Moving to Ireland next month
Moving to Ireland next month
Author
Discussion

wolfy1988

Original Poster:

1,426 posts

180 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
My Girlfriend and I are moving to Dublin next month.

I have been there on a few holidays and the OH is from Ireland.

Does anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with Ireland in terms of the Car culture etc

Previously I have noticed how slow everybody seems to drive in the country dont remember anyone ever passing me as they all seem to drive at 50 everywhere!

they also drive cars I have never seen before such as Coralla saloons etc

Oldandslow

2,405 posts

223 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Very rally oriented car culture, especially in the country. You'll see a lot of Scoobies, Evos, Celica GT4's and even the odd Corrolla twin cam. Skylines too. Dublin is (was) pretty affluent so it's more Beemers and Mercs. People do drive fast but in Dublin it's a bit too crowded. Car tax is quite high but the NCT (MOT) is only every 2 or 3 years. The roads used to be pretty bad so low slung sports cars were not much used, not sure if that's still the case.

If you're in the country take notice of the Irish overtake. There's a sort of hard shoulder along most main roads. If someone comes up behind you looking to pass then move over to the left. Oncoming traffic will also move over and the overtaker steams up the middle straddling the centre lines. Bit disconcerting at first but works pretty well as long as everybody knows the rules.

Thom987

3,185 posts

183 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Have a look on boards.ie you`ll get some sort of an idea of what you are in for.

Toyota are the biggest selling car in Ireland and for some strange reason a lot of cars seem to be saloons.

Mazdarese

21,111 posts

204 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Oldandslow said:
If you're in the country take notice of the Irish overtake. There's a sort of hard shoulder along most main roads. If someone comes up behind you looking to pass then move over to the left. Oncoming traffic will also move over and the overtaker steams up the middle straddling the centre lines. Bit disconcerting at first but works pretty well as long as everybody knows the rules.
That is still illegal though, isn't it?

Superhoop

4,778 posts

210 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
The current new car Market in Ireland is suffering seriously hard times at the moment - in the main due to their current government and their views on cars being bad....

Most new cars only have relatively small diesel engines available as VRT is based on emissions, and the cars over there make the prices of UK cars look cheap

Sir Bagalot

6,811 posts

198 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Your moving where? Are you aware that everyone else is moving out of Ireland? You should check out the emmigration stats for the past three years.

Ireland is a bit anti hatchback, they like their saloons instead (linked to the fact that 10+ years back there roads were bad and the saloons handled it better). Cars are also loaded with VRT (google VRT Ireland for full facts).

Seriously, if you think the recession here is bad it's 20 times worse in Ireland!

pacman1

7,323 posts

210 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Mazdarese said:
Oldandslow said:
If you're in the country take notice of the Irish overtake. There's a sort of hard shoulder along most main roads. If someone comes up behind you looking to pass then move over to the left. Oncoming traffic will also move over and the overtaker steams up the middle straddling the centre lines. Bit disconcerting at first but works pretty well as long as everybody knows the rules.
That is still illegal though, isn't it?
Seems to work well though. Wish I was moving to Ireland. Great place, good luck OP!

Irish

3,991 posts

256 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
www.octane.ie

Most of the Irish PH's never bother over here any more.

Great site, great group. MX-5s to Ferraris.

Dublin is a great town and it is a great time to be over there (may end up back in the next year myself).


Irish

3,991 posts

256 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Sir Bagalot said:
Your moving where? Are you aware that everyone else is moving out of Ireland? You should check out the emmigration stats for the past three years.

Ireland is a bit anti hatchback, they like their saloons instead (linked to the fact that 10+ years back there roads were bad and the saloons handled it better). Cars are also loaded with VRT (google VRT Ireland for full facts).

Seriously, if you think the recession here is bad it's 20 times worse in Ireland!
Still a lot of money over there.

Avoid boards.ie like the plague.


daemon

38,000 posts

214 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
wolfy1988 said:
My Girlfriend and I are moving to Dublin next month.

I have been there on a few holidays and the OH is from Ireland.

Does anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with Ireland in terms of the Car culture etc

Previously I have noticed how slow everybody seems to drive in the country dont remember anyone ever passing me as they all seem to drive at 50 everywhere!

they also drive cars I have never seen before such as Coralla saloons etc
Have you owned your car for more than 6 months?

kicks

144 posts

204 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
It's pretty much the same as england. As long as you have an english license you'll get away with having an english car. Cars are more expensive if you buy one there and tax is alot more.

Roads while not as well surfaced can be more fun in the countryside because there's less traffic and very few speed cameras.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

263 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
I don't know all the ins and outs but apparently if you take a UK car to Ireland and then register it there (as you will be obliged to do) you can get absolutely nailed for some kind of tax or duty, especially on larger cars. I imagine it's related to them having no car production and everyhting is imported. Suggest you check carefully before you go.

Irish

3,991 posts

256 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
I don't know all the ins and outs but apparently if you take a UK car to Ireland and then register it there (as you will be obliged to do) you can get absolutely nailed for some kind of tax or duty, especially on larger cars. I imagine it's related to them having no car production and everyhting is imported. Suggest you check carefully before you go.
If car is yours and taxed and insured for 6 months prior to your move - no issues.

Can be less in certain circumstances. VRT.

Car tax is a pain. For a new 5ltr - Over €3k per year!!!!

Classics are free of course.

A 2ltr is around €600 per annum.

Great quality of life over there. Seriously. Do it.

As previously mentioned you are going against the flow!

Ade07

489 posts

184 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
kicks said:
It's pretty much the same as england. As long as you have an english license you'll get away with having an english car. Cars are more expensive if you buy one there and tax is alot more.

Roads while not as well surfaced can be more fun in the countryside because there's less traffic and very few speed cameras.
Totally wrong! You have 3 days to pay the VRT on your English car. Custom officers can and have lifted cars off drive ways because import tax has not been paid. Friend of mine didn't pay VRT on his A6, customs impounded it, 2000 Euro fine to get car back.

Irish

3,991 posts

256 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Ade07 said:
Totally wrong! You have 3 days to pay the VRT on your English car. Custom officers can and have lifted cars off drive ways because import tax has not been paid. Friend of mine didn't pay VRT on his A6, customs impounded it, 2000 Euro fine to get car back.
Again, no VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) if owned for 6 months.

Your mate must have been pushing things.

V8A*ndy

3,697 posts

208 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Irish said:
www.octane.ie

Most of the Irish PH's never bother over here any more.

Great site, great group. MX-5s to Ferraris.

Dublin is a great town and it is a great time to be over there (may end up back in the next year myself).
This and make sure you come to some of the cars and coffee meets and some of the track days.

daemon

38,000 posts

214 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Irish said:
Again, no VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) if owned for 6 months.

Your mate must have been pushing things.
+1

As long as you've had it more than six months, no issues.

SirBlade

544 posts

209 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
Thom987 said:
Have a look on boards.ie you`ll get some sort of an idea of what you are in for.

Toyota are the biggest selling car in Ireland and for some strange reason a lot of cars seem to be saloons.
boards is like mums net
cockstain.ie is very very cliquey

bleh

and Ireland is in the toilet, with a very very small labour market.

I left a few months ago, haven't looked back.

I only need to look at the independent.ie top 10 most read and it makes my toes curl, teeth itch...

Edited by SirBlade on Friday 4th March 22:27

Irish

3,991 posts

256 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
SirBlade said:
boards is like mums net

bleh
Mums net is sane by comparison......

Irish

3,991 posts

256 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
SirBlade said:
cockstain.ie is very very cliquey
Yes, if you a) live in Ireland and b) you like interesting cars (not necessarily expensive cars).