Young drivers’ bad habits

More than one in three 18-24 year olds admit to regularly speeding on the road, according to new research.

In a survey of 2,000 UK drivers, conducted by used car dealers The Car People, the majority of young drivers admitted to speeding, talking on their phone whilst driving and speeding up at traffic lights.

Men are more likely to speed than women, with one in four admitting to breaking the law on a regular basis.

Motorists were also asked how proud they are of their cars. The 18-24 age group were revealed as the most ‘Car Proud’.

Other findings…

• One in 10 drivers never check if their lights are working
• 18% of women admit they never check their brakes
• More than a third of people believe that BMWs drivers are the most dangerous on the roads
• The majority of women stated that they find BMW drivers to be the most attractive
• Nearly a third of women would never date someone who doesn’t drive
• Londoners are the biggest middle lane hoggers

‘A person’s relationship with their car is very important as it’s where a great amount of people spend a lot of time,” said Jonathan Seaman of The Car People.

“Therefore it is very important to make sure you are doing regular checks on your car to make sure you’re getting the best of it. As the survey shows, the majority of people do this, but there are a few who don’t take care of their car as they should.

“Car maintenance could save your life. Thankfully, the majority of UK drivers check their cars for problems every few months and top up the oil and the air in the tyres on a regular basis.”

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Accelerating average speed cameras

The length of British roads covered by permanent average speed cameras has more than doubled since 2013, according to new figures.

More than 250 miles of roads in Great Britain are now being regularly monitored by average speed cameras.

Research for the RAC Foundation by Road Safety Analysis has identified at least 50 stretches of road which are permanently managed by the cameras with a total length of 256 miles under observation.

Average speed cameras, often used on a temporary basis to manage traffic through roadworks, were not included in the study.

The 50 stretches range in length from just a quarter of a mile over Tower Bridge in London to 99 miles on the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness in Scotland.

Many of these stretches of road are broken down into subsections (79 in total) and will be monitored by several sets of cameras.

The first road to become permanently managed by average speed cameras was on the A6514 Ring Road in Nottingham back in 2000.

By the end of 2015 the total was 50, with 12 systems installed last year alone.

“Average speed cameras are becoming a more common fixture on Britain’s roads,” said Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation.

“Unsurprisingly, the indications are that compliance with the speed limit through stretches of road managed by average speed cameras is high, but the acid test is whether accident and casualty rates have also fallen. That is what the next part of this research project should tell us.

“Rightly or wrongly many motorists perceive the current ‘spot’ speed cameras to be more about raising revenue for the Treasury than saving lives, but average speed cameras have greater potential to bring drivers on side.

“Clearly a high compliance rate means a very low penalty rate and hence both road safety and drivers wallets could benefit from greater use of these systems in appropriate places.”

Locations of permanent average speed cameras

Site Name	Site Length (miles)	Installation Date
A6514 Ring Road,  Nottingham	3.96	Aug-00
A610 Bobbers Mill, Nottingham	1.12	Sep-00
A616 Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire HA	6.79	Dec-02
Tower Bridge, City of London	0.42	Sep-03
A46 Fosse Road,  Nottinghamshire HA	0.90	Dec-04
A631 Gringley on the Hill, Nottinghamshire	1.98	Jan-05
A631 Scaftworth,  Nottinghamshire	1.48	Mar-05
A77 Ayr to Stranraer, Transport Scotland	17.81	Jul-05
A52 Bingham,  Nottinghamshire HA	2.39	Jan-06
A52 Radcliffe Road,  Nottinghamshire	2.01	Jan-06
A52 Saxondale,  Nottinghamshire	0.65	Jan-06
A14 Huntingdon to Girton, Cambridgeshire HA	7.13	Mar-07
A228 Isle of Grain, Kent	4.54	Nov-07
B6004 Oxclose Lane,  Nottinghamshire	0.62	Apr-08
A127 Arterial Road, Essex	5.31	Jan-09
A130 Canvey Way, Essex	2.47	Apr-09
Rotherhithe Tunnel, London	1.24	Jun-09
Blackwall Tunnel, London	1.54	Jul-09
A611 Annesley, Nottinghamshire	0.66	Nov-09
A631 Beckingham Bypass, Nottinghamshire	0.64	Nov-09
A52 Ropsley, Lincolnshire	5.42	Dec-09
A66 Bass Lake, Cumbria	1.74	Jan-10
A537 Cat and Fiddle, Cheshire	9.66	Apr-10
A38 Shenstone to Bassetts Pole, Staffordshire	3.34	Jun-10
B1096 Ramsey Forty Foot, Cambridgeshire	3.90	Jul-10
A60 London Road, Nottingham	0.24	Sep-10
A60 Mansfield Road, Nottingham	0.66	Sep-10
A14 Girton to Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire  HA	4.27	Mar-11
A614 Old Rufford Road, Nottinghamshire	11.86	Jan-12
Marine Parade, Southend, Essex	0.45	Mar-12
A465 Head of the Valleys, Wales	7.91	May-12
A61 Sheffield to A616 (T) South Yorkshire  HA	4.14	Nov-12
A6097 Epperstone Bypass, Nottingham	6.44	Apr-13
A16 Peaks Parkway	1.19	Jul-13
A6097 (A614 East Bridgford), Nottingham	1.91	Feb-14
A60 Chuckney Hill, Nottinghamshire	1.25	Mar-14
A9 Dunblane to Inverness, Transport Scotland	98.55	Oct-14
M4 J40-41a Port Talbot HA	2.09	Oct-14
A120 Pelhams Corner, Essex	1.83	Feb-15
A13 Aveley to Thurrock	3.51	Feb-15
A38 Alfreton Road to Sherwood, Nottinghamshire	2.58	Feb-15
A12 Kelvedon Bypass, Essex	4.47	Mar-15
Bells Lane, Nottingham	0.41	May-15
Winchester Street, Nottingham	0.37	May-15
A15 Metheringham, Lincs	2.54	Jun-15
Dartford Free-Flow	3.58	Jun-15
A515 Duffield Lane, Staffordshire	3.42	Jun-15
A519 Woodseaves, Staffordshire	0.68	Jun-15
A1139 Fletton Parkway, Cambridgeshire	0.96	Jul-15
South Church Drive, Nottingham	1.52	Nov-15
TOTAL	254.56

 

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Suzuki Baleno review

Once in a while a new car comes along – seemingly out of the blue – and surprises everyone. The new Suzuki Baleno supermini is just such a car.

The Baleno seems to be all about Suzuki cementing its position in the small car sector with another value offering.

The frugal Celerio, launched in 2015, is already one of the cheapest cars to run. Move up to the evergreen Swift with its loyal fanbase – especially the entertaining Swift Sport. Next up is the Baleno…

A little bigger than the Swift, the Baleno is a better all-round package – and it’s well able to hold its own against the established opposition which is no mean feat when you consider its rivals include the Ford Fiesta, Skoda Fabia, Renault Twingo and VW Polo.

The Baleno range starts at £12,999 and my test car came with a “Boosterjet” three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is expected to be the most popular choice.

A 1.2-litre mild hybrid petrol engine (Suzuki’s first) is also available. With CO2 emissions of just 94g/km, it stores electrical energy under braking to boost performance. However, the car cannot run on electric power alone, like some hybrids.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Baleno is a good looking supermini, especially from the rear. There’s even a retro touch with a horizontal chrome strip on the rear hatch.

It’s also the most aerodynamic car produced by Suzuki with a drag coefficient of just 0.2999.

Longer, lower and wider than the Swift, the Baleno is a triumph of packaging. There’s ample room for two tall people in the front and back, such is the impressive rear legroom available.

The good news doesn’t stop there because the boot is a competitive 320 litres – and a fantastic 1,085 with the rear seats down.

The seats themselves are comfy and the dashbroad and centre console are attractive and functional.

The Baleno is well equipped too, with six airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, DAB radio with DAB and Bluetooth and rear privacy glass as standard.

Spend a little extra and you get automatic climate control, a 4.2-inch infotainment screen, adaptive cruise control and radar brake support.

Fire up the 109bhp three-pot engine and you’re greeted with an eager thrum. It’s punchy too with the 0-62mph seeming faster than the claimed 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.

Thanks to the car’s lightweight construction (it weighs just 950kg), the lively power unit and pleasant, light five-speed gearbox, the Baleno drives well and is surprisingly refined.

Economy is officially 62.7mpg. During our test drive on mixed roads, we managed an
indicated fuel consumption of between 50-54mpg without trying. CO2 emissions are a low 105g/km, meaning road tax will be just £20 a year.

The Baleno is no Swift Sport in the handling department, but then the average supermini buyer isn’t looking for a hot hatch.

It is, however, nippy and body lean is well controlled. It bounces around a little too (no more than most superminis), but it’s still a pleasant drive.

There are a couple of minor gripes. The load lip for the rear hatch is a little high and the interior plastics have the accent on durability, but generally is a case of mission accomplished for Suzuki.

Verdict: The Suzuki Baleno really is a surprise package. Attractive, great value, comfortable, roomy and economical, it’s blessed with a cracker of a little engine.

Review: @garethherincx

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Maserati Levante’s all-star UK debut

The Levante, Maserati’s first luxury SUV, has been unveiled at a star-studded event at London’s Royal Horticultural Halls tonight in London.

The event was hosted by Lisa Snowdon, while Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alex James, Olivia Grant, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Tom Ellis and celebrity DJ duo, Amber Le Bon and Becky Tong were among the guests.

Maserati claims the Levante encompasses “the design, performance and exclusivity central to all Maserati vehicles since the Italian marque’s inception in 1914″.

“The launch of Levante tonight marks a truly significant moment for Maserati in the UK. With strong demand for luxury SUVs, we are now able to appeal to an even wider audience,” said Giulio Pastore, Maserati Europe’s General Manager.

“The best thing about Levante is that it’s a true and pure Maserati that has perfect on-road and off-road capabilities, offering owners the ultimate in terms of elegance, practicality and comfort of a luxury SUV yet retaining the marque’s performance DNA.”

The car will be on sale in the UK from next month, with first customer deliveries expected in the autumn. In the UK, the Levante Diesel starts at £54,335 and there are various upgrades including the £61,185 Luxury Pack Zegna Edition featuring bespoke Zegna Mulberry Silk.

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Vulcan supercar in Coventry first

Aston Martin’s awesome Vulcan is to run on the Coventry Motofest ring road circuit in its first ever appearance on a UK public road.

The £1.8m supercar will make a headline appearance at this year’s two-day festival – dedicated to the city’s motoring heritage – from June 4-5.

Boasting more than 800bhp, the all-carbon fibre Vulcan will perform demonstration display laps on the ring road circuit, driven by Scottish professional racing driver Peter Dumbreck, who has competed in the Le Mans 24 Hour race, Touring Car Championship and SuperGT events.

Styled entirely in-house by the Aston Martin design team led by Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, and with a design language hinting at the next generation of Aston Martin sports cars, the Vulcan is powered by the most potent iteration yet of the company’s naturally-aspirated, 7.0-litre V12 petrol engine.

The appearance of the Aston Martin Vulcan is part of a wider Aston Martin presence because a V8 Vantage S, a DB9, a V12 Vantage and a Vanquish will also be on show to mark the opening of the new Aston Martin dealership in Solihull, Birmingham.

The Aston Martin Owners Club will also have a range of classic including a DBS, DB9, a V8 Vantage, Vanquish, GT12 and a couple of pre-war cars taking part in demonstration laps.

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Ford Escort tops owners’ poll

The iconic Ford Escort has been voted Britain’s favourite classic Ford by fans of the best-selling car brand.

Launched in 1968, the Escort was sold in six generations and enjoyed an impressive 32-year production run, with the final hatchback model rolling off the production line at Halewood, Liverpool, in July 2000.

In total, more than three million Escorts were sold in Britain, making it one of the country’s best selling cars of all-time.

It spawned several performance models, including the RS1600, the Mexico, the RS2000, The XR3, RS Turbo and RS Cosworth, all of which enjoyed astonishing motorsport success.

The Escort scored 36% of the vote in a survey organised by The Classic Ford Show, beating the Capri to a close second in terms of legendary status.

Both of the icons, along with other fine names from Ford’s past, such as the Anglia, Cortina, Mustang and Granada, along with more modern icons such as the Fiesta and Focus, will be in abundance at the Classic Ford Show, which takes place at Santa Pod, Bedfordshire, on Sunday, June 5.

The Classic Ford Show, in association with Admiral, will play host to thousands of the best Fords in Britain, from both club exhibitors and individual entrants.

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New MG’s extreme adventures

MG’s first SUV, the GS, goes on sale in June – and it’s been through some testing times.

The GS has travelled more than 750,000 miles as part of its test programme, braving the 46°C heat of Australia’s Alice Springs and -30° chills of Arjeplog in Sweden.

MG says the testing in such extreme temperatures guarantees “that wherever you take your GS for adventures, it will stand up to the challenge”.

To make sure the GS is as streamlined and fuel efficient as possible, it was also put through more than 200 hours of wind tunnel testing to develop its highly-efficient aerodynamics.

Testing has also covered the ‘wet dog in car’ scenario. By placing wet cloths in the GS, tests were able to determine how quickly the car can demist when moisture is present inside.

The GS will come with MG’s first automatic transmission. The SUV’s top specification model will be available with the option of a DCT gearbox.

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World’s first Mini census

Minis may be small, but they have one of the biggest personalities on the road, and the organisers of Mini World Live want to find out more.

They are carrying out the world’s first ‘Mini Census’ ahead of the event which takes place on Sunday July 10 at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants.

The census aims to find out the gender split between Minis – whether they’re male or female, plus where they live, the average age of their owners and, most importantly, what the top 10 names for Britain’s Minis are.

So whether yours is Mickey or Minnie, old or new, Mini World Live wants you to help build up a bigger picture of the UK’s Mini population.

“Minis and the people that drive them always have plenty of character and we know that a lot of them are much more than just a car to their owners,” said Mini World Live event manager Kat Chappell.

“We want to celebrate this by finding the most popular, as well as some of the more unusual names that people give to their Minis.”

The census runs until Bank Holiday Monday (May 30) and full details of the show, along with the opportunity to buy advance early bird tickets are available at miniworldlive.co.uk

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Under 17s driving illegally?

As many as one in three parents admit to letting their child drive a car before they are the legal age of 17, according to new research.

The survey for discount website VoucherCodesPro.co.uk also indicates that attitudes have seemingly become more relaxed as almost half (47%) the legal driving age should be lowered to 16.

A total of 2,157 Britons aged 35 and over, all of whom were parents with children aged five or over, were asked about their parenting in relation to driving.

Initially all respondents were asked ‘Have you ever knowingly let your child drive before the legal age limit of 17?’ More than a third of the parents polled (35%) revealed to researchers that they had allowed their child to drive illegally before the age of 17.

Following on from this, these parents were asked to provide which age they let their child drive for the first time. The majority (58%) stated 16 and the youngest answer provided by 3% was nine.

These respondents were then asked ‘Why did you let your child drive underage?’ the majority of respondents (71%) stated they wanted to give them the experience before they started driving lessons, 23% stated it was just for fun and the remaining 6% stated it was to show them that it was harder than they thought.

These participants were asked if they let their child drive on the road or if it was on private land, 59% stated they let their child drive on a public road. They were then asked if they were in the car when they let their child drive, 23% stated they weren’t.

“I have to say that I am absolutely shocked and quite frankly scared at the results of the recent research,” said George Charles of VoucherCodesPro.co.uk.

“I know that some may let their children drive around in private land, but there is no excuse or justification to let your children drive underage on the actual roads… especially if you aren’t even in the car!”

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Mazda MX-5 review

Why the latest version of the Mazda MX-5 is likely to remain the world’s favourite roadster for many years to come.

I have to admit, I was a little sceptical when I first saw the fourth generation Mazda MX-5. Had it lost some of its cheeky charm? Was it a little feminine? How could it be any better than the previous model?

Thankfully, within moments of getting up close and personal to the new car, my worries were dispelled.

And I should declare an interest right from the start – I own a 55-plate MX-5 and it’s still a constant source of pleasure.

The new MX-5 looks a little more feline than the slightly more butch third generation car, but it’s exceptionally pretty in an understated way.

The more you study the lines and its proportions, the easier it is to understand why it’s just become the first car to win both the World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year awards.

Slip behind the wheel, and the new MX-5 is one of those cars that feels instantly right. The winning formula hasn’t been changed – it still has a front engine, rear-wheel drive layout, it’s nimble, handles beautifully and is competitively priced.

Of course it also offers the joys of soft-top motoring and I have no reason to think it won’t be as dependable as its ancestors, making it a practical everyday car.

There’s a choice of two punchy petrol engines – a 1.5 and 2.0-litre – and both are hooked up to a slick six-speed manual gearbox.

At 8.3 seconds, the 129bhp 1.5-litre is a second slower to 62mph than the 161bhp 2.0-litre, and according to official figures, they are capable of 47.1 and 40.9mpg respectively.

The 2.0-litre definitely feels and sounds more powerful, but the reality is that the 1.5-litre engine is more than enough for most, especially as the MX-5 has been on a diet and now weighs less than a tonne.

The fact is that in every respect the new Mazda improves on the previous model. The gearbox is now lighter and slicker, the cabin is more modern and packed with everything you’d expect in a modern car, including a 7-inch colour display with (thankfully) a rotary control on the centre console, an excellent sound system with DAB and full connectivity, cruise control and LED daytime running lights.

The MX-5 isn’t perfect. Luggage space is still at a premium, so two large suitcases are still definitely out of the question, the roof is still manual (though just as easy and light to use), while some rearward visibility with the roof up can still be challenging. But overall it’s a star car and it’s as rewarding to drive as ever.

The new Mazda MX-5 range starts at £19,245 and there are five trim levels – SE, SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport and Sport Nav.

Verdict: The best just got better. The new Mazda MX-5 is as close to a perfect sports car as you can get – and here’s the thing, it’s practical and great value too!

Review: @garethherincx

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Tested: the ultimate car drying cloth?

How often have you cleaned your car, but then struggled to dry it off before heading out?

It’s not often that we endorse a product, but when it’s as good as the Waffle automotive drying cloth from Paragon Microfibre, we have no hesitation.

Paragon Microfibre claims the new cloth “has a very high absorption rate making it perfect for the removal of excess water from vehicles after washing”.

Having used it a few times, we totally agree. It mops up water incredibly well and, having used it a few times, we reckon it will be able to withstand high levels of use.

It can also be used dry for removing dust and loose particles from all hard surfaces. As the cloth moves over the surface it creates a static charge that attracts dirt to the cloth, the microfibre then ‘holds’ the dirt until the cloth is washed.

The cloth comes in two sizes, 40x40cm and 80x60cm, and costs from as little as £1.

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Revealed: Britain’s poor car hygiene

Cleaning a car is third on the list of most hated regular chores behind scrubbing the loo and clearing the gutters, according to new research.

A poll undertaken by BP reveals that over three quarters of us (76%) commonly eat and drink in the car, whilst 19% regularly ferry around a pet and 12% admit to smoking behind the wheel.

What’s more, one in 10 of us are so ashamed of the state of our car that we’ve actually cadged a lift or taken the bus, rather than face having to get into our own vehicle.

The poll also found:

• 16% of us clean the inside of our car less than three times a year – with 9% admitting to only cleaning the car once every 6 months
• Less than half of us now wash the car ourselves (49%)
• We are so ashamed of the state of our car that we’ll make a load of excuses not to take passengers with 9% admitting to lying about not being able to drive, 28% claiming we’d ‘run out of petrol’ and 39% pretending we were ‘going in a different direction’
• Nearly one in 10 (9%) NEVER clean out the glovebox
• Women are more likely to eat and drink in the car – 80% vs 70% for men
• Over 55s and over take most care – only 34% regularly eat and drink on the go

The research coincides with the release of BP’s new dirt-busting fuels, BP Ultimate with ACTIVE technology, which could give drivers up to 21 more miles per tank.

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WWE superstar becomes surprise chauffeur

Wrestler, reality TV host and actor John Cena astonished two Invictus Games competitors with an unforgettable VIP chauffeur experience in a Range Rover Sport SVR.

Cena, an ambassador for the Games launched by Prince Harry in 2014, collected unsuspecting US team members Tino Ulli and his girlfriend Shari Trujillo, plus Joshua Jablon and his girlfriend Lindsey Green.

Hidden cameras were installed in the Range Rover Sport to film the passengers’ reactions, which can be viewed below…

“It was a lot of fun taking on the role of surprise chauffeur and I was pleased to have the opportunity to get to know the competitors and their family members,” said Cena.

“We are all indebted to our servicemen and women and I fully support the Games and the opportunity it gives us all to recognise the heroes of our nation.”

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Jeep in white water rapids first

Top snowboarder Aimee Fuller has become the first person to drive down an Olympic-standard white water rafting course.

The 24-year-old Olympian took on the daring challenge in a Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4×4 at the the Cardiff International White Water Centre.

Aimee tackled extreme off-road conditions as she went up and down the 250-metre long course, battling a flow of water that exceeded four tonnes per second and a descent of more than 30 feet from top to bottom.

“I’d never done anything like this before so when I arrived and saw the power and heard the noise of the water I was nervous,” said 24-year-old Aimee.

“But once I had driven into the course and got through the first few rapids the car felt great, really in control, and I started to relax and enjoy it.

“It’s a pretty cool thing to say I was the first person ever to drive a car down a white water rafting course, not something you do every day.”

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Buying a new car – top tips

New research has revealed how long buyers spend researching their new car compared to choosing how to pay for it.

According to Swedish challenger Ikano Bank, one in five of us spend more than a month researching our new car and a third of us take up to a month.

However, almost one in three of us spend less than 15 minutes working out how we’re going to finance it. As a result, we’re wasting hundreds of pounds.

In fact, in the last three years more than a million car buyers have paid an extra £514 on borrowed money for their car because they didn’t research the best deal with the lowest interest rates.

“For many people buying a car is a big deal, second only to our houses in terms of money spent,” says money doctor Fergus Muirhead.

“We may or may not have a specific make, model, age in mind when we start looking so a lot of research is required when it comes to actually finding a car and making the purchase.

“But when it comes to how to pay for it we don’t spend enough time doing our homework, and we lose hundreds of pounds as a result. So before you even start researching your next car, spend some decent time working out what you can afford and the best way to pay for it.”

Fergus’s top tips for buying a new car

Is the car reliable?
You’ve decided on the make and model of your dream car, but can you be sure it’s reliable? Check how many miles it’s done, how old it is and read owner reviews to check it’s not going to fall apart within a few months.

Is the seller trustworthy?
Whether buying from a garage or a private seller, make sure you know they’re trustworthy. If you’re buying from a garage make sure you’ve read other customers’ reviews of them. You can often tell from a phone call how pushy they are. If you get there and the car is not as it has been advertised, don’t trust the seller, even if they’re willing to drop the price. Who’s to say you are not going to find
more faults once you’ve handed your money over. A trustworthy garage will include a decent period (3 months or more) warranty.

When is its MOT due?
You’ve found your perfect car. It’s the right age, the right make and model, the right mileage on the clock, the right colour… but wait, its MOT is due at the end of the month. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not going to pass its MOT or that the MOT is even going to be costly, but do you really want to risk it? And do you really want to pay for a car and then for its MOT a few weeks later? If you’re 100% sure about the car, speak to the seller and ask if the MOT can be included as part of the sale, that way you have peace of mind that you’re not going to be hit with more costs in a few weeks.

Shop around for insurance
Use comparison sites like Comparethemarket and Moneysupermarket to look for the best deals for your chosen car – but don’t make the mistake of thinking the cheapest option is the best option. Make sure that the option you choose includes everything you need. Sometimes a slightly more expensive policy will include valuable options for a few pounds more.

Do get breakdown cover (but shop around)
Do you really want to be stuck on the side of a motorway with no guaranteed recovery? In the long run it could cost you more not to have breakdown cover, so shop around for the best deals and get covered.

The post Buying a new car – top tips appeared first on Automotive Blog.

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London Motor Show highlights

We’ve been snapping away at the 2016 London Motor Show in Battersea Park, London (May 6-8) – here are a few highlights…

Hot Mexican supercar, the VUHL 05, made its debut and it’s awesome close-up…

Another motor show gem – this time it’s the Zenos E10R lightweight track car. Britain at its best.

The aggressive DB9-based Vengeance by Kahn greets visitors as they enter the main show hall

As ever, David Brown Automotive’s Speedback GT got plenty of attention

Our first look at the Rolls-Royce Dawn, the “sexiest Rolls-Royce ever” – and it is…

The Riversimple RASA may have divisive looks, but this two-seater, hydrogen powered car from Wales can reportedly cover 300 miles, and could be the future…

Super Veloce Racing unveiled the 225mph Noble M600

MG’s first SUV model, the GS, looks good

Another treat – this time it’s the latest version of the upcoming Morgan EV. Love it!

The £154,000 570GT is the most luxurious McLaren ever.

Bentley’s ultimate SUV, the Bentayga, looking suitably magisterial.

This Stanley Mann Racing Bentley in Hall 2 is a bit of a beast

The car park at the London Motor Show is a little bit special…

UK debut for the Infiniti Q60 Coupe – one of those rare cars that’s almost as gorgeous as the concept

Meet the awesome Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, which can hit 160mph and pass 62mph in just 5 seconds.

#STOPTHECRASH had a demo which allowed you to sample Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). You simply drive at the fixed obstacle and the car does the rest – and it works! Good to know what would happen in an emergency, but don’t try this at home!

Transport Minister Andrew Jones tried out Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) too #STOPTHECRASH

Prince Michael of Kent sampling Autonomous Emergency Braking – everyone else tried it at 10mph max -HRH must have gone double the speed, but he lived to tell the tale! #STOPTHECRASH

And finally, the convertible version of Lamborghini’s Huracan supercar – it’s a snip at £200,000 and boasts 602bhp from a 5.2-litre V10 engine.

The post London Motor Show highlights appeared first on Automotive Blog.

from Automotive Blog http://www.automotiveblog.co.uk/2016/05/london-motor-show-highlights/
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Watch the latest Top Gear trailer

At first sight, the latest trailer for all new Top Gear doesn’t look too promising… but stick with it!

It begins with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc being welcomed to Blackpool by its mayor in the pouring rain.

The pair are then joined by celebs including Tinie Tempah, Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri and Seasick Steve in a series of clips from various films to shown during the series, with Dodgy’s hit Staying Out for the Summer playing in the background.

There’s still no definite launch date for Top Gear, but it’s thought it will be May 29.

The post Watch the latest Top Gear trailer appeared first on Automotive Blog.

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Motorists urged to choose safety tech

Looking to buy a new car? The #STOPTHECRASH campaign is urging you to ask three key life-saving questions before choosing which one to buy…

1. What Euro NCAP test rating does this car have?

2. Is Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) fitted to this car – and is it standard?

3. What else should I do to maximise the safety protection offered by this car?

Four major automotive companies have joined forces at the London Motor Show (May 6-8) as part of the Global NCAP #STOPTHECRASH partnership.

By highlighting these questions, Thatcham Research, Bosch, Continental and ZF TRW hope to help reduce the annual UK toll of 100,000 rear end crashes and to make certain that consumers get the highest level of safety on their next car.

The evidence in favour of AEB is unequivocal, say campaigners. A 2015 Euro NCAP report found that Autonomous Braking systems were responsible for a 38% reduction in real-world rear-end crashes.

However, AEB is currently only standard fit on 17% of new cars currently on sale in the UK.

Tyre safety

The importance of tyres – the only point of contact between vehicles and the road – is also highlighted.

Representatives from Continental will be on hand at the London Motor Show to demonstrate the effect that low tread depth can have. The UK legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm, yet tests show tyres only perform at 55% efficiency with this amount of wear.

Continental recommends replacing tyres when tread depth reaches 3mm as a responsible compromise between safety, economics and driver confidence, and is focused on educating drivers on the reasons why this is important.

Research indicates that 40% of drivers have never checked the tread of their tyres, choosing instead to wait for a service, while 20% admit that they do not even know how to carry out a tyre check.

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from Automotive Blog http://www.automotiveblog.co.uk/2016/05/motorists-urged-choose-safety-tech/
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Britain’s most reliable car brands

The car brands motorists think are the most reliable, often aren’t, according to new research.

WarrantyWise.co.uk asked more than 750 people what they thought were the most reliable manufacturers in the UK, and the results indicate that there’s often a gap between perceptions and hard data.

For instance, UK buyers think German cars are among the most reliable on the road, despite WarrantyWise statistics showing many are ‘below average’.

Mercedes, Audi and BMW were all judged to be in the top 10 for reliability, however, WarrantyWise data puts them at 27th, 28th and 29th respectively.

Fiat, Renault and Vauxhall all perform badly in the public’s perception of their reliability but are actually well above the UK average according to WarrantyWise.

Japanese brands Toyota and Honda are the two most reliable manufacturers as picked by the public – a result also backed up by WarrantyWise’s data.

Warrantywise has drawn up a table ranking each car manufacturer by a dependability factor, based on the number of reported faults or breakdowns, with a score of 75 representing the UK average. A rating above 75 is considered good, and below 60 signifies a high incidence of repair work is required. Average costs, vehicle age and model are also considered in the Warrantywise ranking.

WarrantyWise Dependability Factor 

Dependability score	Make	Average repair cost
93	Honda	£535
93	Toyota	£592
92	Suzuki	£424
89	Mitsubishi	£833
88	Hyundai	£577
88	Mazda	£617
86	Nissan	£521
85	Subaru	£791
85	Ford	£421
84	SEAT	£475
84	Peugeot	£406
83	Smart	£390
82	MINI	£497
82	Volkswagen	£631
82	Fiat	£417
82	Lexus	£603
81	Renault	£441
81	Vauxhall	£467
80	Kia	£522
79	Chevrolet	£548
78	Skoda	£492
77	Land Rover	£453
77	Volvo	£553
77	MG	£399
76	Saab	£425
75	Citroen	£501
74	Mercedes	£751
74	Audi	£620
69	BMW	£701
64	Ferrari	£2046
64	Jeep	£505
64	Chrysler	£464
60	Alfa Romeo	£590
57	Porsche	£842
54	Jaguar	£794
41	Maserati	£1430

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Whiplash fraud given cold shoulder

Falsifying injuries on a motor insurance claim is as unacceptable as drink-driving, according to new research.

The study for insurers Aviva, indicates that 87% of Brits reckon it’s unacceptable to make a false whiplash claim, compared to 88% who say the same about drink-driving.

Aviva, which is investigating around 14,000 suspect whiplash claims, says one in nine whiplash claims are tainted by fraud, adding £93 to the average motor insurance premium.

Take Aviva’s interactive test to find out what your choices say about your personality and how you compare to the nation…

“It’s great to see that false whiplash claims are completely unacceptable for the vast majority of Brits, however there’s no such thing as victimless crime and it just takes a few bad apples to spoil it for the rest of us,” said Rob Townend, Claims Director, Aviva UK General Insurance.

The research also explores Brits’ attitudes to, and behaviours around, a variety of situations and their perceived consequences, in order to better understand why the compensation culture around whiplash is so prevalent in the UK.

Attitudes and Behaviour	% Acceptable	% Indifferent	% Unacceptable
Downloading or streaming a movie/music illegally	22%	27%	51%
Buying tickets from a tout	19%	24%	57%
Lying on a job application	13%	20%	67%
Speeding in a 30 mph zone	11%	18%	71%
Dodging a train fare	10%	11%	78%
Purchasing stolen goods	8%	13%	79%
Cheating on an exam paper	7%	10%	83%
Falsifying injuries to make an insurance claim	5%	8%	87%
Driving while over the alcohol limit	5%	7%	88%

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from Automotive Blog http://www.automotiveblog.co.uk/2016/05/whiplash-fraud-given-cold-shoulder/
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