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Which car had the biggest recall of the year? Toyota? Did you say Toyota? Then you are wrong! Amazingly, thanks to the press and other media you would easily believe that a Toyota car had the biggest recall in the UK following the problems they had with stuck accelerators. But it turns out that it was another Japanese car, a Honda Jazz which had 171,372 cars recalled as a result of a leak that could cause a fire in Read more »

I’m confused! It happens when you get older I’m told. Why am I confused? Well just as I started to get used to cars getting bigger, and not as a result of changing my glasses, manufacturers have started bringing out cars as big as a large shoe! Look at a new Clio – it’s about the same size as an old Megane. The VW Polo is easily as big as an early Golf and a Corsa has the size these days of an old Astra. As for Mini if, as I saw Read more »

We’re encouraged to keep cars for longer as the manufacturers review their warranty periods. Toyota have announced a warranty extension to 5 years/100,000 miles joining Hyundai on 5 years also and Kia now on 7 years. These being the only manufacturers to announce the extended warranties across their full range of cars. Fiat now offers 5 years but only on the Bravo. The move, according to Toyota, has Read more »

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 »

It seems that the manufacturers are not going to fight a price war but outdo each other by providing more for free as part of the purchase package. The latest has been the extended warranty. Toyota had to react to the drop in sales following their recall problems by extending their standard warranty from 3 years to 5 years. In the meantime Kia/Hyundai have reacted following their massive growth during the Read more »

The recent problems experienced by Toyota have raised the question of safety in cars and should drivers and manufacturers be spending more time and effort on safety equipment than adjustable cup holders and refrigerated glove compartments (could never quite work that one out – cold gloves?). Clearly the answer is yes. There are more people travelling in cars than on aircraft but those piloting the planes are Read more »

The 2010 What Car and J D Power Ownership Satisfaction Survey is out now and available in the July issue of What Car. The survey arrives at its findings after analysing returns from 17,200 motorists travelling a total of 300 million miles in their cars. 104 models from 27 manufacturers have been rated with every aspect of owning scrutinised. The satisfaction percentage score is made up of four sections. Read more »

The key is – well, in the key, according to some road safety experts. We already have keys that chat away to the car’s engine management systems and record service information then transmit it to your local dealer. We now have an Alco-Lock which requires the driver to blow into the key and if they are over the limit the key won’t allow them to drive by locking up the immobiliser. Until the reading drops below the Read more »

To say that Toyota have had a bit of a rough time is somewhat of an understatement and the repercussions continue on. After they dismissed cars flying across roundabouts and over cliffs, having been unable to stop following uncontrolled acceleration, as being a problem with dopey drivers being unable to fit carpet mats back in their cars after cleaning them, they have paid a hefty price. That ‘bigotgate’ moment Read more »

Oh dear! I reported a few weeks ago that Aston Martin were soon to launch a new city car, the Cygnet, based on the Toyota IQ. The likely price when it will actually go on sale later this year is £30,000 for those dopey enough to want to spend this ridiculous amount of money for what is really a Toyota IQ with a few extra bits on, including the famous, and all important, badge on the bonnet. If all this wasn’t ridiculous Read more »