The Chancellor’s Spring Statement is disappointing for drivers, says the RAC. RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said, “The announcement that the Chancellor will look at the possibility of reducing VED for businesses that buy cleaner vans is very welcome and we look forward to seeing more detail on this. “But motorists will be very disappointed that the Chancellor hasn’t addressed the … [Read more...]
Finance News
Elephant on car forecourts needs moving
There is an elephant on car forecourts, says one industry observer. The Government must stimulate the switch to hybrids and electric cars with the collapsing sale of diesel and a general slowdown in new car sales, said Alex Buttle, director of car buying comparison website Motorway.co.uk. "Again flagging diesel sales are the recurring and seemingly unsolvable problem. Petrol and AFVs sales … [Read more...]
Write-off changes surprise for some
As we enter the peak period for second hand car sales a survey of 100 consumers by vehicle history checker mycarcheck.com found that 89% were unaware of the recent write-off category changes. In October 2017, the old A, B, C and D categories were replaced with new codes, which focus on safety rather than the cost of repair: A (scrap), B (break), S (structurally damaged repairable) and N … [Read more...]
MB C Class hits top spot, with thieves
The 2017 league table from Tracker of Top Ten Most Stolen and Recovered Vehicles places the Mercedes-Benz C Class in poll position for the first time, rising from 4th place in 2016. The BMW X5 drops to second place as it leaves the top spot for only the second time since 2011. The 2016 Top Ten, like many previous years, was entirely dominated by prestige models from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and … [Read more...]
Car ownership lifetime cost is over £206,000
Owning a car will set the average motorist back more than £206,625 during their lifetime on the road. A study of 2,000 drivers revealed just how much they can expect to spend on repairs, petrol and parking, as well as insurance and car tax. It revealed car maintenance sets the average owner back £439 per year as they fork out for essential upkeep and repairs – adding up to £27,716 over a … [Read more...]
Electric vans now matching diesels’ cost, say analysts
The costs of emissions-free, electric vans are now as low as their diesel competitors. That’s according to a new study by consultancy CE Delft that focuses on the small van segment largely used in cities and which accounts for 40% of total van sales in the EU. The study takes into account purchase price, taxes, fuel bills and maintenance costs over six years, equivalent to a standard lease … [Read more...]
Ignis, Kuga and 3008 are top SUVs, say analysts
As Rolls-Royce and Ferrari announce plans for an SUV, the used car experts at data company hpi have crunched the numbers to pick some more affordable ways to put one on your drive. While the Ford Fiesta was the biggest seller of 2017, the SUV segment was the only one to grow overall. The hugely popular vehicles blend practicality with an appealing on the road presence. If you are in the … [Read more...]
Supercars still selling well – on used forecourts
Supercars are selling strongly on the used market in Britain. BCA reports strong demand for the luxury and supercar sectors in the UK as sales of high value vehicles in 2017 often substantially outperformed guide price expectations. BCA sold a range of vehicles from the luxury and supercar sectors for over £100,000 last year, including Audi R8 Spyder, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Bentley Mulsanne … [Read more...]
Sales slide indicating worse to come, warn analysts
New car sales in Wales slipped 5.5% in January. Dealers reported 5,333 new cars registered in Wales last month compared to 5,641 12 months ago, the SMMT reported. That was a slightly better performance than the UK combined figure which saw a 6.3% decline with 163,113 new cars leaving showrooms. Bad weather in Scotland seriously impacted on sales north of the border with a huge 15.1% … [Read more...]
Falling car sales hit trade and Government revenues
An estimated £2.6 billion loss of revenue has resulted from the 5.7% fall in new car sales last year given by figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, according to AA Cars. AA Cars explored the key reasons underpinning this decline in new car sales and surveyed almost 20,000 drivers. It found that 31% of motorists blamed this change primarily on rising living costs … [Read more...]