All things from the world of a car supermarket

Lotus Cars – Bringing the Racing Circuit to the Road

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:15:04 +0000

Precision engineering, light materials and truly exceptional handling are quite rightly some of the main elements that define Lotus cars. Of course one of the other areas is the acceleration and speed that they provide, which is right up there among the very best. Some might say that Lotus have somewhat of an unfair advantage given that they have been part of the racing circuit for such a long period of time. However, this should be recognised as being more of a blessing if nothing else because it has enabled Lotus to transfer the nature of the race track into road cars, which in turn has provided the general public with their very own racing experience. Many drivers dream of being able to indeed experience the thrill and excitement of Formula 1 or an off road circuit, but more often than not this dream is never realised. However, thanks to new and used Lotus cars such as the Evora, Elise and the 2-Eleven, customers have been given the chance of owning a “piece of the track”. But, as noted above, speed was not the only thing on the agenda for Lotus engineers; handling abilities of race cars has also been transferred over to the models list above. It is this handling, coupled with the overall driving experience of speed and agility that has enabled Lotus to establish itself as one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers. The original used Lotus Elise has continued the tradition of being the companies’ flagship entry and customers all over the globe are delighted that the new version of this car is every bit as sublime as the previous generations.

Land Rover’s Freelander 2 Model – Getting the Market Talking

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:14:00 +0000

Land Rover is one of these automakers that are so often associated with producing vehicles of a comfortable and satisfying nature. From the new and used Land Rover Range Rover to the Discovery and the Defender, this is a manufacturer that certainly delivers what is expected and what it promises. And then there is the Land Rover Freelander 2, which is a bold and stylish unit that captures everything that a Land Rover provides along with a look that is both modern and fresh. With two different engines available, the 2.2 litre TD4 with manual transmission and the 2.2 litre TD4 with automatic transmission, the Freelander 2 has also been built with modern requirements in mind. One of these requirements is the environment to which Land Rover is committed to protecting. And the Freelander 2 benefited from this mindset as it has become a vehicle that reduces the impact that it has on the environment, which includes one of the most advanced Co2 offset programs. Too often in the past have larger sized vehicles felt the brunt of negative opinion in terms of how they affect the environment. But with recent government legislation and the whole world seemingly looking at how to go green, manufacturers like Land Rover have had to up their game and produce new vehicles that coincide with the global targets of a greener environment. And with the mighty Freelander 2 now available and selling good numbers, LR enthusiasts have been given yet another treat to add to the ever growing collection of quality Land Rover models.

Perfect for the Obstacles of the Off Road – Jeeps

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:12:16 +0000

As the title suggests, Jeep vehicles are ideal for off road driving and just perfect of taking on obscene obstacles that so many other vehicles would not dare attempt. It is a common theme in the motoring industry that each manufacturer is allocated some kind of title, which manages to stick with the name for its lifetime. For example Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars are recognised as being luxurious, Porsche and Ferrari are well known for their speed and expensive price, and Volkswagen, Ford and Fiat are regarded as being jack of all trades. Of course there is some debate for each of these but it is pleasing to see that no debate can arise regarding the title attributed to Jeep and the vehicles within the Jeep range. This, again as the title of this thread suggests, is that new and used Jeep vehicles are indeed the king of the off road and rugged terrain. They are the clear standout contender for this title and have been for a very long time indeed. There are other brands such as Dodge and Land Rover etc that might counteract this statement, but in the UK, this cannot be questioned. Sure the other manufacturers have many things on offer in the US for example, but it is Jeep that is very much the leader here in the UK. One of the standout models in the range of Jeep is the Cherokee, which is also abbreviated as the Jeep XJ. With an ideal shape and size, the Cherokee is able to tackle any and all obstacles that it may cross in its path. However, the company also offers many more vehicles to choose from; each with their own unique style and functionality.

The XK from Jaguar – Total Re-Invention

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:10:43 +0000

When the new Jaguar XK model was released, it was more than just your average car. Many people were no doubt expecting a vehicle that carried with it a style, which has long been associated with used Jaguar cars. However, the same people would be left surprised and quite literally gobsmacked regarding the look and feel of this truly wonderful piece of machinery. It is accurate and fair to say that Jaguar has long produced a certain type of car and that they have also been quite set in their ways when it comes to their target audience. But with the XK, all of this past was put to one side as the brand re-invented themselves and, at the same time, manage to garner the attention of a much wider scale audience who would then go on to become new customers. The Jaguar XK is everything that a modern car should be and the fact that it is indeed a Jaguar makes it even more surprising. Its sublime exterior is a total rehash when compared to the older models in the used Jaguar range and, whilst the interior is still Jaguar-like, modern modifications have been put in place that separate it from past additions. Performance-wise and under the bonnet, it is still very much a Jaguar, which means that quality assurance and reliability is guaranteed. So in summary, the major difference between what the XK provides over the other cars in the Jaguar range is in the overall design element. Normally the saying goes “it is what’s underneath that counts” – but the XK puts that theory to bed straight away!

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:48:18 +0000

Although major revisions (through the X300 and, particularly, the X308 updates) kept the Mark 2 competitive in some areas against its rivals, the basic design dated back to 1986 which meant the car was very quickly being outclassed and losing ground to its rivals, many of which were now two generations advanced from the original competitors of the Mark 2 XJ. For example, since the model had been unveiled in 1986 (at the same time as the BMW 7 Series E32), BMW had launched Mark 3 (E38) and Mark 4 (E65) versions of its 7 Series in 1994 and 2001 respectively all while Jaguar was still producing the Mk 2 XJ. In early 2003, the all-new third generation XJ (known as X350) arrived in showrooms. While the car’s exterior and interior styling were traditional in appearance, the car was completely re-engineered. The new car also saw the return of the fabled XJ6 badge, and with it 6-cylinder power, albeit in a V-configuration. Like the Audi A8’s, the used Jaguar X350’s chassis and body are constructed from aluminium. While some steel is used in some places throughout the chassis, the X350 has a stressed aluminium monocoque/chassis similar in general design to a conventional steel structure, but with two differences; its underbody components are bonded together with aerospace-grade epoxy adhesives while around 3,200 self-piercing rivets are used to create the new XJ’s unibody. This differs from the A8’s construction which uses an aluminium spaceframe to which aluminium panels are then attached.

Used Peugeot 206

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:13:48 +0000

The French Peugeot 206 has been on the market for more than ten years, but the design can surely be considered as still attractive. It’s a little car for those people that do not put the high performance on the first place, it is a choice for individuals that value low fuel consumption and high quality of interior. If you are searching for a vehicle up to five years old, you should definitely consider this option. The price of a used Peugeot 206 is very reasonable in comparison to other alternatives in that class. If you need pretty little car for urban use, this seems to be the perfect choice for you. For some people it might be a little bit too noisy and the transmission could be more accurate, but purchasing the used Peugeot 206 will pay you back with the great suspension and ergonomics. The car is not spacious and would not be a good choice for a big family, but the front seats offer enough space even for the tall persons so it is suitable for every single or couple. If you need a small urban car with a very nice line and need to save some money on the fuel choosing the used Peugeot 206 is in my opinion the best option for you.

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:01:52 +0000

Drivers think of gap insurance usually when they buy a new car at dealership. They treat it as a sort of “bad event” insurance policy. How true because let’s face it - this is the purpose of almost every insurance. Still, they tend to forget what gap insurance is good for and in what circumstances it is especially advisable to purchase. New cars undergo the economic process of depreciation quite fast (in fact you could say quite rapidly). All new cars, trucks, SUVs and vans lose a lot of value from the day of purchase. Should anything bad happen to the vehicle within the first months of use, gap insurance will cover the difference between what the motor insurance company will pay and the car’s value at the date of the event. Gap insurance has the biggest effect at the beginning of car ownership, especially if it is bought via a lease or loan. Another good reason for getting GAP for the new vehicle is in the case of a write-off, the vehicle holder is likely to get back the value of the car. All new cars are very safe as they must be compliant with strict safety standards.

Current Used Cars Market

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:57:49 +0000

After everything that has gone over the last few months, it seems that things are starting to pick up once again in the used cars marketplace. Well, this is only the assumption of myself but I must say that after visiting some local dealerships over the last few days, there is definitely more people out and about looking at cars than there was in September or August. Maybe it is due to new vehicle designs that have been introduced to the production line from the big car manufacturers? I couldn’t help but notice that BMW have just introduced the X6 to its 4×4 production range and that Audi, Honda and Renault all have a few in the pipeline. Then again though, the dealerships that I visited were all selling used cars so I guess it couldn’t really be the case. I did notice also that there were many different types of special offers available to customers and some excellent car finance packages being promoted. The main thing that I did see though was the amount of cars on show; there were loads! There was much more vehicles on the courtyard than there normally is. Maybe then this is the effect of people selling up to raise cash for other things or the price of petrol and car insurance premiums for example? Who knows? Anyway, the fact is that it looks as though the used cars market has took a turn for the better and long may it continue.

Getaway van

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:44:28 +0000

Ford Transit first stood on its own wheels in 1953 and started a whole new era in European delivery truck market. In one of my favourite TV shows it was said that this car was criminal’s favourite getaway car which in my opinion makes the car very reliable. When a greengrocery or milkman’s car breaks down nothing actually happens but when bank robbers have problems with their getaway car that is a whole different story. Apart from mobsters also all the usual delivery car users find these used vans extraordinary. Ford gives a variety of different versions. You can get a traditional van, pickup or a minibus version with front, back or even four wheel drive. Of course the options of the car personalisation are almost limitless depending on the client’s needs and wallet. With 5 million cars sold, numerous awards won (”Van of the Year 2001″, “Van of the Year 2007″ and many more) it is definitely a good choice for all the demanding users.

Want to Get a Car Credit? Preparation Points

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:14:06 +0000

Getting car credit may be an easier or more difficult task depending on many circumstances. In times of good economic indicators having car credit may be a ‘piece-of-cake’ venture. During hard times though it can be a daunting task. Whatever the times, however, there is an action plan you should follow in order to be more successful during the application process. The first step could be reviewing your credit history – as experts in finance say you should check your credit report once a year just to make sure that it does not contain any errors. The next stage could determine how much you want to pay and can afford – so knowing your own financial limitations is imperative.

You should bear in mind how much you can comfortably afford in terms of a down payment and monthly repayments. Another piece of advice would be keeping a clean credit history – which basically means making an effort in making on-time payments in order to have a clean slate before applying for credit. And the final stage before starting the application process - preparation of documentation (granting car credit is just another transaction for a financial institution) Therefore having proof of employment and personal income at hand is useful so avoid delays in obtaining the desired credit.