Engine Of The Year Award Announced

Thursday, 15. July 2010

Did you know that there is an engine of the year award? Well there is and this year it has gone to VW for its small size but big powered 1.4TSi petrol engine now fitted into not only the smaller cars such as Polo and Golf but also the Passat, 7 seater Touran and even the 4WD Tiguan. VW have received this award two years running and shows, according to the judging team, that engine downsizing is here to stay. VW have Read more »

Cheap Chinese Tyres Bordering Dangerous

Wednesday, 14. July 2010

New tyres must meet European standards for safety and a raft of other basic regulations covering grip, economy, speed etc. British standards cover re-treads and remoulds as well as puncture repairs so many motorists look to replace their current tyres with the cheapest they can find, believing that all tyres that are sold meet basic standards and that the standards mean that whilst the cheepo tyres might not last quite Read more »

New Rules To Prevent Rogue Clamping

Wednesday, 14. July 2010

A friend of mine was once clamped in a car park for not having a ticket displayed in her windscreen (she accidentally put it in her purse – daft as). As a result another friend came to the rescue at 2.00am with his tool box. After about 4 hours and several hacksaw blades later she was finally free to drive home. Not something I approve of, obviously, but it made me a little more cautious about where I park my car and I Read more »

What Distracts Motorists Most?

Tuesday, 13. July 2010

Autoglass carried out a survey to see what distracted motorists most. Whilst not top of the list and it depends who and when the survey was carried out children in the car distracted a high number of drivers, in fact 36%. The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) reported that back seat brawls reduced reaction levels of the driver to that of those driving on the drink drive limit. Direct Line commissioned the study which Read more »

The Hidden Cost Of Factory Fitted Sat Navs

Tuesday, 13. July 2010

We’ve all become addicted to sat navs and of course whilst the hand held units are far more practical, you can actually reach your destination, even on foot or in a bus, as long as the driver is prepared to follow your instructions from the 3rd row of the bus, it’s a snob thing to have a built in, factory fitted unit costing ten times as much. But if you decide to buy a used car and you’re impressed with the factory Read more »

Trials Start On Road Junctions With No Right Of Way

Monday, 12. July 2010

Think about this? A crossroads with no right of way! This could be the future, no more irritating traffic lights or mini roundabouts to contend with just common courtesy will keep the traffic flowing around our towns and city centres. This idea has been imported from the States where they have traffic jams to beat all traffic jams but believe this to be the answer, where every road entering a junction has give way signs Read more »

Is Your Car Your Best Friend?

Sunday, 11. July 2010

We all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And man’s best friend is a dog (don’t even go there). But apparently after my report last week that a number of drivers would give up sex rather than their cars (mind you the research was carried out in Canada) we now have research showing that drivers regard their cars as their best friend. I kid you not. It was announced on BBC’s Radio 4 – so it must be true! So Read more »

Graham Hill Reviews The Audi A1

Sunday, 11. July 2010

This week the renowned Graham Hill in depth car review is focused on the new Mini alternative, the Audi A1. The Audi A1 is better. So there you have it, all you need to know when making that vital decision between the cars although I would say that personally I still prefer the shape of the Mini and the fact that it is built in the UK and although engine for engine the Audi is more powerful and economic than the Mini Read more »

Graham Hill Asks Whatever Happened To Hydrogen Cars?

Saturday, 10. July 2010

What has happened to hydrogen cars – the planet savers? There’s been loads of talk about electric cars and how all cars should be replaced with electric cars with a range of 2 miles but what has happened to hydrogen technology, it seems to have died a death? Will electric cars go the same way when the new Government decides that it won’t stuff £5 grand up the non existent exhaust of each new electric car sold Read more »

Cities Set To Scrap Congestion Charges

Friday, 9. July 2010

To make congestion charges or not to make congestion charges – that is the question that the city council of York has been wrestling with and decided – no charge – at the moment. Not wishing to be a cynic but I feel it may have had something to do with the removal of millions of pounds of funding, introduced by the Labour government to encourage cities to make the charges. But whilst this, and other proposed Read more »