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I have just quoted a customer on a BMW X5, similar to the last car that he contract hired 2 years ago. On his old car the difference between the 2 year and 3 year rates was about £15 per month (2 years more expensive). However, the difference now is £134.53 + VAT per month! Why should this be? 2 years ago it could be argued that there was more discount/bonus in the car virtually wiping out the first year’s depreciation. 2 year old cars may have had a greater resale desirability than 3 year old cars on pro-rata mileage. But £135 + VAT per month? I don’t think so! Or maybe I’m to blame. You see I have explained Read more »

What Car have reminded us of the dangers of using a phone whilst driving. They have estimated that around 100,000 drivers are risking their lives and prosecution, at any point in time, by using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving. The original laws introduced in 2003 were beefed up in 2007 to guarantee you 3 points on your licence and a £60 fine if caught using a mobile phone whilst driving (which means the engine is running even though you may not be moving). As What Car points out, even with hands free kits Read more »

Still no money for motor finance. Back in March of this year the Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) approved £2.3 billion of support to help, as ministers predicted, up to 100 companies through the crisis. To date not a penny has been paid out whilst those responsible for the pathetic scrappage scheme pat each other on the back. The provision of cheap wholesale money to lenders would get people back into new cars. In America, where they have similar problems and have staff looking into chat rooms and tweeting each other, it has been found Read more »

The number of dealerships in the UK is dropping, as one would expect in a recession. The number of franchised dealerships 10 years ago stood at 6,139 but has now dropped to 5,077, a 17% loss. For those that are still trading this of course isn’t all bad news because it has meant that they have increased their average sales across all franchises from 442 in 1999 to the current level of 502. Less than 10 new cars per week per franchised dealer, that doesn’t seem a lot does it? By Graham Hill

Many of you have read in the past my mention of the Gwent Fleet Management fraud which left many customers out of pocket and in many instances without a car. This case is just the tip of the iceberg and has been so public because so many customers were caught up in it but serious fraud is being committed all over the country daily. However, because the cases are spread so thinly no one type of fraud is hitting the headlines, causing consumers to be Read more »

What is BlueMotion, is it a hybrid? We are seeing the emergence of the colour blue as a replacement for the far less attractive green as an expression of environmental friendliness! Why? I don’t know but in terms of German cars – no it doesn’t define a new type of hybrid engine. Instead VW’s BlueMotion and Mercedes Blue Efficiency are simply terms they have started to use to describe the ultra efficient nature of their cars. By incorporating stop/start technology or systems that heavily Read more »

This time of year many people are jetting off to hotter climes for their summer holidays. They have probably searched around to get the best deal for their holiday but are then faced with a horrific cost for parking up the car for 2 weeks or rely upon public transport to get them and the kids to the airport for a 2.00am flight. Well I have read what seems to be the answer. Read more »

Shell has announced the launch of a new engine oil which it claims reduces fuel consumption by up to 2.2% per annum. The oil, called Helix Ultra E, is a synthetic low viscosity motor oil aimed at reducing friction more effectively than conventional mineral oils. Shell also claims that it can cut a car’s carbon emissions by up to 72kg of CO2 per annum. By Graham Hill

Specsavers Corporate Eyecare has launched a new range of sunglasses as part of its corporate optical care voucher scheme. Each voucher costs the employer £35 and includes:

A full eye examination at any of their 623 stores

 A pair of prescription glasses from their £45 range or

 A pair of non prescription sunglasses from their newly launched range

 Employees can use the voucher for £45 off any of the more expensive glasses in their range. Specsavers point out that the addition means that if an employee has an eye test and finds that he doesn’t need glasses it gives an assurance to the employer who is seen to be taking health and safety seriously and the employee still receives a nice pair of sunglasses. For more information on the scheme contact Specsavers direct by emailing:  corporateeyecare@uk.specsavers.com, By Graham Hill

Sorry about this but it all seems like bad news this week. Manheim DeFleet, the defleeting arm of the major auction house, has reported that average end of lease refurbishment charges have increased from £265 a year ago to £290 this year. As they explain contract hire companies see damage recovery as a mainstream activity. A few years ago they would budget to collect around 35% of all charges whereas these days they look to collect around 70%. David Mercer of Manheim DeFleet Services said Read more »