With the price of fuel showing no signs of decreasing, it has never been more important to try to reduce the amount we use.  Here are some tips on how to use less fuel when you drive.

Keeping your car in good working order is a good start.  Having the correct air pressure and clean air filters, for example, can greatly improve fuel economy.  Make sure a car service is carried out at appropriate intervals and check your tyre pressures regularly.  Also, keep an eye on exhaust emissions.  The lower these are, the more efficiently the engine of your car is running. 

If you car runs too cool or too hot, you could be wasting ten to 15% of the fuel you use.  Make sure your coolant remains at the correct level and keep an eye on your car’s temperature gauge.  Also, make sure the oil level is correctly maintained, and change the oil when necessary.

Another tip is not to carry around more weight than you need in the car.  Keep heavy items in the house until you need them, rather than storing them in the car.  Remove roof racks if you are not using them, and think again about adding a spoiler to the lid of your boot.

Finally, think about where and when you are driving.  Plan your errands better so you are not making more trips using the car than strictly necessary.  Drive to the furthest away place first to warm up your engine and then work your way back.  Cold engines are much less fuel-efficient.  Also, try to avoid using the heater or air-conditioning whenever possible.

read comments (0)

All vehicles that are on the road in the UK must undergo an MOT.  This is a test that checks that all legal requirements are being met to allow the car to operate safely on the road.  In the United Kingdom, the MOT involves inspecting more than 150 points on the vehicle to check for safety and emissions.  This test is to be performed each year on every vehicle that is more than three years old.  Should a vehicle fail the test, it can be repaired and retested at the garage where the test took place or at your local dealership.

If the vehicle is imported, it must still meet all British standards.  Every vehicle that travels on a public road must successfully pass the MOT.  This is also true for vehicles that are not registered, such as imported vehicles or cars that are built from a kit.  When testing a foreign or imported car, it is important to know what the acceptable standards are in the UK.  For instance, some brake lights and signal lights that are found on American cars are not legal in the UK.

The MOT test will cover every aspect of the vehicle including, but not limited to, steering, emissions, lighting, wipers, mirrors, horns, fuel systems and tyres.  Each vehicle will pass through a thorough inspection before it is allowed to pass the test.

read comments (0)

Buying a brand new vehicle can often be an expensive business; the bad news is that it will usually fall in value immediately after purchase. This means that if you want to sell it on later, you are likely to receive much less than you paid for it. Whilst some degree of depreciation is inevitable, there are some steps you can take to preserve as much of the value as possible. 

The first thing that you can do is to keep your car in as good a condition as possible. A motor without any defects or problems will get a higher price than one that has not been cared for, so get into a routine of regularly checking the tyres, oil levels, paintwork and so on. If you notice any problems, it is a good idea to get them fixed immediately, as this will prevent them from getting worse. You should also consider getting a thorough car servicing on a regular basis, which will pick up on any unnoticed issues and keep your vehicle in a generally good state of repair. 

One thing that can cause a large fall in the value of a car is a high mileage, so take this into account as you are driving. Cutting out unnecessary journeys is likely to pay off with a higher resale price, so it is well worth thinking twice before making especially short trips. When you do hit the road, careful driving can also be financially beneficial, as this will put less stress on your vehicle, so it is likely to be in a better condition when you come to sell it. 

read comments (0)

Gone are the days when it was only high-end vehicles that enjoyed the latest in-car technology.  These days, when you buy a new car, even a typical family car will be fitted with some high-tech features. 

Recent in-car technology appears to be focusing on ways to entertain the passengers in your vehicle.  People are used to technology at home, such as smartphones, Wi-Fi and games consoles and it is no longer necessary to spend a lot of money for similar convenience on the move. 

In-car access to the internet will soon be available across Ford’s whole range of cars, with a new system developed by Microsoft. It will have voice recognition as well as a range of driving aids.

Back seat DVD players are already commonplace in many cars, but a new system from Pioneer is now available which will take the maps, music and videos from your iPhone to a touch screen dashboard display. There is also an application on the market; the Sling Player, which will broadcast TV channels from your home television to a smartphone or tablet device in your car. The application requires the purchase of a Slingbox to receive the TV signal.

In-car gaming is another area of technological growth.  One application allows passengers to drive virtually along your actual journey, chasing you as you drive in reality. 

Finally, car manufacturers have caught onto the benefits of DAB radio, meaning internet radio is to become standard across some fleets.  Integrated MP3/CD car stereos are also on the increase and it is anticipated that soon the majority of new cars will have iPod connectivity.

read comments (0)

An important consideration if you own a car is to have in place some form of breakdown cover.  There are different levels of cover available, but even the most basic cover will provide you with assistance by the roadside if your car breaks down, and enable your car to be towed to the nearest garage if necessary.

If you pay for a higher level of cover, extra benefits such as home call outs, hotel accommodation, a replacement car, or the option for you and your car to be delivered to different destinations can be included. 

If your car breaks down and you have breakdown cover in place, you should call the helpline number supplied and wait for assistance.

If it breaks down and you do not have breakdown cover, you can usually join the AA or RAC at this time, or you could contact a local garage and pay for its recovery service. This can be very expensive, especially if you breakdown on the motorway. Emergency telephones are available on the motorway.  Pull over to the hard shoulder if possible, use your hazard lights and stay in a safe place away from the carriageway, while you wait for assistance.  Do not attempt to fix the car yourself if you are on the motorway.

One of the best ways to avoid breaking down is to ensure that your car is properly maintained.  Many breakdowns could have been avoided if oil, water levels and tyre pressures had been checked regularly. Make sure you take your car for its scheduled services and get any potential problems checked out before embarking on a long journey.

read comments (0)

Used Mini John Cooper Works cars are desired by many.  If you are one of the lucky ones and find one for sale at a used car dealer, be sure that you take it for a good test drive before you decide that it’s really what you want.  That goes for any car that you would buy, whether it is brand new or used.

People tend to fall in love with vehicles because of the way they look.  While this is certainly the most fun way to choose your next vehicle, remember that if it isn’t comfortable or fuel efficient your love affair with your new car may soon be over.

A car is a big purchase and should be done carefully, and never on an impulse.  Think of what you would like your ideal car to be.  Make a quick note to yourself about what body style you like, as well as how much fuel it takes to run, the reliability factor, and the comfort, especially if you travel a distance on a regular basis.

Your dream car, the used Mini John Cooper Works, might be just perfect for what you’d like to be seen driving, and it most likely meets your fuel economy criteria, too, but you would be wise to get in and take a test drive that lasts approximately half hour so you can determine what it feels like, how it handles, and whether it fits your back problem from that stiffness you experience every winter.  Be particular about your car purchase, as it is too important to buy on a whim.

read comments (0)

There is much speculation as to whether electric cars will take over to become the future of motoring, making all fuel alternatives obsolete. A government incentive has been introduced to pay a £5,000 purchase grant, yet despite there being many advantages of driving electric cars, there still seem to be some big disadvantages that are holding the progress of the electric car back in the public eye.

Major criticisms of electric cars are that they are hard to charge with a lack of charging points. They are also slow and expensive even after the government grant is deducted, and there is a lack of cars on the market by well-known car manufacturers. However recent news has reported that electricity suppliers are planning in-home charging points to relieve the difficulty of finding a charge-point and increase electric car sales. It is estimated that the average cost to run an electric car is 2p per mile in comparison to an average 14p fuel costs.

It has been rumoured that 13 new models are set to come onto market over the next year. Plus there are already some powerful electrical cars currently available such as the Telsa Roadster. Electric cars are still in a relatively early stage, with more set to come out and also price points set to decrease as their popularity grows. It is yet to be seen whether they will in fact change the face of motoring as predicted.

read comments (0)

If you are buying a new or used car from a dealership you may choose to trade-in your old vehicle simply for convenience.  For example if you wish to sell your Volvo in order to buy a newer or different model, you may choose to go to a Volvo dealership because you can get a new car and be rid of your old one within a few hours.

However, you may not get as much money for your car when trading it in as you could when selling privately.  It is normal for dealerships to push for as low a price as possible so that they can make maximum profit when selling the car.  They know how to improve the value of the car and sell it for far more than you could privately.  If you are willing to accept a lower price for your vehicle in order for a fast and simple sale, or if you would like the convenience of exchanging your old car for a new one, then trading-in is the best option.

Nevertheless, it can be frustrating to know that your dealer has sold your car for far more than what they paid you for it.  If you have the time and patience to spare, it is worth selling privately in order to get a higher price.  You may have to invest money in minor repairs, a professional valet and advertising costs, but often these expenses are worth it.  They could increase the what car valuation and you could still get a better profit than trading-in.

read comments (0)

No matter how new or old your car, it is going to need a service every now and again. Car servicing will ensure that your car is safe to drive and is more economical in terms of fuel consumption. Proper maintenance also can prevent the need for cost car repairs in the future. Depending on the make, model, year and garage in which you get your car serviced, the range of tests completed during a service will differ.

The basic tests the car will be put through will include changing the oil filter and engine oil. The mechanic will check the inflation pressure and how worn the tyres are, the condition of the brake fluid and disc pads and the condition of the suspension components. Windshield washer liquid levels and wiper blades will also be checked.

In a more detailed servicing, the exhaust will be checked and replaced if worn, the air conditioning will be inspected and the engine tuned. If needed, the fuel injectors will be cleaned, the fuel filter checked and renewed and the radiator inspected and tested. In manual cars, the clutch will be checked and adjusted if needed, with pads replaced if worn.

The time between services are usually measured in miles; hence, if you drive a lot or tow trailers, your car will need more regular servicing and maintenance than if it is used purely for shopping once a week. Check the owner’s manual to see how often you should service your car.

read comments (0)

Before setting off to haggle with a dealer to negotiate the best price on a new car, it pays to bear in mind that ‘knowledge is power.’ A shrewd buyer will have done their homework beforehand and will know that thousands can be saved by asking the right questions. Find out what the new car is worth by consulting trade guides and comparison websites like WhatCar? or Parker’s.

Part exchange car values can also be worked out by using the same websites, but the savvy buyer knows that the dealer will only pay ‘trade’ prices. It is therefore often a better idea to sell privately.

Having decided on how to finance the purchase and having calculated your likely fuel, insurance and road tax costs, some thought should be given to planning the visit to the dealer. Timing is important. Good times to negotiate are at month end when dealers are under pressure to meet their sales targets and, if the buyer is not in a hurry, the shopping can be postponed until close to the March and September number plate changes. Also, if a new model is in the offing, the car sales people will be keener to offload their stocks of the current model.

Once at the dealers the important things to remember is to remain calm and stick to the price you’ve set for yourself, start with a low offer and let yourself be negotiated up to a middle ground and don’t hesitate to ask for extras like a free service or a tank of fuel or car tax paid.

read comments (0)