Cars 21 Car Advice

New Car Reviews and Car Buying Guide

Number Plate Stories – K1 ANG 27
Feb
Posted by Cars21 in Number Plates on 02 27th, 2010

Ken Lang started dreaming of owning a personalised number plate as soon as the prefix registration format was introduced back in 1983. He and some work colleagues were discussing the combinations available and Ken decided that his perfect plate would be K1 ANG. At that time K plates were still another ten years off, but from 1993 onwards he searched all the traders advertisements, but he could never find that elusive perfect plate.

By 2002 Ken had still not made that purchase and his wife suggested that he might like a personalised plate for his birthday, since he had dreamed of one for so long. He decided to look for one, which bore his initials, but just when he had stopped looking, he came across his dream registration. He immediately made an offer and before long was able to proudly display the plate on his car.

Lang has since come to realise that the registration he purchased was actually an investment. He was once approached by a Mr Kiang, while at a service station, who offered him more than he had paid for the number plate. Obviously Ken refused, as he is very attached to the plate after waiting so long to find it.

Ken Lang has also researched the combination on his registration mark. Although he bought it to signify K Lang he has discovered that his plate may also be useful for owners of a Kia car or someone with the name Ian, Angela and Kian or of course, the surname Kiang, as he has already discovered.



Great Porsche Leasing Deals 23
Feb
Posted by Cars21 in Car Leasing, Porsche on 02 23rd, 2010

In these very challenging times, wise use of financial resources is necessary. You must get the service you need as equivalent to the money you spend. In other words, the service must be worth your money. This is true with Porsche leasing.

There are many benefits to Porsche leasing. They range from relatively easy payments to the agreements you will enter into for the lease. In the end, you may even be given the chance of owning a car.

Your initial payment here is very minimal and you will not be asked to pay for a security deposit. What you will pay every month is the equivalent depreciation cost of the car, not the actual cost. In other words, you will only pay for the usage. The charge is very minimal compared to other car renting companies. You can even reduce your monthly payment by choosing a lower mileage.

You have the option to prepay the lease for the whole duration of the term. With that, you will pay less than the actual cost. You will be able to get tax benefits, too, especially if you use the car for your business.

In case you want to purchase the car after the expiry of your lease, the depreciation of the car will be considered and calculated. After the term expires, you will be assisted by company advisors to find out if you can buy it, renew your commitment, or just end the service.

Vehicle leasing is an alternative to buying a new car. There are multiple benefits you can get from it as well as protection in case your leased car is lost or damaged.



Jeep Grand Cherokee 18
Feb
Posted by Cars21 in Car Reviews on 02 18th, 2010

Solid, chunky, macho and down to earth, this is the archetypal, no frills SUV. It’ll handle potholes and uneven roads cheerfully, although it may throw you around a bit in the process. It’s also a smooth cruiser, so on ordinary road surfaces you won’t have to sacrifice comfort.

The interior is not particularly elegant – gray plastics abound, but everything seems solid enough. The 3.0 litre 215 bhp V6 hits 62 mph in a respectable 9 seconds, which for an SUV isn’t to be scoffed at. If you’re not averse to petrol guzzlers, the SRT-8 has a 6.1 litre, 425 bhp V8 engine and surges to 62 mph in just 5 seconds. Whilst you won’t feel you’re driving an Aston (why would you want to when you’ve chosen an SUV, anyway?), you also won’t feel like you’re manoeuvring a bus. These beasts are big, though, and you’ll be aware of that fact the moment you get behind the wheel – you’ll climb into rather than slip into the driving seat.

As you might expect, there is abundant space for passengers and a hugely generous 979 litre boot (which becomes a colossal 1909 litres when the seats are folded). You wouldn’t expect an SUV to rate well for emissions and fuel consumption and the Grand Cherokee holds no surprises here: the petrol variety squeezes 17.2 miles out of every gallon, and the diesel a slightly more respectable 27.7 miles. Not especially green but it has a kind of hunky charm.



Abbey Road album cover number plates – LMW 281F 11
Feb
Posted by Cars21 in Car News, Number Plates on 02 11th, 2010

Pete Gent couldn’t believe his eyes. He had wandered into a car showroom and saw a white VW Beetle in the forecourt. However, this was not just any VW Beetle, it was the most famous VW Beetle in Britain. Why the fame? Well, this was the very car that had featured on the cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. Gent, owner of a music shop, recognised it straight away and, realising that the salesman was unaware of the car’s famous history, snapped it up.

The vehicle had a distinctive registration plate, which had been the subject of many rumours and conspiracy theories that claimed Paul McCartney was dead. An American Radio Station began reporting that McCartney had passed away and that the plate, LMW 281F, contained a hidden message. LMW was believed to represent Linda McCartney as a ‘W’idow and 281F was supposed to signify Paul being 28 if he had lived. Of course, as we all know, the rumour was completely false.

Gent eventually sold the plate at Sotheby’s in 1986, where it fetched £2,300. At that time it went to America, but he believes that it is now on display at the VW factory in Germany.

Gent admits that he regrets not hanging on to the number plate for longer, “I was hoping to get more for it at the time, but there were only two people bidding. I should have kept it really, but I didn’t realise that their popularity would grow again. It would have been great publicity for my guitar shop.”



Mitsubishi Leasing 8
Feb
Posted by Cars21 in Car Leasing, Mitsubishi on 02 8th, 2010

Car leasing today is becoming a trend as it gives customers a multitude of benefits. By leasing a car, you only have to pay the agreed amount of the depreciation of the vehicle, not like when you buy a brand new car and have to take the whole hit yourself! One of the most leased vehicle brands today is Mitsubishi, as their cars are known for good quality, excellent features, and they have a strong reputation. Indeed, Mitsubishi leasing is attracting many car owners and enthusiasts.

If you are planning to lease a Mitsubishi car, you need first to know the latest rates and options. You may also want to know which models are best for car leasing.

The Mitsubishi i is one of the Mitsubishi cars which earned commercial success. This car is made from robust materials and it can run at a 54.6mpg combined average. It has an exceptional environmental record of only 114g/km CO2 emissions. Its safety specifications include ABS together with EBD, a front crumple zone, and two front airbags. The Mitsubishi i is well-equipped with locking wheel nuts and alloy wheels, immobiliser, climate control air conditioning, anti-trap windows, and stereo radio or CD with four speakers. It also has a reasonable and accessible storage space. Added to its exceptional features is its neat and bright interior. With these outstanding features,  the Mitsubishi i provides a fun driving experience, making it a good choice for car leasing.

The Mitsubishi i is just one possibility among the wide variety of Mitsubishi vehicles that you may want to lease. There are many other models that are available and offered by various Mitsubishi leasing outlets and authorities.



The SAW Private Number Plate Collection 3
Feb
Posted by Cars21 in Car News, Number Plates on 02 3rd, 2010

Some people build up amazing collections of private number plates in the course of their lives. Once such collection is the SAW plates, which were purchased by Midlands saw blade supply company, Dynashape Ltd. The entire collection consists of SAW 1, SAW 2, SAW 3, SAW 4, SAW 5, SAW 6, SAW 7, SAW 8, SAW 9, SAW 10, SAW 11, SAW 123 and SAW 1T. It is believed that the company’s owner has amassed the largest known collection of consecutive personalised registration plates in the entire country.

SAW 6 was actually the first of the plates to be purchased, back in 1972 and over the following years the owner continued to seek out the others by answering ads and speaking to auto-numerology experts. The prices of the plates varied considerably, with some costing just a few hundred pounds while others have cost several thousand. The seller of one plate was able to purchase a new car with the proceeds.

The owner of this collection always believed that the number plates were an investment for his retirement and that when that day came he would sell them on. His belief is that the money he can make from the sale of the plates will provide a comfortable life for him in his later years.

Now that the company is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, the owner has made the decision to retire and finally sell this amazing collection of personalised registrations.