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Fuel is coming down, the sun is shining and the banks are lending again. Well 2 out of three can’t be bad! I think the email from the Government to the banks must have got lost in cyberspace somewhere or maybe they sent it in the post without a large letter stamp attached. Either way I am still waiting, as are most in the finance industry, for the glimmer of light that suggests that Chancellor Brown oops I mean Darling did the right thing for us common people or whether things will continue to deteriorate. The annoying thing is Read more »

There are calls to introduce a new law against those staging accidents and making insurance claims, often making claims for injuries to passengers not in the car at the time of the accident. Fraudsters are hiring cars, finding lone drivers, normally women – getting in front of them and slamming on their brakes causing an accident. They sometimes even get cash from the other driver for damage caused to the hire car. Fears that this is reaching Read more »

After a damning report produced by Which magazine saying that the ‘super fuels’ did not save money, improve the car’s performance or improve the environment any more than standard fuels. BP stood by its claims of the benefits of it’s Ultimate fuels. It also criticised the fact that Which used only 3 mainstream models, a Ford Focus, Renault Megane and VW Golf. They said ‘It simply isn’t possible to obtain reliable comparison of the fuels based on Read more »

Avis Valet Services have been giving out some great tips for motorists looking to take better care of their car without spending a fortune. The suggest the following:

• Mayonnaise can be good at removing road tar stuck to tyres and paintwork.

• Try using cooking oil on tyres and paintwork to remove black marks left by stubborn brake dust on wheel arches. It’s also great for removing bird droppings or splattered bugs on your windscreen.

• Baking soda is excellent for lifting any kind of stain or mark, just dab the interior and leave for 20 mins before rinsing off. Leaves a fresh smell as well.

• Use white vinegar on windscreens for crystal clear visibility as vinegar stops dust and smells collecting on the glass.

• Wrap an ice cube in a cloth or pop some in a freezer bag and hold over chewing gum stuck to car seats or carpet. The gum will eventually snap off leaving no sticky residue.

• Linseed oil – this can be used to clean leather upholstery in you car as it cleans and softens at the same time.

• Sticky tape – use this to remove any hidden dust particles from seat fabric. The tape lifts the dust whereas a brush would simply push it in deeper.

 
So there you have it some interesting advice from Avis so blame them and not me if anything goes wrong. By Graham Hill

New legislation will be brought in to make it compulsory for all drivers to have an eye test at least every 15 years. Some bodies have said this period should be much less when drivers drive for a living but it is believed this will be reviewed once the new rules have been introduced. By Graham Hill

Whilst we are pretty much ripped off in the UK when it comes to new cars compared to the US it sometimes has advantages. At the moment many leasing companies in the US have refused to take on any more leasing business as the risk is all on them and the current drop in used car values is costing them a fortune. In order to achieve cheap rates in the UK the manufacturers have to Read more »

According to figures released by Warranty Direct, labour rates for mechanics have risen by 11.3% since the summer of 2006 to an average £75.17 per hour. Rates have increased sharpest by the independent garages to narrow the gap between them and the more expensive franchised dealer networks. The average franchised dealer is charging £95 an hour today compared with £88 in 2006, up 7.7%. In comparison Read more »

Most car cloning has been carried out to avoid parking tickets and speeding tickets but insurer Direct Line has warned of another reason for cars being cloned, to carry out a crime. The most common, according to Direct Line is forecourt petrol theft. According to the British Oil Security Syndicate, thieves are stealing a significant amount of fuel with the average offender escaping with fuel worth Read more »

Fraud is on the increase as consumers and small businesses are driven to desperate lengths. Not only are applicants providing incorrect details and proofs, brokers are also falsifying documents in order to ensure that applications are accepted and they earn their commissions. There has also been an increase in premeditated motor finance crime with multiple applications being made in the expectation that Read more »

Whilst there appears to be a great deal of doom and gloom about, the latest new car sale figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to the end of June shows a modest drop of just 1.6% over the same period in 2007. A lot of that was due to the sharp action of the manufacturers to discount cars into Read more »