Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Some vehicles are higher risk than others for less obvious reasons. The death rate of the Nissan 350Z is double that of the average sports car. At first glance you might think the car is at fault. However, upon closer inspection, the death rate is higher because the drivers of these cars tend to be younger, less experienced drivers with a higher likelihood of being involved in a collision and require high risk auto insurance. It’s important to look at a vehicle’s safety features to see how dangerous it truly is.

Side-Impact Protection

Having proper side-impact protection can mean the difference between life and death. Crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) resulted in a wide range of results for side-impact and rear whiplash protection. While whiplash on its own is not a life-threatening injury, head injuries can be without proper protection.

The facts don’t lie: drivers and passengers in vehicles with side-curtain airbags have a higher likelihood of survival in a side-impact collision. In the U.S., side-curtain bags are required for all vehicles made after 2009. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s estimated these reduce fatal side-impact head injuries by 45 per cent and save up to 1,000 lives each year.

Built to Last

Side airbags are often not enough on their own to save lives. A vehicle needs to be structurally sound to withstand a serious collision. The size and weight of a vehicle are crucial when it comes to vehicle safety. Smaller, lightweight vehicles almost always come up on the short end in collisions.

However, smaller vehicles do have some advantages. A smaller vehicle like the Mazda 3 is a lot easier to maneuver than a bigger vehicle like the Ford Explorer. When trying to avoid a collision, a smaller vehicle may let you get out of the way in the nick of time.

While a larger vehicle may better protect you in multi-vehicle accidents, you aren’t always at an advantage when it comes to single-vehicle collisions. There is a staggering 43 per cent fatality rate in these instances. Both SUVs and pickup trucks have twice the chance of rolling over, according to the NHTSA.

Pickup Trucks

You’d think pickup trucks would better protect you in a collision. Unfortunately, it’s quite the opposite. According to the safety advocacy group Informed for Life, pickup trucks are the most dangerous type of vehicles. Not only do pickups have the highest chance of fatality and serious injury, they have a high risk of rollover. Few pickups offer electronic stability control compared to other vehicles. If you’re an inexperienced driver, you should really think twice before driving a pickup.

Please visit Rates.ca for more information on car insurance for high risk drivers.

Becoming the owner of a new car can be a very exciting event. Here are six money-saving tips to keep in mind when buying a new ride.

Certified pre-owned vehicle

Drivers who are on a tight budget should consider buying a certified pre-owned vehicle. Unlike an average used car, a certified pre-owned vehicle usually comes with a lengthy warranty. Not only are certified pre-owned vehicles in superb condition, but they also have low miles. Car shoppers can actually save as much as $10,000 by opting to purchase a certified pre-owned vehicle.

Avoid purchasing unnecessary options 

Many car buyers are tempted to upgrade their vehicle with additional features. However, these upgraded features will typically cause the total cost of the vehicle to increase. By choosing a cloth upholstery instead of leather, the car buyer can save an average of $1,500. However, safety upgrades such as a rear-view camera may be well-worth the extra cost.

Take advantage of deals

At various times during the year, some car dealerships have outstanding bargains. If the dealership has a surplus of an outgoing model, they will usually offer substantial discounts. This is great news for the drivers who want to put a little extra cash into their pockets. Car shoppers also need to be on the lookout for cost-cutting incentives.

Research the vehicle’s long-term reliability 

After the original warranty expires, the car owner will have to foot the bill for any repair work. Shoppers should seek to purchase a vehicle that has a reputation for being reliable. This will help to avoid costly repairs in the future. It is also a good idea to research the vehicle’s projected cost of maintenance.

Compare the cost

Before making a final decision on a new ride, be sure to perform a car cost comparison. A side-by-side comparison chart will help the car shopper to analyze the cost of each vehicle.

Have a budget in order

Some car shoppers simply cannot resist the appeal of a certain vehicle. However, smart car buyers always consider their personal finances before making a final decision.  Car buyers should never allow the excitement of buying a new vehicle to cloud their judgment. By implementing these tips, car shoppers will be able to save a significant amount of money.

It’s no secret that many high-stakes poker players live lavishly. When your earnings can number into the millions of dollars, why shouldn’t you treat yourself to the finer things? And treat themselves they do. Famous poker players spend their winnings on sprawling mansions, all-inclusive vacation getaways, and, of course, some of the most expensive cars on the market.

For many of these professional gamblers, a trip to the car dealership is the ultimate way to splurge. We can promise you they aren’t picking out a Honda. Just take a look at three of the coolest cars some of the most famous poker players in the world get to call their own.

Bentley Continental GT 

Poker sweetheart Vanessa Rousso made her way onto the professional stage in the early 2000s playing Texas Hold’em and has since secured several career titles in major tournaments. Her biggest win came in 2007 when she walked away from a World Championship of Online Poker No-Limit Texas Hold ‘em event with $700,782.50. Since then, her total winnings have climbed to over $3.5 million. How does she enjoy that money? By taking it down to the dealership.

Recently, she traded in her Lamborghini for a Bentley Continental GT, which has an MSRP of $189,000. The coupe combines modern technology with classic Continental inspiration, while sporting sharp, contemporary lines and a lush interior. The powerful yet refined 12-cylinder 6-liter engine has twin turbochargers that make for an exhilarating drive, complemented by one of the world’s most advanced all-wheel-drive systems. Despite its power, the GT is amazingly efficient as evidenced by the 12 percent reduction in fuel consumption. Although the car is mass-produced, much of it is hand-assembled, giving the Bentley Continental GT a personalised, unique feel.

Mercedes Benz SLR Roadster

Phil Ivey is often lauded as one of professional poker’s most successful players, having excelled at many different games including Omaha, Stud, and H.O.R.S.E. Since appearing on the scene in the late 90s, Ivey has earned a reputation as the Tiger Woods of Poker as well as countless career titles, including 10 World Series of Poker bracelets. Currently, his career winnings stand at over $21 million. He spent part of that on a Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, one of the world’s most sought-after supercars.

The supercharged 617 horsepower V-8 engine is hand-built, while the body shell and chassis are made from high-strength carbon fiber composite. In short: It’s a sturdy ride. The Roadster’s arrow-shaped nose and twin fin front spoiler give the illusion that it might take flight at any moment, accented by swing-wing doors that open forwards and then up at a wide angle. Inside, premium leather lines the dash, doors, armrests, and consoles for a sophisticated finish, while body-contoured carbon fiber seats grip the driver just right. While not commanding poker tables around the nation and the globe, you can spot Ivey cruising around Las Vegas in this sleek ride.

Rolls Royce Phantom

Regarded as the best all-around poker player worldwide, it makes sense that one lavish sports car wouldn’t be enough to satisfy Ivey. He is also the proud owner of the iconic Rolls Royce Phantom, joining the elite ranks of fellow Phantom owners like Jay Z and David Beckham. The Rolls Royce Phantom is a $400,000 car that embodies the modern luxury driving experience. The Phantom commands attention with its poise and sophistication, as well as stunning attention to detail. For example, each door cleverly hides an umbrella just in case of rain.

The leather interior is soft and supple, complemented by polished veneer throughout; each piece is harvested from the same tree. Lamb wool rugs are underfoot. The curve of the exterior suggests movement even while the Phantom sits still. A state-of-the-art suspension system and smooth power delivery make for a ride that could be likened to a trip on a magic carpet, effortless and air-cushioned. All of which make riding in the Phantom a luxurious and unforgettable experience that Ivey gets to enjoy daily.

These are just a few examples of the many auto indulgences some of the world’s most famous poker players have treated themselves to. As stakes climb higher, you can bet that these superstars will continue to drop insane amounts of money on some of the world’s coolest cars. Who knows what cars we can expect to see Ivey, Rousso and the next crop of successful poker players riding around in 2016, but here’s hoping they are even more luxurious and outlandish than this year’s picks.

Buying a new car is an exciting time. There is such a vast array of options and dealerships to choose from that it’s easy to become overwhelmed by an overly pushy car dealer. Unless you’re friends with the dealer, there is a legitimate chance they’ll try to take advantage of your trusting nature. The average dealer marks up interest rates by 2.7% — one of many mark-ups new car buyers can avoid by simply doing a bit of research before arriving at the dealership.

A car purchase is a big expensive for just about any budget. In fact, buying a new car is one of the most expensive purchases most of us will make in our lifetime. Around 90% of prospective car buyers conduct an online search before buying a vehicle, while around 48% of people spend 1-3 months browsing and researching before making a purchasing decision.

Car dealers benefit from each vehicle they sell via a commission. They will often do anything to get that commission, especially if it involves persuading an impulsive buyer. About 38% of consumers make a purchase within four hours when buying a car, which is the type of buyer car dealers crave for each day — the type who doesn’t have the time or patience to research a car or its offered price.

Car dealers are able to manipulate impulsive buyers, either by raising the price or even initiating some popular car salesman scams. One of the most popular scams is the bait and switch, where the dealer advertises a too-good-to-be-true price, purely as a way to get prospective customers to the car lot. Upon learning that the price is different, many customers will leave – but the more impulsive buyers will remain.

Other scams include the aforementioned dealership financing, which can result in significant interest, as well as fake fees and yo-yo financing, where buyers drive off the lot in their new car before financing comes through, only to be told by the dealer a day or two later that their financing fell through and they have to finance with a different lender at a 5% higher rate.

Clearly, dealing with car salesman can be stressful and financially complicated, but simply being an informed customer will go a long way toward getting you a car at a fair price. For a more detailed look at how to get a fair price at the dealership, check out the infographic video below, courtesy of CJ Pony Parts.

Picture courtesy Charlie Fisher

You may have noticed over the past month that making a comment on BSCB was harder. To be precise it was restricted to Premium Members of the site. This temporary block was for security reasons to prevent scam comments to clog the site and affect its performance. The problem has now been resolved and comments are back to more accessible. You just need to enter a few “Captcha” characters, this to avoid robots making comments on the site. So please comment away and let us know by commenting on here if you encounter any issues.

In their latest campaign classic car insurance specialist Cherished Vehicle Insurance published a map of Great Britain, asking readers and bloggers what their favourite classic motoring event was. As far as I am concerned there is no competition at all: the winner is the Silverstone Classic, arguably the biggest classic motor event in the world.  It will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year and is going as strong as ever, with roughly 20 races during the 3-day event and more than 1000 classic cars entered. What’s mouth-watering about this event is that virtually all generations of classic racing cars are represented and will race for you! From historic Formula One, sports cars, ‘Le Mans’ sports prototypes, GT cars, touring cars, Group C cars, with some even categorised by age with pre ’61 Sports cars, pre ’56 Sports cars, pre ’63 GT cars, pre ’66 Grand Prix cars and 90s GT legends for example!

Pretty unbelievable to have all these various sorts of classic cars represented in one single venue, and this is part of what I like about the Silverstone Classic. In fact I believe this is the one place and time in the world where you can see the most classic racing cars in a single event. That’s for the racing, but there are also, depending on the year, roughly 7000 classic cars displayed on the infield as well, sixties and seventies music in place to entertain the crowds (Status Quo anyone?). Year after year, the Silverstone organisers have gone the extra mile to make sure our entire experience is ‘classic': period buses have been brought back into service to get you travelling within the event. Going there with kids means you will probably trigger in them a life-long passion for classic cars. And it’s worth it.

Disagree? Think of a better classic car show, submit it to CVI’s motoring events map.

Back in 2009 a kid called David was filmed by his dad feeling dizzy and delirious after a dentist appointment. The rest is history, with the video going viral and viewed over 127 million times since, and counting. But what did David really see in the video? Was it just his dad filming or was there a whole lot of fantastic things happening before his eyes?

Bosch Automotive has released a new video which is a reverse-shot perspective revealing what ‘what David really saw’ during his post-dentist daze. And boy was it good. Ice bear shooting snowballs at the windscreen and dragon blowing flames anyone? Each view from David gets wiped clear by Bosch wiper blades, demonstrating a few of the features from a new range of Bosch flat Wiper Blades.

Why flat? Because this particular set of Bosch blades feature beam technology which is a design without metal or plastic brackets that distributes more uniform pressure along the entire length of the blade for ultimate performance in all climates and faced with all kinds of challenges, from snow balls to dragon fire. In fact Bosch flat blades are proved to last 40% longer than other premium wiper blades, making them the best choice for performance in extreme weather.

This combined with a Bosch patented design which features precision-tensioned steel springs, offer outstanding all-weather visibility. Quiet-Glide micro-finish wiping edged and DirectConnect one-step installation system are some of the other features that make Bosch flat Wiper Blades the leading and preferred choice for motorists, including David’s dad.

Post sponsored by Bosch

Renault Trafic

For most companies and organisations, vehicles play a major role in the delivery of goods and services. So when it comes to buying vehicles, how do you make sure you make the best choice for your business? Below you’ll find some of the key factors to incorporate into your decision-making process.

Heavy vehicles

Heavy vehicles play a pivotal role in the world’s leading industries like manufacturing, construction, mining and freight. When it comes to buying a new truck, there are many things to think about, but probably the most important is reliability.

Make sure you invest in a rig from a reputable manufacturer who continues to provide great after-sales service and support across the country. Sure ‘brand’ is a swanky marketing term, but it stands for much more. Established brands stand the test of time because they’ve proven themselves and their products. They are continually developing and refining their products based on input from their customers. If this is the sort of brand you’re looking for in heavy vehicles, take a look at a company such as Western Star Trucks. They’ve established themselves across the globe based on these principles and allow you to customise your vehicle to perfectly fit the needs of your business.

Light Commercial vehicles

Light commercial users are now spoilt for choice, but the key decision to now make is whether to buy a utility vehicle or a van. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each:

Utility Vehicles

Pros

• Drivers (and any passengers) are separated from the goods they’re carrying. This is important if you’re carrying smelly or dangerous freight
• Given that many utility vehicles have a one-tonne payload rating – this can really help at tax time
• Utility vehicles can be used for work during the week as well as recreation on weekends.

Cons

• Typically speaking, utilities don’t have great load security. You can help to overcome this by adding a canopy or fitting lockable storage boxes on to the utility tray
• Utility vehicles have a well-earned reputation for mediocre handling because they’re designed around a beam rear axle with leaf-spring suspension.

Buying tips

• If you want to use your utility vehicle for work and play, some brands now offer passenger car-style safety features like electronic stability (ESC) and traction control. These vehicles handle much better and provide greater overall safety.

Vans

Pros

• Vans have better load security and if you go for an optional bulkhead, you can better separate drivers from the freight
• Semi-bonneted vans can give you walk-through access to the cargo area
• Many vans now have car-like safety features such as stability and traction control and multiple airbags.

Cons
• Let’s face it, vans don’t really match the image of utility vehicles!
• If you want a vehicle that can be used for work and play, a van probably isn’t your best choice.

Buying tips

• Think about how much room you want in the cargo area and for hands-free deliveries, opt for a model that has powered sliding doors
• If you need a bit more grunt, some makes and models now offer V8 engines as well as 4×4 ability.

Making the right vehicle purchase for your business comes down to identifying what you need from a vehicle. The trick is to then match your needs to available vehicles and for some drivers, this might mean opting for additional features or even modifying or customising a vehicle for a perfect, tailored fit.