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Posts Tagged ‘New Cars’

Brighton has just announced that it is going to install 20 roadside charging stations for electric vehicles. This is part of a big project to try and make Brighton a more Zero-emission city.

However do people who already have an electric vehicle really think they are bigger and better than the rest of us? Well if you take an episode of South Park it would seem so. Many of the people in South Park bought a electric car and found that they all started to think very highly of themselves and better than the people without the car.

Of course, this was all just craziness put there to annoy the people of Chicago (where a lot of the episode was based) as well as to wind up everyone who owns an electric vehicle.

Do we all believe that the answer to the worlds pollution can be found in these cars, or maybe it is it just too much hassle? Well in actual fact there is a lot of unused electric at night as the power stations cannot just shut down for twelve hours so without building anymore stations we could power millions of electric cars at no extra cost to the environment. If we consider that we may have to build more power plants, they would hopefully be cleaner plants. As well as this, the cost per mile obviously works out a lot cheaper for an electric vehicle than it does for a gas vehicle. The truth is of course all to do with efficiency as gasoline cars are 25% efficient whereas electric are about 95% so this equates to a mile on electric costing a penny and a mile on gas costing around 15 cents.

So if you are about to Buy a new Alfa Romeo or buy a new Mercedes you should hold off and wait until an electric car comes your way. Whether it is used cars for sale there is sure to be an eventual upgrade for a car to help take down your C02 emissions.

We are constantly hearing news reports of how the recession is hitting the motoring industry badly. Every week there is a story of how no one is buying new cars because people just aren’t going to buy a new Alfa Romeo. However, there are sectors of the motoring industry that are doing well, but we never hear about them.

The used car marketing is one of the only sectors of the motoring industry that is doing well. Prices of used cars have been going against most things in the recession, they have actually been going up. This may not sound very positive for the customer because you will have to pay more for used cars for sale, however, if you are trading in, you will get more money for your old car.

The reason why the used car market has become so popular is because many people are trying to save as much money as possible. One effective way of doing this is to buy a second hand car rather than a new one. One recent thing that definately hasn’t helped the position of the new car market is that due to the recession, new car prices have actually gone up. You would have thought that manufacturers would never even consider raising car prices, however, as a result of poor exchange rates, they have been forced to.

As a result of more people opting for used cars, the demand for these second hand cars has seen a dramatic rise. As the demand rises, and with the scrappage scheme in place, it’s becoming harder to buy a second hand car. Now because used car dealers can’t keep up with the demand for used cars, they have raised their offer for buying your old car, making this deal sound better for the standard car owner.

The only problem with this is that although you are being paid more for your old car, when you buy a new second hand car, it’s costing you more. So because the price rises are on both sides, selling and buying, you are not actually getting any extra cash for your car because you lose it when you buy a new one, but the majority of the public would still prefer to buy a second hand motor rather than a buy a Honda straight off the production line at the factory.

It looks like the few people that will lose out because of this are the customers that don’t part exchange an old car.

Making a decision to buy a car is only half the battle; you then need to think about new or used cars. Some people may feel that the cost of a new car is rather prohibitive and not in the budget they had planned for the auto purchase. A used car offers a buyer the option to get a good deal on a great car that may only be a couple of years old. A couple of things need to be kept in mind before the acquisition of a used car.

At any particular time there will be many used cars on the market that have depreciated considerably in their value. These cars are just as good as they were in the past; the only difference being people are just not buying at the moment. Consequently there has never been a better time to purchase a used car. Even though the cars are offered at better prices, this shouldnt detract you from checking it out thoroughly before you buy.

If you are not mechanically inclined, take along somebody who is so that they can give it the once over. A quick look at the engine and a quick test drive are not going to answer all the questions though. A mechanic or someone who is knowledgeable about cars will be able to help you determine if the car is a good value for the money. They may also recognize sounds that the car is making when you take it on a test drive that you may not be aware of.

The test drive for your used car should be a little bit longer than just a trip around the block. Spend as much time as possible in the car. You cant tell how comfortable the car will be to drive in only a few minutes. Youll also be unable to fathom how the car handles on longer drives.

Do you want to Buy an Audi or Buy a Nissan

Car manufacturer Jaguar have released their new car model, the XJ. The XJ is the newer version of the XF model and just like the XF, the new XJ will need to bring in a lot of sales.

When the XF model was released, the amount of sales that it brought in lifted the company out of a slump that it was in. Jaguar are hoping that the new XJ will do the same job.

It’s been announced that Tata, new owners of Jaguar and Land Rover, are losing £1 million every day on the companies.

Because Jaguar are using this car to help save the business, they are changing the design of the car slightly. Although some Jaguar owners have complained about the new design, Jaguar stand by their efforts to make the car more modern. They have done this because they are trying to attract a new type of car buyer.

They have altered the design of the car by making it more sleek and stylish. Ian Callum, the designer director, has said that the new design is “right and correct for the 21st Century” and they are now hoping they will gain new customers that wouldn’t have wanted to buy a Jaguar in the past.

Jaguar have also added some modern gadgets to the inside of the car like a virtual dashboard. This will allow you to customise your dashboard, you can even put your GPS on it. The car comes equipped with a large boot as well as a panoramic windscreen, all inside a light weight aluminium shell.

This all sounds very good, however, it all comes as a high price. The car ranges from £50,000 to £90,000 based upon which model you want.

I don’t think this would really be an ideal car for driving lessons. Maybe if you went with an experienced Worthing driving instructor, it might be more successful.

The American government is following in the footsteps of many European countries and implementing a ‘cash for clunkers’ incentive in an attempt to persuade consumers back into the flagging car market. The scheme will offer an incentive of up to $4,500 to owners of old cars getting 18 miles per gallon (mpg) or less if they upgrade to a vehicle that gets at least four mpg more, so people could trade in a gas-guzzling 4×4 and buy a Honda, Nissan or other smaller more efficient car in its place. The idea is that the chance of getting money back on purchasing a more efficient car will show potential customers that it makes good financial sense, but can a scheme like this really work in the long run?

A similar incentive was introduced in the UK in May, giving buyers £2000 towards buying a brand new car when they scrap one over 10 years old. So far there have been over 35,000 orders for new vehicles on the scrappage scheme, not enough to reinflate the car industry but enough to make their efforts worth it so far. The question is how long will it last, once the number of eligible car owners dwindles and the finances set aside for the project start to run out. Recent predictions by a chief executive at French automakers Renault suggest that the time of crisis will continue for few years yet, and that the numbers of people wanting to buy a Renault were unlikely to return to normal levels any time soon. So although government cash incentives are managing to persuade buyers in the short term, it could be an even bigger blow for manufacturers if the orders stop coming in before the recession is over.

And of course it’s not just the car industry that has been affected by the recession, money is tight for everyone. Offering consumers the chance to get money back may get them interested but compared to the cost of a new car it doesn’t go very far. It’s not as if you could trade in your old banger and buy a new BMW in its place, and a lot of people just wouldn’t consider making such an expensive purchase when they’re already struggling with debt and the uncertain economic climate. The scrappage schemes are a short term solution but will help to re-establish consumers’ confidence in the industry, as well as encouraging people who may otherwise have bought a second hand car to pay just a little extra for a new one instead.

When it comes to buying new cars, a lot of people fall in to one of two groups – those who don’t particularly care about the car itself, and will be looking for the cheapest option or the least likely to break down, and petrol heads who want the fastest, sleekest, coolest car they can find. ‘Green’ cars, designed to be more fuel efficient and produce less or no carbon emissions, have never really fitted into either of these groups. Yes it’s nice to think you could make a difference with the car you drive, but when it comes to it, the majority of eco friendly cars don’t perform nearly as well as their petrol-powered counterparts, and they’re normally not cheap either.

But these ideas could change and soon. A heightened awareness of green issues and climate change combined with the general public’s need to find the cheapest cars to run in the recession means that people are starting to move towards buying more fuel efficient vehicles. Car buyers are starting to consider greener alternatives to petrol as a viable future for the car industry, and the technology is developing and improving in leaps and bounds. The recent Revolve Eco Rally showcased the latest in environmentally friendly cars, driving en mass from Madeira Drive in Brighton to gather outside London’s City Hall. A whole host of celebrity guest drivers took part and on arrival in London were met by Mayor Boris Johnson, who is a strong supporter of green transport and aims to cut London’s carbon emissions by 60%, for the What Car? Green Awards.

The purpose of the rally and the awards was to show what the latest developments in green cars are capable of, and awards were given to vehicles in a number of categories. The overall winner was the Volvo S40 DRIVe for combining its green credentials and supreme fuel efficiency with safety, security and being an all-round good small family car – it’s still not cheap though, and for around £50 more you can buy a Toyota Avensis, winner of the large family car category. Other winners were the Mini Cooper S, which won best green sports car for the second year running, and for those who still have cash to spare and can afford to buy an Audi the A8 was named best green luxury car. The pioneering battery-powered Tesla Roadster won the Editors Award, for showing that electric cars can go the extra mile and performing well enough to please even the most picky of petrol-heads.

And the reason for all this? Well it looks like green cars are the future after all. Yes at this point they do still cost quite a bit more than most cars, but it won’t be long before they won’t cost the earth, and it seems like when they do become more affordable people will want one whatever type of car they normally drive.

Summer is almost here and what better way to enjoy spending time in the sunshine than driving about in a brand new cool convertible? It might sound like an expensive luxury, but it really doesn’t have to cost as much as you’d think, and you won’t have to fork out to buy a new BMW, Porsche or Lexus to be out there enjoying the sun in your new motor. Smaller city cars are becoming more and more popular as they are cheaper and more fuel efficient. Here are five convertibles that are sure to turn heads this summer without breaking the bank

Nissan Micra C+C
The Nissan Micra has been one of the most popular small cars for years, and this coupe cabriolet version comes with a neat folding glass roof for great views and an open feel even when you have the roof up. It’s cute, sleek and best of all it doesn’t even cost much more than it would to buy a Nissan Micra in its normal form, without the folding roof!

Mitsubishi Colt Cabriolet
With a metal roof that folds away effortlessly, the Colt Cabriolet is a car designed for those who appreciate the finer details. It has loads of little touches that make everyday driving easier, and has a large storage capacity in the boot, making it one of the most competitive cars in its class.

Audi TT Roadster
Alright so this one does cost more but really it had to be on the list. Audis are well known for keeping one step ahead of most other popular cars and the Roadster is no exception. Its sleek interior, smooth handling and powerful engine make it one of the most desirable small convertibles around – if you want to buy an Audi this could be the perfect car for you.

Mazda MX-5
The MX-5has been a common sight on the roads since it first launched in the late 1980s, and it’s hardly difficult to see the reasons why. Its comfortable sleek interior and light bodywork ensure that it is a fun and sporty drive. Whereas previous models have all come with a soft roof, with the newest model you have the choice of an electrically powered hard top instead that retracts in just 12 seconds.

Mini Convertible
You’ve probably noticed that most Minis look pretty much the same, but the truth is they are one of the most customisable cars around. Obviously the convertible looks slightly different to most Minis thanks to its canvas roof, but there is a seemingly neverending list of other alterations you can choose to help you get exactly the car you want.

UK sales of new cars were down by a quarter in May compared to the same time last year, despite the government’s introduction of a £300m scrappage scheme to encourage buyers back into the new car market. Figures show a total drop in sales of 24.8%, marking the 13th consecutive monthly decline in sales.

A total of 289,958 vehicles were sold between January and May 2009, 289,958, a worrying drop of 27.9% compared to the same time last year. The motoring industry has been hit hardest of all by the recession, and many manufacturers have been forced to resort to desperate measures to stay in business. The constant decline in sales has caused many manufacturers such as Nissan, Vauxhall, Honda and Ford to implement temporary factory closures and a large number of workers have been left without jobs.

The new scrappage scheme introduced by the government should help begin to solve the problem, giving potential buyers a £2000 incentive to scrap old cars registered before 1999 and buy a new one instead. Granted, £2000 is not going to enable you to trade in an old banger and buy a new Mercedes Benz, but it’s a step in the right direction and more than 35,000 orders have been put in so far, though the result of this is yet to be seen in the sales figures. This does not mean the scrappage scheme has failed however, as it only launched on the 18th May and will take time to convert into new car sales. It’s hoped that the scheme will improve people’s faith in the car industry that June’s sales figures will tell a different story.

But there is one specific car market that is still doing well despite the woes of the wider car industry. The ‘mini’ segment grew by 50% in May, suggesting that consumers would rather buy a Nissan Micra, a Mini or a Ford Fiesta than a fuel-guzzling sports car or a people carrier. Smaller city cars are a far better choice for people with a tight budget as they are more fuel efficient and cheaper to buy in the first place.

Last months new car sales figures have shown no effect of the Government’s £300m car scrappage scheme after it was announced that the market suffered a 24% drop in new car sales.

The Government’s car scrappage scheme provides the consumer with £2000 when they scrap their old car for a new model car. The scheme started in May and had problems after some manufacturers, one being Ford, held off on their involvement after there were arguements over costs.

The UK car market has now suffered 12 months of sale losses, even with the new car scrappage scheme being introduced. This doesn’t reflect the news that consumer confidence was recovering slightly.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced that a total of 35,000 new cars had been ordered through the new scheme, however it will take some time to transfer these sales into new registrations. They also used the excuse that a huge number of consumers are looking around to try and get the best offer before buying a new car, this could just be a way of giving the scheme some extra time to prove that it wasn’t a complete waste of money.

134,858 were sold in the UK last month with the Ford Fiesta coming out on top with the most amount of sales. 15,386 of those sales came from Vauxhall who have suffered after being hit by a 40% drop in sales.

The overall number of corporate sales during May has had a huge effect on the overall number of new sales for May. Car leasing companies that offer a range of makes, such as Vauxhall leasing and BMW leasing, are reducing the amount of cars they are buying because they are also suffering from the economic crash.

Many leasing companies are cutting jobs because when many people consider getting a new car, they forget about the leasing options that are open to them. Plus with the introduction of the car scrappage scheme, consumers are encouraged to buy a new car rather than consider other options.

The car industry is suffering at the moment, it has infact seen some of its lowest sales in two decades and this is all caused by the credit crunch. But although the sale of new cars are down a huge amount a lot of profit is being made by used vehicles. People are just purchasing these like they are going out of fashion, lets take a quick look at some of the most important reasons for giving up your used car.

1) When you purchase a car it depreciates very quickly, but currently that is not happening, they are either holding their price or gaining cost. By actually selling your vehicle now, you have a much better opportunity to earn more cash.
2) The government have just initiated a scrappage scheme, where they will give you around £2000 if your car is older than a decade old, this money can only be used to purchase a new car. So once again if you have always wanted to purchase a new vehicle, then this could be exactly the right time.

Selling your used car at the moment can bring you a wide variety of benefits. We all know that there is currently a major slump in the car sales market, but at this current moment I feel that the best thing is to go out and buy a new car and there are a few reasons for saying this

1) You will get them a lot cheaper as prices have dropped during the economic downturn.
2) You will get a much better and reliable vehicle than you would buying a used one.

There are plenty more benefits to be found, so why not look at trading or selling your old car in and reaping the benefits of a new one

Do you want to Buy a New Alfa Romeo or Buy a New Mercedes