May 20, 2012

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Detroit Goes Greener

April 20, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

It seems the USA has finally come round to a greener way of thinking in making its motoring choices as prices of gas have moved north of $4 per gallon.

To the rest of the developed world, such thinking is long overdue. In Western Europe and Japan, for example, motorists have long had to tolerate far higher fuel prices than do the Americans.

And whilst $4 per gallon might sound high, for UK consumers it’s still a bit of a joke when you calculate that this comes out somewhere around 66p per litre – i.e. still well under half the price paid in the UK.

Little wonder, then, that the eco cars UK customers are buying in ever-increasing numbers still manage far higher miles per gallon figures than do their US counterparts.

Nevertheless, it’s all about what you’ve been used to in the past versus what is happening today. And on that score, the Americans have had something of a shock to the system and are finally beginning to make the kind of green motoring choices the rest of the world has been making for a long time. The fact that this is driven more by the need to economise than it is by any great yearning to be environmentally conscious doesn’t really matter, perhaps – the bottom line is the same.

Both US giants Ford and General Motors have recently reported increased sales of more fuel –efficient cars with their annual results. In fact, the Ford F-series which has been the USA’s top selling vehicle for a long time is now seeing over half its sales coming from fuel-efficient V6 versions.

This is just the beginning perhaps? The two US giants have a long way to go to catch up to the market leaders in green technology like Honda. But at long last – things are certainly beginning to change as US car consumers vote with their cash.

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , , ,

A family favourite plugs-in

March 27, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

Those drivers who are anxious to consider the environment when they get behind the wheel, but also have a family to consider, will greet Honda’s announcement to introduce a plug-in hybrid this year with approval.

The ninth generation of the Accord will include a plug-in hybrid, a hybrid and two gasoline models.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are the next step in technology for hybrid cars. As the PHEV can be plugged into the mains electricity supply to be recharged, the electric only range of the vehicle has been increased to a level that can cover the majority of most commutes – under twenty miles.

Honda’s Accord 2013 PHEV will be able to travel 10 -15 miles on electric power, at speeds up to 62 mph. it will also be possible for the driver to switch between gasoline-electric mode and direct drive – which is where the engine alone powers the car.

As well as being good for the environment, the Accord 2013 has been designed very much with safety in mind. Honda has introduced lane departure technology and a blind spot monitoring feature called ‘lane watch’. This is where a rear view camera transmits images of what’s happening in the blind spot to the intelligent-Multi Information Display screen on the dashboard. There is also a forward collision alert system, which feeds information to the car’s computer concerning any potential oncoming obstacles and triggers an automatic warning to alert the driver.

The combination of increased fuel efficiency and a wealth of safety features make the Accord 2013 a really sensible choice for those drivers who care as much about the environment as they do about their families.

The Accord 2013 goes on sale during 2012 in the States, with the first plug-in hybrid deliveries scheduled towards the end of the year.

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Save on fuel costs

February 9, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

With the high price of oil today, people are doing the most they can to cut down on their weekly or monthly fuel bill.

This can be achieved in a number of ways:

Drive less. This may be stating the obvious, but the fewer journeys you do, the less fuel you will use. So, plan the use of your car and be more organised when planning your week. Make sure that you don’t have to pop out just to buy milk or post a letter. Have long life milk in the cupboard so that you don’t run out, and put letters that are ready to mail on the dashboard so that you can send them when you are on the way somewhere, rather  than making a special trip. You can also make a conscious decision to walk the kids to school once or twice a week, or arrange to join a car pool, so that you can take turns doing the school run.

Choose your route. You may have set routes that you are used to using. If you spend a lot of your journey time sitting in traffic, or waiting for lights to change, think about changing route. Idling in traffic can waste an enormous amount of fuel, and the only way to avoid this is to have a car that has stop start technology or to choose a less congested route. If you can’t find a better route to travel, then see if you can alter the times you travel – starting and finishing work at different times to travel at quieter times.

Change your car. If you drive a car that has poor fuel economy, then with the increased cost of petrol and diesel, it’s time to put serious consideration into changing your car. For instance, if you drive a hybrid where the power is derived from a small internal combustion engine in combination with an electric motor, you reduce fuel costs immediately. Hybrids are now available in pretty much every car size – from little runarounds to people carriers. You can also get a hybrid estate car, meaning that you don’t have to compromise on practical family-sized transport to save on fuel. All new cars have better fuel economy than in previous years – on average 29% better than new cars in 2001.

Although it’s probably not cost-effective to change your car before you had planned to for better fuel economy, it’s certainly worth thinking about this aspect when you are ready to change your car.

 

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Get the surveyors in

January 18, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

You’d never buy an old house without having first booked in a qualified surveyor to carry out a full structural survey right – so why behave any differently when buying a used car?

Unless you’re a qualified mechanic, buying a used car from a private individual you don’t know is a distinctly dangerous business. And let’s be honest – buying a used car from a used car showroom can often be something of a lottery no matter what the warranty tells you. If you’ve ever tried going back to one of the slightly less reputable second hand car showrooms around with some form of mechanical problem (whether minor or major), then you’ll probably know what I mean!

Now the reasons so many people don’t bother getting a qualified mechanic in to thoroughly review a second hand car they’re thinking about buying are two-fold:

  1. It can be a relatively expensive processing relation to the overall value of the vehicle and,
  2. Lots of people like to think they know a little more about car mechanical problems than they do in reality.

But both these things are a mistake. First off, it’s probably best to negotiate a price reasonably close to the asking price (having checked the book price first of course to make sure it’s a reasonable ask) subject to it passing a mechanical survey with flying colours. If it then does, then fine, you’ve bagged yourself a good car. If it doesn’t, then you can negotiate further and harder on the back of the survey or – at worst – you’ve spent a relatively small amount of money and saved yourself a much bigger financial disaster in the longer term.

Secondly – even if you’re quite well up to date, no one at all is completely au fait with some of the latest developments in eco cars for example. The technology is just changing too quickly.

Jut one more point – if the car you select in the first place is a Honda, then independent, objective surveys show that they’re the UK’s most reliable cars – so at least you’re stacking the odds in your favour. But still get it professionally assessed before you agree to buy.

Filed Under: Buying A Car, Cars Tagged With: , , , , ,

Fuel efficiency drives new car purchasing

January 17, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

According to a Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) report in November 2011, a record 1.6% of new cars sold in the same month in the UK were alternative fuel cars – neither petrol nor diesel. Gradually, hybrids and electric vehicles are becoming more popular. However, the most popular new car in Britain last year was the Ford Fiesta – with 90,701 sales up to the end of November.

There were 4.5 per cent fewer sales of new cars during the first eleven months of 2011, with a total of 1,822, 065 cars being sold in that time. This is despite a range of tempting new car offers that retailers are using to woo buyers.

Those contemplating buying a new car are offered a variety of incentives, including free servicing and roadside assistance for a set number of years, financial contributions towards insurance costs and cash back offers.

It’s a strong reflection of how everyone is feeling the pinch of the worldwide economic crisis. More than ever, people are seeking great fuel-efficiency in the cars they are buying, and manufacturers are responding to this by increasing the fuel economy of practically every new car in production. The average fuel economy in a new car is 52.5 mpg which, compared with 2001, is an improvement of 29.3%.

A new entrant to the UK car market that scores well on fuel efficiency is the new Honda Civic diesel model. It has a 2.2 litre engine that can achieve 64-67 miles per gallon, and produces emissions of just 110g/km of CO2. This is almost equal to Honda’s hybrid Insight, which gets 64.2 mpg and has emissions of 101g/km. According to the SMMT report 55.6% of the new cars sold in November are diesel fuelled, representing an increase on previous years. With other examples of diesels that have even greater fuel efficiency, like the tiny Kia Rio that gets 88.3 mpg, it’s unsurprising.

 

Filed Under: Buying A Car, Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

The best reasons to drive a hybrid

January 9, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

Although many people like the idea of driving an eco-friendly car, the premium on hybrid vehicles can be off-putting when signing up for a finance deal on a new car. But with some of the biggest car manufacturers, from Honda to Toyota doing their part to green their vehicles, the choice won’t be in your hands for much longer.

Once you’ve made the switch to a hybrid though, it will pay back the extra initial cost through cheaper running costs, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge that it’s doing less damage to the environment than a conventional car.

Cheaper to run

Hybrid cars are cheaper to run as you save on fuel costs.  Every mile you travel will be powered by both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor working together, so there’s less strain on the engine and you’ll use less fuel.  Hybrids qualify as low emission cars, so will fall into a lower road tax band, saving you money on an annual expense.

Lower CO2 emissions

By driving a hybrid you will be making a positive contribution to reducing environmental damage caused by transport.  During its lifetime, a hybrid will emit 25% less greenhouse gases than conventional cars. It may be that all vehicles will require hybridisation in the future, so choosing a hybrid now as a new car offers you the chance to be ahead of the game.

It’s simple

Some people might be put off from adopting hybrid technology by the idea that it’s complicated.  But it couldn’t be simpler. It’s not like with an electric vehicle, where you have to consider complications like the extent of the vehicle’s range before it needs charging. From a driving point of view, a hybrid is just like a conventional car – you can top up the tank whenever you see a fuel station and the electric motor battery recharges itself as you drive along. The only thing you’ll notice is that you need to fill up far less frequently.

 

Filed Under: Buying A Car, Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

Too old for a Porsche – too young for a Merc?

January 4, 2012 By Mary J. Rodriguez

If you’re feeling a little too old for a Porsche but still too young for a Mercedes saloon, then where do you turn?

Perhaps you go for something like a Ford Focus? But you know there are so many of them on the road – which renders them a little unexciting and anyway, and they’re just not quite sporty enough.

So … you’re wondering which way to turn. You aren’t ready o give up your sporty dreams just yet, but nor do you want to go completely staid.

Well I think I’ve found the answer in the latest version of the Honda Civic.

Personally, I found the previous eighth incarnation of Honda’s classic mid-range car a little too loud. In other words, there was slightly too much of the “boy racer” about many of the models with its sleek looks and original body and wheel colour styling combinations.

But the civic 2012 has been toned down to absolute design perfection for those of us over 30 and, dare I say, of the male persuasion?

The eight-generation was just a little over the top for those of us who want a quality “town car” with a touch of the sports about it. But the ninth generation Civic tones that down just enough to make it acceptable. Of course, this is a Honda, so there are endless design innovations mechanically – along with the reliability that goes along with Hondas or than any other car manufacturer in the UK according to at least two independent reviews.

And if you’re in that in-between stage of feeling a little too old (or too hard up…) for a Porsche – but still a bit too young for the Mercedes saloon style of driving – then the new Civic just be the perfect balance. You be the judge.

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Getting a bargain car

December 14, 2011 By Mary J. Rodriguez

If you’re on the lookout for a new car, then you may be wondering what the best way to go about finding your new motor is.

Of course, if you have plenty of money, you’ll probably be buying new, so all you need to do is pick a manufacturer and go down to your local dealer. You can choose the colour and any extras that you want. You may decide to buy one of the eco cars UK consumers are now choosing in droves.

Unfortunately, we don’t all have the kind of spare cash you need these days to buy a car brand new.  In which case, there are four main ways of finding a second hand car.

  1. Find a friend or relative who is getting ready to upgrade their car.  People change cars on average every three or four years, so ask around and see who’s doing so.  You’ll know by the kind of person they are how they’re likely to have treated their cars, so you won’t be buying ‘cold.’
  2. Dealers often have as many second hand cars for sale as new.  You’ll have the security of getting a warranty when you buy from a dealer in case something goes wrong, but you’ll pay a premium to have that security.
  3. Car auctions are probably where you’ll find the cheapest cars, but you don’t have the possibility of getting a good look at the vehicles before the bidding starts and you have to really know enough about cars to buy ‘as seen’.
  4. Trawling through private ads will give you lots of options, but as you won’t know who you’re buying from, your best option is to have a professional mechanic check any potential purchase over before you part with any cash.

If you’re not committed to a particular brand, then it’s best to go for one that has a reliable reputation – Honda has been named as most reliable manufacturer in the UK for the last six years, in a What Car? and Warranty Direct survey.

 

Filed Under: Buying A Car, Cars Tagged With: , , , , ,

Off-road bike rally

November 24, 2011 By Mary J. Rodriguez

For my 40th birthday last year, my wife bought me what I can honestly say was the best present I’ve ever had.

I’d always wanted to have a go at off-road motorcycling but wasn’t serious enough about it to really get into it. And to be honest, I always felt a little nervous about the prospect, not being much of a biker.

Nevertheless, I took the plunge courtesy of a voucher for a day’s training and riding and what a day it was!

The training day was in deepest Shropshire and once we’d got the important but dull safety briefing and introduction to the bikes, we were off into the wilds.

All the requisite equipment and bike hire was of course included; the result being that you feel like the real deal; you just haven’t actually done it before!

My bike was a new Honda CRF450R and I can honestly say it was superb. After the necessary but boring training instruction, we were off across country. The trail took us across muddied fields, up and down some pretty steep hills, across rivers and streams, over gravel and rutted paths, and through woodland.

As the day wears on, you get more and more confident; for which read, you go a bit faster!

But the excellent Honda handled it all in its stride and I managed not to fall of which was a feat in itself.

The whole riding trip lasted about five hours. And to say it was exhilarating would be an understatement. I’d definitely do it again, but it didn’t grab me quite enough to go the whole hog and buy my own off-roader and start doing it really seriously. But for a once or twice a year experience and for a couple of hundred pounds, I’d thoroughly recommend it.

 

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Stop! Don’t buy that new car

November 14, 2011 By Mary J. Rodriguez

Stop! Don’t buy that new car. You know you don’t really need it and that it will cost you more than you want to pay.

Did you know that cars are one of the biggest single causes of spiralling debt? That’s because of the “keep up with the Jones” mentality that so many of us seem to have these days. Also, the cars look so tempting in the showrooms and on the forecourts; particularly the new ones. And those “low monthly payment figures” always look so easy when set against your take home pay.

So, before you know it, you’re saying to yourself “well, it’s only £200 a month and it’s a nice new car which will be safe and reliable” etc.

The problem is that we all like the look and idea of a new car and convince ourselves that the payments are manageable. But when you really look at your disposable income, taking off all the things you need to spend each month, as well as making a decent allowance for the things we want, like holidays, new clothes, the odd meal out and a little entertainment, the car payment figure often makes up a whopping percentage of what’s left.

Add in the insurance and tax costs and the servicing and it gets even worse. Now consider that your car is probably the most fast-depreciating asset you’re ever likely to own, and it may be time to think again.

There are exceptions to the rule; cars used as capital like taxis, or cars which are very collectable may be a good idea. Also, hybrid cars and other kinds of eco cars UK buyers are after in ever-increasing numbers are generally cheaper than the rest to run.  But on the whole, it’s always wise to stop, think again and do a little number-crunching before you press the buy button.

 

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