The Best Car Finance Blog In The World

A Government-backed study has shown that those who take the speed awareness course are 23% less likely to re-offend than those that accept the penalty points and pay the fine. Ipsos Mori analysed 2.2 million drivers caught speeding, comparing those who attended an awareness course and those who didn’t, preferring to pay the penalty.

Just 5% of those who attended a course re-offended within 6 months, compared with 7% who opted for a fixed penalty notice. The results persisted over time with 21% of those attending a course re-offending after 3 years compared to 23% who took the points.

The analysts couldn’t prove that taking the course led to fewer accidents because ‘the number of collisions, available for analysis was too small’, but Ipsos Mori said it was ‘probable’ that the courses have ‘positive road safety effects’.

Transport Minister, Jesse Norman said, ‘The National Speed Awareness Course is clearly working well in preventing drivers from putting other road users at risk by breaking speed limits’. Having attended a course a couple of years ago I agree that it has a positive affect. By Graham Hill

What Car has carried out a survey into car faults, a subject on which I have incredibly strong views. They start their report by reminding us of the attitude expressed by our parents (or could have been just my dad) that the more you add to cars the more likely something will go wrong.

Logically that has to be true, the question is – what is an acceptable level of faults and more important is when things go wrong how well do those responsible fix the problem? And that’s my issue, far too often drivers experience faults that dealers and manufacturers fight tooth and nail not to fix whilst totally ignoring driver rights and flouting their legal obligations. And with so few people knowing their legal rights dealers get away with murder.

However, I cover this in detail in my PCP report so I’ll get back to the findings of What Car. They found that 12% of faulty cars were off the road for more than a week with the most common problem being engine related which affected 28% of the faulty cars. When checking the classes of cars they found that 35% of luxury SUV’s and 31% of luxury cars suffered from faults.

At the other end of the scale 21% of city cars and 18% of electric cars suffered with faults. Interestingly cars fitted with diesel engines suffered from more faults than their petrol equivalents. 39% of diesel luxury SUV’s suffered faults whilst only 23% of their petrol equivalents had faults. 33% of diesel family saloons had faults whilst just 24% of their petrol equivalents had faults.

Worst for faults was diesel MPV’s followed closely by luxury diesel SUV’s. Petrol engine MPV’s weren’t much better than the diesels. Whilst petrol luxury SUV’s have problems with fuel consumption they fare better than diesel cars so the advice is to take a petrol rather than a diesel.

The top 5 brands for faults, i.e. the least reported faults were Lexus (10.7%), Suzuki (16.2%), Dacia (18.6%), Toyota (18.9%) and Honda (20.6%). At the other end, the worst cars were Land Rover (44.1%), Jeep (41.2%), Citroen (39.9%), Smart (39.5%) and Nissan (38.4%).

Not in my opinion a happy state of affairs – far too many faults for my liking. By Graham Hill

According to a special report in Auto Express we find out that there was a 56% increase in vehicle theft last year over the previous year. This sounds dreadful and of course it is, especially if you were a victim. But improvements in technology has actually had a very positive effect on thefts when compared to the 90’s.

In 1992 600,000 cars were stolen. This dropped to 56,000 in 2016 but in 2017 the number increased to 89,000, according to the Office of National Statistics. The first reaction is to blame the serious drop in police numbers and of course that hasn’t helped. But experts suggest that this isn’t the real reason, they blame it on the upsurge in Keyless Entry.

I’ve reported on how the thieves manage to steal your car with the use of technology so I won’t cover it again. But the fact is that we can exist without it. A keyless device it is transmitting all the time so as soon as you approach your car the car’s receiver picks up the signal and unlocks the door.

Once inside you can start the car by pressing the start button. Far too easy and frankly, in my opinion, unnecessary. In order to unlock my car I have to push a button on my ‘key’, and it works. I also have a keyring with my door key and a couple of other keys hanging from it.

If I had a keyless key I would still need a keyring! So I really don’t get it, especially as so many cars are stolen as a result of having a keyless device. By Graham Hill

A solution would be to stop the car when it senses that the key isn’t within range but this raises all sorts of safety questions. So the industry is working on ways to make keyless entry less vulnerable but I find myself asking why? OK, you can buy boxes and wallets into which you can place the device whilst at home to prevent scammers from picking up and relaying the signal but it’s too much fannying about in my opinion. Bring back keys!!

We were all led to believe that when we left the EU we would take back all controls into the UK. But it now seems clear that this won’t be the case. In my PCP report I advise that the added protection we have with the EU 2 year guarantee won’t find its way into UK law.

What does this mean? Well, if you have a fault on a car within 2 years of taking delivery, especially in the case of a used car, even after it can be shown that the fault existed when you bought the car (something you have to prove after 6 months of delivery – before then the dealer has to prove that it didn’t exist) you may be asked to contribute towards the cost of repair or replacement. Especially in the case of replacement – known as ‘betterment’.

Let’s say your gearbox needs to be replaced but the car has travelled 50,000 miles. The dealer agrees to replace the gearbox but as your car now has a brand new or re-conditioned gearbox you are asked to pay towards the cost as the car is now worth more than it was before the new gearbox was fitted. However, the EU 2 year Consumer Guarantee makes no allowance for ‘betterment’ so you are not expected to contribute.

I agree with this. Why should you be expected to pay towards the cost of replacement when you believed that you were buying a car with no major faults, so you should have expected a couple of years at least of trouble free motoring. To have to stump up another unexpected amount of several hundreds of pounds is simply unfair.

It gets worse as David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP, has warned. In the past, due to our high volume of new car purchases, we have been a major voice at the table when setting safety and emissions standards. These standards are set by the UN Economic Commission For Europe with all 28 EU members block voting and more or less having the major say.

In future, David Ward has warned that whilst the EU will continue with their block vote we will be a single voice in the wilderness with virtually no clout. Is this what taking back sovereignty means? It isn’t what Mr Ward was expecting and has pressed Mrs May to negotiate a deal with Europe to enable us to have a stronger say. By Graham Hill

Most new diesel cars manufactured over the last couple of years have had a special liquid incorporated into the car in order to reduce the NOx gasses and conform to Euro 6 emissions. Euro 6 reduced NOx emissions by 67% from the previous standard, Euro 5.

Here’s the technical stuff in case you’re interested: Some manufacturers have found that the best way for them to meet the emissions levels is by Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). This system uses an exhaust fluid such as AdBlue. It breaks down the NOx gasses in the exhaust gasses into harmless elements before it’s expelled from the car.

Someone told me when the systems was launched that AdBlue was made up of urine! I thought it was a joke but it turned out to be true. It is made of Urea and de-ionised water. It is stored in a separate tank with small amounts being squirted into the exhaust gas when the engine is running turning the NOX into Nitrogen and Water.

Not all diesel cars are fitted with the AdBlue system so you will need to check the handbook and the dealer to see if it has the Adblue system. Some cars have ‘Blue’ in their name or SCR to indicate the addition of Adblue.

Tank sizes and usage varies. Most manufacturers have attempted to incorporate a tank that holds enough fluid to last between services so on low mileage you probably didn’t even know your car had it fitted. There is a warning light that warns you that the Adblue is running low. If the light comes on you should top up the fluid as soon as possible although you should still have about 3 litres or 1,200 miles still left.

It would be wise to find out where the filler is located. Some are by the diesel filler, some are in the boot or in the spare wheel well. Some fuel stations have AdBlue as part of their pump or you can buy it in containers either in the filling station or in an accessory shop or even online. In a container, it should cost about £1.50 per litre or at the pump about 60p per litre.

Adblue is non-toxic but is corrosive so can cause skin irritation and affect your lungs and eyes. Always wash your hands after handling and wear gloves provided in fuel stations. Whilst most cars let you continue to drive the car when the AdBlue tank is empty, when you stop the car it won’t restart until the tank has been topped up.

The AA reported 20,000 call outs last year to AdBlue related incidents. The recommendation is to top up the AdBlue whilst the engine is running if you run out. If you put AdBlue in the diesel tank or diesel in the AdBlue tank don’t start the engine and call out your breakdown service or misfuelling service provider immediately or risk expensive damage.

I hope that helps. By Graham Hill

The technical expression is semi-autonomous when a car is fitted with safety equipment which allows drivers to do other things whilst driving. Many experts are starting to throw doubt on the accuracy of figures that suggest that accident rates will fall along with road deaths as a result of safety equipment being fitted.

There is no hard proof behind the statistics which are estimates that take account of lane markings, speed restrictions, proximity of other traffic etc. However, if drivers become more reliant on the safety systems and concentrate less, this increases the possibility of having an accident again. So they are now assessing the true benefits of these safety systems.

In the meantime, the European Commission last month announced that it wants 11 advanced safety features fitted as standard features on all new cars and vans launched from 2020 and all new cars and vans sold 2 years later. I mentioned in a recent report that it can take several seconds for the driver to take back control from autonomous systems that could result in an accident.

I would suggest that much more research is required before making some of the safety systems obligatory. By Graham Hill

If you’ve been watching the news over the last few days you’ll be aware that learner drivers are now able to include motorway driving as part of the driver training. If you weren’t aware then don’t be shocked to see a learner driver in front of you.

As of the 4^th June learner drivers are now allowed on any of our motorways as part of their driver training. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced this change earlier this year as part of an effort to help reduce fatalities among young and/or inexperienced drivers.

This move followed studies that showed young drivers 5 to 7 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a road accident than those over 25. There are restrictions when driving on motorways, the learner must be accompanied by a fully qualified driving instructor and only in cars fitted with dual controls.

Frankly, I’m surprised it has taken so long to introduce this change. I have friends (no names to protect the dopey) who passed their driving tests many years ago who still won’t drive on motorways because they lack the confidence. Early reports from driving instructors have been very positive suggesting that learners are not only enjoying the experience but also their general confidence improves as a result of the motorway training.

So when you’re next on a motorway and you see a learner driver in front of you don’t be shocked but give them plenty of space – it must be nerve-racking for them! By Graham Hill

If you’re a regular reader of my blog you’ll know that the MOT test has just changed making it a lot tougher for cars with diesel engines to get through. Even a whiff of smoke from the exhaust will, in future, be enough for the tester to fail the car if the car is diesel fitted with a DPF.

I won’t go through all the new regulations as I covered those a few weeks ago. However, latest statistics from the Diver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) showed that over 35% of vehicles failed their MOT test in the financial year 2016/7.

The reasons were quite interesting as follows:

So there you have it. The areas you should pay special attention to. By Graham Hill

So often I’ve looked at the standard list of equipment fitted to cars and asked myself the question – why? Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to me but of course to others it is an essential must have feature. Business Car has had a look at some technology and having surveyed a number of business drivers who clearly spend a lot of time behind the wheel they have come up with an essential list of equipment that drivers look for. Here you go:

DAB Radio:   This got off to a very shaky start and is still problematic in some cars and in some areas of the country but for those reliant on radio weather reports and like to listen to crystal clear music a DAB radio is essential. The changeover came and went and frankly I don’t actually know if all new cars have to be fitted with DAB but I’m pretty sure that all new cars are.

Parking Assist: Once only fitted to top end cars it is now percolating down to family cars and smaller cars. The car finds a suitable parking spot. You activate, change gear, accelerate and brake but take your hands off the steering wheel and the car steers itself perfectly into the parking space. I have it but very rarely use it. Others feel they can’t live without it.

Lane Departure Warning & Blindspot Detection: Pretty much self-explanatory, a warning buzzer and/or light illuminates to let you know that you’ve drifted out of your lane if you cross over the white lines, possibly because you are nodding at the wheel. Blindspot detection alerts you if there is another car in the blind spot that it senses you’ve missed – pretty straightforward but useful.

Adaptive Cruise Control: There are some good videos on YouTube showing this in action. Basically, let’s say you’re travelling along the motorway, cruising at 70 miles per hour with cruise control engaged. You’re not properly concentrating and you run up behind the car in front travelling at 50 mph. The system will slow you down to match their speed, then as you indicate and move out to overtake the system picks up your speed back to 70 mph.

Rear Parking Cameras & Parking Sensors:  This is the next step down from Park Assist whereby the parking sensors and rear camera can assist you in not denting the back of your car or a pedestrian. Parking sensors normally come with an audible as well as a visual warning with the sound getting louder and warning LED lights increasing in number and in some cases moving from orange to red as you get closer. Some cars also come with front sensors. Some cars come with a rear camera instead of sensors whilst others have them in addition to the sensors. Particularly if rear visibility is restricted. Some cars even have all-round cameras and sensors which can give you a view on your screen as though you were looking down from above the car. Looks great but not sure if essential.

Autonomous Emergency Braking: In simple terms this stops you from running into a car (or person) in front if you lose concentration. I should add that most of these systems are not meant to stop a high-speed crash, it only activates at low speed but statistics show that this is one of the most common accidents in built-up areas. If you move forward in a queue and the car in front stops quickly the system will activate and stop you from running into the back of the car. Many manufacturers have their own system with mixed reviews but I have to say it has stopped me from having a shunt on a roundabout.

Heated Windscreen: This is becoming more popular as the cost comes down. It consists of a very fine filament built into the windscreen that will superheat and not only clears the screen of frost or snow but also the dreaded interior fog or mist without the need to take a cloth to it leaving irritating smears. The heated screen can also release wiper blades stuck to the windscreen. I would certainly say a must have in the UK.

Satelite Navigation: I believe that BMW is the first car manufacturer to fit Sat Nav into all their new cars. They are so much more these days than just a route planner they will also divert you if there are road works and direct you to garages if you run low on fuel or restaurants if you need some food. They still aren’t standard on all cars but we are moving in that direction.

Apple Carplay and/or Android Auto Capability: Effectively these systems allow you to use all the apps you have on your phone on the screen in your dashboard. You can use a sat nav app and play your Spotify playlist through the car’s audio system.

Speed Limit Monitoring System: This system simply warns you if you drift over the speed limit. They work differently, some give off an audible sound whilst others either flash up the speed limit on your screen or a warning light illuminates. Either way the system could save you points or even your licence.

Wireless Charging: More important if you are driving a lot and making a lot of calls on your mobile. Having wires connecting between your phone and USB port can be untidy and distracting so a wireless charger could be very useful. May not be that essential but useful to have.

There you have it – a round up of techie equipment that business car drivers would like in their cars and worth considering when you change next. By Graham Hill

Years ago I was the ‘Man To Go To’ for many middle eastern members of their various royal families when they wanted to buy anti-terror protected cars. Most were top of the range stretched or LWB Mercedes S Class. We would buy the cars from the factory and delivered to a company near Gatwick who would carry out all of the security modifications.

It generally took about 3 months, the car with its armour plated body and bullet-proof glass and special bullet-proof tyres (yes there is such a thing) ended up weighing about 4 times its original weight and cost around 4 times the original cost.

They obviously didn’t need finance but each car had to be overseen by me personally but on the bright side I made a lot of money out of each car. They generally kept the cars in garages under West End houses for use when they came over for a visit.

They tended to keep them for 2 years then part exchange for a new car. On average, after 2 years they had travelled less than 1,000 miles. It cost them a fortune but such was their paranoia regarding safety and security. Who would have thought that many years later a specialist armour plating company would modify a fairly standard family car and for it to be available from a franchised dealer (so I’ve been told)?

An anti-terrorist car in their line up – what’s it all coming to? And I’m not talking Bentley, Mercedes, BMW or Jaguar. I’m talking Skoda – a Skoda Superb Estate. The cars are modified by a British based company and takes about 4 weeks to modify but when the bodywork has been modified and the glass replaced by bulletproof glass the car will meet PAS 300 standards for ballistic and blast protection.

The modified car will weigh much more making the acceleration lower than the standard car’s, 0-60 in 8.4 seconds with the top speed dropping about 20 miles per hour. Rather than bullet-proof tyres they have modified special wheels that will still work even if the tyre is full of holes.

It seems that if you have the money you can have one but with a price tag starting from £118,688 I think I’ll pass. Although I seem to recall reading that some police forces were looking at Skoda Superbs as replacements for current cars – maybe this is why! By Graham Hill