Posts filed under 'cars'
The cost of running a car seems to be ever increasing, and on a recent trip to the petrol station I couldn’t help but notice the increased costs. But it appears I’m not the only one who is feeling the pressure, as research done by swiftcover.com found that almost 7 out of 10 drivers say their motoring costs have increased in the last 12 months.
There are however a few tips which can help us save on our motoring costs:
• Don’t be a boy racer- driving fast increases your fuel consumption
• Travel light- hauling around a boot full of junk will increase your petrol costs
• Drive green- some insurance companies such as swiftcover.com give a 10% discount on insurance for hybrid cars
• Lose the roof rack- they cause drag and increase petrol costs
swiftcover.com are also doing their bit to help motorists save money. They have teamed up with Total UK, and are giving motorists a £30 off voucher on swiftcover.com car insurance, when you buy 30litres or more Excellium petrol or diesel at participating stations. For full details visit www.total.co.uk
October 23rd, 2009
What percentage of people do you think have ever broken up, kissed and made up or even proposed in their cars?
Car insurance company swiftcover.com researched into how many of us Brits had ever had the urge to indulge in some things which should be kept in the bedroom department, and the figures were surprising.
We truly are a nation of car lovers with nearly half of vehicle owners (49%) admitting to having had automotive sex more than twice.
In fact, many of us seem to feel quite at home in our cars, 93% of the population have changed clothes in their motor vehicles, and 74% of UK drivers admit to snacking on some breakfast while stuck in the early morning rush hour.
Some drivers have even thought of their cars as a romantic place to lounge, with 6% of us proposing or being proposed to whilst comfortably settled in their love-mobiles, not quite the engagement most of us dream about.
At the end of the day, a car is really for people to get from A to B, so leading insurer Swiftcover insist that we concentrate whilst travelling the roads, be safe, and enjoy the savings received from cheap car insurance.
October 14th, 2009
I have written a couple of times in the blog about General Motors being in trouble and the effect this would have for the British workers. Well today it has been announced that General Motors have agreed a deal with Canadian car parts manufacture Magna who will be buying Opel and Vauxhall.
However, the deal still leaves the 5,000 British workers concerned for their future. Apparently the company is committed to keeping the Ellesmere Port plant operational, which is where the Astra is made, and will honour an existing contract to produce vans in Luton but this is only until 2013. They said that they will try and keep the plant in operaton after 2013 but this doesn’t instil much confidence in the workforce.
UK’s Business Minister, Pat McFadden try to abate some concern by saying:
“We will now continue our discussions with Magna: they have told us of their commitment to continuing production at both Ellesmere Port and Luton and we will work to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the UK.”
Let’s hope that this can be resolved soon. Especially in this current economic climate people need job security.
September 10th, 2009
If you are looking for a new car and are worried about finances then why not look at buying second hand?
Online vehicle retailer Autoquake say that drivers can pick up a bargain by choosing a used model. For example an old shape Ford Fiesta on an 07 plate with 9,000 miles on the clocks could cost half the price then if you were to purchase the car new. An estimated saving of £6,000.
Chief executive officer Garry Hobson said
“As soon as a new car is driven out of the showroom, it starts to lose value.”
The group’s representative added: “If you buy used, this depreciation works for you, not against you.”
For advice on buying, selling and owning a car you can view a very informative article on Autotrader. It gives you lots of advice on how you can save money. The article is The motorists’ guide to beating the downturn.
And don’t forget, it is always a good idea to check the running costs of a car before you buy, especially the car insurance cost. Once you buy your car make sure that you hunt around and compare car insurance prices in order to get the best deal, you could save yourself hundreds of pounds.
September 10th, 2009
BMW have created a new electric Mini called the Mini E and are planning to trial it in West London.
If you live in the catchment area and have £330 a month spare you can lease the car and be one of the first to drive the Mini E. BMW will even by paying the car insurance. If you are interested you need to visit www.electricmini.co.uk and register your interest. All the information you need is on this site.
According to The Times Online, for the lucky first who will be trialling the Mini E, a special charging socket will be installed in their home and researches will be able to monitor how the driver uses the car and also how the car performs.
September 4th, 2009
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) have reported today that one in five your motorists are driving illegally with no car insurance.
It is estimated that the total number of 17-20 year olds without insurance is as high as 243,000 and it is being blamed on the rising costs of motoring and lack of knowledge on their behalf.
Police are cracking down on offenders. When police are on patrol their ANPR (automatic number place recognition) camera can scan hundreds of passing cars every few minutes and they are alerted to any cars that don’t have an MOT certificate, a valid tax disc or valid car insurance. They then have the power to stop, question and, if necessary, arrest the driver.
Some people are saying that young drivers can’t afford to pay for the rising costs in motoring, but in my opinion, if they can’t afford it then they shouldn’t be driving. By driving around in cars that don’t have MOTs they are putting other peoples lives in danger and they impact on other peoples insurance costs if an innocent third party isn’t able to claim for damage to their car from another insurance company.
August 27th, 2009
For all those speed camera haters it brings me great pleasure to announce that more of the dreaded Yellow boxes could be switched off - Bournemouth are considering following in Swindon’s footsteps and removing its fixed speed cameras according to a recent report by the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
A committee has been set up to discuss the necessity of the cameras just two weeks after Swindon became the first town in the UK to turn off five of them because the council claimed the £320,000 maintenance bill was too high.
There are 20 speed cameras in the south coast town of Bournemouth - which has a Conservative council - and the committee are said to be investigating whether or not the cameras actually help prevent accidents or reduce car speeds.
So it could only be a matter of time before Bournemouth’s motorists start celebrating the demise of the speed camera.
August 18th, 2009
To many drivers, abstaining from your car air conditioning is a stupid folly akin to giving away a winning lottery ticket or refusing to buy a dishwasher. But as the summer heats up (slowly) have you noticed your car’s air con has lost its mojo? To get that icy cool smell back into your car try this do-it-yourself guide that explains how to easily recharge the refrigerant in your car’s cooling system. It’s a breeze.
Firstly, if your car AC is completely broken it’s probably best to get a professional to look at it. Information site wikiHow has come up with an AC fixing guide that explains how to get that showroom fresh punch back into your car. However you will need a charging kit, refrigerant and possibly a pressure gauge. AC kits are available to buy at car stores. Take a look at the instructions and let us hear your comments on the operation AC fix-up.
August 7th, 2009
An Electric Car you can Plug in at Home - Nissan reach an era of Green Motoring
Nissan have unveiled the world’s first affordable electric family car. It’s called the ‘Leaf’ hatchback and averages a top speed of 100mph after it is charged from a plug socket at home - now that’s a powerful green machine. The five-seater is powered by a lithium-ion battery and could soon be sitting in thousands of garages around Britain very soon.
The zero emission vehicle will be sold first in the U.S, Japan and then Europe towards the end of 2010 and Nissan bosses have stated the car’s batteries could be made at the Sunderland plant - creating hundreds of jobs and giving the car industry a boost during the recession. The Leaf’s batteries can be fully charged overnight or reach 80% full in half an hour and they appear to fit neatly in place of your petrol cap.
The hatchback’s price could start at around £13,000. The best part however, is that owners will not have to pay road tax because the Leaf has no emissions. So, could you turn over a new leaf? Speaking of ways to keep your costs down, get cheaper car insurance online and check out Swiftcover.com for a UK car insurance quote in under 60 seconds.
August 7th, 2009
A report from online car insurer swiftcover.com shows that british drivers would sacrifice many of their luxuries, like going to the pub, take-aways and eating out, rather then give up their beloved cars.
36% of those who participated in the survey said that they would run their cars on recycled chip oil if it meant that they could cut their motoring costs. When the law changed in July 2007 it allowed people to legally make up to 2,500 litres of their own biodiesel which would mean no tax charges. Some people turned to converting chip fat from pubs and restaurants into a usable source - so it isn’t as silly as it sounds and does actually work - although I think it is a rather complicated process.
But would you really give up your beer? Well according to 28% of respondees, you would. 28% said they would sacrifice going to the pub, 26% would stop buying ipods, TVs and other electrical luxuries and 21% would eat in and stop having the nice treat of a take away or restaurant meal.
But what would you do to keep your costs down? There may be other ways which won’t come as a huge sacrifice:
Shop around for the best car insurance quotes
Search for cheaper petrol
Get an MOT from your council
Drive green and save money
Cut out the junk.
For more helpful tips visit the whole article at swiftcover.com
July 29th, 2009
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