Saturday, 19. March 2011
As I reported before anyone else Autoquake are now in administration and the administrators are trying to find buyers. One of the selling points, as has been widely reported is the number of visits made to their website, believed to be around 5.5 million last year. I have to stay that statistic is absolutely meaningless because if it meat that the company was successful why has it just collapsed? It’s a bit like saying you could put any shop in the middle of a high street which attracts lots of ‘traffic’ Read more »
Saturday, 19. March 2011

Image via Wikipedia
Just as you think that we are moving rapidly through the highest tech era this planet has ever been through with new advances being announced virtually daily you hear a story that makes you realise that we still actually live in the real world. I read that Mazda have recalled 65,000 of their 6 model cars in north and central America. Suddenly you think Read more »
Friday, 18. March 2011

Image via Wikipedia
Today’s amazing fact is that there are over 25,000 traffic lights across the country with 6,000 in London alone. The number increased by 30% between 2000 and 2008. The figures were collated by the RAC Foundation who also pointed out that the number of lights that were programmed to give priority to busses rose by 221% in just 2 years from 3,801 Read more »
Thursday, 17. March 2011
Online used car reseller Autoquake have officially gone into administration. A call to their offices confirmed that MCR have been appointed as administrators following the collapse of the company. I believe that somewhere in the region of 150 jobs could be lost unless a buyer can be found although it was clearly a model that could never work. They appointed highly paid executives in roles that were far too small for their ability. As I have worked with Carsite, the originator of the online used car Read more »
Thursday, 17. March 2011
There’s no such thing as a free lunch! What a load of bull, of course there is, I’ve had plenty over the years and I’ve not been expected offer my body up as a sacrifice or pledge in blood only to use the generous host’s product for ever more but more people are understanding the significance of the expression when applied to lease rates. Go with the cheapest Read more »
Monday, 14. March 2011
Last week I reported on the shambles known as the EU Consumer Credit Directive that would, without doubt, cause widespread confusion amongst consumers and small businesses (who were included in the Consumer Credit Act but not in the CCD). Trying to get the message across to customers in dealerships would result in the blind leading the blind Read more »
Sunday, 13. March 2011

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Online used car resale giant Autoquake has gone into administration losing its investors £19 million in the process as it’s unlikely that anyone would pay more than a couple of thousand pounds for a few cars, an award winning website and some goodwill. Their CEO was known for his arrogance and his despise of car dealers pointing out the error of their Read more »
Friday, 11. March 2011

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Even though we know the Government is hell bent on converting us to electric cars I’m still not convinced. When it was announced that the Government was going to put £5,000 across the bonnet of electric cars to encourage drivers to buy them and Boris was going to put a free electric charging point in every parking bay making it the world’s leading Read more »
Thursday, 10. March 2011
Do you know how long points stay on your licence for? Most people think 3 years but in fact speeding offences stay on there for 4 years and others stay on for longer. For example drink driving points remain on your licence for 11 years. Even though speeding points stay on your licence for 4 years they are only valid for 3 years.
So if you have 9 points on your licence after 3 years but clock up another 3 points in the 4th year you wont lose your licence under the totting up system. The expired points can be removed from your licence by the DVLA but you will have to pay a fee of £20 for a replacement ‘clean’ licence. Are you confused by the points system, let’s discuss? By Graham Hill