
| Saab 9-3 Saloon |
9 Mar |
If the high price of those small Teutonic saloons makes you wince, this perfectly acceptable Scandinavian alternative might be for you. The cabin is ergonomically elegant, with the dashboard curving around the driver, and you’ll sink into lusciously comfortable seats both in the front and the rear. The roofline is distinctly higher than that of most saloons, so you’ll enjoy plenty of headroom. The boot is generous, and the rear seat folds flat on a 60/40 basis, giving you extra stowage if you need it.
Bumpy roads can result in a little judderiness but the car glides smoothly and gracefully along even tarmac. The more powerful petrol engines seem to result in a harder, bumpier ride but with the diesels and the lower power petrols, smooth-road serenity is restored. A relatively light-pressure turbo engine supplies plenty of thrust for overtaking and will cost you considerably less than, say, a 319i BMW engine. The turbodiesel engines are good performers in this department, too. Saab’s unique four-wheel drive system, XWD, has enabled the top of the range model, the 2.8 litre V6 turbo, to hit a formidable 280 bhp – not bad for a little saloon. The front wheel drive version still delivers 255 bhp.
The 9-3’s elegance, practicality, space and excellent safety features enable it to be equally comfortable as an executive auto as well as a family car.

read comments (0)| Great Porsche Leasing Deals |
23 Feb |
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 |
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.

| Lexus GS – more than meets the eye! |
18 Jan |
The body may not be beautiful, looking a bit like an unsuccessful weightwatcher in a Lycra suit, but this car has some highly attractive compensations which amply prove that first impressions can sometimes be misleading.
The Lexus GS offers an almost silent ride in plushly comfortable seats. Whilst there is no diesel version on offer, the petrol models deliver creditable performances. The 3 litre, 245 bhp V6 hits 62 in a cool 7.2 seconds, which shrinks to 6.1 seconds if you opt for the 4.3 litre, 279 bhp V8. It has to be said, though, that it is unexceptional in the handling department. That’s not to say that it’s bad; but it’s not to say that it’s good either. It feels a little on the large side to be nimble at first but once you’re used to the bulk, it turns out to be rather more responsive than you might have predicted. The standard model only manages 28.8 mpg and the larger V8 less than 25! But if you think of the car as rotund diva with a surprisingly alluring singing voice, you’ll have a fair summary of the GS.
The passenger space is generous, although larger passengers may find sitting in the back a little oppressive after a while: the rounded rear end seems to limit at least the sense of space. Rather oddly, the boot is large but curiously long – reaching heavy luggage from the back of it may be a test of one’s spinal resilience.

| Mercedes C-Class – stylish and comfortable |
9 Jan |
The Mercedes C-Class has filled a significant gap in the stylish, cost effective end of the market and is as an attractive alternative to BMW’s range. Combining sleek looks and quality components, this vehicle comes with all the trimmings of its competitors, while only having a starting price of £19,125.
Holding up the rear are the 1.8litre petrol and 2.0litre diesel engined models, which offer all the pizzazz of their more expensive cousins, but obviously won’t have that extra bite, unless you go for the C200K or the C220CDI. However, the majority of prospective customers would be advised to opt for the 3litre diesel, which pushes out some 224bhp and is sporty, attractive and effective. However, the speed freaks among you would be better choosing the C63, which comes with a rather impressive 6.3litre V8 engine. You can expect to pay at least £50,000 for the privilege of calling one of these your own.
Of course, surface looks are only half the beauty of the C-Class; its majestic road handling is also what will turn heads. What appears to be a regular standard looking saloon shows a completely different side on the open road. Granted, it is not going to live up to the BMW 7 series when it comes to feel and driving comfort, but there are very few cars, if any, in this sector that will make driving such a pleasurable experience.
Passengers, if you haven’t already forgotten about them, will also enjoy the ride, as there is plenty of legroom and comfortable seats in the back. The estate model will easily be able to handle large families with lots of baggage; a 1,500litre boot will swallow almost anything you might try to throw at it. The top-end models, such as the C63, are not going to provide all the comfort of the more family-based editions and could have you calling for a chiropractor after a few hours driving.
The cost-conscious should note that trips to the petrol pump would come around far more frequently than you might like with the bigger engines. If you are a sucker for the Mercedes badge and the sleek style of the C-Class, one of the smaller engines will prove to be much more fuel-efficient. However, over long journeys, one of the V6 diesels would make a chariot fit for a king. Quite simply, this is the coolest looking and roomiest saloon on the road today.

| Mini leasing – a great way to drive a great car! |
4 Jan |
The BMW Mini is one of the most popular cars in the United Kingdom. It comes in different engine specs: the regular Mini, the Cooper, Cooper D, and the newest one, the Cooper S. A Mini lease may often be taken out by people with a small family who want to experience a stylish and fun type of motoring.
A standard Mini lease has a term of 36 months and comes with an agreement for contract hiring. Upon leasing, there is the usual requirement for advance payment, which is followed by monthly payments with VAT. The deal for the lease of the car is often based on 10,000 miles per annum.
The newest version of the Mini now features an engine which is British-built and has a new and enhanced suspension system. A manual transmission with six speeds is also supplied in this new model. The Mini features alloy wheels, a CD player, and an anti-lock braking system. You can also have the option to add other features, for an extra cost, such as metallic paint, automatic gearbox, leather seats, climate control, air conditioning, electric sunroof, Bluetooth, and satellite navigation.
The handling of the Mini lets you have a go-kart feel with its poise and grip, which is similar to an expensive sports vehicle. The dimension of the car makes it easy to manoeuvre. The steering system responds quickly giving you a ride that is firm and comfortable.
Mini leasing allows you the chance to experience a great lifestyle in an inexpensive way. You can get the most out of the car — from security and safety, to reliability and quality, as well as great driver satisfaction.
| Jaguar XF series – sporty and luxurious |
21 Dec |
We all know that Jaguar has on at least a few occasions struggled to come up with the goods as manufacturers of luxury, top-notch cars that people want to buy (in preference to, say, BMW or Mercedes-Benz). But when it comes to the fabulous XF series, they have really pulled the rabbit out of the hat.
The comfort is truly sumptuous; you’ll find luxurious seating with masses of space front and back (and this is especially true of the large diesel version). Add to this a mammoth-sized boot – 540 litres, no less – and you’ll quickly appreciate that elegant luxury is the name of the game. The interior ambience, enhanced by ingenious lighting solutions and high quality gadgets, is opulently splendid.
The car comes in petrol and diesel versions, although the petrol V6 doesn’t quite match the performance of the diesel models or the larger 4.2 litre 286 bhp V8 petrol, which hits 60 mph in 6 seconds. This is very much a grown-up’s car – the young may feel it doesn’t fit a boy-racer image. It doesn’t and it shouldn’t (although some have noted that it resembles an Aston Martin from the back): it’s a class act rather than a ‘fast and furious’ gimmick.
The Jaguar XF gives you a beautifully cushioned ride and you can sense the fabulous suspension as you cruise along. It isn’t averse to cornering at relatively high speed, either, hugging the road securely. A real beauty all round.

| Hyundai Coupe Leasing |
17 Dec |
As the financial crisis continues to topple the financial standing of almost all car companies, the car market is facing a serious predicament as to what will be the next step in solving this dilemma. Thankfully, car leasing firms are now plentiful, assisting every car-dreamer in choosing the right car financing scheme that is flexible and budget-friendly. Now, with car leasing deals in great supply, everyone can drive a Hyundai Coupe 1.6S, Hyundai’s modern-generation car. Through a Hyundai leasing plan, potential car leasing customers can vie for a low-cost, manageable car-leasing scheme that matches their financial capacity.
The Hyundai Coupe 1.6S is a dependable and trendy car that can jive the demands of both rough road conditions and sensible, sedate driving. The car is equipped with central locking and alarms, power steering, an immobiliser, passenger and driver safety airbags, side airbags and many other features, delivering convenience at its peak. In addition, the car can zoom up to 115 mph, with a pulling power that can reach up to 106/3000 (lb ft)/rpm. These state-of-the-art technological features really make the Hyundai Coupe a rewarding car, which can be driven by just allotting £100 a month for a 36-month leasing term.
Leasing a Coupe can be done in an effortless manner. Customers are required to pay the initial payment, normally ranging from £600 or more, depending on the scheme guidelines or the negotiation arrangement. After that, the leasing firm will then calculate proportionally the remaining balance according to the length of the term through monthly instalments. Upon the contract’s expiry, the customer will have the option whether to surrender or purchase the car.
With so many opportunities at one’s fingertips, a Hyundai leasing plan gives everyone the chance to experience the wind rushing through their hair as they drive the cool Hyundai Coupe 1.6S.
| Mazda 6 – a pleasure to drive! |
9 Dec |
This handsome mid-sized saloon is a pleasure to look at and a pleasure to drive. With plenty of leg-room front and rear, the only space drawback is the diminishing headroom at the back (sloping roofs tend to do this). The boot offers a generous 519 litres of space, which expands to an ample 1019 litres with the rear seats folded.
You’ll get an exceptionally enjoyable drive out of this series; it has excellent suspension, the front-wheel drive gives superb road grip, and it’s got some real zip and verve. There are three petrol models (one at 1.8 litres, one at 2.0 litres and the last at 2.5 litre) and a 2.0 litre diesel. All give exceptional performances (although the basic petrol model is a little feebler than the others).
The car looks and feels well-crafted and sturdy and has surprisingly high quality interior specifications. It’ll never feature as James Bond’s next vehicle, but it delivers excellent quality all round, a responsive and enjoyable driving experience and good fuel economy. The Mazda 6 may well be under-rated – what it lacks in ‘coolness’ it more than makes up for in performance and elegance.

| Hyundai i30 – mid-size hatchback fun! |
20 Nov |
Some people would argue that, whilst Hyundai cars are not bad, the designs are often distinctly underwhelming. The i30, however, manages to break the dreariness mould: it looks distinctly stylish and is certainly a good auto.
You’ll get a comfortable ride and a car that handles responsively, a double act that often fails to harmonise in other similar family hatchbacks. Whilst the relatively small engine sizes won’t provide the more power-hungry amongst us with the zing factor we seek, they are more than adequate for city driving or a cruise along the motorway. The larger of the two diesel models does, however, go some way toward adding a bit of accelerative thrust.
Whilst it’s not spectacular in appearance, it is elegant and will attract appreciative looks as you drive by. As Korean cars go, Hyundai have acquired a deserved reputation for using good quality materials in the specifications and the i30 is no exception. The Hyundai i30 steers superbly and has a sturdy and classy chassis to enhance the ride.
It may not exactly be luxurious, but it is spacious and comes with a good sized boot, which can be expanded by folding the seats. Where it really excels is in the running costs department: the 1.6 CRDi – the cheaper of the two diesels – delivers a thumping 60 mpg.


