Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

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.

Ford Edsel

Car manufacturers spend millions of pounds creating their vehicles, from initial concept and design through to the marketing campaign intended to encourage millions of motorists to purchase them. At least that’s the idea.

Automotive history is littered with examples of cars that have spectacularly failed to make any sort of impact on the driving public, much to the embarrassment of the brands that were responsible for them. Read on as UK-based vehicle breakers Sell the Car list the five cars that should’ve just been scrapped.

Pontiac G3

Sold 6,233

More a result of GM’s eventual demise in 2009 rather than anything hugely wrong with the car itself, the G3 was ultimately awarded the title of shortest-lived Pontiac after the brand was necessarily discontinued. If for whatever reason (perhaps you were hit on the head?) you were keen on owning a Pontiac G3 then the Chevy Aveo is essentially its clone, and was produced beyond 2009.

Acura ZDX

Sold 5,677

People rarely buy performance vehicles for their practicality – a good job in the case of the Acura ZDX; the sloping roof rendered the back seats suitable only for children or small adults, while cargo space was also significantly reduced. However the Acura ZDX, which was essentially a second-gen MDX didn’t even out perform its older cousin in terms of handling, being equalled or bettered by it in ever performance category tested by Edmunds.com. The ZDX went on to sell fewer than 6,000 units, unsurprising given that it seemed to offer nothing innovative or greatly appealing.

Lexus IS 300 SportCross

Sold 3,078

Selling a ridiculously disappointing 3,078 units since its release in 2002, the Lexus IS 300 SportCross suffered primarily from being incredibly unremarkable, failing both in terms of providing genuine practicality that it’s estate-style rear would suggest or the exciting performance or aesthetics that you’d like to see from a ‘Sport’ version of anything. Just look at the picture of the IS300 above. We expect the overriding emotion you feel is something along the lines of ‘meh’.

Ford Edsel

Sold 2,848

This auto marquee developed by Ford was such a flop that the name ‘edsel’ is now a by-word for a product that, although perfect in theory, fails miserably in reality. Overly stylised, massively overpriced and promoted via a marketing campaign that only showed the car through a blurred lens or underneath a tarpaulin, Ford got everything wrong with the Edsel – a harsh lesson in how not to manufacture vehicles.

Studebaker Wagonaire

Sold 940

Despite being manufactured from 1963 through to 1966 the Studebaker Wagonaire only mustered up a measly 618 unit sales, with some of the issue potentially being down to an early design flaw that saw roof leaks develop near the front of the sliding section. Service letters were sent to dealerships with the aim of addressing the problem, however it may have tarnished the vehicle’s image too greatly, despite boasting an otherwise sound design.

This guest blog was written by John Rooney on behalf of Sell the Car – buyers of cars, vans and motorbikes in all shapes and sizes for scrap.

According to surveys, Australians prefer to spend more than $100,000 to drive their dream sports car. Recent figures also show that there is a 20% increase in sales of sports cars in Australia- that is, 1 sports car in every 20 new cars are sold. However, how do Australians make a choice in which sports car to buy? And what exactly do they look for in a sports car? Any people consider Australian’s to be obsessed with sports, BBQ’s and playing pokies at sites such as the Pokies Palace official site.

Australians spend much money in buying sports car. Thus, they make it a point to choose the one that meets their needs. There are various specifications that Australian people take into consideration when purchasing a sports car. Read on.

• Speed Guidelines. Australian sports car drivers choose to purchase a car because of their “need for speed”. As of April 2010, the fastest sports car is the 2002 Ferrari Enzo. It accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just a meager 2.6 seconds.

• Streamline Design. This factor does not merely affect the car’s looks, but also its speed. Features such as the car’s low body add up to the operation and help elevate the speed. Furthermore, the slickness of the styling (roundedness or curved lines) allows the driver to easily handle the car at high speeds and in tight turns as well. A lightweight sports car enables it to go faster. Hence, the streamline design is one of the things Australians take into consideration when selecting a sports car.

• Powertrain. For Australians, the powertrain is another significant aspect to take note of when choosing a sports car. This is the part of the sports car that combines an engine with its transmission. According to experts, a manual transmission is preferred because the driver feels more control. However, the car industry and manufacturers offer sports car enthusiasts with choices between automatic and sequential gearboxes. This is because there are those drivers who prefer sequential gearboxes, which require just the shifting and there’s no more clutching.

• Engine Types. This is another element for Australian sports car buyers. Souped-up engines are preferred because they give drivers excitement, although sports cars can also feature various engines, ranging from V-6 or V-8 engines. Sports car enthusiasts say the larger the volume, the more the car’s horsepower and turning force.

• Safety Features. Despite being thrill seekers, Australians want to keep themselves and their passengers safe while they’re on board. Needless to say, they choose a sports car that is equipped with safety features. Yet, recently released sports cars are already prepped with left and right anterior air bags as well as shoulder and lap belts. They are also equipped with anti-lock brakes and stability control.

• Price Points. This seems to be the biggest factor Australians do consider when buying a sports car, but this actually comes last in their checklist. They first take into consideration all those mentioned and finally, look up into the price.

These are some of the specifications Australians look into when planning to purchase a sports car. Knowing that cars are sold at a higher cost in Australia, these people make it a point to choose the best sports car that would fit their needs, so that they won’t regret their purchase in the end.

TOTAL just unveiled its new Robot Quartz Campaign that promotes its TOTAL Quartz range of products. Total first used its iconic robot in 2010, but we can now see it perform in real, urban and natural places. The new campaign makes us discover how the robot took life in the first place and acquired its strengths, all thanks to Total Quartz lubricants, thus conveying the message that Total Quartz does more than just protect or clear engines: it brings out the engine’s full potential and improves its performance and yield.

Total is using the Total Robot to continue building consumer awareness in emerging countries in Asia, Middle East, South American and Eastern Europe. In fact, Total Quartz is offered by a joint venture between TOTAL Middle East FZE and Zahid Group Holding Company Ltd for manufacturing and marketing lubricants & specialty products within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This way, Saudi TOTAL marks the entry of TOTAL in the largest lubricants market in the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi TOTAL Lubricants offer products such as Engine oils, Hydraulic oils, Gear oils, Transmission Fluids, Turbine oils and Specialty oils. The “Quartz” range is Total’s flagship brand for passenger cars. The TOTAL QUARTZ ranges of engine lubricants are designed based on the wide technical expertise and the most developed technology used in racing to provide your engine with optimal lubrication and to ensure that it stays in good condition and operates smoothly, all while:

• Protecting it against all the causes of wear by reducing friction and corrosion
• Preventing your engine from overheating
• Ensuring good cylinder compression and maximum engine efficiency
• Ensuring that your engine is clean by preventing the deposit of various impurities.

Some lubricants in the total quartz range go further than this, helping you to save on fuel consumption and protect the post-treatment systems fitted to the most recent engine systems. Saudi Total has a large lubricants mixing and filling plant at the Industrial Valley in King Abdullah Economic City, which was built on an area of 65 thousand square meters with an annual capacity of 25 thousand metric tons of highly stranded products.

Within the TOTAL QUARTZ range, the TOTAL QUARTZ 9000 and TOTAL QUARTZ INEO products are the most modern, innovative and high performance oils available. They are formulated using new-generation synthetic components. Using synthetic technology oils is the right choice for your engine based on the following reasons:

1. The highest level of protection for engines: TOTAL QUARTZ synthetic technology oils provide 60% more protection than semi-synthetic or mineral oils
2. Provide a maximum engine compression ratio, thus delivering optimum power
3. Generate fuel saving by reducing the amount of friction inside the engine. Fuel consumption decreases without users having to change their driving habits!
4. Make engine starts easier, even in extreme weather conditions.
5. The only engine oils capable of simultaneously protection engines and pollution control systems against wear and deposits, while eliminating the need to prematurely replace expensive components.

The general consensus of imposing mandatory car insurance has many benefits when it comes to motoring; unbiased examination and legislation of accidents, responsibility and payments etc. In recent years, the need for protection against the unexpected problems of the road has become more and more necessary but having insurance doesn’t always mean you are covered – if only legislation was that clear-cut.

Because of this, one may find that the day insurance is needed, you may not actually be covered and it is therefore essential to get the right balance between getting the right amount of cover for when something does go wrong and making sure you don’t pay too much. No one wants to be in a position of paying more than they should but nobody wants a policy which doesn’t cover their vehicle for the majority of accidents.

In short, there’s a lot to think about.

Protecting others

The main reason behind making some types of insurance compulsory is to ensure that even if it is too expensive to pay outright, every driver on the road can produce the basic financial ability to pay for any damages or injuries caused towards others.

Vehicle repair and health costs can prove critical to the wallet at best but what becomes more apparent is the fact that this would greatly outweigh the costs of insurance if you were liable. The only problem with a cover such as third party is that one person’s welfare is not included here – yours.

Protecting yourself

With a more comprehensive cover you could ensure everyone affected by an incident is covered if one was to occur. The option to include more requirements in your cover such as vehicle repairs, medical expenses, property damage just goes to show anything can happen, to anyone, at any time. Remember the saying, ‘failure to prepare is preparation to fail?’

So don’t wait for something to go wrong, use cheap car insurance from More Than and tailor a policy that is right for in order to guarantee peace of mind!