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Trying to get everyone to go green overnight and buy electric cars will simply not work. The view is now to take a piecemeal approach and start by getting people gradually into more fuel efficient cars that kick out fewer CO2’s. Drivers should first be made more aware of cleaner driving practices. Knocking 10% off your cruising motorway speed can improve fuel consumption along with controlled braking and less Read more �

Fears are growing regarding the safety of cars on our roads as drivers put off service and maintenance work in order to save some money during the recession. There has also been an increase in employees either asking to be put on a cash for cars scheme or for their employers to introduce a scheme. It is felt the motives are purely financial with employees looking to downsize their car and pocket what equates to an Read more �

I have been quite scathing about the extending lead times that car manufacturers have been quoting, questioning the management and accusing some manufacturers of using these extending lead times to manipulate the market prices of their cars. However, it would seem that I may not have been entirely right as I learned that many of the production delays have been Read more �

There are a number of vehicle recalls each year, some of which are fairly minor causing no more than an irritation whilst others are much more serious which could result in injury. One of the latest recalls was issued by Ford on 29,000 Focuses for a potential overheating problem in the cooling fan to be rectified. The warning read: Focus (potential overheating/fire risk), models from 20/02/04 – 31/05/06. Read more �

More and more manufacturers are embracing the new stop-start technology in an effort to reduce car emissions to meet the targets set by the EU if they are to avoid some hefty fines. “But how does stop-start work Graham?” I hear you all shouting at your computer screen. In fact I can’t hear you shouting, I’m imagining it. In fact you may not even give a monkey’s banana but you’re going to be told anyway! Let’s take Read more �

As you are probably aware the VAT rate will increase back to 17.5% on the 1^st January 2010 with further rises expected as we move out of recession. Some pundits are already predicting a rise in rate to 20%. We will start to see interest rates shift upwards and car prices will continue to rise making this year a good time to take out a PCP if you are thinking of this form of finance. Mercedes have seen this Read more �

We have a unique and totally different method of leasing in the UK compared to the US and to make matters worse few people in the UK actually understand how it works. On numerous occasions I’ve had conversations with customers who have explained to me they have negotiated a great deal with a dealer and could I work out a lease for them based on their negotiated price. The problem is that this isn’t Read more �

It wasn’t that long ago when you could return a car at the end of a lease in pretty average condition and the leasing company would overlook anything other than serious damage. These days they send out specialist inspectors to check over the car and seem to charge for anything that doesn’t conform to showroom condition, in one case they counted the number of stone chips on the bonnet and argued that there were Read more �

A report out this week shows a drop in leased vehicles of 10% this year. The reasons are fairly obvious with larger companies making redundancies and having to make better use of resources, fewer vehicles are now required.. One van can now do the job of two and one salesman can cover a larger area as a result of decreases in sales and customers. Having said that Read more �

Things are not getting any easier for us brokers or our funders. I heard yesterday that a large part of the Audi range is now on Feb/Mar 2010 delivery for orders placed now. Most funders will price fix for 3 months from the date of order which means that the monthly rate will be held as long as the vehicle can be delivered within the 3 months. However, if delivery is beyond this, rates may be subject to review as a Read more �