1929 – 2010: 23 Ford Cars and Still Going Strong

I find this story to be such a positive one for 2010, I hope you do too.

 Galway 15th January 2010 – Mrs. Eileen Lovett from Co. Galway has been buying cars from Higgins Motorpark / Higgins Garage, the oldest Ford dealer in Ireland based in Galway, since 1929 and just this week, she collected her 23rd car from the garage, a 2010 Ford Focus which she has bought for her daughter. 

Mrs. Lovett who will turn 99 this year, began driving at 12 years of age in her home town of Clifden where her family ran a bakery business.  While still at primary school, her first journey as a driver was in 1923 when her mother asked her to go and collect some butter in the bakery van.

Then at age 17, she bought her first Ford from Higgins Garage in Galway (which went on to become Motorpark), a Ford 14.9 model, for £198.  Eileen loved it from the first day she drove it and went on to clock up thousands of miles in the car as she delivered goods from the bakery to schools around Connemara and beyond. This is the car in the picture above. After two years of driving for the family bakery, Lydon’s bakery, Eileen went to Dublin where she trained as a nurse in Jervis Street Hospital.  During her long career in nursing, Eileen always went back to Higgins Motorpark in Galway when she needed a new car. 

Even at 98 years of age, Eileen can list by heart all 22 Ford cars from her driving career including the registration numbers.

“It is rare in today’s Ireland to hear of such a level of loyalty to one brand”, said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland. “Eileen is probably Ford’s longest-standing customer in the country, and I hope she has many more years of safe motoring in her family’s new 2010 Focus”.

 See www.motorpark.ie

I’m looking out of my window at the ice covered main coast road from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Blackrock. It has been like that since New Years Eve. The Blackrock bypass is in the same condition.
This is the first road HSS passengers use when they disembark in Dun Laoghaire. It is also one of the busiest roads in the land.
RTE news reports treacherous road conditions throughout the land, but they fail to mention the lack of gritting. Are we once again being failed by our public servents? If not who is responsible for this lack of public service responsibility?
Please take care on these roads, leave a greater gap to the car in front, avoid 1st gear, anticipate and avoid sudden or severe breaking.
Good luck in 2010, drive safely and keep your cars updated, thus avoiding an even bigger cost to replace the car in future years. Talk to your local garage before this government’s policies forces the garage out of business.
For safety tips visit www.rsa.ie>

I heard about this website this morning and am very impressed by the use of her skills by the lady who is behind it. I missed her name on Morning Ireland, but her website IS well worth visiting.
Individuals and companies can offer services or any other form of support to those affected by the worst flooding in living memory here in Ireland.
Everyone can help no matter how small the offer, it can be a company offering a digger for a few hours, or just a few hours of your time to help people clean up the mess that has been caused by the recent flooding.
Offer a few hours of your time to help clean up a house?
Do you have some spare furniture?
Can you help a pensioner with an insurance claim?
Just register and post a message with details of what help you can offer.
We can’t accept financial donations but would urge anyone that wishes to make a donation to do so through the Saint Vincent De Paul website or the Red Cross website http://www.redcross.ie or Community Foundation Website http://www.communityfoundation.ie
For more go to www.offersofhelp.com

Next Saturday November 14th 2pm at Marlin Car auctions, M7 Motor Park, Junction 10 Naas Road, Co. Kildare.
Merlin will be auctioning over 120 vehicles with NO Reserve. The highest bidder buys regardless of price.
These cars are now on view from 9am daily until the auction begins
For details visit www.merlincarauctions.ie/liquidation

In February I wrote that this government should scrap VRT. The reason was that since car sales would not exceed 80,000 new units and revenue would be no more than €500 million. I also said the trade would lose a further 3000 jobs.
I was wrong, a mere 60,000 cars will be sold yielding a pityful €350 million. Worse still, more than 6,000 jobs are gone.
A scrappage scheme would have little or no benefit as the gap to buy a new car would be unbridgable unless the banks release some of the money which has been lavished upon them.
My suggestion of February is even more relevent. Scrap VRT reduce the cost of cars, compensate the dealers for the drop in their used car stock values. Get people back working in the motor trade.
20 cents per litre of fuel more than funds this measure. Pay as you go.
Can this government show some leadership?

Buying a car can be a daunting prospect, especially if you aren’t motor-savvy. Joanne Cranley, Marketing Manager at Merlin Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, has come up with an online solution. An innovative new online section allows prospective buyers to choose the make and model that will suit them best, as all of the cars reviewed are available for purchase.

Presented in a clear and concise manner, 11 models are featured on the initial reviews; these are mostly 2008 registrations, although some are from 2007 or ’06. Merlin Motor City sell every make and model of car and the 11 models include a 08 Ford Focus Style 1.4, 08 Ford Mondeo LX 1.6, 07 Nissan Primera SE 1.6, 08 Nissan Note SXE 1.4, 08 Nissan Micra SXE 1.2, 08 Seat Leon Costa 1.4, 08 Skoda Roomster Style 1.2, 06 Audi A4 Cabrio 1.8T, 06 Toyota Rav4 Luna 1.8, 06 Kia Sorrento EX 2.5.

Ultimately, Merlin Motor City aim to have reviews online for every car that is currently for sale.

Ian Kinsella, Manager of Merlin Motor City and presenter of the videos, has reported interest generated from the site already. “We try to be innovative and creative in the way we sell cars, and we recognise that the market has changed. The internet is really where things are happening nowadays, and car sales are no different. They’ve only been on the web for a week, but already we are selling cars and generating enquiries as a direct result”.

He added, “Customers have specifically mentioned having seen them – either on our website or on youtube. I’m looking forward to filming more of the videos in the coming weeks”.

For reviews visit www.merlinmotorcity.ie

As Winter approaches it is the time to prepare and service your car, to avoid those wet and miserable breakdowns.

 Martin Doolan has been in the motor business servicing all makes of car and heavy vehicles for more than thirty years. They are now offering a FREE mini valet with every service costing €179.

Telephone: 014930500/ 0872645242   Address: Edmonstown Road
Rathfarnham
Dublin 16

Exclusively from GreenAer the REVAi EV (Electric Vehicle) & REVA L-ion, the worlds first mainstream lithium-ion powered vehicle. The REVA is the best selling EV in the world and twice winner of the Best City Car award from the Environmental Transport Association, it is designed in California and manufactured by the Indo-US Reva Electric Car Company. REVA EV’s are a breakthrough product in the fight against climate change. It is small and nippy with a top speed of 80km/hr and range of 80km per charge ideal for daily commuting.
Find out more on the benefits of driving green… Call them on 01 2108134 or go to www.greenaer.ie

New ‘pay-at-the-pump’ forecourt on the Old Airport Road in Santry, Dublin

means drivers can now buy diesel 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

‘GreatGas 24/7’, has launched Ireland’s first ever completely unmanned and automated self service filling station. Located on the Old Airport Road in Santry, Dublin, the ‘pay-at-the-pump’ forecourt has four pumps and provides customers with quick and hassle free diesel, twenty four hours a day all year round.The ‘GreatGas 24/7’ filling station on the Old Airport Road could not be easier to use.

You simply drive onto the forecourt, swipe your credit or debit card at the pump and select the amount of fuel you need. You are then asked to enter your card’s security pin number and this will unlock the pump and you can begin pumping the diesel. After dispensing the requested amount of diesel, you will then be provided with a receipt for your own records.

This concept has proved to be a huge success in other parts of the world including America, Continental Europe and Asia for many years and has also begun to gain popularity throughout the UK more recently. The GreatGas ‘pay-at-the-pump’ forecourt will, for the moment, be restricted to the supply of diesel as currently Irish legislation stipulates that a petrol forecourt must be manned at all times.

GreatGas is now preparing an extensive nationwide roll out of this service, with plans for several more unmanned and automated self-service filling stations in key urban centres around the country over the next 12 months.Ray O’ Sullivan, Managing Director of GreatGas

, says this new model of forecourt in Ireland will be of benefit to both customers and forecourt owners alike and that GreatGas is actively looking for forecourt owners to partner with in this regard.

“Pay-at-the-pump self-service filling stations work very well abroad and we believe that it will do as well here as it offers drivers quick and hassle free access to diesel 365 days of the year. We are now well advanced with plans to roll out several more similar outlets around the country in the coming 12 months. We are also open to approaches from other existing forecourt owners who are interested in partnering with us on this new business model.”

Autonet are always trying to bring as wide a range of car choices to the car buying public.

Today we are delighted to add all of the Nissan dealers in Ireland to our ever growing number of car dealers. Between them they bring an additional 4,000 cars to Autonet.ie for you to choose from.

The Nissan dealers join an many of their industry colleagues such as the Ford dealers, the Toyota dealers, the Mitsubishi dealers and many others who are displaying their cars on www.autonet.ie

This month marks the 35th Anniversary of the first car auction established by the O’ Reilly family and the opening a new car auction site on the Kylemore Road, Dublin in late May.
The announcement came following a presentation by the SIMI in recognition of 35 years of outstanding contribution to the Irish Motor Industry.
This will be the Merlin Motor Group’s second car auction site and it will emulate the formula of Merlin Car Auctions in Naas, which has experienced significant growth over the past year, attracting business from both the trade and general public.
Although the motor industry in Ireland has experienced the worst sales recorded in over 10 years, the economic downturn has resulted in a phenomenal increase in business at Merlin Car Auctions in Naas. In the first quarter of 2009 alone over 5,300 vehicles were auctioned and sales have exceeded 2800 vehicles.
The first auction at Merlin Car Auctions Kylemore is scheduled for Tuesday May 26th. There will be two auctions weekly on Tuesday at 7pm and Friday at 11am. Merlin Car Auctions Naas will continue to hold auctions on Wednesday at 7pm and Saturday at 11am.
The Merlin Group are Ireland’s leading car auctioneers and have continually led the way with the introduction of new initiatives including Car swap, Car2Cash and most recently Merlin Live Online. www.merlincarauctions.ie
Merlin Car Auctions is the only SIMI registered auction.

Date: 16 Apr 2009

As I predicted last February, another opportunity has been missed to rid us of the dubious Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
Instead of using a little immagination and protecting jobs in the motor trade and at the same time reducing the production of CO2 what did we get?
An increase in the cost of diesel, a 60% reduction in the road maintenance fund and no stimulus by way of a scrappage scheme.
While I am upset at the government for this lack of immagination, at least they did respond to my promptings. As to the opposition - NADA - total silence, are they bereft of all interest or ideas?

Car History Check Website Motorcheck.ie has today announced that it will be teaming up with the Vehicle Leasing Association of Ireland (V.L.A.I.) in order to reduce the impact that ‘clocking’ is having on the second-hand car market in the country. The art of ‘clocking’ refers to the practice of changing the genuine odometer reading of the car in order to make it a more attractive proposition to a potential buyer.
Under the terms of Motorcheck.ie’s agreement with the V.L.A.I, it is expected that up to 500,000 audited odometer readings will be added to the Irish National Mileage Register (INMR) www.inmr.ie
operated by www.motorcheck.ieCurrently holding 620,000 readings, this endorsement by the V.L.A.I means that Motorcheck.ie will have in excess of 1,000,000 odometer readings available for vehicles on Irish roads. The mileage readings submitted will be those recorded by a V.L.A.I member at the time an ex-lease vehicle is sold. The combined readings shall then be made available to the association and its participating members free of charge.
The Irish National Mileage Register, which is the largest of its kind in Ireland, means that any odometer reading discrepancies will be more easily picked up on by anyone involved in the motor trade and also potential buyers who carry out a vehicle history check on www.motorcheck.ie Commenting on today’s announcement Shane Teskey, Director of Motorcheck.ie, stated:
“It has been widely reported in the media recently that ex-lease cars are among those most likely to be ‘clocked’. Motorcheck.ie, through its association with the V.L.A.I., intends on demonstrating to the public and the industry as a whole that we are pro-actively working to protect both the Irish consumer and the motor industry. With used car imports rising and domestic car values falling daily it is an
extremely important time to implement this initiative and we are confident that the effect on the second-hand car market will be resoundingly positive.”
Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, ( www.rsa.ie ) welcomed the decision by the V.L.A.I to provide odometer readings from vehicles being sold by VLAI member companies. Buying a new car is normally a fairly straightforward process. But if you’re buying a second-hand one, you need to be extra vigilant and well informed about the car’s condition. The National Consumer Agency has produced a useful guide
entitled ‘Buying a used car’ which can be downloaded here.
“This pro-active decision by the V.L.A.I is an extremely positive step in relation to road safety and will most definitely serve to benefit car buyers and drivers on Irish roads. ‘Clocked’ vehicles can pose a risk to safety as both unsuspecting drivers and mechanics could easily overlook essential vehicle maintenance that would be required for cars
with relatively high mileage readings.”
John Wallace, President of the V.L.A.I said “The need for a National Mileage Register in Ireland has been obvious for quite some time. I’m delighted that Motorcheck has taken the initiative and proven it can be done. The V.L.A.I recognises that each mileage record submitted makes it more and more difficult for Car Clockers to operate and we look forward to contributing to the database on an ongoing basis.”
The Irish National Mileage Register can be accessed by anyone carrying out a car history check on the revamped Motorcheck.ie website. The site now includes car history data for vehicles registered in the UK and Northern Ireland as well as Irish registered vehicles that have been previously imported from the UK thereby providing car buyers with
comprehensive vehicle information from both sides of the Irish Sea.

We all know how hard it is to get finance at present so Merlin Motor City have made arrangements for €3 Million to help you buy the car of your dreams from them.
In addition they offer a range of goodies such as; ” free services for each car bought from them. Their rewards programme, they will enter you into a draw for €6,000 cashback and many other great ideas.
Check it out at visit www.merlinmotorcity.ie

Being keenly aware of the high cost of car insurance in Ireland we bring you the following

We have formed a strategic partnership with insure.ie to bring you the simplest way to the cheapest car insurance in Ireland.

Online insurance broking is the fastest growing way of insuring your car. The best method is using an independent broker to do the donkey work for you.
We at Autonet feel that insure.ie ticks all the boxes in terms of value, range and speed. So go ahead click on their banner and save for yourself.
You will get them at www.insure.ie

In 2007 180754 New cars were sold The VAT & VRT take for the state was €2Billion

In 2008 146470 New cars were sold The VAT & VRT take for the state was €1.5Billion

In 2009 80000 New cars may be sold The VAT & VRT take for the state might be €0.5Billion.

VAT is about 30% of those tax takes. This means that this year VRT will only yield about €350 million at best, in 2009.

As is well recognised VRT has a very doubtful pedigree at best. It should be put to rest.

Unfortunately the government needs the revenue in these hard times. However, VRT can be substituted on an equitable basis. But a number of measures need to be implemented to optimise the revenue and to address the near terminal state of the motor industry in Ireland.

Scrap the VRT. Introduce a car scrappage scheme for any car which is currently taxed and in use and ten years old or older. I imagine that this scheme would remove approx 100,000 environmentally dirty cars from the national fleet., at a cost of approx €150 million. By definition these will be replaced with 100,000 new greener cars, thus helping us to achieve our Kyoto targets by reducing our national carbon footprint.

However, if the VRT is dropped so too will the value of the used car stocks go down, resulting in more garage closures. The hit for this will need to be compensated to the tune of say €100 million.

The other factor which is killing the motorist is the near total lack of bank lending. This cannot be allowed to continue. The government is supporting the banking sector with a €7 billion injection. They must insist that the finance is made available for car purchases.

I have not mentioned that the motor trade employs about 60,000 people of which 3,000 have already lost their jobs. Be it known, that there are at least another 3,000 on their way out. If this trend continues it’s downward cycle the numbers are incalculable.

So far, I have proposed a drop of €600 million in revenue added to which could be as much as €120 million in social welfare costs not even counting the loss to the exchequer of the income tax and PRSI etc. from those lost jobs.

Why not scrap the VRT and replace it with a pay as you use it tax on fuel?

The VAT take on the 100,000 new cars sold to replace the scrapped ones should yield about €10million.

A charge of €0.25 per litre would result in a yield of approx €625 million in revenue, in a full year.

Tom FitzGerald.

7/2/2009

 The Road Safety Authority is advising road users to take extra care on the roads as Met Eireann warns of freezing conditions and further wintry showers. A more organised band of showers will move in from the Atlantic later today and tonight and this will lead to snowfall accumulations of 2 to 5 cm, with high ground most at risk.

Advice for road users in snowy or freezing conditions;

• Greater levels of observation, anticipation and concentration are required when driving in snowy or icy conditions

• Clear windows and mirrors before setting out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer

• Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.

• Remove ALL snow from your vehicle before commencing your journey.

• Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision.

• It can also fall off during your drive and cause injury to pedestrians or a reflex action by another driver.

• Remember it takes longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Therefore drive slowly and allow extra room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front

• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends.

• If driving an automatic, familiarise yourself with the Manual Override function. This will allow you manually select an appropriate gear so as to avoid braking where that might lead to skidding.

• Manoeuvre gently, avoid harsh braking and acceleration

• To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, using the clutch smoothly and allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently

• Remember that heavy snowfall and rain reduce visibility. Use dipped headlights and decrease speed smoothly

• Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered/shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.

• Check tyres to ensure minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and correct tyre pressure

Check if your vehicle ‘Owner’s Manual’ to see if you vehicle has any of the following and know how they assist your driving; ABS – Anti Lock Braking System; EBD – Electronic Brake force Distribution: TCS – Traction Control System; EBA – Electronic Brake Assist; ESP - Electronic Stability Programme

Advice for Cyclists, Pedestrians and Motorcyclists

• Walk on the footpath or if there is no footpath on the right hand side of the road (walking towards oncoming traffic)

• Visibility is reduced in snowy conditions wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch and ensure the lights on your bike are working correctly

• Cyclists are reminded that they are required to have a white light to the front and a red solid light to the rear.

• Cyclists should wear an approved helmet and consider clear eye protection.

• Motorcyclists/Cyclists should not compromise their safety by their ‘need’ to travel in icy/snow conditions. Cancel your journey or take alternative transport.

• Motorcyclists should avoid wearing a dark visor in any bad light conditions.

• Motorcyclists should wear suitable clothing and footwear to withstand the cold/rain. This will allow for good concentration as well as protecting the rider/pillion against fatigue and hypothermia.

• Remember other road users may not ‘expect’ you and could therefore compromise your safety.

For updates on weather forecasts Visit Met Eireann’s website www.met.ie or the National Roads Authority’s Road Weather Information website www.nra.ie/RoadWeatherInformation .
The NRA has a network of 52 weather monitoring stations and road sensors located on National Roads. These stations are part of an Ice Detection and Prediction System for the forecasting of ice formation on national roads during the winter months. The web-page provides the actual readings from the road sensors in real time. The information provided includes Road Surface Temperature, Air Temperature, Wind Speed, Wind Direction and the Road State i.e. whether there is ice, frost, snow, wet and whether the road has been treated.

The Road Safety Authority today Monday 5th January 2009 is advising road users to take extra care on the roads this week. It follows a forecast from Met Eireann for severe frost, freezing temperatures and freezing fog over the coming days.

According to Met Eireann the frost will be very severe away from some exposed coasts, with icy patches and some freezing fog inland as well. Lowest temperatures will range from zero to minus 6 degrees. The overnight frost and fog will be slow to clear, and may linger in some areas.

Highlighting the particular dangers posed to drivers by foggy conditions Mr. Noel Brett CEO, Road Safety Authority said “Fog is potentially the most dangerous of all weather conditions as it reduces a driver’s ability to see the road ahead and spot hazards. Freezing fog - when poor visibility is compounded by the road surface being slippery - is a driver’s worst nightmare.”

“In such as scenario a collision involving one vehicle can quickly involve many others, resulting in multiple vehicle pile-ups. So the advice is to slow down, keep your distance and give yourself plenty of time to react to the unexpected.” He said.

Advice for road users in the event of Fog

Drivers

• When driving in fog do so with extreme caution, at low speed and with your fog lights turned on.

• Be aware that fog can be patchy – so even when conditions appear clear do not drive quickly.

• Use dipped headlights and fog lights if visibility is reduced so you can be seen. Dipped headlights direct light down onto the road and help other drivers to see you.

• Do not attempt to use high beam headlights as they will actually reduce your line of sight and dazzle other drivers.

• As you enter fog, check your mirrors and slow down. Use your foot brake lightly so that your lights warn following drivers.

• Do not drive on the tail-lights of the vehicle in front. This can give a false sense of security and lead to tailgating – a major danger

• Beware of other drivers who are not using their headlights.

• Ensure your windscreen is clear of mist and condensation, use your windscreen wipers if necessary

While it is important to use fog lights it is equally important to turn them off once visibility has improved. This is because they can dazzle other drivers.

There are added dangers when driving on motorways in foggy conditions. As motorways are designed to be driven on at higher speeds drivers mistakenly believe its safe to continue to drive fast on a motorway in fog. This is not the case. The same rules of slow down and keep your distance, apply to motorways. As a rule of thumb, if you can clearly see the lights of the vehicle in front of you, you are probably too close to them.

Advice for road users in icy or freezing conditions;

• Greater levels of anticipation and concentration are required when driving in icy conditions

• Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer

• Remember it takes longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Drive slowly and allow extra room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front

• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin

• Manoeuvre gently, avoid harsh braking and acceleration

• To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently

• Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered areas on roads

• Check tyres to ensure minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and correct tyre pressure

• Drivers are encouraged to carry an ice scraper and de-icer as part of a car “emergency kit”. 

Advice for Cyclists & Pedestrians

• Walk on the footpath or if there is no footpath on the right hand side of the road (walking towards oncoming traffic)

• Wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch and ensure the lights on your bike are working correctly

• In extremely foggy conditions, especially in rural areas, only undertake trips by road when absolutely necessary.

For updates on weather forecasts Visit Met Eireann’s website www.meteireann.ie or the National Roads Authority’s Road Weather Information website www.nra.ie/RoadWeatherInformation .

The NRA has a network of 52 weather monitoring stations and road sensors located on National Roads. These stations are part of an Ice Detection and Prediction System for the forecasting of ice formation on national roads during the winter months. The web-page provides the actual readings from the road sensors in real time. The information provided includes Road Surface Temperature, Air Temperature, Wind Speed, Wind Direction and the Road State i.e. whether there is ice, frost, snow, wet and whether the road has been treated.

For further information, please contact:
The Communications Office, Road Safety Authority – 096 25008

Denise January 14th, 2009 at 10:03 pm [ edit ]

 All of us are facing into the worst months of the year in terms of the weather and road conditions, so a few cautionary hints may be welcome.
Make sure your battery is in good condition as it has to work much harder to get you going these mornings.
Check your tyres to ensure they have the correct pressure and enough thread to give you a secure grip.
Keep your anti freeze levels sufficiently high to avoid any damage in sub zero conditions. Have a can of de-icer in the glove box.

Keep a small torch in the car in case you are stuck in the dark mornings or evenings.
Enjoy your driving be safe, leave a greater stopping distance in front and look out for pedestrians.
Above all do not drink and drive.

Have a happy and safe 2009.