Cars 21 Car Advice

New Car Reviews and Car Buying Guide

Finance Methods for Car Leasing 30
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Buying New Cars, Car Buying Guide, Car Leasing on 08 30th, 2009

Car leasing companies have an array of different finance methods for the convenience of hirers. These methods are suitable for both personal and business leases.

Contract Hire is a lease that includes a fixed monthly rate for a certain term and a limited mileage. The cost may vary depending on the value of the car, the period and the mileage, as well as the anticipated depreciation in value. Sometimes, companies bundle these deals with an optional maintenance package.

The Contract Purchase is actually a rent-to-own arrangement with a fixed monthly rate. Customers that use this method are usually persons or companies that invest in and eventually gain ownership of the car without taking the depreciation risks normally associated with ownership. Similar to Contract Hire, a maintenance package is available with a contract purchase.

Another method is Lease Purchase or Hire Purchase. The monthly payment is determined by the deposit paid, the period of the contract and the sale price of the vehicle. It is similar to Contract Purchase, where the vehicle becomes the property of the hirer, but the monthly rate may vary according to agreement.

The Finance Lease is an option that allows the hirer to pay either the whole cost of the vehicle over an agreed term, or with a lower monthly rate, with the final payment based on resale value.

Some companies have the Sale-and-Lease-Back option, which allows a person to own a vehicle outright, purchased from the leasing company, by means of transferring capital to a contract hire or leasing agreement.



Daihatsu Copen Review 28
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car News, Car Reviews on 08 28th, 2009

The best word to describe the Daihatsu Copen is, ‘tiny.’ Despite its small size, the Copen is not a car that is likely to be snubbed by potential purchasers. Although it looks under-engineered, the truth is that consumers may be in for a surprise.

The Daihatsu Copen runs like a small sports car. Drivers will find it easy and fun to drive. With a short chassis and the wheels pushed out to the corners of the car’s body, the Copen is able to make quick turns and has a good grip on the road. Some dispute the description of the Copen as a sports car because of the front wheel drive. However, it is not really important, because the Copen leans more toward quick handling and loads of fun at minimum speeds rather than advanced high speed handling.

The handling is perhaps the best feature of this car. The Copen’s minimal power results in ease of control. It runs on a new 1.3-litre engine that only generates 86bhp. The fact that the car is very low to the ground and its interior is a little cramped, creates a feeling that the Copen is quicker than it really is.

The Copen has received minor improvements in this new design. However, the changes are hard to spot, since the exterior details remain the same. The old engine was smaller and turbo-charged. The new one is naturally aspirated and cleaner. The old engine enabled the Copen to accelerate from 0-62 mph within 11.5 seconds. The new engine cuts down the sprint time to 9.5 seconds and provides a smoother run.

As for the car’s downsides, the Copen is somewhat cramped, and the cockpit seems outdated. The Copen also has a stiff suspension set-up, which makes everyday driving a little uncomfortable at times.



Vehicle leasing 101 25
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car Leasing on 08 25th, 2009

Vehicle leasing appears to be a sensation in both the business and the personal sector. In a leasing venture, everybody can get a flexible, manageable, and rewarding deal. Different car leasing companies have suddenly surfaced onto the scene. Each of these vehicle leasing firms offers a unique way of financing an vehicle through a car leasing plan. However, one must learn that there are some requirements and issues that need to be addressed before engaging in the deal. Some of these issues are associated with the clients’ financial capacity, background, car selection, and car leasing payment guidelines.

There are several critical issues that potential car lessees need to tackle, especially if it concerns their leasing background and financial standing. Of course, for a person to enter into a contact like this, he must be between 19 and 70 years of age. Another issue is the client’s leasing background. Before the client is granted a leasing opportunity, he must present concrete evidence showing his financial stability. In this way, the client can earn the trust of the firm in negotiating the venture. Usually in short-term leasing transactions, clients are limited to choosing from just a few car types. On the other hand, under a vehicle leasing scheme, a client can pick his ideal car from a long list of car selections, from family SUVs to top of the range sports cars. In dealing with payment issues, a client must properly allocate his budget to prevent cramming or delayed payments.

With vehicle leasing, everyone’s car dreams will be a lot closer to reality. Its finely designed financing structure gives clients the privilege of enjoying a car without the ties of making a purchase. In these troubling economic times, entering into a vehicle leasing contract is the most feasible move to obtain that dream car.



Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Review 21
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car News, Car Reviews, Mercedes-Benz on 08 21st, 2009

AMG was once well-known for building and producing one-dimensional cars: really fast on the sprint runs, but quite unbalanced and clumsy in cornering. However, the 21st century AMG is on a different route altogether. AMG, Mercedes-Benz’s hyper-performance division, is now producing full-bodied ultra cars, with the rough edges hewn and smoothed away, such as the SL63 AMG and CLK63 Black series. With the release of the Mercedes-Benz 2010 E63 AMG, rival cars, such as the Cadillac CTS-V and BMW M5, will be likely to get a run for their money. The 2010 E63 AMG is based on the Mercedes-Benz E-class saloon line.

AMG is really formidable when it comes to building engines, but this new E63 is arguably its best work ever. The hand crafted DOHC, 6.2-litre, 8-valve engine of the previous edition comes back puffing with an additional 11 horsepower (it now has 518 horsepower at 6800 rpm). Furthermore, this increase in power also comes with a 12% boost in fuel efficiency.

The new E63 AMG also has an efficiently reworked suspension. This 2010 edition has a new front axle with a track that is 2.2 inches wider than the standard. This boosts the car’s cornering ability, handling, and balance.

Additionally, the engine is matched with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Instead of the traditional torque converter, the transmission is paired to the engine through a wet-plate clutch. This array provides a more efficient connection between the gears and the engine, thus providing a quicker and smoother gear-shift response. There are a variety of settings for the transmission, including sport, sport plus, race mode launch control, manual, and C (which stands for controlled efficiency).

The Mercedes-Benz 2010 E63 AMG is really a remarkable combination of performance and usability.



Keeping Your Car Clean 21
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car News on 08 21st, 2009

Living in the city of Leeds can be a pain especially after a hard weeks work, the last thing that you want to be doing in your spare time is washing your car all Saturday morning or in the afternoon on Sunday.

If you’re not in the mood for washing your car then you’re going to need a car valeter, they will often come to your home address and have your car cleaned top to bottom within a few hours, and have it looking as good as new.

Car valeting in Leeds is rife with old petrol stations that have been turned into hand car washes that are often only interested in high turn around and don’t show your vehicle the care it often requires.

With people now keeping their cars for longer it’s important to keep your car looking new even more so if you have a private number plate on which could mask the age of your vehicle.



Nissan GT-R Fire Engine 18
Aug
Posted by admin in Car News on 08 18th, 2009

Yesterday saw the unveiling of the new fire car at the Nurburgring.

Nissan donated a GT-R to the Nurburgring circuit as a parting gift for letting them test and develop the car there.

The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a 50 litre water tank and roll cage. The 50 Litres of water will allow it to fight fires for around 20 minutes, there is also 20 meter hose and the foam that is expelled should be capable of reaching another 18 metres.

There isn’t much difference between this Fire Fighting Nissan GT-R and your standard GT-R you can purchase. Just the minimal fire fighting equipment, some extra radio communications and some fancy Recaro seats.



Skoda Yeti 4X4 18
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car News, Car Reviews, Skoda on 08 18th, 2009

4x4s do not have a good reputation these days due to global warming issues. This is no secret, but some individuals actually need the practicality, power, and added traction that only SUVs can give. This is actually Skoda’s argument, as it adds that the Skoda Yeti meets the need for a socially acceptable extension of the SUV class’.

The Skoda Yeti is a mixed bag. With its MPV features, Skoda goes one step beyond its previous Octavia Scout 4×4 model. Part MPV, part off-roader, plus a family hatchback added in for added usability, the Yeti definitely lives up to being the crossover brand. Even though this new model is off-road capable, most of its editions do not have that powerful 4×4 hardware, but will sport a front-wheel drive-train. Fortunately, its wide track and raised suspension mean that it is capable of taking on mountainous humps and bumps with downright impunity.

Most crossover types handle like standard and conventional vehicles, but the Yeti does not. As a consequence, the Skoda Yeti is not very brilliant when it comes to corners and sharp curves. However, its clear-cut advantage is its very efficient suspension, giving its passengers a very comfortable ride even on the most strenuous and bumpiest of roads and dirt tracks. This feature of the Yeti is definitely more useful than zero body roll and speedy cornering when driving around the outskirts of town.

The Skoda Yeti’s interior is very well-built, too. Clearly, it uses the same materials as its Volkswagen counterparts. The crossover Yeti is very efficient when it comes to emissions and economy also. With its 140 bhp 4×4 TDI giving 46.3 mpg on a combined cycle, it only emits 159 g/km of carbon dioxide.



Hook Up with Car Leasing 13
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car Leasing, Car News on 08 13th, 2009

Car leasing is arguably the most convenient and manageable way for those dreaming of a cool set of wheels to start cruising the highways in those fancy cars. Due to the higher risk of rapid car depreciation, people are convinced that leasing a car will minimise the drawbacks inherent in purchasing a car. Business and private sectors are becoming more and more attracted to the features this scheme has. The flexibility of car leasing makes it rather appealing to both groups.

Car leasing has two forms, the business and personal-type of leasing plan. Customers of the business type are mainly composed of firms seeking multi-functional cars that are needed in their business operations and other transactions. Personal car leasing, meanwhile, is exclusively offered to private individuals who want to lease conventional cars that can match their unique lifestyle. In short, business-type leasing is cheaper than personal-type leasing.

There are certain requirements that a prospective leasing client must meet in order to go ahead with this type of venture. Firstly, an initial payment is needed before proceeding to the next phase. Secondly, during the term, the lessee must conform to the guidelines of the scheme. Guidelines include monthly payments, mileage restrictions, and residual value recovery. Monthly payments are proportioned based on the client’s chosen scheme, whether it is a 24- or 36-month leasing period. Mileage restrictions limit the client to running the car within the agreed set mileage. This is imposed to prevent sudden car depreciation. Lastly, residual value will be given if the client turns down the purchase option. The residual value figure is obtained by deducting the car’s post-use value from its pre-use one.

As car leasing continues to earn popularity, car owners are increasingly finding that this method eases certain problems inherent in driving a car.



Fiat Leasing – an easy to manage car financing scheme 11
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car Leasing, Fiat on 08 11th, 2009

Fiat, an Italian car-manufacturing company, has been recognised for many years for delivering superb, quality cars. As the economic slowdown continues to linger, practical individuals are now searching for that alternative vehicle financing scheme. Apparently, car leasing is the only solution to these predicaments. By entering into a Fiat leasing agreement, you can freely drive a Fiat car through a flexible and easy-to-manage scheme.

Normally, a conventional Fiat car price is valued at around £11,000-£20,000. Specifically, Fiat’s latest model’s (Fiat 500C) price is pegged around £11,300-£14,100. As car purchasing seems an unwise approach nowadays, leasing a Fiat will give you the opportunity to drive a Fiat 500C or a Fiat Bravo on the open road, without having to shell out bulk cash at once. Here, customers are only required to pay the initial amount, before paying the remaining balance through monthly instalments. For Example, A Fiat Bravo 1.4 Active may be worth £10,000-15,000 at its original selling price.

However, in a Fiat leasing package, you can start driving a Bravo by just spending £800-£1000. After that, monthly instalments will cover the remaining cash balance. The Fiat Bravo 1.4’s Active, 36-month term leasing contract has a £174/month car financing scheme, while its sports-type class has a higher amount of £184/month. Upon expiration, you are given the option to purchase the car or return it to the owner in exchange for the Residual Value. Residual Value, by the way, is the amount derived from the deduction of the post-use value from its pre-used worth.

With great features in store for Fiat leasing packages, you can now have the power to feel the driving rush of a Fiat car through a practical and flexible scheme.



Toyota Matrix – More than meets the eye! 7
Aug
Posted by Cars21 in Car News, Car Reviews, Toyota on 08 7th, 2009

The Toyota Matrix is a car that seems to be a contradiction in design. It is tall, compact, and looks a lot like an estate car, but it has sleek features and an aerodynamic look that also make it feel like a sports car. Previously, car manufacturers rarely combined the sleek style of a sports car with the conservative look of an estate car to avoid coming up with a flawed product, but with the Toyota Matrix, it turns out that combining the two designs was just the right touch.

The Toyota Matrix was designed to look like a sporty hatchback so that customers would find it appealing. The design was intended to attract the younger generation, but in reality people of varying ages are drawn to this car.

Toyota came up with two generations of this car, and the more recent one was released in 2009. However, the two generations share the same formula. The Matrix, which followed the Corolla Saloon’s design, has a roomy interior that can take items up to 8 feet long. The cargo area’s durable plastic load floor can carry anything, such as home improvement materials or even sports gear, such as mountain bikes, or even a kayak. This car makes carrying people around just as comfortable with its ergonomic bucket seats and a spacious, well-shaped rear seat.

The small flaw to this otherwise exemplary vehicle is that its driving dynamics are not very good. However, for those who are not looking to race their car through winding roads, this car will do just fine. A car that is conservative in fuel consumption, provides a relaxing ride, and has a large interior, the Matrix is definitely a fine choice.