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We’re getting to that time of year when I’m sure I’ll have plenty of reports relating to tyres but before we get into the summer/winter tyre debates a question has come up regarding speed ratings on tyres. When a car is new tyres are often fitted by the manufacturer that have a speed rating much higher than the car is capable of travelling. For example a car may be fitted with V rated tyres, safe to a speed of 149 miles per hour. The question is should the same tyres be fitted when they are due Read more »

What is going on? After recently reporting that Bentley’s had to be recalled because of problems with the flying B badges on the bonnet Rolls are at it and having to recall 6,705 Rollers from around the world as a result of a wider recall of BMW’s. The problem relates to the brakes fitted on all V8 and V12 models which includes Rolls Royce Phantom models. Other cars affected are BMW 5, 6 and 7 Series. The problem is a possible leak in the power braking system – nice! It reduces the amount of Read more »

Multi story car parks go 21^st century in Birmingham. German creator, Wohr, has built a valet multi story car park, without a valet. Cars are driven in through one of four access points by residents and after activating the system with the use of a transponder fob, the car is taken away by the machinery and stored in bays spread over 3 floors, all automatically. When the driver retrieves his car it is returned on a dolly that even turns the car round to be driven straight out in about 2 minutes. UK MD Read more »

What are the two most dangerous things that a motorist can do that could result in injury or death? Most people would assume this to be the two things that the government, media and safety organisations obsess over. Speeding and drink driving. We are about to be hit with a campaign regarding drink driving as we run up to Christmas and there seems to be a year round campaign to demonise those that speed. Read more »

Dealerships and garages are still failing which means that whether you are buying new or used from a dealer you need to use the credit card technique that I recently explained in order to protect yourself between paying for a car and taking delivery. According to Experian 35 garages and related businesses failed in July this year compared to 50 last year. So whilst it is an improvement it’s not worth taking the risk and don’t forget that using the credit card technique could help to increase your Read more »

I was talking to an insurance broker recently and he was explaining that because of the competitive nature of the comparison sites the insurance companies are doing everything to keep premiums as low as possible. One of the tricks they use, I reported a couple of weeks ago, has been to vastly increase charges and fees so that they don’t have to increase premiums, the other is of course to avoid payouts wherever Read more »

Graham Hill’s in depth car review focuses on the new version of the Bug, or to give it the full name, VW Beetle. It’s one of those cars you either love or hate and, I have to say, I fall into the latter group. Like me, VW have found that the Bug appeals more to the ladies, so to try and balance things up they have made it look more butch(ish). To me it still looks like a Bug with about as much appeal as a breadstick. But what do I know, I’m sure this car of the people will have certain women and an Read more »

Could sun roofs be on the way back? Since many entry level cars have been fitted with air conditioning, that quirky feature, pretty much a British thing, the sunroof, has been dropped from the spec. of many cars. But could we see its return following the launch of the new Mercedes SLK next year? The first car to have the folding steel roof will now be fitted with an amazing sunroof which has the ability to go dark or clear at the touch of a button. It’s called Magic Sky Control. The glass is Read more »

You’ll probably be pleased to hear that over the next 10 years there’s going to be a £32 billion programme of replacing ageing electricity cables and gas pipes across the UK. As a result the AA has proposed that the utility firms should be charged the moment they start digging up roads as a sort of lane rental in order to speed up the work and limit the inconvenience to road users. Edmund King, president of the AA said, ‘Governments have procrastinated for a quarter of a century. With £32 billion Read more »

The Graham Hill review of the week is on two cars following the re-birth of Lotus, one of my favourite car makers of all time. Probably because my namesake drove for them when he started his motor racing career and won his second world F1 title in his famous Lotus 49. Anyway, after returning to F1, Lotus have now launched the new Esprit and Elise at the Paris Motor Show (along with Elan, Elite, Eterne and a Read more »