http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/ http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/low-and-behold-its-a-bmw-for-the-wannabeemistas-29258484.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/low-and-behold-its-a-bmw-for-the-wannabeemistas-29258484.html Off the top of my head I have no idea why you should buy a low-slung, three-door, BMW hatch that costs nearly €35,000 when you could buy a big, big family car for less. Motoring Sat, 11 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/hybrid-is-for-disciples-only-29278118.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/hybrid-is-for-disciples-only-29278118.html THE Toyota Yaris Hybrid is a great piece of engineering. Toyota has shrunk the size and weight of its hybrid system to fit into a supermini without compromising on space in cabin or boot. There are many pluses: low fuel costs (Toyota claims more than 80mpg in mixed driving), low noise levels and extremely low C02 emissions. Great. Motoring Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/its-more-than-just-safe-now-29278116.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/its-more-than-just-safe-now-29278116.html Even the Eurovision venue last night was solid, functional and only really burst into life when the sun went down and the lights and sounds came up. Motoring Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/mercedes-smells-success-as-new-sclass-rolled-out-29271102.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/mercedes-smells-success-as-new-sclass-rolled-out-29271102.html NOW you can have your car waft your favourite scent or perfume through the cabin – as it drives itself in heavy traffic. Motoring Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/peugeot-claims-upmarket-308-hatch-a-sign-of-things-to-come-29267470.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/peugeot-claims-upmarket-308-hatch-a-sign-of-things-to-come-29267470.html Peugeot's new 308 family hatch will go on sale here next January, as the company claims it is the clearest manifestation yet of a shift up market. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/how-four-things-we-often-ignore-can-save-our-lives-29267471.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/how-four-things-we-often-ignore-can-save-our-lives-29267471.html FIRST time round the car was okay. We had a slalom test, then hammered it down the back, shifted through a little chicane, accelerated and then slammed on the brakes. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/all-eyes-on-mercedes-for-new-sclass-launch-29267472.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/all-eyes-on-mercedes-for-new-sclass-launch-29267472.html Mercedes will reveal their much anticipated new S-Class luxury saloon later today. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/roadsters-roll-up-for-record-bid-29267474.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/roadsters-roll-up-for-record-bid-29267474.html THEY are going for a record with what is many people's favourite roadster, the Mazda MX-5. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/festival-of-speed-to-celebrate-50-years-of-porsche-911-29267476.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/festival-of-speed-to-celebrate-50-years-of-porsche-911-29267476.html The Porsche 911 has been the (fast) heartbeat of the famous brand for 50 years. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/new-wave-of-nissan-favourites-29267477.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/new-wave-of-nissan-favourites-29267477.html Nissan has brought in a number of new versions. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/market-has-taken-over-where-we-feared-the-block-would-begin-29267482.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/market-has-taken-over-where-we-feared-the-block-would-begin-29267482.html ON May 31, full deregulation of new car sales takes effect in Ireland and across the EU when Regulation 1400/2002 – aka the 'block exemption' – expires. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/bridgestone-survey-sparks-tyre-warning-29267479.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/bridgestone-survey-sparks-tyre-warning-29267479.html MORE than three in five cars have underinflated tyres, according to a Bridgestone Europe survey. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/evergreen-sprinter-made-for-marathon-journeys-29267485.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/evergreen-sprinter-made-for-marathon-journeys-29267485.html 'Daisy' – not her real name – is a lovingly maintained legacy of a proud public transport tradition stretching back to the 1960s. But the 'old lady' of a long-gone bus fleet – the Daimler 319 – is really showing her age these days. Motoring Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/celebrate-its-fiesta-time-again-29259988.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/celebrate-its-fiesta-time-again-29259988.html IN some ways it is easy to be an optimist in this job. Unlike restaurants that constantly let me down, cars are getting better the whole time. Motoring Sun, 12 May 2013 04:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/supercharge-of-the-light-brigade-as-new-engine-puts-fire-in-micras-belly-29259990.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/supercharge-of-the-light-brigade-as-new-engine-puts-fire-in-micras-belly-29259990.html When the replacement Nissan Micra was introduced late last year, the trimmed-down looks gave the impression it had shrunk – and there were fears that fan loyalty would diminish. But sales held up and the quality from the plant in India was well up to the high standards of the Sunderland plant, where the previous model was built. Motoring Sun, 12 May 2013 04:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/my-side-of-the-road-29258487.html http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/motoring/my-side-of-the-road-29258487.html I got a fright pulling away from the M6 toll booth the other day. And so did two or three others. We were all converging from wide-out booths on to the two lanes that lead to the golden midlands. Only we (I) didn't realise how close we all were. Motoring Sat, 11 May 2013 04:00:02 +0100