Happy Halloween

Pics taken from the Facebook pages of various auto brands. Can you identify them?

Tips for finding the right used car

"DON’T BUY A CAR ONLINE"  is the top tip on The Car People site. They equate the experience to buying a house and I guess, I would have to agree with that. Before buying a used car, I would definitely want to see the car and more importantly, take it for a test drive before I actually buy it.

Buying a used car can sometimes be a bit of a gamble if you are not very car savvy. I bought my current car from a used car dealer and the experience was not that great. The reputation of used car dealers (and quite unfairly I should add) has been ruined by some rotten eggs and people are quite wary. One of the things that most people hate about used car dealers are the over eager pushy salespeople. However, there are several great used car dealers out there with great customer service and no irritating salespeople.

If you live in Manchester, Wakefield,  Sheffield and surrounding areas in the UK, and are looking for  reputable used car dealers, do check out The Car People. They have been operating for over 10 years and many of their customers go back to them again and again.

They have put together a list of 10 very useful tips you need to consider before buying a used car, which you can download as a pdf document on their website.

Check out their really funny TV ad.

New Range Rover

The All-New Range Rover unveiled at the Paris Auto Show.

It's the first SUV to have an all-aluminium body structure. No information about emissions or prices have been released as yet.

Jaguar F-Type - more info

Some more info about the new Jaguar F-Type from their Facebook page.

The F-TYPE utilizes a new 8-speed "Quickshift" ZF automatic - supposed to facilitate fast and smooth gear changes. Why not just put a manual gear in?

Jaguar launches the F-Type

This is the new Jaguar F-Type, a Two-Seater convertible sports car which was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, La Musee Rodin in Paris, France. It is the first time in nearly 50 years since Jaguar has come out with a 2 seater. Their last 2 seater was the Jaguar XK120 which was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show

Lana Del Rey with the F-TYPE

The car will go on sale in the summer of 2013.

Nokia Drive on the Nokia Lumia 900

Two videos of the Nokia Lumia 900 running the Nokia Drive (sat nav) app.

I am using the Surfer Dude voice.

The kids think he sounds funny and they all laugh when he says "Your right, not my right, Dude!"


Recalculating the new route


3D representation of the Ricoh Arena

The new MINI Paceman

Four versions of the all-new MINI Paceman is set for UK launch in March 2013.

This coupé version of the Countryman goes from a 0-62mph of just 7.5 seconds. The unique design features include upright front grille, with hexagonal radiator grille and broad chrome surround along with the blacked-out pillars creating a ‘floating’ roof. However, the most distinguishing feature is it's roof which gently slopes towards the rear of the car, ending at the integrated spoiler.

The four versions of the car includes two petrol and two diesel. All have powerful four-cylinder engines with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the optional six-speed automatic with Steptronic function for manual control.

For those who want4 wheel drive, MINI’s ALL4 system is available on the Cooper D, SD and Cooper S Paceman models.

MINI Cooper Paceman:

1.6-litre Petrol engine 122bhp

0-62mph in 10.4 seconds,

fuel economy of 47.1mpg

CO2 emissions of 140 g/km.

MINI Cooper S Paceman

1.6-litre Petrol engine tuned to deliver 184bhp.

0-62mph in 7.5 seconds.

Fuel economy is 46.3mpg

CO2 emissions are 143g/km.

MINI Cooper D Paceman

1.6-litre 112bhp turbocharged Diesel engine

0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds.

Fuel economy 64.2mpg

CO2 emissions 115g/km.

MINI Cooper SD Paceman

2.0-litre 143bhp Diesel engine.

0-62mph time is 9.2 seconds.

Fuel economy is 61.4mpg

CO2 emissions 122g/km.

A John Cooper Works Paceman version will also be coming soon.

Prices will start at £18,970 on the road.

Nokia Drive app review

Sat Navs have got to be among the most useful innovations of the modern age. It has completely changed the way we travel. We hardly think about it now but I remember that it was less than 6 years ago, we were looking at road maps, planning our journeys and getting lost countless times. One time we were driving to a friend's house in Warwick about half an hour's away from our house, took a wrong turn and ended up on the motorway and finally in Birmingham. In the end we ended up taking around 2 hours before we finally found our friend's house. All of that became a thing of the past when I bought a used Tomtom One on eBay.

Five years on, I am still using the old TomTom sat nav and regularly bought an updated version of the UK-Ireland map. However, I would end up regretting it every time because somehow several postcodes would inadvertently be missing and the TomTom would try to lead me up one-way streets, especially in London. In the end, I just gave up and  have not updated my maps for a while.

The Navigation app on my android phone has come to my rescue a couple of times when I did not have the Tomtom with me or when the address was missing from it. However, the major problem was that the app would drain away the phone battery and I would have to drive real slow especially on junctions as there would always be a lag. The worst was when you lost the GPS signal and were left wondering where to go next.

Anyway, I was really excited when I got my new Nokia Lumia 900 as I had heard some great things about the Nokia Drive sat nav app from some of my friends who have the Nokia Lumia 800.

Free Maps
Before I could use it, I had to download the map and it took around 5 minutes to download the entire map of UK and Ireland over our wifi connection at home and best of all, unlike TomTom maps, it is completely FREE of charge. The navigation voice is available in several languages including Galician, Malay and Tamil. I was curious when I saw there was one called Surfer Dude (English). The kids really like it and I have stuck with it as it always cheers me up. 

The 4.3" screen of the Nokia Lunia 900 is just perfect. I initially tried the app out by using it to drive to Coventry city centre from my house (a distance of about 2.4 miles). I used my old Dash Genie phone holder to fix it on my car dashboard. I then selected the 3D map option. 

I set my destination (Priory Street), hit the "Drive to" button and then clicked "Start" and I was ready to go.

It automatically alerted me to the speed limits on the route and unlike my TomTom, got it right. I also tried changing the routes a couple of time just to see how fast it would recalculate the new route and I was pleasantly surprised - it was really fast and later found out that it's even faster than the Tomtom in calculating new routes. The Nokia Drive app also allows you to see famous landmarks on the route by turning on the Landmarks function.

Coventry cathedral and other landmarks near the destination.

Since then, I have used the Nokia Drive app a number of times in the following weeks after the initial test. I now maked most of my favourite locations in the city using the 'Pin' function. One of the biggest advantage it has over the Tomtom is the fact that I do not have to carry around a separate bulky Sat-nav around. 

The farthest I have gone using it is to Orpington near London from Coventry, a distance of around 130 miles. We had absolutely no problems apart from the time when I lost the GPS signal for a few minutes on the M25. In case you are wondering about the battery, the phone still had about 37% juice left when I finally reached Orpington.

Nokia Drive to the rescue

We were at a conference in Brunel University in Uxbridge recently and was giving our friend a lift to the Uxbridge tube station. I am not familiar with the area and we could not find the location of the station on our Tomtom when my wife suddenly reminded me that I had the Nokia Lumia with me. Fired up the Nokia Drive app and we were there in a couple of minutes. Our friend was really impressed and I think we may have helped Nokia gain a new customer.  

What I would like to see in future updates of the app?

I don't think the Nokia will completely replace our Tomtom as yet after all, it is a mobile phone with some great features but still a mobile phone. I really missed the ability to choose alternative routes. For example, for going to London I prefer to use the M40 rather than M1 (which is supposedly the fastest and the only option on Nokia Drive) and I hope future updates to this app will have the option to choose and calculate alternative routes.

One feature on Nokia Drive which I really wanted to try out was the 'My Commute' funtion, which records our driving preferences and is supposed to give us the latest traffic information, allowing us to avoid jams. Unfortunately this feature is not available in the UK yet and I am eagerly waiting for the day Nokia launches it here. 

Jaguar unveils all wheel drive XJ in New York

Last month, Jaguar launched it's new 2013 model year XJ and XF luxury sedans with the All Wheel Drive™ and fuel efficient V6 engines at New York City’s Highline Park.

The Jaguar AWD is an active torque-management system which uses a performance-oriented rear-drive bias which can shift power to the front wheels to either pre-empt or counter wheel slip. This allows enhancing traction while retaining the sporty agility and steering feel of the rear-wheel drive versions.

The AWD system is paired with a new supercharged 340 horsepower 3-liter V6 engine, with eight-speed automatic transmission and featuring Stop/Start technology.

Jaguar Land Rover engineers spent 18 months testing the new all-wheel drive system in a variety of conditions, including the frozen lakes at their development facility in northern Sweden.

Volvo V40 and 5 other car safety test results

Euro NCAP has just released the test results of six new models, namely, the Audi A3, Ford B-MAX, Isuzu D-Max, Kia Cee’d, Renault Clio and Volvo V40. Here are the results in brief:

Audi A3 1.4 'Attraction', LHD:
The new Audi receives five stars. Although the passenger airbag can be disabled with an optionally fitted switch to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position, there was no clear warning provided unlike in the other cars.

Ford B-MAX 1.5 diesel 'Trend', LHD: The mini MPV has received a commendable five stars. Instead of B-pillars, the car incorporates a structure into the doors to form a central post when the doors are shut. It also comes with the Active City Stop, an AEB system previously rewarded under Euro NCAP Advanced, which helps the driver achieve maximum braking effectiveness in an emergency situation.

Isuzu D-Max Crew Cab, 2.5 diesel, RHD: Received four star rating. This is an improvement on the previous model tested in 2008. The Isuzu received a score of 83% for adult occupant protection and improved protection for child occupants against a tougher 2012 regime. Though pedestrian safety has improved (51%) it still did not yet reach the 60% threshold required for five stars.

Kia Cee’d 1.4MPI LX, LHD:Receives 5 stars.

Renault Clio 1.0 base grade, LHD: Receives five stars.

Volvo V40: With five stars Volvo's new car is Euro NCAP’s all time top scorer in its segment.

It incorporates the World-first Pedestrian Airbag technology, fitted as standard on the entire V40 range. In case of a crash with a pedestrian, sensors detect the impact, release the bonnet and deploy the airbag in a split second.

BMW Zagato Roadster concept

The BMW Zagato Roadster, made it's official debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance yesterday. This collaboration between BMW and Zagato is based on the BMW Z4 35iS.

Enjoy the pics. What do you think?

Would you like to own a used Olympics BMW?

Some great news for all Beemer fans here in the UK. BMW plans to sell off most of their Olympic fleet cars. This includes the 320d and 700 520d EfficientDynamics as well as the new 1 Series ActiveE electric vehicles, MINI E (electric vehicle) and 5 Series ActiveHybrids.

The great news is that there are more cars then their dealers here in the UK can distribute and more than 50% might go up for auction, where some lucky fellow might be able to get them at a bargain (or maybe not). No cofirmation yet as these are all rumours.

It's about time to upgrade my old car for a new one and a Beemer would be ideal. Not sure whether I can afford the Olympic cars even though they are used. I would love to try out the 1 Series ActiveE electric vehicles or Minie Es.

An electric car is an option I am considering for my daily commute to work as we have free recharging points in our car park. I was really jealous when I learnt that several bloggers in Malaysia had been given Nissan Leaf cars to review for a few weeks. That's another car I would love to try out.

Bad news for BMW

As the Official Automotive Partner for the London 2012 Olympic, BMW has been taking full advantage of the association. However, a new report from Which? the UK consumer group, has some damning findings.

The BMW 3 Series Convertible and the BMW 5 Series Touring were listed among the top 5 cars likely to be off the road due to faults. The soft top convertible was listed as the worst spending nearly 3.5 days in the repair garage and it was also among the highest in terms of annual repair costs.

The best cars - i.e, cars with the least breakdowns are

1. Honda Jazz
2. Toyota Avensis
3. Suzuki Swift
4. Kia Picanto and the
5. Peugeot 107.

Sportiest Mini

There’s new exclusive MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS GP content on "The Source" app on Facebook.

Check it out

Hilarious Mini Orchestra

Minis play the British anthem.

Looking for classic car insurance

A couple of days back there was a story in the British press about a vintage Bugatti while had been found in a garage under piles of rubbish. Apparently the car is estimated to get about £100,000 in an auction. What is even more amazing is that the car is not even an authentic one but a good replica model Bugatti Type 51. This story shows the level of interest generated by some of these vintage models.

1931 Bugatti Type 51
Originally posted to Flickr by Brian Snelson

Some people collect really vintage models, spending time and money to maintain and keep them running. They even go to the extent of building new engines based on original plans as there are no one selling the replacement parts anymore.

However, the term "classic cars" can be very misleading. The AARP classic car insurance site defines these as those vehicles which are 10 or more years old and differentiates them from Antique auto which refer to autos more than 25 years old.

The great thing about driving cars more than five years old in the US is that you actually pay less car insurance as compared to newer cars.

So if you have 10 years or more old car, there are some great discounts out there and special offers which allows you to get even more affordable classic and antique Auto Insurance coverage.

Lesser impact of automotive sponsored events

According to newly released results of the 2012 Automotive Marketing Communications
Study, carried out by Foresight Research, the automotive research specialists, it was found that:

• Overall, 10% of new vehicle buyers in 2011 attended an automotive sponsored event in the 12 months prior to vehicle purchase (down from 13% in 2010).
• Overall, 5% of all new vehicle buyers were highly influenced in their purchase decision by an auto sponsored event, down significantly from 12% in 2010 and 10% in 2009. Among event attendees, however, 24% were highly influenced by the event they attended.
• Purchase incentives, previously the most influential element of events were less available or less enticing resulting in lower event influence on purchases.
• Buyers who participated in a ride and drive were influenced by the event at a 42% higher rate than those who did not participate in a ride and drive.
• Interestingly, Mitsubishi, Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Cadillac and Jeep buyers reported the highest purchase influence from events.

The study was based on interviews of 7,851 new vehicle buyers in the U.S.

Buying car tyres online

If you need tyres most people would usually go to the nearest tyre shop, choose one recommended by them and get it fitted. However, because of the current economic climate, an increasing number of people are searching for ways to get the best possible prices. The growth of the Internet has helped facilitate this process and it is not only possible to find the best prices but you can buy car tyres online and even search for a place to get them fitted.

It's time to get my tyres replaced and while searching for discount tyres, I recently came across the ValueTyres site which besides helping you find the best tyre prices via their competitor price checker tool, also has several helpful features like an online tyre size calculator to help you choose the right tyre and you have the choice of getting them delivered to your address or find a fitting centre in your area where you can take your car and get the tyres fitted.

If you are looking for great deals on tyres, check out the ValueTyres site.

Car magnets - effective and affordable advertising

In today's economy, it's difficult for small businesses to get off the ground. Advertising doesn't come cheap, especially when belts are being cinched and pockets are nearly empty. Car magnets are great advertising solution for small businesses.

Here's why your business should use car magnets:

Car magnets are affordable.
Compared to other advertising options like billboards or radio spots, car magnets definitely won’t break the bank. They’re an inexpensive way to improve business. Driving around town with a car magnet on your vehicle helps spread the word quickly about your business.

Car magnets allow you to transform your personal vehicle into a moving advertisement.
There's no need to go purchase a fleet - all you need to do is slap on a magnet and drive as opposed to vinyl graphics which can be difficult to apply and remove. Car magnets make promoting your business easy, and at the end of the day, you can pull off your magnet and turn it back into a personal car.

It’s important to remember, however, a cheap magnet does not equal a good magnet. Investing in high-quality magnetic signs means that they won't go flying off your car the next time you're on the highway. Make sure the magnets you're buying are made from thick magnetic material and have curved corners to prevent curling and fly-always.

Alfa Romeo Giulia 50th Anniversary Celebration in Malaysia

The Alfa Romeo Giulia 50th Anniversary Celebration will be held at Citta Mall, Ara Damansara on the 15th July 2012 from 08:30am till 02:00pm .

The event is open to all and organisers reported that they have close to 200 parking lots reserved for Alfa Romeos(both Classic & modern) and Classic Italian cars .

A lot of activities are planned for the event and you can also enjoy wide variety of food at Citta Mall as well.

Thanks for the info Ganesh. Unfortunately I will not be around in Malaysia to enjoy the event.

The Guinness World Record for Tightest Parallel Parking

The Guinness World Record for Tightest Parallel Parking was recently broken in China using three Minis.

Watch the 'behind the scenes' video:

VW XL1 Concept

VW has shared pictures of the XL1 Concept on their Facebook page. The car made it's debut at the Qatar Motor Show last year.

What do you think?

Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ is finally here in the UK. This car was recently awarded the 'Car Of The Year' status by the influential Vehicle Dynamics International. With an ultra-low ride height, the car looks like a smaller, neater, yet no less aggressive alternative to the Nissan Skyline GTR.



BRZ has a flat-four 'Boxer' engine developing 197bhp (a nominal 200PS). It drives the rear axles through a close-ratio 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

How to reduce commercial fleet running costs - infographic

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has produced an infographic which serves as an easy reference guide to help fleet managers and van drivers reduce the running costs of their vehicles. It is their first infographic and is based on the findings of a white paper entitled ‘Evolution of Van: Efficiency and Fleet Operation’.

The infographic highlights some of the most obvious ways to help control and reduce costs in the current challenging economic climate.

Volkswagen’s white paper was produced by independent commercial vehicle consultant, Robin Dickeson, and the infographic highlights some key findings, such as saving fuel by using telematics increase fleet utilisation and to avoid wasted journeys, plus keeping vehicles maintained to operate as efficiently as possible, or simply choosing the right van for the job.

Read the white paper itself is available to read in full on their site here.

BMW to build engines for the BMW i8 in Coventry

Some more good news for the city of Coventry in the UK. BMW has decided to build the next generation three-cylinder petrol engines for the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car at their Hams Hall factory.

Read More: BMW's vote of confience in Hams Hall plant

The Doubleback VW Camper

If you loved to go camping but hate the idea of living in tents, you will love this VW camper.

 I definitely want one. Watch the review:

Racing ladies

The TrueCar series focuses on an all female race car team and what it's like to be a woman in a male dominated sport. Gender does not matter.

Thanks for the links Alex.

Check out the videos:

RWD Subaru BRZ coupe

The  BRZ coupe was built as a joint venture with Toyota. The car has received rave reviews in the motoring press.

The car has a new direct injection 2.0 L Boxer engine with choice of two six-speed transmissions - manual or automatic. It is claimed to have the lowest centre of gravity of any car.

According to one source, the OTR price of the car will range between  £24995 to £27995.

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According to CarWoo.com the #1 Problem Facing the Auto Industry, Auto Dealerships and Car Shoppers is that sellers are not selling during the same time buyers are looking to purchase. Check out this Infographic (based on 7,000 transactions) :

Waterless car cleaner and polisher for alloys

Its been raining on and off the past couple of days but the hose pipe ban is still on in several parts of the UK. If you want to wash your own cars, the Mantis waterless car cleaners would be ideal.

The guys at JML Direct sent me over some more of their great products - this time the Mantis Perfect Wheels – a car cleaner and polisher for alloys. This waterless alloy cleaner promises to be tough on your grubby wheels and gentle and as it is non-acidic, it won’t damage your wheels or your driveway.

So I followed the directions - I first sprayed the rims and left the foam to work into the dirt and brake dust. I used the Mantis Wheel Brush to loosen and remove the dirt and grime.

After a few minutes I wiped it off and then buffed the rims with  with the Mantis Microfibre Mitt .

Check out the results:

Before

Shiny Rims Afterwards

Perfect Wheels works for all wheel types including chrome, alloy, steel and even wheel covers. You can get Mantis Perfect Wheels (£9.99) and the Mantis Wheel Brush (£7.99) from ASDA and online at www.mantis-performance.com.