Autumn 2007 is a busy time for BMW (UK) as they seek to reinforce their position as the UK’s number one premium car marque. BMW UK are already well on their way to another record sales year and now we have the launch of two new cars - the BMW 635d, the world’s first diesel-powered luxury Gran Tourer. And November sees the launch of the striking BMW 1 Series Coupé.
For over 30 years now, Subaru has been building AWD (4 wheel drive) vehicles and promoting them worldwide. When it comes to AWD Subaru have plenty of experience and with their rally successes in recent years they also know a thing or two about handling too! With the exception of the Impreza turbo models ( WRX and STI) however, one of the failings with Subaru has been the looks or sex appeal of their vehicles, not many people lust after a scooby!
With winter almost upon us now in the UK -although some would argue we are still waiting for the summer! - its that time of year when it starts to get dark earlier with the added hazard of slippy conditions cuased by rain, sleet or snow. Be aware that 50% of driving accidents occuring at night happen on wet roads! 90% of problems could be avoided altogether with good preperation. Its not rocket science, winter is coming so make sure that you and your car are up to the challenge. Some of the tips are really obvious, however every winter I see people completely unprepared and are just accidents waiting to happen.
Car lease deals in UK
Car leasing and contract hire are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, many motorists, both private and business, are realising they can drive a premium brand such as Mercedes or BMW for the same price as a family hatchback! In fact some experts in the motoring industry feel that within the next 10 years there will be more private motorists leasing than buying! There are many online leasing companies in the UK who can help you find over thousands of car leasing, van leasing and contract hire offers to choose from.
Private Number Plates
Cherished car number plates have never been more popular, whether you call them personalised registration plates, cheap private number plates or private car registration plates -they are all essentially the same thing. The ultimate in terms of customisation has to be personalising your registration! it can also be an effective way to disguise your cars age, or even to advertise your own business ( for example if you were a comedian or childrens entertainer how cool would it be to own” L4UGH” or a proud bmw owner with “BMW 335X” or how about a big Elvis fan with “ELV 15″.
Have you ever wondered why car insurance is so expensive in the UK? Have a look at these figures and comments published by the Director of General Insurance at end of 2006.
If we take an average insurance premuim which is currently around £400, then £70 goes to the government, £30 goes towards the cost of drivers making fraudulent claims and another £30 goes towards the estimated 1 in 20 drivers who are not insured at all. OMG, that means the average driver is paying £130 a year in stealth taxes to the government and for uninsured drivers/fraudulent claims! Add into the equation the massive profits made by insurance companies then it becomes clear why insurance costs are so high.
New car buyers nowadays are being increasingly influenced by the “green” rating of vehicles. Energy conservation is becoming more and more important when it comes to all lifestyle choices. Cars like the toyota Prius and Honda and Lexus hybrids are selling in realtively high numbers despite the fact that they are much more expensive than the petrol only counterparts and in many real world economy tests they have proved to be less economical than the manufacturers data would have you believe.
The much loved Ford Focus is an excellent used buy (actually named by What car as their used car of the year in 2006). the best models to look at for bargains without headaches are model years 1998-2004. If budget will reach go for a facelifted 2002 model. All models are reasonably equipped and comfortable, however on earlier models safety features such as ABS and side airbags were optional so its worth seeking out those models.
Electronic stability program or ESP is known by many names! BMW refer to it as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). Ford Motor Company in the USA call it Advance Trac. At Jaguar its known as Dynamic Stability Control (DSM), Porsche: Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Volvo: Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DTSC), Lexus: Vehicle Skid Control (VSC) and to really confuse things General Motors refer to it as different systems for individual brands, for instance fitted to a Corvette its called Active Handling System - whereas in a Pontiac, Buick or Cadillac its called Stabilitrak!
The top UK car magazine Whatcar conducted a huge survey last year of over 38,000 cars, using information provided by warranty direct to build up a picture of overall reliability for car manufacturers and models. As you would expect, the Japanese manufacturers performed really well but there were a few suprises - particularly from so called “premium” brands.
Lets take a quick look at the good, the bad and the downright ugly!