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MOTORING 2021 || THE SOUTHERN STAR
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THE SOUTHERN STAR || MOTORING 2021
The car buying experience in 2021 By Niamh Hayes BUYING a car is an exciting and ever-changing experience. In the past you had to go into a showroom or dealership to view what was on offer. In more recent times, you can browse hundreds and thousands of cars online. And now, you can view them, pick out specifications, apply for finance and buy a car all from the comfort of your own home. Car sales was an evolving sector, but it just happened to be accelerated over the last year due to the pandemic.
Browsing online
Browsing new and used cars online is not a new thing. It’s like browsing a catalogue where you can see what is available all over the country, all from your screen. You can do as much research as you want before viewing anything in person. This increases the range of choice that is available to you and can make the final decision process easier. Over the last year, because viewing cars in person has been limited, everyone in the market for a vehicle has taken to browsing online. This means that dealerships have upped their game in terms of how they showcase their vehicles online, both regarding the information they provide and the quality of images and videos they supply, making the browsing process really effective.
So you’ve found a car you like ...
Once you’ve browsed and picked out something that tickles your fancy, you can
Virtual viewing was already in place before the pandemic, but it has certainly been accelerated as a way to buy and sell all sorts of vehicles in the past year or so. go one step further by booking a virtual appointment with the dealership. A salesperson will organise a video call and walk you through the vehicle, showing you the ins and outs of every corner, helping you to get a feel for it, while also providing information and answering any questions you have. This is a service which was greatly accelerated due to the pandemic but one which is likely to stick around. How convenient is it that you can view a car in Galway from the comfort of your home in West Cork? The salesperson will also be available for follow-up calls or emails if you have any further questions.
Test drives
Some major car brands offer virtual test drives whereby you can get a feel for what a car would be like to drive through video clips. This is likely to progress further in the future with virtual reality test drives being available to customers. You can’t beat an old-fashioned test drive though. Sitting behind the wheel, feeling how comfortable it is, and how it performs on the road
are all things you won’t get to experience unless you drive the car for yourself. Over the last year, dealerships have been offering a drop-to-your-door service where they deliver the car to your house so that you can test drive it and they will collect it once you’re finished. This is a feature that came out of necessity but is another one that is likely to stick around to accommodate anyone who can’t make it to a showroom.
Buying online
Click and collect has become a phrase we are all familiar with and the motor industry has adopted the service too. After you’ve browsed cars online and viewed them virtually, you can now buy one there and then. You can then arrange to pick it up or have it delivered to your door. If you didn’t get to test drive the car before purchasing, in most cases you can test it out for a week and send it back if it’s not suitable. You will usually get the full cost back, as long as the car hasn’t been damaged. With new cars, many major dealerships have online configurations, allowing you to pick the colour, equipment and extras online. If nothing else, this is a fun exercise to do where you can play around with different designs and styles.
Showroom experience
If you prefer the more hands-on approach, you can always do your research online and then follow up with a visit to a showroom. Having an idea what you
want beforehand will speed up the process of viewing and testing.
Finance and deals
Finance is available for new and used cars and you can apply and get approval online. Many dealers have in-house specialists who work with various finance sources to find the best deal for you. Trade-in valuations can also be done online.
Dealers offer a range of financial options including a personal contract plan (PCP), hire purchase or leasing. Subscription services are also popping up where you can lease a car and pay a fixed monthly fee to cover everything including insurance, tax and servicing. No-haggle sales are when the prices are fixed so you know what you are paying upfront. There
is no need to fight for a better deal as you are already getting it. While some offer this, other dealerships are still open to negotiation so do your research. If you are buying online, there is not always room for negotiation on either the price of the car or the value of a trade-in so weigh up this option when trying to decide whether to buy a car online or in person.
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THE SOUTHERN STAR || MOTORING 2021
Will you let your car decide? From in-car touchscreens to autonomous vehicles, Brian Byrne ponders modern motoring tech WE have been loaded with tech systems in our cars over the last decade or so, mainly in the form of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Originally in expensive premium cars, many of these systems are now required by law for safety reasons, or at least are needed for safety awards like the EuroNCAP crash test programme. So whether we want them or not, we now get stuff like night vision and blind-spot vehicle detection, surround-view parking systems, and adaptive front-lighting systems. Which are just a few bits of the tech gadgetry dangled before us to part us from more dosh than before. In fairness, some of them are good, a few really good. But not all.
unlikely to let it happen to myself, but I don’t want you smashing into me because it took you four seconds to get your bearings when you came back to attention. At 100km/h your car will have travelled the length of four GAA pitches in that four seconds.
Motoring morals
Distractions
Then there’s the proliferation of touchscreens, and because they’re there the designers and marketers keep stuffing more features into them, including my pet hate, climate controls that require you to look away from the road to manage them with sliding and jabbing fingertips. I’m on record in my ongoing fight against such clearly distracting tech. A losing fight, I must add. The other one I switch off as much as possible is the very annoying ‘nudging’ from automatic lane-keeping ‘assist’. I’ll steer my car myself, thank you. So what am I going to do as my test cars increasingly head toward new levels of autonomous driving? There’s plenty of research that shows we will quite happily allow ourselves to be distracted or even disengage our attention if we believe the tech can do everything WE’RE supposed to be doing. Even if the makers warn us that it doesn’t. I’m by nature
In the next five years, though, we are likely to see cars available that are what is known as ‘level-4’ autonomous driving. That definition means the car will do everything needed even if the driver doesn’t respond to requests to take back control. It will make dynamic decisions in emergencies. But whether it decides it should kill one person to avoid killing its occupant is a moral dilemma that has engineers and artificial intelligence gurus scratching at their iPad screens. Not to mention the lawyers .... Still, much of the technological components requirement is already there. Radar and light sensors, guidance systems, communications. And there’s a carrot for the automotive industry to accelerate development. Future profits in that industry will increasingly not be related to the making and selling of cars, but will come from services to the people in them. Consumption of subscription media and services while being driven along in your autonomous car will become a significant earner for the car maker. At the moment, in eight years’ time it is thought that 15% of new cars sold will be fully self-driving. But 65% of them could be conditionally autonomous, meaning the driver may take ‘occasional’ control. That’s a short time, and an amazing, if not terrifying, vista. Cars as robots ... playing dodgems.
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MOTORING 2021 || THE SOUTHERN STAR
New models for 2021 and beyond
There may be a global pandemic, and there are global supply issues regarding parts, especially in the electronics area, but the motor industry keeps on driving. It’s hard enough to keep pace, but here’s a look at the key new cars at this point in 2021, writes Brian Byrne
AUDI
Audi has been on an electric roll for some time, the latest model being the e-tron GT, a sporty 4-door coupe offering plenty of punch in a highly refined package. The Q3 45 TFSIe PHEV and Sportback offer an electrified 240hp, while the fully electric Q4 e-tron (pictured) has extended the electric SUV range. The Q8 TFSIe PHEV is a flagship electrified model, and in the power stakes a new RS3 is coming.
DACIA
The long-serving Sandero (pictured) from the budget brand owned by Renault gets an all new version, on a new platform, new engines and transmissions, and more interior room. The changes also apply to the Stepway rugged version.
HYUNDAI
NISSAN
KIA
OPEL
The big seller for this Korean brand here is the brand new Tucson (pictured) which is booming for them, and deservedly so. A new 120 is also well worth the drive, while the i30 has been upgraded too. The EV news is the imminent arrival of the Ioniq 5, which will lead a range of all-electric models under the Ioniq brand name.
Nissan’s new generation Qashqai (pictured) will be available from June. Power from a mild hybrid petrol and two versions of a full hybrid option. An AWD version will be offered. There’s also a new X-Trail. The new Ariya compact SUV will challenge in the EV space currently occupied by the Hyundai Kona, and is coming towards the end of the year with a 480kms range.
SKODA
A fourth generation of Skoda’s Fabia supermini (pictured) will arrive in Ireland in early December. There will be a choice from five petrol engines ranging from 65hp-150hp, the actual versions depending on market. There will be no diesel, and no hybrid of EV versions are planned. The Enyaq iV is the brand’s equivalent of the VW ID.4 and early availability was quickly snapped up. A Kodiaq facelift is coming, including a range-topping RS version with a 245hp turbo petrol engine.
DS BMW
BMW’s iX3 is an electric version of the brand’s popular compact SUV, and the all-new iX electric crossover offers a new dimension to the range. A new i4 electric sports coupe will be similar to the 4 Series Gran Coupe and will offer 520hp and a range of up to 480kms. Facelifts of the X3 and X3 are due later this year, and there will be a new 2 Series Coupe next year with rear-wheel-drive.
It won’t be here until early next year, but a new model in the PSA Group’s premium brand, the DS 4 (pictured) will mix elegance and performance and its powertrain options will include a 225hp plug-in hybrid. A new DS 9 flagship model will have petrol and plug-in hybrid power.
The big expectation from Kia this year will be the arrival of the EV6 (pictured), the first in a live of dedicated electric cars which will all have the EV model prefix. A range of over 500kms and high performance will be attributes. The Ceed gets mild hybrid powertrains and revised interiors, and a fifth generation Sportage is expected towards the end of the year.
The new generation Mokka (pictured) has just arrived in Ireland. It has petrol and electric versions. A new Grandland will be coming later in the year. A new Astra will be a companion to the new 308 and will include PHEV. The new EV version of the Vivaro van has recently gone on sale. A range of up to 230kms is possible, with fast charge capability.
TOYOTA
The iconic and workhorse Land Cruiser gets a new engine, a 2.8 diesel similar to that in the latest Hilux. The Yaris Cross (pictured) will be here later in the year and is aimed at Ford’s Puma and Nissan’s Juke, and will be available in AWD.
FIAT
The 500X has been revised with some new design details, new engines, and an upgraded connectivity system.
The Defender P400e (pictured) is a plugin hybrid version of the new icon from the brand, and a new Range Rover debuts around the end of the year.
CITROEN
A complete revision of the C3 Aircross brings a much more assertive vibe to the French brand’s small SUV. It comes with upgraded interiors and a wide range of customisation possibilities. There’s also a completely new C4 with a choice of electric, petrol or diesel powertrains. A new iteration of the C5 medium-large model will be on sale here as an executive SUV, the C5 X (pictured), from early next year.
PEUGEOT
After a plethora of new arrivals in the past 14 months, including the 2008 in petrol and electric options, the big news for this year will be the new 308 (pictured) coming early next year, which will include a plug-in hybrid. In an age of crossovers, this compact hatch is an important model.
FORD
A Kuga hybrid to companion the PHEV and diesel versions already here is in the cards. The S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs are getting hybrid engines this summer, and a powerful ST version of the Puma (pictured) has just arrived. The all electric Mustang Mach-E crossover will arrive in the autumn. Looking forward, a completely new Mondeo will be a crossover looking like Mach-E, with plug-in hybrid power.
CUPRA
Formentor (pictured) is the new flagship of the performance brand spun off from SEAT in recent years. Recently arrived in Ireland, it comes with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Cupra Leon has also now been made available as a PHEV, and there’s a new Born electric performance hatchback coming at the end of the year.
LAND ROVER
MERCEDES-BENZ
The new C-Class coming in September is one of the ‘ordinary’ cars from the brand, which is otherwise dominated by new electric models, the EQA (pictured), the EQB which will debut shortly, based on the 7-seat compact GLB SUV, and the EQS flagship EV from Mercedes-Benz, with its distinctive shape. With up to 516hp, the car is planned to offer a range of 700kms.
RENAULT
VOLKSWAGEN
The new generation Volkswagen Polo (pictured) will be on sale in Ireland from early 2022. The car will be available in four grades with 80hp and 95hp petrol engines and manual and automatic transmissions. Volkswagen’s ID.4 — World Car of the Year 2021 — is the second dedicated electric car from the German brand, which seems set to make itself the go-to carmaker in the mainstream electric car space. A sporty ID.4, the GTX, is coming later in the year. Plug-in hybrid options are incoming on the Arteon fastback and shooting brake.
The Clio, Captur and Megane now have plug-in hybrid variants in a continuation of the brand’s electrification programme. This system will also be used in the new Arkana (pictured) coming in September, which is styled as a compact coupe-SUV.
VOLVO
HONDA
A new HR-V coming in third generation will have a hybrid powertrain, with sportier styling. Meanwhile, the small urban electric hatchback, the Honda e (pictured) is making waves across Europe, and won the title of World Urban Car of the Year 2021.
SEAT MG
The iconic sports car brand has morphed into a space for electrified and electric cars, the all-electric ZS (pictured) and the HS plug-in hybrid SUVs, and the MG5 electric estate. A new supermini electric hatch is on the cards.
Earlier this year, SEAT launched the new Leon e-Hybrid (pictured) hatch which handles most commuters’ everyday needs in EV-mode as it is capable of up to 64km on battery alone. A mid-life restyle of the Tarraco large SUV also gets a plugin hybrid engine option. Meanwhile, the Ateca and Arona have had mild updates.
C40 Recharge (pictured) coming early next year will be the second Volvo full electric vehicle, based on the XC40 Recharge. The style will be very similar, with the new version being something of a Sportback variant.
See the Motoring section of The Southern Star every week for all the latest on new makes and models
THE SOUTHERN STAR || MOTORING 2021
The road to electric is getting busier THERE are almost 30,000 battery electric or plug-in hybrid cars now on Ireland’s roads, according to a recent statement from the Minister for Transport. The ratio is roughly half and half. While 15,000 pure EVs is far short of the Government target of almost a million by 2030, a target most unlikely to be achieved, the take-up is growing. With almost 3,200 battery-electric cars registered in the year to date, the momentum is clear and the track is inexorably upwards. As a brand, Volkswagen is way ahead with approaching a third of sales in BEVs this year, thanks to its ID.4 in first place and ID.3 in second place, totalling 1,111 units. Nissan, who started the whole thing off, is in second brand place with 470 units giving them almost 14% of the market. Kia, Tesla and Hyundai make up the top five, with some 30% of the market between them. The other electric mainstreamers then are Peugeot, Renault, Audi, Opel and Mini. Beyond that are mainly premium brands which are still building presence, in small numbers at big prices. But the message is clear. Even if the Government target is missed by a mile, there are going to be a lot of electric car drivers out there in eight years’ time. Most of the anxieties are gone. The latest cars come with ranges of at least 300+kms, and homecharging becomes a habit just as it is for our mobile phones at night. You always start the day with a full ‘tank’ – something that’s not the case with your traditional internal combustion engine car. While charging at home is the best and cheapest way, there are also 1,200 public charge points and counting, as well as a growing number of ‘destination’ charge points in hotels, shopping centres, places of work, and public transport stations. And the network of high-speed charging points is growing by the week. The biggest hurdle to going the full electric motoring route is cost of the car. Even with incentives they are more expensive than petrol or diesel counterparts ... and the incentives are being reduced from July 1st, which was inevitable. But the cost of batteries is reducing every year, and there are emissions tax increases on internal combustion cars. So prices are converging. Additionally, it’s 70% less expensive to run an electric car than an ICE-powered one, so the extra cost is recouped over a number of years. Buyers of EVs intend to keep them for longer than they would a traditional one, so the savings over the life of the car will be even more significant. There are naysayers who point out that electric cars are not ‘green’ because making the electricity for them results in polluting emissions. True, to a diminishing point ... up to 40% of Ireland’s electricity is now being produced from renewable sources, a figure that, by Government policy, will continue to be improved. You might be tempted to wait until everything in the electric car area gets better. But there’s a point in the development of every technology that improvement slows, and there’s little point in locking yourself into old tech for another three or four years. That point might be now.
What’s all this BEV, HEV, and PHEV? WHEN Toyota launched its first petrol-electric hybrid Prius back in 1997 it was a breakthrough. Today, in addition to Toyota offering a hybrid in most of its models instead of diesel, most other car manufacturers have embraced electrification ranging from a power booster, through full hybrid and plug-in hybrid to, in an increasing number of cases, full battery-electric powertrains. When it was just hybrid or pure electric, it was fairly simple to understand. But with terms like mild hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric flying around the place, it would be forgiven for anyone to be confused. So here’s the explainer:
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
Mild hybrid is an energy recovery mechanism, with a small battery or a capacitor where recycled energy is stored to either help run electric accessories or boost the engine under acceleration. There is potential improvement in efficiency, depending on conditions and driving styles. The ‘self-charging’ hybrid as pioneered and refined by Toyota comes with a significantly larger battery which is charged as the car is driven, from the internal combustion engine. The system mixes and matches the electric motor and engine for driving the wheels depending on conditions and speed. It has enough battery capacity so that for a substantial portion of time the car is running on electric power alone, especially in urban driving.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
The next stage up is plug-in hybrid, where there’s a somewhat larger battery which can be charged from a home wallbox or public charging point. It’s also small enough that it can be charged over a number of hours from an ordinary 13A home socket. Typically the electric range is around 50km, after which the operation reverts to a normal full hybrid mode.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
The full electric car is as it says, with only electric power. The pioneering here was done by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the supermini Zoe from the French maker becoming the biggest electric seller in Europe and the Leaf from Nissan blazing the trail in the compact family car space. Early models had short enough range, realistically no more than 120km, but a typical electric car range now is between 320km-500km depending on size and battery capacity. Be aware that in some promotions, mild hybrid is being described simply as ‘hybrid’, suggesting that the cars have full self-charging hybrid efficiency. So check that out when you’re researching the prospect.
Car sales are up on last year, but way down in real terms by Brian Byrne THE coronavirus situation resulted in a shift of car registrations this year from the traditional January, to March and April. With 55,207 units registered in the first four months of 2021, it’s a 10% increase over the same period in 2021, but the Society of the Irish Motor Industry notes that the comparison with 2019 shows a 24.4% reduction in the market. On the other hand, and probably covidrelated with the amount of increased online shopping needing delivery, light commercial vehicles at 13,722 registrations are up 44.4% on the same four months last year, and 6.7% up on 2019. The big buzz is in electric cars, at 3,414 registrations that’s twice as many as in 2020’s first four months. Electrified cars/ hybrid (16.7%), electric (6.2%), and plugin hybrid (6%) now cater for 29% of all registrations. That leaves diesel at 37% and petrol at 32% both giving away share to electrification. Director general of SIMI Brian Cooke says the investment in online selling platforms last year, and the ability to offer ‘click and deliver’ has been a lifeline to the industry in a difficult time. ‘It is hoped that pent-up demand allied with the increase in personal savings will see customers returning to showrooms,’ he said. ‘Car retailing operates in large open spaces, and with low
footfall and the ability to social distance well beyond the recommended two metres, showrooms are a safe environment for customers.’ In other stats for January tp April, used car imports at 24,095 are up by more than a third on last year, but down by 32.5% on 2019. There’s anecdotal evidence that people who have to travel to work are avoiding public transport, and that has resulted in strong prices for used cars, and the increase in imports. The top selling car models year to date are the Hyundai Tucson (strongly ahead of last year due to the arrival of a brand new model) ‚ Toyota’s Corolla, the same brand’s RAV 4, Ford’s Focus and Volkswagen’s Tiguan. Toyota is the top selling brand, with 13% market share, from Volkswagen (11.3%), Hyundai (10.1%), Skoda (9%) and Ford (8.2%).
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THE SOUTHERN STAR || MOTORING 2021
Tread carefully There are many important components of your vehicle, but out of all of them, the tyres are the only part that come into direct contact with the ground. They not only help to get the vehicle from A to B, but they are essential to acceleration, braking, steering, traction, grip, handling and comfort. Tyres, therefore, have a huge impact on how well your vehicle moves, and getting the right fit is essential for safety and efficiency Tyre tread
Tyre tread helps to grip the road surface, evacuates water from between the surface and the tyre, and helps to maintain control of the vehicle. The legal minimum requirement for tread depth in Ireland is 1.6mm. Any less than this and the tyre will not perform optimally as the grip will be compromised. This becomes a serious issue in wet conditions as the tyres will struggle to evacuate water and grip the road. Tyre tread wears down for different reasons. Front tyres wear faster than rear ones, and higher speeds increase the temperature of the tyres and wear them down faster. Aggressive driving, acceleration and braking, carrying heavy loads, incorrect wheel alignment, as well as both under-inflation and over-inflation of tyre pressure all increase wear.
Tread pattern
Most tyres perform the same in everyday dry conditions but when rain hits (or snow or ice in winter) that’s when you’ll really notice the difference. Tyres come with different patterns. Some enhance performance, others are made for better control. Some are made for higher grip, and reduced speed and accelerations, while others provide easier speed increase but slippery grip. It’s good to look at the pattern in terms of the type of journeys you will be doing and the conditions you will be driving in. If you do long journeys, tyres that will wear more slowly will be more cost-efficient and safer. The pattern on winter tyres means they are more flexible and are better able to grip the road in snow and icy conditions and reduce the stopping distance when braking. They are useful in times of harsh weather conditions but should be changed once the weather improves. The most common tyres used in Ireland are summer tyres. The pattern works for dry and wet conditions but is less equipped to deal with very harsh conditions. They have superior
traction and braking during dry months. All-season tyres are a mix of the two. They deal with both dry and wet conditions, in warm or cold temperatures.
Tyre age
The age of tyres is different to the wear of them. Tyres deteriorate naturally overtime from exposure to heat, light, sunlight and rain or tough weather conditions. Tyres on vehicles which are used regularly tend to wear down faster than they age. Tyres on vehicles which are not used regularly, such as trailers or caravans for example, are more susceptible to needing to be replaced due to age and natural degradation. So just because tyres aren’t used often, doesn’t mean they don’t need to be replaced. Age has a big impact on their quality.
Cost
Cost is the determining factor for many people when it comes to choosing tyres. You can pay premium prices for premium tyres which will ensure safety, comfort and they are longer-lasting. If these are out of your budget, mid-range tyres are a good choice, but will likely need to be replaced sooner. Budget tyres are a good quick fix but definitely won’t last as long. Some tyre dealerships sell second-hand tyres which have been used before, but they must meet a minimum standard before they can be sold again. It really comes down to your budget but take your time deciding. Tyres that cost more at the time of purchase may save you more in the long run as they last longer and save on fuel costs. The more efficient they are now, the longer you’ll get out of them.
Maintaining your tyres
Tyre maintenance is essential to ensure safety and efficiency: • Check the tyre pressure regularly. The correct pressure can be found inside the vehicle’s handbook and can be checked at most service stations. • Inspect your tyres regularly for cracks, bulges, uneven wear, or if there’s anything such as a nail stuck in them. If you notice anything, consider putting the spare tyre on and get it inspected by a professional. • As stated previously, the legal minimum for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, but as soon as they get to 3mm, you should inspect them frequently and replace them as soon as you can. You can find convenient measuring devices online, including from the RSA, or just use a €1 coin. Place the coin into the tyre groove and if you can see the gold rim, it means the depth is less than 3mm and you should consider changing them. • Rotating your tyres is recommended to ensure that they wear evenly and last longer. Wheel alignment and balancing are also important to maximise tyre life. • Ideally, or if you have any concerns, take your vehicle to a local specialist who will be able to inspect the tyres properly and recommend what needs to be done.
CARBERY TYRES The Bypass, Clonakilty
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Regular maintenance and inspections are essential to getting the longest and most effective use from your tyres. Below from left: check tyre pressures regularly and remember you may need to adjust pressures for heavy loads or when pulling something; check your tread depth and replace your tyres before they even reach the legal minimum limit; inspect your tyres for any sort of damage or uneven wear. Remember foreign objects like nails or in this case a screw, aren’t always that obvious without close scrutiny of the tyre.
Stay Local, Shop Local, Stay Safe
MOTORING 2021 || THE SOUTHERN STAR
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THE SOUTHERN STAR || MOTORING 2021
What’s the deal with dash cams? By Emma Connolly WE may not have been able to drive too far this past year, but that didn’t stop dash cams (dashboard cameras) enjoying a significant surge in popularity. That’s according to Rory Marron of Partsworld in Bandon. Like everything else, this piece of kit ranges from being an affordable impulse purchase, to something more considered and expensive, and Rory advises people to base their decision mainly on how much driving they do. ‘Of course, if you had a bad experience, for example in a crash, where having had access to footage would have helped, you might be inclined to invest in a more expensive model,’ he said. Their best selling model retails for just €29.99 with options ranging up to €199, and generally speaking Rory says you get what you pay for.
Features to consider
Market leaders include models from Garmin, Nextbase and Kenwood and for the best rated you can expect to pay around €200. Regardless of what you go for, here are some features to look out for when investing: • Most dash cams are forward-facing and attach to the windscreen via a suction cup near your rear view mirror, where it will record everything on the road ahead of you. It’s also possible to get a rear-facing one, and even a dual model if that’s your preference, although that’s usually an option preferred by those who drive for a living. Some come with screens, which some drivers may find distracting, but there’s a huge range of discreet models to choose from, some as small as your car key. • Probably the most important feature of your dash cam is its video quality. There’s no point shelling out a lot
for a model that can’t accurately pick up something like a number plate. Most entry levels have full HD, but better still is 4K video quality. Night-time recording may also be important, and so is the angle view of your device. Generally, dash cams have viewing angles of between 120 degrees (straight ahead) and 180 degrees (wider, taking in more to the sides). It’s worth noting though that lens distortion can occur above 150 degrees. • A G–Sensor is also worth having in your model. This will pick up any changes to a pre-set G-Force in the event of a collision and crucially this clip will be saved to your memory card and can’t be over written. In the event of establishing liability in an accident this could be useful as most models record on a continuous loop. • Footage storage and access to footage comes down to preference. Most models store footage on an SD memory card which, if needed, can be removed and accessed on your computer. Others, more conveniently, have WiFi connectivity so you can easily access footage on your phone or tablet. • Power source is something else to consider. A dash cam can be powered through your lighter socket, or via USB sockets. But there’s also the choice of having it hardwired into your battery. This is neater, but doesn’t allow you the option of moving it from vehicle to vehicle. A major benefit with some hard-wired dash cam systems, is that it can record while parked. • Some dash cams come with integrated GPS and will automatically add a speed and location to a video clip. Or in the event of an accident being detected and you not responding, more sophisticated models will contact emergency services with your GPS location.
In the eyes of the law .... While dash cams are massively popular, they come with a number of legal obligations which many motorists may not be aware of. The Data Protection Commission has guidelines on how drivers can use dash cams, even for personal use, without violating these obligations • The DPC says there should be a clearly visible sign or sticker or other indication on and/or inside the vehicle, as applicable, to indicate that recording is taking place. • In the event of an accident, you should advise the other party that you have recorded footage of the accident. • If using a dash cam for security or accident liability purposes be aware that the publication of footage, for example on social media platforms, risks infringing the privacy rights of recorded individuals, and data protection law. • Footage of an accident can be retained for evidentiary purposes as long as is necessary, but drivers are instructed to delete other footage routinely and frequently. Drivers are also instructed to be aware of who else has access to the footage that they record. • There is also an obligation to share the video footage with anyone who may feature in it. People have a right to access their data. If a person is aware that you have a recording of them, they have a right to access that data. You should be able to provide a copy of their data to anyone who requests it, within one month. • Gardai may request a copy of dash cam footage from controllers in relation to the investigation of a crime. The relevant law enforcement authority should be in a position to demonstrate that the footage is necessary for the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence and, a request for such footage should be obtained in writing. • Where the DPC identifies infringements of data protection legislation in any sector or scenario, it has powers to sanction, including to apply administrative fines
MOTORING 2021 || THE SOUTHERN STAR
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