16
Slaney Motoring
www.slaneynews.com
7 January 2014
Caroline gets motoring for 2014 this space could be yours for just €30+Vat
every month Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings you the best motoring content, including features, car reviews, news and more. Caroline has been a car enthusiast since her teens. She now combines her love of cars and writing and contributes a weekly column to www.wheelsforwomen.ie. She has also published motoring content in The Sunday Independent and Irish Country Magazine.
reTurn of The yeTi a facelifted ŠKODa Yeti has just been launched. The popular crossover gets a new grille, new headlights and lower positioned front fog lamps. At the rear there are some new design touches and sharpened rear LED lights. Prices for the range start from €24,490. Models fitted with four wheel drive start at €28,520. There is one petrol engine available, a 1.2-litre TSI producing 105bhp. Diesel options include a 1.6 TDI 105bhp Greenline, 2.0-litre TDI
110bhp offered in both twoand four-wheel drive alternatives and for those requiring more power, there are 2.0-litre TDI 140bhp and 170bhp engines, both with four wheel drive. ŠKODA has also added a new trim level to the range for 2014. The ‘Outdoor’ model gets a full length panoramic sunroof and new exterior aluminium design features including skirts, mirror covers, roof bars and spoilers on the front and rear that give the Yeti a more off-road style. n
tel: 087-2403310
SKODA Yeti
Top Vans for 2014 The Toyota Auris Van has won Continental Irish Car Derived Van of the Year 2014. The Korando S s a n g Yo n g Commercial has taken the Continental Irish Commercial SUV of the Year award. These two vans were singled out by the Irish Motoring Writers Association van experts, taking into account such attributes as load capacity, reliability, overall versatility, cost of own-
ership and drive comfort. Brian Byrne, Chairman of the IMWA van jury, said, “In assessing candidates for the Continental Irish Van of the Year category awards, our jurors pay close attention to how the vehicles meet the particular requirements of the Irish market – that is why these recommendations are so useful to Irish van/commercial drivers and fleet managers”. n
The funky fiaT 500L
like a giant panettone, the Fiat 500l is a stylish and tastefully presented offering from the Italian carmaker. The Fiat 500L is classed as a small MPV, and it is injecting some serious style into this somewhat boring segment. You will be hard pressed to find a similarly funky MPV. The rounded headlamps and curved front and rear ends give the car a quirky look and with the option of choosing a separate roof colour to the body colour, you can make your 500L really stand out from the crowd. Bellissimo! It is big too. It has a compact body but it is tall so inside there is a real feeling of space. This is enhanced by the panoramic glass roof fitted to the Lounge model as standard, allowing daylight to come flooding in. There is lots of glass in the 500L and great visibility to be enjoyed by driver and passengers.
Though it might have all the richness and character of a sweet Italian bread, thankfully it doesn’t drive like one might. The Fiat 500L is surprisingly composed on the road. Body roll is kept in check and it handles well for a mini MPV. The test car was fitted with a 1.3 litre MultiJet diesel engine fitted with start/stop technology. It will trundle happily around town, and there is good pull in second gear, but once you get out on the open road you have to work the gearbox a little if you want to pick up speed at any great pace. The 0100km/h time is a leisurely 14.9 seconds but MPV buyers are usually not concerned with such matters. When pushed the engine was noisy and there were some soundproofing issues, especially on wet roads, but the Fiat 500L cruised effortlessly out on the open road and the revs were
low too. The 1.3 litre MultiJet diesel might not be the most powerful engine but it offers good economy and is expected to be the top seller here in Ireland. Other engine outputs are a 1.6 litre 105bhp diesel and the 0.9 litre 105bhp TwinAir petrol. MPV buyers tend to rate space and flexibility highly and the 500L performs very well on these accounts. The cabin is airy, modern and spacious with useful cubby holes throughout and large door pockets. The rear seats have a fold and tumble function that helps to increase cargo space, and the rear seats can also be slid backwards and forwards. The seats are quite flat so you get the impression that you sit on them rather than in them, but they are not uncomfortable. The boot itself is large and square with a wide opening that makes it easy to get things in and out. There is further flexibility in how you would like to use the space in the boot. You can change the level of the floor so that in effect you have two separate compartments for storing different kinds of items. It’s all very clever. The Fiat 500L comes in two trim levels – Pop Star and Lounge. Standard equipment is generous including air conditioning, alloy wheels, touchscreen with Bluetooth, six airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, cruise control, remote central locking, and
steering wheel mounted audio controls. Lounge trim adds the full length fixed glass roof, rear armrest, fog lights, automatic lights with rain sensors, electric rear windows, rear parking sensors and dualzone climate control. So everything you could ever need really. The Fiat 500L is a good package for €23,750 for the model tested here (the range starts at €21,750 for the 0.9 litre TwinAir petrol in Pop Star trim). There is loads of space, a decent drive and frugal engines on offer. And with those quirky looks, it has bucket loads of character too. Thanks to Fiat Ireland for providing the car for review. Log on to www.fiat.ie for more details and offers on the Fiat 500L. Model tested: Fiat 500L Lounge 1.3 Price: €23,750 Engine: 1.3-litre MultiJet, four cylinder turbo diesel Power: 85bhp 0-100km/h: 14.9 seconds Manufacturer’s quoted combined fuel economy: 67.2mpg (4.2 litres/100km) CO2 emissions: 110g/km Tax band: A3 (€190 per year) n In other news,
O’SullIvan autO Centre
in Ballycanew, Gorey, has been announced as the main SsangYong dealer for County Wexford.
L&M Starter & aLternator repair Centre CARS, VANS, 4X4, TRUCKS, TRACTORS, MARINE, QUADS, LAWNMOWERS AND GENERATORS. WE REPAIR ALL UNITS STOCKED FOR ALL APPLICATIONS.
island road, enniscorthy. t: (053) 9235933.
ned Kavanagh’s garage
Island Road, EnnIscoRthy ✓ service & repairs on all makes of vehicles ✓ Full diagnostic service ✓ Pre- and Post-nCT ✓ recovery services ned Kavanagh’s is a long established family business offering a personal and friendly service (most of the time!!!)
Drop in or call us on 053-9233601
this space could be yours for just €70+Vat tel: 087-2403310