Most Recent News

One in 13 Drivers have given up driving.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:59:57 +0000

According to Axa's motoring insurance census of 2011, one in 13 drivers have given up driving due to escalating costs.

Millions of others fear that they will be priced off the road this year if driving becomes more expensive. Four in 10 say that they would use their car less in 2012 if costs associated with driving continue to rise.

Car insurance premuims rose by an average of 16.4% last year. Contact us now to save money of your car insurance policy.

Don't get caught out using your mobile phone!!!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:21:59 +0000

New research from confused.com shows that 40% of motorists still use their mobile phone whilst driving! Drivers are four times likely to crash whilst doing so, contact us to prevent this from happening. We can install bluetooth hands-free car systems to any vehicle!!

Winter Tyres

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:43:08 +0000

Winter tyres - they're not just for winter
As we approach the colder months, motorists can improve their car's braking, accelerating and steering performance simply by fitting the right tyres.

Winter tyres are a hot topic, and rightly so - for five months of the year UK temperatures average less than 7°C, a critical temperature below which winter tyres outperform regular tyres.

Made of specially formulated compounds that harden less as temperatures fall, and covered in hundreds of grip-inducing 'sipes', winter tyres give better performance in cold, wet weather, as well as in snowy and icy conditions.

According to the British Tyre Manufacturers' Association, a car fitted with winter tyres, braking from 62mph on a cold, wet road, will outbreak a summer tyre by around five metres.
On snow at 30mph the difference is 11 metres, while the same vehicle breaking on an icy road at just 20mph would pull-up eight metres shorter - a crucial two car lengths less than a vehicle using summer tyres.

A set of winter tyres should not be viewed as a cost, but an investment.
By swapping from summer to winter rubber for half the year, both sets will wear half as much, lasting twice as long as a single set of tyres.

Britain's speed limit on motorways set to rise!!

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:44:13 +0000

Britain's spped limit on motorways set to rise!
Did you know that the speed limit on Britain’s motorways is set to raise to 80mph, which will shorten journey times & also boost the economy!

The Government's intention to bring in the new speed limit will be announced at the Conservative Conference this week by the Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, as part of a deal negotiated with the Liberal Democrats.

Ministers will consult on the proposal later in the year along with plans to expand significantly the number of areas covered by a 20mph limit.

Mr Hammond argues that the new 80mph limit will shorten journey times and help boost the economy.
- the move will be criticised by environmentalists who point out that cars use about 20 per cent more fuel at the higher speed
- road safety campaigners condemn the proposals, saying it will lead to an increase in deaths and serious injuries.

Motor Insurance prices going through the roof!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:42:22 +0000

Did you know that Tiger.co.uk is forecasting that even with stable prices for the rest of the year, motor insurance prices for the whole of 2011 are likely to be about 17% higher than 2010! Think twice before making that insurance claim! Contact us FIRST at BRC for a free estimate, this could save you potentially a lot more money in the long run!

Advice from the AA Patrol of the Year

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:06:18 +0000

Stewart Topp joined the AA 13 years ago and holds the honour of being the first ever AA patrol to use an electric patrol vehicle – a Vectrix electric scooter. His other memorable experiences include driving an old AA Land Rover along The Mall at the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, rescuing a tropical lizard found among foliage a member had purchased at a flower market and assisting the police following the 7/7 bombings.

As well as his love of motorbikes, he has an interest in boats, live theatre and travel. His dream wheels are a Buell Lightning motorcycle or an Aston Martin Vanquish.

Stewart's winter driving tips will help get you and your car safely through the coming months.

Tyres
The legal minimum of 1.6mm of tread is less than twice the thickness of a CD but during the winter a minimum of 3mm is essential because the deeper tread will be more effective at clearing water.

Batteries
Modern batteries have many advantages, but if allowed to discharge, they will take a long time to recharge fully – they suffer at this time of year particularly in cars that do short journeys on cold mornings. You'll either need to make a regular long journey with minimal use of the car's electrical items or arrange to trickle–charge the battery.

Engine
Modern engines don't need tucking–up with a blanket on cold nights but it can help if it's an old car. Make sure you hang something from the steering wheel to remind you, though – a call to the fire brigade isn't the ideal start to the day!

Depress the clutch when starting a cold engine – this disconnects the engine from the gearbox so there's less drag.

Screenwash
Keep it topped up and use a proper additive at the right concentration – don't use washing up liquid though as it will foam horribly and doesn't have the same low freezing point. Many garages sell sachets or small bottles of screenwash for pennies.

Bodywork
Wash the car frequently to get rid of the salt and dirt that builds up over the winter. Check for stone chips too as rust forms very quickly in the cold, damp weather.

Replace any missing wheel trims promptly to minimise corrosion to the wheel bolts, which can seize, making removal of the wheel even more difficult.

Fuel
I usually keep my car fairly full in the cold months, as you never know when you might get caught up in an accident or foul weather. At least you'll be able to run the engine and keep warm but you must make sure the exhaust's clear of snow otherwise fumes can get into the car.

Windows
To keep the windscreen from misting up, soak a cloth in pure washing up liquid then let it dry. Now wipe this cloth on the inside of the windows and it will stop them misting up – go on, try it in the bathroom, it works!

If your windows have misted up, use the air–con as well as the heater – it's not just for summer and helps to dry the air.

Don't use water to defrost the windows – hot water can crack the screen and will just re–freeze as it cools, either on the screen or on the ground where you're standing, which could have painful consequences! Thinking about frosty mornings, a squirt of WD40 in the locks will stop them freezing.

Before you go
We see many AA members who view their car as their coat and therefore, don't think to carry enough outer clothing. Take a warm coat, gloves and hat in case the weather or the car catches you out. If you do get stuck, you'll be very pleased if you packed chocolate, water and a hot drink too.

Always carry a fully–charged mobile and take some old bits of carpet and a shovel to clear snow, in case you get stuck.

On the road
On colder days be particularly careful on tree–lined roads – the trees prevent the sun's warmth from reaching the road, which may still be icy when all around has thawed.

In fog, I usually drive with the window down and the radio off – often you can hear problems like cars ahead going over bumps at low speed before you see them.

On snow and ice just do everything very slowly because it can go wrong very quickly.

Safe and happy motoring!

Christmas petrol prices to soar

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:04:49 +0000

Motorists are being warned the price of petrol could exceed 121.61p a litre by December, Sky News has reported.

At present the average price for unleaded petrol is 117.7p a litre, two pence more than two weeks ago. However, this price has been predicted to rise by a further five pence over the next two months, creating record prices for the cost of filling up.

A rise in international oil prices is being blamed for this latest petrol price increase; the cost of oil has climbed from $10 to $80 a barrel in the past month.
The highest UK petrol prices to date were seen this year on 12 May, when they reached 121.61p, according to the AA. Motoring strategist from the RAC, Adrian Tink, told Sky News: “If this trend continues and we in addition see an increase in demand for the winter months then we may well see the record highs of May eclipsed before Christmas.

“It looks likely the price will break through its record again in the next few weeks. The last peak was because of the low pound, which increased the cost of imported fuel. Now we have rising oil prices and winter is approaching.”

August sales up 75% at Jaguar Land Rover

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:27:05 +0000

Car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover says sales of Jaguar vehicles are up almost 75% compared with August last year.

UK sales from January till August were also 45% higher compared to the same period in 2009, managers said.

The firm, based in Gaydon, near Warwick, has a plant in Castle Bromwich near Birmingham and a factory in Solihull.

"We are certainly seeing strong evidence of consumer confidence bouncing back," a spokesman said.

'Strength to strength'

The firm was bought by India's Tata Motors from US group Ford in 2008 for 1.4bn .

Tata said it was looking at ways to reduce costs after sales fell by more than a quarter last year.

Geoff Cousins, managing director, Jaguar UK said: "While August is traditionally a quieter month for car sales in the UK, we have had our busiest August for two years.

"We are certainly seeing strong evidence of consumer confidence bouncing back."

Up to 9,952 Jaguar cars have been sold in the UK, a 45% improvement on last year.

Some 6,883 cars were sold from January till August 2009, the spokesman added.

Car industry fears September slump after poor August sales

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:24:17 +0000

Car sales in the UK fell sharply again in August as the industry continued to suffer from the termination of the scrappage scheme that boosted demand during the recession.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported that 55,305 new cars were registered last month, 17.5% fewer than the previous year when consumers were able to claim a £2,000 discount by scrapping an old model.

This is the second month in a row that sales have fallen compared with a year ago.

August is traditionally a quiet month for car sales. But the fall has raised fears of another slump in September, a crucial time for dealers as new number plates are issued.

Howard Archer, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said today's figures "do not bode that well" for car sales this month, with consumers reluctant to buy a "big-ticket" item like a car in the current financial climate.

"The substantial fiscal squeeze will increasingly hit public sector jobs and consumers' pockets, while households already face high unemployment, muted earnings growth, elevated debt levels and high fuel prices," Archer added.

The SMMT agreed that the ending of the £400m scrappage scheme this year meant car sales will be lower year-on-year for the rest of 2010. Paul Everitt, its chief executive, predicted sales will be down 10% this month compared with September 2009, when 367,929 new models were sold, a rise of 11.3% on 2008.

The SMMT estimated just over two million new cars will be sold during 2010, which would be a 1.2% increase on 2009 after very strong sales at the start of this year.

The scrappage scheme, which ended in March, helped boost car sales by around 20%, but critics said many of the new cars purchased were made overseas, damaging the UK's trade balance.

Next year may also be tough for the car industry, as VAT will rise to 20% on 1 January. This may actually help sales this month, Archer believes.

"Some people who are thinking of buying a brand new car may decide to in September rather than later this year or in March, when the next new number plate comes in, due to the VAT hike in January," he said.

The SMMT reported that private car sales showed the biggest fall in August, while fleet purchases by companies held up better. Diesel cars continued to increase their market share, hitting a new high of 52.6%.

The Ford Fiesta was the best selling model in August and is the most popular new car throughout 2010.

Brussels breaks car dealers’ grip on parts

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:11:18 +0000

The deals on spare parts and warranty repairs that bind franchised dealers and car manufacturers are to be broken up. From June 1 2010 new laws mean that car manufacturers will no longer be able to refuse to supply independent repair shops with technical information or spare parts.

According to the European Commission, repair and maintenance accounts for 40 per cent of the cost of owning a car. Joaquín Almunia, the Competition Commissioner, said the new antitrust regulation would provide consumers with tangible benefits. “[It will] bring down the cost of repairs and maintenance that represent an excessive share of the total cost of a car over its lifetime,” he said.

The Commission wants to open up the repair market to greater competition and stop manufacturers from stipulating in warranties that work must be done in its dealer network.

“Car manufacturers will no longer be able to make the warranty conditional on having the oil changed or other car services only in authorised garages,” the Commission said. However, service agreements struck with individual dealers will still be valid where specific work is provided free under the warranty, the Commission said.

The AA said that the ties between manufacturers and dealers had been a big obstacle in extending the scope of roadside repair operations. “Getting access to the repair codes allows the AA to repair at the roadside rather than sending the car to the dealer’s workshop,” an spokesman said. “It allows independents to have access to the same data and offer a competing service.”

Manufacturers will no longer be able to control the provision and distribution of spare parts. In the past, some manufacturers have resisted supplying parts to independents, although that is now rare, motor dealers say. Of more concern are restrictions that prevent the supply of parts direct from component manufacturers rather than from the carmaker.

The Commission said that it was targeting three practices imposed by manufacturers: restrictions on the sale of parts by authorised dealers to independents; the ability of independent manufacturers to supply parts directly to repair shops; and spare-part manufacturers’ ability to put their trademark on the parts.

The motor industry has long recognised that more money is made repairing and servicing old cars and selling parts than in selling new cars. In hard times, dealers may see new car sales as a loss leader for the more profitable business of annual servicing and repairs.

So lucrative is the repair business that car manufacturers are beginning to venture into the market directly with their own chains of repair shops. In Germany, Volkswagen has launched a chain focusing on the low-cost end of the repair market.

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MOT blowouts

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:51:22 +0000

The main causes for a vehicle to fail an MOT in the UK are wiper blades smearing the screen, blown driving lamp bulbs and worn tyres. Check before you book it in and save yourself the hassle of a retest.

Speed Bumps = Damaged Tyres

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:01:07 +0000

Some speed bumps increase the wear to the inner edges of the tyres . Speed bumps also increase the chances of the tracking of the vehicle being disturbed. If the tracking has been disturbed then one tyres will often be heavily worn on one side.

If the tyres are under the recommended tyre pressure then two major factors will come into affect 1) the tyre will wear quicker on both the inner and outer edges 2) The road resistance will increase making more work for the car to turn the wheel resulting in lowering the overall fuel economy of the vehicle. The car will also pull to one side whilst driving if the tyre pressures are not even.

If the tyre is over the recommended tyre pressure then they will wear quicker on the centre line of the tyre.

You should always try to have the same make and size of tyres on the front, or rear axle set. For vehicles with four wheel drive it is advised that all four tyres are the same.

Slow and steady saves the fuel

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:27:40 +0000

One of the best ways to improve your fuel economy is to change the way you drive. Speeding, accelerating and braking hard can deplete efficiency by 33 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency . How come? Well when you stop, start or accelerate, your car has to overcome inertia, which is the resistance an object has to a change in its state of motion. Overcoming inertia requires energy. When you're talking cars and energy, you're talking about fuel. You can use less energy to overcome inertia if you do it slowly:

You should accelerate slowly from stops, allowing the car's momentum to help it accelerate. What would make you more tired: pulling a heavy load slowly from a stop to an all-out run, or pulling the same load immediately to a sprint? In your car, you should accelerate slowly from stops, allowing the car's momentum to help it accelerate.
Say you're driving down the road and see a light up ahead turn from amber to red. Rather than keep your foot on the accelerator and brake at the last second, you should take your foot off the gas and slowly approach the light. Not only will coasting save gas, but you might not even have to come to a full stop before the light turns green again, meaning that your car will have to overcome much less inertia to get going.
The speed at which you drive on the motorway, where stopping and starting aren't likely to be a problem, also impacts your fuel efficiency. The EPA says that most cars run at maximum efficiency at 60 miles per hour, and every five mph over 60 decreases efficiency by 6 percent. So, on your next long trip, slow down.

The Junk in Your Trunk

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:26:10 +0000

Your car burns fuel for energy. Its food for the engine, which in turn is what makes the car run. The more work the car has to do, the more energy it needs. No matter what kind of car you drive, eliminating unnecessary weight can go a long way toward increasing your car's fuel efficiency. Have you got a bike rack on your car? That unused rack adds weight and wind resistance. And if you're like most people, you probably have some junk in your trunk. Clean it out. Sports equipment, pushchairs and just plain junk are all hurting your fuel economy.