February 22, 2010
Book ahead to reduce car rental stress
According to the British Vehicle Rental Leasing Association their will be another shortage of rental cars this summer and are suggesting that you book well before to avoid disappointment.
The hire car shortage last summer is likely to be repeated this year, this is because rental companies have reduced their fleet sizes due to the recession.
Many rental companies are getting hampered by red tape from the government which can make it difficult for the rental companies to move vehicles around Europe.
“Rental companies always try to look ahead and estimate demand for peak periods, but with finance in short supply and new vehicle prices rising, they can ill afford to have cars sitting around idle,” said John Lewis, chief executive of the BVRLA.
“This means that there will be periods when demand outstrips supply. You wouldn’t go to an airport and expect to buy a ticket on the day you want to travel, and the same should apply to renting a car.
“Cars are expensive assets and you can’t turn the supply on and off like an ice-cream machine or printing presses.”
The BVRLA has a range of other tips for customers wanting to make their car rental experience a less stressful one. It has published a Guide to renting a car which can be downloaded here.
February 19, 2010
How to buy a car
If you’re looking to buy a new car, your local dealer’s showroom seems the most logical place to start – and it probably is – but AutoeBid has a few recommendations to take on board before venturing into the lion’s den. It is important to be ready to face the enthusiastic car salesman who will be only too keen to make sure you walk away with his choice of car, not yours.
1. Be prepared
When visiting the showroom for the first time it’s always a good idea to be fully prepared: make sure that you leave yourself enough time to have a good look at the model of interest, time for at least a thirty minute test drive as well as enough time for the salesman to answer any questions you may have afterwards. Remember to take your driving licence, both parts if it is the new style as salesmen will sometimes use any excuse to stop you from driving.
2. Confidence is key
Take control at the beginning of the process by letting the salesman know that although you are in the market for a new car and are close to making your final decision you will not be making that decision today and will need to consider all your options before finalising anything. This way the salesman will do his very best to help knowing that what he does today may help influence your decision his way. Be prepared to answer some of the salesman’s qualifying questions, at this stage they are pretty harmless and are a part of the process required before they let you out for a drive. Be as honest at this point as you can as they may refer to your answers later…
3. It’s your test drive
Every salesman will have their own route which they prefer. The length of your test drive is normally determined by the salesman deciding how likely you are to purchase the car: let the salesman know that you would like to try the vehicle on a variety of roads to really make sure you get a good feel for the car and are comfortable behind the wheel. It’s your test drive make sure you are completely satisfied before returning to the dealership. Remember it’s a big decision and costly one if you don’t get it right.
4. Closing the deal
It is at this point that the salesman will use all of his skills and sometimes “tricks” to keep you in the showroom and try to get some commitment from you for the time he has spent so far. Common tricks include offering a hot cup of coffee knowing full well that you’ll have to let it cool down before drinking it!
Don’t feel at this point that you owe the salesman anything; remember he is only doing the job he is paid to do. Now is the time to expect the questioning to become more direct, they will do their best to pin you into a corner and make you believe you are getting the best deal right there and then and that it’s a one time offer never to be repeated. Reiterate what you said at the beginning about not making a decision then and having to consider all your options before making your final decision.
5. Just before you go
Just before they let you go most dealers will have one final attempt at keeping you by offering that little something extra they held back; this just goes to show that they weren’t offering you the very best deal in the first place.
If you mention buying on-line or through Auto eBid to the salesman, they will most probably bombard you with reasons not to use our service (after all they want to secure your sale and sometimes will do anything to get it). The most common reasons given are as follows:
- “The car will be an import”: This is not true unless explicitly requested in your auction – and there are only a handful of cars (mainly performance cars with long delivery times) where you can request an imported vehicle.
- “They wouldn’t be able to service the car”: All UK main dealers would be required to offer full servicing and warranty support under the terms of their franchise with the manufacturer – and in fact they make a good profit from servicing and warranty work, so their after-sales department will be happy to assist you with this.
- “The car won’t have a warranty”: All new cars come with a warranty and it will be exactly the same warranty for any UK car supplied through Auto eBid as from your local dealer – ie. valid throughout the UK. This is normally at least 3 years (with the exception of a few makes).
- “You will never actually see the car”: Your car will be supplied through a UK main dealer – so it is sourced in the same way as it would be from your local dealer. That means that if your local dealer can get the car, your supplier through Auto eBid will also be able to get the same car.
- “We can get you the car more quickly than if you buy online”: Auto eBid’s reverse auction sends your order to dealers across the UK – so if there is a potential supplier somewhere who has the car in stock, they are far more likely to be able to deliver within a shorter delivery time than your local dealer.
- “Impossible, we can’t even buy the car for that price!”: Because the dealers who generally bid in the auction work on the basis of volume sales, they can often purchase the vehicles at lower prices than some other dealers and then pass on these savings to you. By pre-registering cars, suppliers can also offer even greater savings.
Even some of the dealers who participate in Auto eBid’s reverse auction regularly use these excuses to stop their customers from using our system: they’re all part of the sales tactics which you can avoid by going straight for the auction and by-passing the negotiation stage!
February 18, 2010
Artist creates treat for the Chevrolet’s Spark launch
26-year-old artist Ian Cook has decided to add his own splash of colour to mark the launch of the Chevrolet Spark, by creating his own painting of the youthful Spark.
Cook, from Solihull, West Midland, created his masterpiece by driving remote control cars through acrylic paint – he has create 40 pieces of art and never used a paint brush.
“It looks quite simple,” he said, “But the logo is actually very intricate. The angles have to be exactly right, and the criss-cross detail of the gold inside the bow-tie was difficult to replicate.”
The two images are Cook’s fifth and sixth works to feature Chevrolet. His first three – of the Camaro Convertible Concept, Beat Concept (which evolved into Spark) and Rob Huff’s 2008 Lacetti WTCC car were created live at the 2008 British Motor Show, while last year he did an image of Huff’s WTCC Cruze live at Brands Hatch during race weekend.
The young artist’s association with Chevrolet continues, as Cook will become the UK judge in the visual arts section of the pan-European Young? Creative? Chevrolet! competition, which brings together art students across Europe to compete in a series of disciplines, including photography, video, fashion and visual art.
esure advises motorists buying a new car to haggle and shop around or it could cost them dear
With one in twenty five motorists planning to to pick up a new ’10′ plate car from March 1st, failing to haggle and checking out both financing and insurance could leave you seriously out of pocket.
New research commissioned by esure insurance reveal that despite having just come out of the worst recession in living memory 33% of motorists asked wouldn’t haggle on their new purchase.
According to the statistics 42% of those questioned admitted to failing to do their homework when it came to researching finance deals.
Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure car insurance, said: “Motorists should never be afraid to haggle down the price of a new car. Savings are there to be had by driving a hard bargain on the forecourt. Shopping around is also key so whether it’s the insurance cover, finance package or the price tag of a new set of wheels, motorists should spend a little extra time doing their homework beforehand to make sure they get a good deal.”
Apparently drivers form the North West you are most likey to pay over the odds for your new car according to the statistics – with 36% of those asked never bargained on the forecourt.
The most shocking statistic are that 38% of women would never negotiate on the displayed price of a car compared to 3% of men. The under 25′s are the most likely to lose out with 67% of them admitting they won’t haggle on the price of their new car.
So when you go and buy your next car make sure you haggle – try and get a discount on the price or a decent trade-in – after all if you don’t ask you don’t get and don’t be afraid to walk away.
UK Automotive Production up
According to newly released statistics from The Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders, car output rose by 64.8% in January off the back of low volumes last year giving the biggest gain since May 1976.
Commercial vehicle production was also up by 9.6% in January – the second consecutive monthly rise.
“Vehicle and engine production rose for a third successive month in January, demonstrating the continued success of global scrappage incentive schemes,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “Despite the close of the UK scheme next month, SMMT expects a modest recovery in 2010 output as economic growth, a competitive exchange rate and the introduction of innovative new models to UK plants help to lift manufacturing levels above those seen in 2009.”
February 5, 2010
MiTo destroys Space invaders on TV return
In classic twist on the space invaders arcade game, Alfa Romeo will return to television screens on Friday February 12 to its new MiTo MultiAir models.
The Italian manufacture’s latest advert has been created to launch their MultiAir engine line-up – which promises deliver increased fuel economy and lower emissions and performance.
The MultiAir range introduces the 1.4-litre 135 bhp Alfa MiTo Lusso and Veloce as well as the 170 bhp 1.4 Alfa MiTo Cloverleaf model complete with active suspension. All versions include Start&Stop technology.
The MultiAir range introduces the 1.4-litre 135 bhp Alfa MiTo Lusso and Veloce as well as the 170 bhp 1.4 Alfa MiTo Cloverleaf model complete with active suspension. All versions include Start&Stop technology.
Capable of reaching 62mph from a standing start in just 7.5 seconds, the range-topping Alfa MiTo Cloverleaf has a top speed of 136mph and a striking combined cycle official fuel economy figure of 47.1 mpg. These high-tech MultiAir engines also produce amongst the lowest CO2 levels of all Alfa MiTo petrol models.
Prices for the Alfa MiTo MultiAir models start at £15,165 through to £17,895 for the top-of-the-range Cloverleaf. To find out more about MiTo MultiAir and the full Alfa Romeo range please visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk
Buying Cars online is starting to click
New statistics shows that buying cars online is becoming more popular and it’s apparently a win-win situation, says Which ? Car – you will not only save substantial amount and also have added legal protection.
Which? decided to trawl the car market for 14 popular new cars and found 12 of them cheaper online, five of the models were £5,000 below their list price.
Most importantly completing a deal online makes the sale subject to a seven-day cooling off period after the delivery in which they can reject the car and be entitled to complete refund.
This is because you are buying unseen, instead of purchasing a car in a showroom. The guidelines on cancellation rights for cars bought at a distance have been set out in a special book published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
They are heavily weighted towards the consumer, although court action may be required if the seller disputes your right to reject a car.
According to statistics compiled by Which only 5% of people asked had bought their car online, but 18% said they are likely to do so in the future.
Richard Headland, editor, Which Car ?, says:”the internet is revolutionising the way people are shopping for cars and we’re all for it. Not only can buyers find bargain prices online – without haggling with a salesperson – they have better legal rights too. The web has thrown down the gauntlet to traditional bricks-and-mortar car dealerships.”
February 4, 2010
Land Rover announced deal with Ski Club to produce ski report iPhone app
Land Rover, in association with Ski CLub of BGreat Britain, has launched a new free snow report app for the iPhone.
The app feautures live snow reports from 250 resorts including snow depths, on and off piste conditions and the latest news from the world of skiing and snowboarding.
Anthony Bradbury, UK marketing director, Land Rover says: “Land Rover’s all-terrain capability ensure owners can make it to their favourite ski resorts whatever the conditions and now Land Rover, working in partnership with the Ski Club of Great Britain, can offer snowsports enthusiasts up-to-the-minute ski and snow information, whatever their location.”
Land Rover is the Official Vehicle to the Ski Club of Great Britain and Chemmy Allcot, Britain’s Number 1 Female Skier, is a Land Rover Brand Ambassador.
You can get his app for frre from the iTunes store here: www.itunes.com/app/skiclubsnowreports
Toyota’s Director Jon Williamson posts youtube video to reassure their UK customers
Toyota GB Director Jon Williams gives a message of reassurance to customers and outlines how Toyota will manage the recall of customer’s vehicles in the UK.
February 3, 2010
New research suggests that Europeans will buy 10 million low carbon cars by 2015
New research by Frost and Sullivan has suggested that 80% of new cars sold in Europe will have CO2 emissions below 150g/KM by 2015.
“By 2015, the average car in Europe will be five per cent lighter, with 30 per cent lower CO2 emissions,” says Frost & Sullivan Programme Manager Vigneshwaran Chandran. “Downsizing, gasoline direct injection (GDI), and start-stop will be the key technologies helping original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) achieve emission targets by 2015.”
About 8-10 million cars are expected to be in the less than 120g/km CO2 emission band in Europe by 2015 – a significantly attractive market opportunity for both volume and premium manufacturers, says the research.
“Premium manufacturers such as Daimler and BMW are likely to use a combination of electric vehicles, hybridization, and downsizing to achieve their 2015 CO2 emission target of 130g/km, while volume manufacturers will use a mix of green technologies such as GDI, VVT and start-stop systems,” notes fellow analyst Hariher Balasubramanian.
The countries covered in this research service are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
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