SCH, the culture is second to none! I’m part of a group called the Distillers and we organise all company events. These events bring everyone together and it makes it such an enjoyable place to work” – Paula Tierney “There is something really special about being able to work across 3 of Ireland’s most iconic and loved home-grown brands. You get a firsthand experience of the positive impact we make in people’s lives all across Ireland every single day. It is such a great place to work, the company culture is really important and that is reflected in the employee benefits and amazing people that work here. You can expect to feel welcome, supported and truly valued in Distilled SCH” – Wiliam Tector “It’s great to work for a company that cares so much. Distilled SCH really cares about its customers. They truly care about their employees, which is clear from the culture, benefits and the emphasis on a healthy work/life balance. It’s a pleasure to work in a place where you can learn, be challenged and grow while working on products that really matter to a lot of people” – Raychel O’Connell Distilled SCH 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. Eamonn Fallon said: “Distilled SCH 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.”

Ford leave nothing to the imagination and have exceeded expectations with the all-new Ford Focus. Current rivals to this sporty hatchback include the Peugeot 308, Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed and on the more premium end, the Volkswagen Golf. With a competitive starting price of €22,000, the Focus positioned itself exceptionally well to succeed in the Irish market. We got behind the wheel to take it on a test drive and for this particular review, we managed to get our hands on the top line Vignale model, which retails for around €33,000. View Ford Focus’s for sale on DoneDeal now. Unlike previous models, the Focus was manufactured with the intent to create a more spacious and stylish vehicle. Ford increased the boot size to 375 litres (which should comfortably fit approximately two to three suitcases) and in addition also improved the backseat head and legroom, giving passengers a more comfortable driving experience. Several storage spots exist throughout the car, including cupholders, door cards and a large glove box for everyday items. The car boot is also fitted with convenient hooks and tethering points to help hold loose objects in place. Each model also comes with a standard spare wheel situated under the flooring in the boot of the car. Front passengers are treated to lumbar support seating which comes as standard. The Focus is the only car in its class to offer this which can be a make or break feature for many car buyers in today’s market. This Vignale edition, however, also comes with electric seating for both driver and their front seat passenger. Fitted with the latest technology, the Focus has several USB points, a high-class touch screen that provides a smooth experience as users swipe across the different applications. The infotainment system includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto. A very slick addition to the Focus was the removal of the standard gear stick which was replaced with a console-mounted rotary gear shift dial, giving the car a more premium feel. Surprisingly, the visibility is quite good considering the car has a more sporty design, the low dashboard gives the driver an elevated experience. The vehicle comes with park assist technology for automatic parking, and the presence of a rear camera provides excellent assistance for those who still prefer the old-fashioned manual way. To conclude, Ford has impressed us with the upgrades they made to the Focus. This vehicle is a standout in a somewhat crowded hatchback market. Having set a new standard, we are excited to see how Ford further improves this impressive machine.

Dynamic yet practical, the V60 is a true Volvo interpretation of a family estate car. The V60 promises practicality as well as extended boot space for those who need extra storage space. Volvo’s ‘V Series’ is a collection of hatchbacks and estate vehicles, which offers an array of mainstream and premium cars. The V60 competes against the BMW 3-Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant and the Mercedes C-Class estate. The standard model is on the market at a starting price of €41,200. However, for this review, we got our hands on the Inscription. This top of the line spec retails from €46,440 and with all the added features it is definitely worth the investment. View Volvo V60’s for sale on DoneDeal now. A slick and convenient addition to the V60 is the automatic boot door that opens by swiping your foot in front of the sensor at the bottom of the car, perfect for when your hands are full. What makes this estate a family car is just how truly spacious it is. With an impressive boot capacity of 529 litres, the V60 has the best space compared to its rivals. If that’s not enough, the rear seats can fold forward, increasing the capacity to 1300 litres. From tethering points and a spare wheel to dividers for shopping bags, this vehicle has it all. The convenience pack upgrade includes a 12-volt socket and electric folding rear seats. This luxurious Swedish vehicle also has a ski hatch embedded in the centre back seat for those who have plans of driving to the slopes. The rear doors open to a full range to improve access and make it is effortless for families who will be using children’s car seats. It is also worth noting the Isofix points are easily accessible too. Overall the car is quite spacious at the back and can fit three passengers quite comfortably. However, the optional sunroof for the V60 does compromise headroom for the back seat passengers. Features inside the car include an armrest with cup holders, seat storage and even a three-pin socket with selected models. Both driver and front passenger are treated to a bright and luxurious experience. Unlike its rivals, the V60 comes with fully electric seats as standard. From the digital dashboard to the large front and centre infotainment system screen, this car comes with all the gadgets a car enthusiast would want when searching for their next vehicle. It’s worth mentioning that the V60’s infotainment system can be tricky to operate at times and does not come with Apple Car Play or Android Auto for the standard models. Volvo follows suit by providing the latest technology to support lane assist, accident avoidance and a rearview camera to help manoeuvre reversing in those tight spots. What separates the V60 from its competitors is its driving and handling. Designed to make urban driving a breeze, one of the first things you notice behind the wheel is how smooth it is to drive as it glides over the road, and how exceptionally light the steering is. A selection of engines are available for this vehicle; however, Volvo recommends the T5 petrol (230 bhp) accompanied by the 8-speed automatic gearbox. Although a great pairing, we couldn’t help but notice there was a slight lag between them, which was unfortunate. What makes the V60 desirable is its appeal to families by being practical for those everyday needs. From the stylish interior to its incredibly safe design, this great estate is an excellent option in today’s market.