Posts filed under 'cars'
If you know someone who is a car lover, you may want to buy an automotive gift for them this Christmas.
A personalised registration plate would make a great gift. Car insurance provider, swiftcover.com recently found that despite motoring costs increasing, people are still buying personalised number plates as they add to the enjoyment of motoring.
There are also many gadgets and accessories to choose from, such as a car torch or a car boot organiser, or how about a car magazine subscription or a driving experience? Have a look at www.meandmycar.co.uk and www.gifts.com for some more automotive gift ideas.
It’s probably best to avoid buying furry dice and car stickers, after swiftcover.com discovered that people who have these in their cars are more likely to have road rage.
December 7th, 2009
Research was taken out by car insurance company swiftcover.com, to see how many motorists knew what their motor insurance policies included and what exactly they were covered for. The research returned provided some interesting results.
Facts showed that 17% of car insurance customers admitted to never reading their policies, and diving straight in at the deep end. Online car insurance provider swiftcover.com try to solve this issue by providing motorists with useful, broken down information on every little aspect or term that is involved in a policy document.
The first ever online car insurance jargon buster which helps people who are looking for a car insurance quote was produced by swiftcover.com, and helps motorists understand terms from car modifications to voluntary excess, in fact 23% of car owners had no idea what voluntary excess actually meant. Some other facts included; 51% do not know that ‘material fact’ is the information that you give to your insurer that could affect your insurance policy, such as having points on your licence.
Swiftcover’s car insurance jargon buster proved to have helped 46% of motorists, providing them with more detailed information, helping them understand what they are buying and how to receive cheaper car insurance quotes.
Read more information on what car insurance customers were puzzled about when it came to understanding car insurance.
November 27th, 2009
Flooding has caused chaos on the roads as torrential rain has hit some parts of the UK, and the rainy weather is set to continue over the weekend.
The environmental agency has put 27 flood warnings in place, and severe gales may also accompany the rain.
With these warnings in place it is important not to drive unless essential, as driving conditions are treacherous and many roads are closed. However if you do decide to drive in these conditions then keep this advice in mind:
• Lower your speed
• Leave a longer gap between yourself and other traffic
• Watch out for any shiny patches as they could be puddles of water
• Be alert and ready to slow down if needed
If you are planning a journey this weekend remember these tips and ensure you have adequate car insurance cover. Click on the article link below for more advice on flooding and for information about road closures.
Article: Flood rescue: what you need to know
November 20th, 2009
Seatbelts are an important safety feature in every car, however some people can still suffer from bruising or even broken ribs when in an accident due to the force of a seatbelt. Most of the time these injuries are minimal compared to what could have been, but could these injuries be avoided as technology and safety improves?
Ford has launched an inflatable seatbelt which is based on airbag technology. In the event of an accident the seatbelt will inflate and expand in the space of only 40 milliseconds. It will stay inflated for a few seconds after the crash, and then it will slowly deflate as the air escapes out of the pores in the airbag.
The inflatable seatbelts will initially be introduced in the backseats of the latest Ford Explorer 4×4 model, which goes into production in the United States next year, and according to whatcar.com, Ford would like to use the seatbelt in more of their products in the future.
This could possibly be the future of the seatbelt, and if the trial works well, then we could see a decrease in the number of injuries caused by seatbelts.
November 12th, 2009
It has been nearly six months since the scrappage scheme started and it seems to have been a success so far, after it was announced that there was a record increase in car sales in October.
According to BBC Online,168,942 new cars were registered last month, this is an increase of 31.6% compared to last years sales, and it is thought that over 20% of them resulted from the scrappage scheme.
The Times Online also revealed that the Ford Fiesta was the best selling model in the month, for the eighth time this year.
When the scheme was launched it looked likely for it to run out this month, but in September the government decided that it would be extended to early next year. So you still have a few months if you are thinking of making use of the scheme, and with the VAT increase planned for January it’s probably worth making the most of it before the end of the year.
November 6th, 2009
Road Rage is a common part of everyday driving for some motorists, but identifying an angry driver is often impossible unless you hear a horn, or manage to get a glimpse of an angry stare.
However, US Academics have researched into these actions and came up with a somewhat interesting fact about motorists and their car stickers. Research has shown that drivers who display stickers on their cars, have the tendency to become more aggressive behind the wheel, due to car stickers acting as a territorial mark.
Research was conducted in the UK by car insurance company swiftcover.com. Thankfully only 3% of UK drivers displayed these ‘territorial marks’ in their vehicles, although 13% admitted to having an ornament hanging below their rear-view mirror. 2% of the focus group also admitted to displaying furry dice in their cars.
In the US, Colorado State University found that drivers who displayed stickers, were also prone to acting more territorial while driving on the roads, and were shown as aggressive drivers when other motorists invaded their space.
swiftcover.com took the information with a pinch of salt, and expressed that something like this would never provide enough proof for anyone’s Motor Insurance to increase.
November 5th, 2009
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
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