European Union car-makers have joined forces to warn of billions of euros in losses in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Groups including the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers and 17 national bodies warned of the impact of “no-deal” and the effect on 13.8 million people in the European Union including Britain. Last week, it was said … [Read more...]
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Weekend roadtest: VW Passat SEL 190 estate
Volkswagen’s golden oldie Passat is a treasure. From its launch in 1973 it is now the VW with the longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year and it even predates the Golf name by a year. With over 30 million sold worldwide in 46 years, the Passat is the best-selling mid-size car in the world after seven versions have been launched. The enhanced eighth generation … [Read more...]
Three brands dominate UK insurance
Three car brands continue to dominate the ranking of most popular cars in the UK. Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen account for the top six most popular cars, representing almost a quarter of all enquiries on comparethemarket.com. The Ford Fiesta leads the way with 6.1% of enquiries followed by the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Focus with 5.4% and 3.8% respectively. “The data also shows the stark … [Read more...]
More cars but driven less, survey shows
There are more cars on the road than ever before, but we’re driving them less, according to new research. The estimated average annual mileage per car in England has decreased as the number of cars per household has risen, falling 17% from around 9,200 miles in 2002 to 7,600 miles in 2018. For petrol cars, the average was just 6,600 miles in 2018. Meanwhile, consumer demand for lower annual … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 September
If you’re planning to watch the Rugby World Cup games at a club or pub, beware the fact that drink drive accidents markedly increase between 1 and 4pm on a Sunday. Men are the main culprits, mostly younger drivers, says insurethebox.com . New trams on South Wales proposed £738M metro network will not have toilets, it has been learned. Transport for Wales says passengers would be able to use … [Read more...]
BARC celebrates 21 years of racing at Anglesey Circuit
This year sees the 21st anniversary of the first BARC North Western Centre race meeting at Anglesey Circuit. Back in those days the Centre only ran meetings at Oulton Park and were always on the lookout for other circuits to run meetings as there was the ever-present danger of not being able to use Oulton Park. In 1997 the track was visited by officials from BARC HQ and NW with the view of … [Read more...]
All is sometimes not what it seems – beware counterfeits
The Independent Garage Association has collaborated with the Intellectual Property Office to highlight the dangers of counterfeit and consumer supplied car parts within the IPO’s Crime and Enforcement Report 2018 – 2019. The IGA’s section of the report explains how proving the authenticity of a part can be difficult if it is not bought directly from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and … [Read more...]
RAC Approved LCVs standard announced
The RAC Approved Dealer standard for used vans and other light commercials has been announced and will shake up the retail trade. Sean Kent, RAC sales director at Assurant, the New York based Fortune 500 company which partners with the RAC in providing and administering warranties and related solutions, said, “The new standard is designed to create a nationwide approved used van programme … [Read more...]
Tradelines 18 September
During the typical service lifetime of a car, nearly 60% of owners are never contacted by the sales team of that mainstream servicing dealer. This easily missed opportunity for future sales has been highlighted by Cooper Solutions which urges dealers to bring together their sales and servicing departments to nurture relationships and drive sales with the support of the analyst’s FullCycle … [Read more...]
Fuel prices narrow but choices widen
If you want to go green, see black but really want to go blue, the latest fuel prices will make you see red and muddle your mind. Thankfully, Confused.com has produced a useful fuel flow chart to find your way through the maze of possibilities depending on your mileage, environmental considerations and motoring habits. The price gap between petrol and diesel drops to 2.8p, from 9.5p … [Read more...]