Jan

31

Can’t afford a new car? How to beat the credit crunch

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In these hard financial times you’re probably having to cut back on spending and tighten your purse strings a bit. Wanting something is not a good enough reason to buy it anymore. You have made a new rule for yourself - if you can live without it, it stays in the shop. You might not even be able to afford even the small luxuries, let alone such a big purchase as a new car. And you're not on your own.

The UK car industry has seen a huge fall in sales of the last few months, so bad that the government has announced that they plan to give financial support to keep the business afloat. But for now, car prices have slipped lower than they have been in a long time.

Of course, a lot of people wouldn’t consider investing in a new car at a time when money is so tight. Even with the slump in prices it's still a big commitment and many would be unable or unwilling to take the risk. But it’s possible that the change in circumstances for the car industry could work in our favour. I’m not talking about buying a car outright, or choosing the cheapest (and quite possibly also the worst) car in the showroom. And I’m not talking about sifting through the countless deals on the used car market while prices are down.

There are other options. If, for example, a new Merc is the car of your dreams, there are a number of companies offering very reasonable Mercedes lease or contract hire deals online, letting you choose from the latest new models for a relatively small monthly fee. And those aren't the only benefits you'd get - there are all sorts of reasons why leasing your new car could be your best choice, especially when money is tight.

Unlike when you buy a new car, you don't lose out when a couple of years down the line it's suddenly not worth half what you paid for it. Most of these deals are based on your projected usage of the car, so they take wear and tear into account and when the contract runs out you can trade it in for a newer model. Think of it like getting a contract phone instead of pay as you go – many deals will even include servicing and road tax in the monthly cost, meaning there's less for you to worry about.

The best thing about leasing is that you can often get the best deals by choosing the most expensive and desirable vehicles. Like the look of the new Audi Q7 but know there's no way you could afford one right now? You could choose an Audi lease agreement that lets you drive away in it immediately, and you wouldn’t have to worry about whether you could afford the full cost because the car itself is your collateral. You could happily drive away in your awesome new car, the envy of all your mates, and safe in the knowledge that everything is covered.

Jan

31

Saving Vehicle Manufacturers

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We all know the economic downturn has hit the globe very hard, almost every business has felt the wave of collapse that the financial situation has brought to us. Saying this there are some industries that are being hurt more than others and this can with no comparison be said for the vehicle makers and dealer industry. The market is at its lowest point for decades with the sale of new cars dropping a dramatic amount.

But now Lord Mandelson, the business secretary has come in with a huge bail out present of around 2.2 billion dollar. Although this will have a large positive effect on the global situation via people still being in employment and the continuation of manufacturing new cars, I feel it could have a not so good turn in the long run.

Do not get me incorrect I am all for bailing out good companies that have mis handled the financial situation and not financed around it, but I do not feel this is the same for most of the vehicle industry. People are just not buying vehicles anymore. I say that if the car that a company is supplying is not doing good than that overwhelmly is completely down to the company not seeing the demands of the industry.

Most people these days do not want petrol guzzling machines such as the Jaguars for two reasons, firstly because people travel a lot and it will cost them a lot more and secondly is that they emit to much pollution to the planet hurting the environment. So this is the reason that these businesses are struggling, not because there finances are out of shape it's purely because there product is not shifting and probably will not sell even after the bailout.

It is all well and good for people to save companies, but the credit crunch should be seen as a positive approach. It will ultimately eliminate all of the bad bits of over saturated markets and when this is all over we may see a new healthy breed of car manufacturers coming through, that could in fact reinvent the way we drive and perceive vehicles, the new technology could end up taking us to new levels and making cars a lot safer and comfortable to drive around in.

Buy a Mazda and Buy a Renault

Jan

30

Saving the Industry with Affordable Cars

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Everyone knows that the car industry is the one which is most affected. Although used cars are still widely being accepting, dealers are having trouble ridding of the new cars. The entire industry just points the finger on the credit crunch and believes a bailout is the correct option and will rejuvenate a dying market. But can this all be true? Or is there slightly more information lying behind the doors.

Something does need to be done about this sector and I can tell you now that it is not a bailout. Casting your mind over does it really cost thousands to manufacture a car. Rumours state that vehicles are manufactured in just over 24 hours from beginning to finish and cost around $1000 for each car, which most obviously ends up selling for a profit of up to 90%.

Is this not the whole truth why this industry is failing? Because they are overcharging? Ok don't get me wrong to design a new concept and market the new car must cost a bit more. But when it comes to mass manufacturing, these cars are just getting developed and sold. The developers were trying to get too much profit by charging a fortune and this is why more expensive companies are finding it hard, like the Mercedes.

This is also why budget cars that do exactly the same job such as Fiats and Fords are still thriving in a below average market. They supply great quality vehicles which are still making them a profit, although sold at a low rate. I have driven a Fiat that feels exactly like the higher branded cars.

Buy a Honda and Buy a Mercedes

Jan

30

Why most women don’t want a ‘girly’ car

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Why is there such a stigma attached to women drivers and the way they choose their car? As a female who drives I don't get why people seem to expect women to want a 'cute' car that looks more like something out of a cartoon - preferably in pink or lilac - regardless of whether the car is actually any good or not. Personally, I don't know any women who want that.Oh ok, so there might be a few. But they are definitely a minority. And unwittingly they are fueling a stereotype that will surey continue to follow women drivers for many countless years to come.

Most car manufacturers make at least one model which people consider to be their ‘girly’ option. The Ford Ka is an obvious example of this, and was clearly designed with women in mind - it's small, cute and almost bubble-shaped - and indeed about 70% of sales are to women. Other cars with a reputation for being girly include the Renault Clio and the new VW Beetle. But do women really choose to buy or lease these cars because of the way they look, or is it just that the majority of women want different things from their car than the average man?

The thing is there's a difference between a 'girly' car and a car that a girl would want to drive. A car that is girly would be small, cute and aesthetically pleasing, and a lot of men seem to assume these are the only things that women look at when choosing a car. In fact, statistically most women base their choice more on the car’s reliability and proven performance in safety tests. Men are far more likely to go for a sporty, fast, slick-looking car whereas women usually just want something that will get them from A to B without breaking down.

Another marked difference between men and women is very different ideas on how much is too much to spend on a car. Men are actually much more image conscious than women when it comes to cars – they are far more likely to splash out on a fancy sports car to impress their mates. If, say, they were interested in the Audi Q7, a male customer is far more likely to want to buy it outright rather than considering other options such as Audi lease deals. It's not so much about the car itself as the image and status that goes hand in hand with it - and really how is that any different to choosing a car for its 'girly' shape?

Actually, if they had the choice and didn't have to worry about cost, many women would probably jump at the chance to get a more expensive car. Maybe not so much an unnecessarily over-the-top sports car but something like a sleek Mercedes – they’d just probably be more likely to take a more sensible option like an affordable Mercedes lease agreement than splash their cash and buy it outright.

Jan

9

Vauxhall Corsa - The Stylish Supermini

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Let’s be very frank and honest about this; Vauxhall is hardly a ‘glamourous’ brand. For as long as I can remember they have been churning out cars that have been...well...a bit underwhelming. The engineers at Vauxhall may be adept at producing comfortable, well performing and reasonably priced vehicles, but they’re hardly setting anyone’s world on fire are they? Until now that is...Enter the new Vauxhall Corsa.

Ok, you can stop cringing and come from behind the sofa; I’m not going to build the Corsa up to be a Zonda F or Lamborghini Gallardo, as it is clearly not. What Vauxhall have done though, is inject the Corsa with some much needed ‘ZING’. The old Corsa resembled a shoebox on wheels and had all the cool points and street credit of cordurouy trousers. A few design changes to the bodywork and all of a sudden Vauxhall have created one of the most stylish looking superminis available.

The Corsa comes with an impressive choice of engine options ranging from the weak and rather useless 1.0 3 cylinder to the growling 1.6 Turbo VXR, the latter being something of a boy racer’s fantasy. The popularity of the Corsa has some minor drawbacks however. Due to the size, responsive handling, chic looks and cheap running costs, the Corsa has been adopted as the driving teacher’s car of choice. With leading driving school BSM operating a fleet of thousands of Corsas, you’ll be hard pushed to go for a drive in your Corsa without getting stuck behind another Corsa with a big trapezoid with a ‘L’ on top of it. Thus the illusion of cool is mortally ruptured and you end up feeling like a bit of a fool.

The snowball effect aside, you cannot deny that the Corsa probably deserves its popularity. It has taken on the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Fiat Panda as the new driver’s first car and is putting up a valiant fight. The current market for superminis has found itself in a state of saturation recently, with almost every car manufacturer vying for the precious profit to be made from entry-level vehicles. The Corsa was the 4th bestselling car in the United Kingdom in 2007 (shifting 94,120 units in the UK) and has consistently been in the top 10 selling cars list since its introduction in 1993; quite an achievement in anyone’s book.

My own personal experience of the Corsa comes in the form of the 1.3 CDTi. During my drive I often felt as though I was sat in a lounge chair, enjoying the comfort of the seats and the relatively elevated driving position. The plastics all felt rigid and of good quality, the only drawback being the stubby indicators which are as responsive as a dead camel. The central console’s screen was a useful tool during the drive, despite having a differing opinion to the speedometer regarding the car’s velocity; only a minor irritation and nothing to detract from the driving experience too much.

The engine was punchy without being overly-erratic, though it has to be said that it did often make a lot of fuss without actually achieving very much...but I guess that’s diesel engines for you. The engine was also ecologically sound, producing around 57 mpg, which is not only a relief to the consumer, but also the planet. The gearbox was relatively smooth, though refused to go into third without a fight.

The Vauxhall Corsa is ideally suited to those amongst us who want to feel very much a part of the driving experience, rather than just another passenger in the car. The car seems to have been designed to be a relaxing drive, but seems to shake you up every now and then to keep you alert. The race for the ultimate supermini hatch is still wide open, though it is refreshing that not everyone is automatically heading to their local Ford dealership. Now let’s all rejoice in free market capitalism and the consumers right to choose whatever they want.

Jan

8

The new BMW Z4 2009

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This is the model many hope will bring BWM back to its glory days as the leader in admirable car design and sex appeal. This is not to say the Chris Bangle inspired models were no good. Perhaps the designs were too futuristic, too sophisticated and too sexy in a way that confused an average BWM fan. The cars still delivered on the promise of “Sheer Driving Pleasure” the only issue being the driver wished dearly for better looks.

Well, the biggest talking point about the new Z4 will whether there has been an improvement to its predecessor. Is the car good looking? Difficult to tell at a first glance. The design is still faithful to the original Z4 by continuing with the shark nose theme together with very masculine styling. One cannot say immediately that the car is good looking.

Which is a good thing because there is just a lot depth to the design of the Z4 which needs careful observation for it to be fully appreciated. Put in other words, the Z4 design is heading in the direction of being a classic in terms of timeless beauty. The looks will still hold for many years to come.BMW has not been completely shy in trying out fresh design ideas. Only this time they seem to have thought carefully about what people will say. Lately the Z4 is making every effort to be likable.

The new design is more like the story of sweet and sour of any favourite food. Sweet and sour desert. BMW have managed well to combine elegance and aggressiveness by blending the conservative front with the sporty lines that flow all the way to the rear. The front looks more like a Mercedes CL coupe while the rest of the body paying tribute to the original Z4. The back is very similar to the outgoing 6 series. The interior is also a little bit more conservative in a bid to win back loyal BWM lovers.           

The new car will be propelled by straight 6 engines  and BMW is now coming up with an unusually naming convention for their engines. There will be the sDrive23i (2.5 litre/150kw) followed by the sDrive30i (3litlre/190kw). The will also be a turbocharged version sDrive35i which produces (3 litre/225kw). The new comer is quite quick off the mark too with times to 100 km (60 mph) ranging between 6 and 5 depending on engine size off course.  

Other minor points that work in favour of the Z4 are that it is bigger (5.8 inches longer) and partly because of the new aluminium hard top which closes down in a whooping 20 seconds. Z4 would not be a real modern BMW without the iDrive which is ever being improved.

Is this a winner? Difficult one as a lot of BMW fans lost faith during the previous wave of designs. On the road this car surely be the stuff BMWs are made off. Unfortunately the new comer might be received with negative misconceptions largely due to its predecessor. There will be no easy forgiveness awarded to the new comer but it will surely do much better that the outgoing car.

BMW 3 Series for sale, Audi TT for sale, Mercedes Benz Slk for sale 

BY M.E Bapela

Jan

8

Nissan NP 200

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After 37 years with the 1400 someone at Nissan remembered that they have a car in the half tonne segment. During all this time rivals would have steadily improved their equivalents especially the Opel Corsa Utility followed by Ford Bantam.

Nissan can be forgiven for neglecting the model as they were probably busy with more serious projects such as the Porsche bashing GT-R, the likable 350Z and cool SUVs such as Murano, Navara and Pathfinder. The one bakkie that has been helping the Japanese maker has been the Nissan Hardbody.

But boy did Nissan rake in profits with the 1400 from essentially a design that needed no further R&D. The legendary 1400 had (outgoing model) 47 KW and 97 n.m of torque. I fail to see what could be loaded, maybe not a quad bike or motor bike but certainly small businesses found the vehicle useful.

The NP200 takes advantage of the relationship Nissan has with Renault and this is evident in the car using a Renault engine producing and impressive 67kw from the 1.6 litre unit. The entry level model cost R88 900 which is cheaper than the Corsa at R92 500. The NP 200 has the biggest loading area in its class at 1,2 m2.

Does the car hold up well to the segment leading Corsa Utility? Difficult one. Looks are not NP 200’s strongest point. Actually the car is more suitable for commercial use than for every day driving. The interior looks a little Renaultish and has reasonable plastic finishes. On the other hand the Corsa Utility looks sharp and exciting on the exterior as well as boosting a friendlier interior.

All in all Nissan has played a sensible strategy with the NP 200 by making it more focused on light commercial purposes which results in a more affordable car for the buyer. The Utility is a more complete package that has appealing looks together with a more comfortable interior.

The new model is already doing well only a few months after being released and is a good replacement for the legendary 1400. A very affordable car which can be classified as cheap cars for sale.

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