Statutory Off Road Notifications (SORNs) are coming under fire with the rules set to be relaxed, meaning a SORNed vehicle – applied for when not taxed, and needing to be renewed every 12-months – will only have to be completed once, reducing paperwork and administration that proves a huge problem for motorists in terms of time and money.

The point of introducing a photo card driving licence was to eradicate the old-style paper licences, reducing the documents drivers had to carry. However, the need to hold a paper counterpart alongside this defeats the object of the photo card scheme – as does the requirement to prove you hold a valid insurance policy when trying to tax your vehicle.

The insurance, MOT and road tax databases are all now interconnected so where is the need to produce documents to tax vehicles? It really does appear to be an antiquated procedure given the money spent from motorists’ tax on updating the system.

The DfT has heard the cries of the UK’s motorists though, slashing the majority of red tape that limits drivers, forcing them to follow to futile government legislation.

With fuel duty, road tax and insurance premiums (including the relatively unknown insurance premium duty) all continuously rising seeing the Treasury take three times the amount it spends on the UK’s roads in motoring taxes, something has to be done to satisfy the motorist.

Plans will see the paper counterpart of the photo card licence abolished saving up to £8 million, as well as plans to simplify SORNs.

Admin will be reduced, saving money, as will the confusion among motorists as a result of the reams of paperwork vehicle owners are flooded by – plans have been put forward to only issue V5C registration certificates to owners when needed, with electronic copies to suffice.

The situation is the same with holding an insurance certificate. Proposals will see hard copies of certificates scraped so drivers will no longer have to provide proof of insurance when applying for tax – it will mean an increase of 600,000 drivers that would then be eligible to tax their car online, again saving money.

Copious amounts of paperwork need not be held by motorists just to prove their eligibility to drive. We live in digital age – and one where the environmental impact of wasted resources, including paper is very prevalent – we need to embrace that fact.

1 – Ford Fiesta

You just can’t go wrong with the Ford Fiesta and because it is perfect for such a large range of people it just had to feature in our top 5.  The Ford Fiesta makes the perfect first car, the perfect town run-around, the perfect family car and fills so many other roles too.  It’s new look is stylish and contemporary and the engine is punchy and gives a good nippy drive.  It is also great value for money, safe and reliable.

2 – Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa has been with us for many years and it isn’t the sort of car that is ever going to really stir up deep emotions or passion, but as a good solid car you can’t really do much better.  The new stylish face lift has also given it an edgier look that gives it character and more presence on the road.  The engine has also been tweaked to be more responsive, economical and reliable.  It is also incredibly safe for a small car and is still the perfect choice for young and old drivers alike.  It is also one of the biggest selling cars of 2011, so who are we to argue?

3 – Jeep Grand Cherokee

The new face lifted Grand Cherokee has taken 4×4’s to a new level of comfort.  It is the one true rival to the Range Rover Sport and boasts a stunning interior combined with dashing brutish good looks.  It is also highly capable in the off-road department, in fact when it comes to proper off roading it leaves the Range Rover Sport miles behind literally stuck in the mud.  The engine packs one hell of a punch, it is powerful, responsive and a real joy to drive.

4 – Range Rover Evoque

The new Range Rover just had to feature in the Top 5.  It brings a new angle to Range Rover, allowing a more affordable 4×4 but with unbelievable styling that will always get heads turning.  The quality of the interior is second-to-none and when combined with its economic engine range and great choice of upgrades available this just has to be the new ultimate 4×4 for people looking for style and substance all in a slightly smaller package.

5 – Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall make a second appearance in our top 5 for 2011 with their new face lifted Astra.  Like their Corsa, this has been given a sleeker look and styling and has seen some improvement in the engine and handling department too.  It all comes together to provide the perfect “medium car” package.  It is big enough for a family to comfortably be transported around on the school run but is also small enough to be a nippy little run-around into town and to and from work.  Overall this is a great all-rounder that thoroughly deserves to be on our list.

There are certain principles that apply when buying a second hand car, whether you are buying from a private individual or a used car dealer, so keep the following advice in mind when you come face to face with your potential new motor.

Before you even get round to talking about price, it’s vital to give used cars the once over. Here is a quick overview of the things you need to look at, whether inspecting the car on your own or with a friend.

Firstly, the exterior of the car:

• Check for rust and paint bubbles, particularly under the wheel arches, bumpers and windows.
• Check that all doors and the boot shut properly and that there aren’t any big gaps between hinges.
• Press down on each side of the car (front and back) and see how much ‘bounce’ the car has. If it bounces up and down before settling again then the suspension could be on its way out.
• Check the tires. Not only should you check the tire tread (this will ideally be around 3mm) but look out for signs of uneven wear too.
• Ask the seller (or your friend) to turn the car on while you stand behind and check the exhaust smoke for odd colours.
• Again ask the seller (or your friend) to switch on headlights, sidelights etc while you do a walk-around to check that they are all in working order.
• Listen out for the cooling fan – this should start up after around 10-15 minutes indicating that all is well with the car’s heating system
• Have a peak underneath the car to check for any leaks or tell-tale signs of oil.

Now for under the bonnet:

• Check the oil. Take out the dipstick and give it a wipe before putting it back in and then checking that the oil level is close to max. If it’s too low or looks dirty, this could indicate underlying problems.
• Remove the oil cap and check that there is no white ‘sludge’ on the bottom of it – if there is, than it’s likely that the head gasket has blown and you’ll definitely want to walk away if that’s the case.
• Check the water. Don’t be too alarmed if the water isn’t clear or has a slight tinge to it – this is probably because it contains anti-freeze. However, if the water is brown, it could indicate that the seller has used a sealant to ‘plug up’ any leaks temporarily.

Inside the car:

This is where you’ll be spending all of your time, so make sure it’s comfortable, not suffering from undue wear and tear and that all of the seatbelts are in working order.

The test drive:

• You definitely don’t want to buy a car before you’ve taken it for a drive. Try to test it along both B roads and duel carriageways if possible to get a better idea of how it performs.
• Check all of the instruments are working – in particular the speedometer and temperature gauge.
• Does it pull to one side? Are the gear changes smooth?
• Test the brakes – try an emergency stop and make sure that the car stops almost immediately.

Negotiating a price:

Before you arrived to inspect the car you will have already done your homework on how much you should be spending. One of the most important things to remember when buying a second hand car is that the seller will ALWAYS expect you to haggle. Don’t feel embarrassed about it – it’s a rite of passage and something that the seller will have taken into account when they listed their price.

• If while inspecting the car you noticed a few issues, try not to be too negative about them. Of course, mention them and ask the seller to take these into consideration but avoid being too blunt as this will only serve to get their backs up.
• Remember, different models can have very different running costs, so take this into account if you do encounter any potential issues – if you’re looking at a used Volvo for example, you’ll want to make sure that there are no problems with the air-con as this can be very costly to put right!
• When offering a price, be reasonable and don’t go in too low – you want the seller to know that you aren’t wasting his time and will find that the more reasonable you are, the more open they are to negotiation. You will probably find that you meet somewhere in the middle but to increase your chances of getting the price you want, try to keep quiet after putting in your final offer. Whilst often uncomfortable, silence has proven to be a useful tactic in negotiations.
• Another important thing to remember while negotiating is not to get too excited over the vehicle itself – emphasise the fact that you like the model and are happy with what you have seen, but steer clear of statements such as ‘ooh, I love the colour of this one, or this car is perfect for me’!

If the seller is not prepared to negotiate, you need to be prepared to walk away – don’t forget there will always be another used car waiting for you somewhere else.

Paperwork:

Lastly, if you’ve managed to agree on the perfect price, make sure that all of the correct paperwork is handed over to you. This includes any service history, the logbook (or V5C registration document), MOT certificate and any receipts you may need.

Take care when looking through each piece of paperwork to ensure that all of the information refers to the same car- this includes the seller’s details, registration number and the VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number). Check each document over and make sure that they are the originals – this doesn’t matter so much for receipts, as the owner may have a perfectly good reason for photocopying them.

When looking through the service history, just have a quick look to see whether the last recorded mileage matches up with the in-car display. It’s also worth getting an HPI Check to see whether there is any outstanding finance on the car, if the car has ever been ‘written off’ or reported stolen. There are numerous companies offering these sorts of checks, either over the phone or online – all they need is the registration number.

So that’s it – never feel rushed into buying a second hand car and ALWAYS take your time to inspect it thoroughly. Whilst not as expensive as brand new cars, used cars are still a big investment so you’ll want to get it right. If you’re buying from a dealer you may well get some form of warranty with your purchase which can cover you for certain problems, but private sellers will often note ‘sold as seen’ on their receipts so it’s vital that you protect yourself by putting the car through its paces.

Article sponsored by Aviva

The rise of social media hasn’t been lost on big business. Aviva, the car insurance people, have seen the value of promoting their multi-car policy in a series of ads about an enthusiastic carp fisherman called Ollie. It may well be that they misunderstood the term ‘networking’. Fronted by the Fast Show’s Paul Whitehouse sporting a curious accent, their campaign is on TV, Facebook and YouTube where they want to reel in new customers who hope to win prizes and, of course, catch a good deal on insuring the family motors.

We meet Ollie the angler on the river bank sporting a new pair of racy neoprene chest waders. Neoprene, as we all know, is the fabric of choice worldwide for any scuba diver, surfer or fetishist and is often worn next to the skin. It has its own special aroma. Now, fishing is a solitary pursuit that takes men away from their wives and families often for days at a time. Generally speaking this is fine by the wives and families as they can go about their daily lives without living with the smells usually associated with fishing gear and a man who smells like a wet Labrador. This is why the wives of fishermen insist on their own car. It enables them to go about their affairs without being haunted by lingering odours, marauding maggots or being asked if something has died in the boot. The children of fisherman are equally delighted because they don’t have to explain away the bizarrely dressed man – with what appears to be dead insects pinned to his hat – at the school gates.

Fishermen like to congregate on a river bank, rods in hand, and then totally ignore one another until much later, when they may meet at an inn or hostelry and lie to each other about the day’s catch. They will speak of mysterious things – like wagglers, butts and rotten bottoms. No I have no idea either. It may interest you to know, apropos of nothing, that the biggest carp ever caught was a twenty year old fish called Kylie. Everyone on the lake cheered, except the carp obviously, who, it is thought, was not insured.

Video campaigns are the new cartoons. These days it’s the joke that sells the product, not the price because, as you all well know by now, car insurance is expensive and will remain so. Multi-car schemes can make sense and Aviva, naturally enough, want to sell more policies and are hoping that their entertaining campaign will be just what’s needed in these austere times to bring in the punters.
Hook, line and sinker, as they say on the riverbank.

Picture from www.bmw-m.net

Now before you reach frantically for the keyboard and start banging out your indignation into the comments field, let me explain to you why I’ve come to this obvious – albeit shocking – conclusion…

Men have bigger hands than women.

This makes them clumsy. Female drivers and their delicate, dainty fingers can caress the gear stick gently yet firmly, slotting the car straight into gear; they can push one button at a time instead of two, thereby demisting the widescreen in one smooth action, rather than accidently turning on the stereo and the hazard lights at the same time, then getting annoyed and distracted at the confusion that ensues.

Men find it impossible to multi-task.

This is a fact that many men would admit to themselves, so surely it follows that driving a car, which involves a lot of hand, eye and foot coordination, doesn’t come naturally to them.

Men are too competitive.

When male drivers spot the traffic lights up ahead changing to orange, they can’t help but view it as a personal challenge to get past the line before it switches to red. It’s like that orange light is grinning menacingly, daring them to try and beat it and when the adrenaline starts pumping there’s absolutely nothing that can get in their way of victory.

Men are big show offs.

No space is too small if you’re a man. Nope, not even that space in the supermarket car park recently vacated by a moped.  And even when they’ve scraped and scratched their way into it then puffed up their chests with pride, it’s still the other cars’ fault for parking too close when they find they can’t get out.

Men are easily distracted.

It doesn’t take much to distract male drivers. The sight of a female walking up the pavement in front of them is enough to make them forget that they’re even in a car.

Men are stubborn.

This stubbornness manifests itself in many ways on the road. Not letting other drivers join a queue; blocking roads so that no one else can sneak past them and refusing to ask for directions, leaving them and their long suffering wives circling roundabouts until they figure out their next move. Not wanting to admit they’re tired before they fall asleep at the wheel is another example of stubbornness and is in fact, one of the main contributors to rising insurance premiums!

Impatience is a virtue.

Another fact; female drivers are much more patient than men. Women don’t mind being stuck in traffic so much as it gives them time to plan their weekly shop or their outfit for the weekend. Men on the other hand react like a boiling kettle as soon as the driver in front slows down, spluttering and hissing as their blood vessels reach breaking point.

To be honest, there probably isn’t even enough room on this browser to list all of the bad driving habits that men have compared to female drivers. And more important than annoying everyone else on the road, men are also getting people’s backs up because they are pushing up the price of car insurance for the rest of us. So men, if you’re reading this please heed this public service announcement: Learn To Drive!

But let’s not get carried away here. Whilst absolute carnage was unleashed on both A roads and B roads last winter, I seem to recall spotting a fair number of Land Rovers, Jeeps and Mitsubishis scattered around the roads too, sitting helplessly alongside Ford Focus’, Peugeot 207s and Kia Picantos. The fact is that if you’re caught in a snow-induced jam, often nothing less than a monster truck will be able to get you out of it.

Sales of 4x4s and SUVs rose significantly in the wake of Christmassy chaos and I’m certain that since then, many 4×4 owners have cruised past other less fortunate car drivers with their wheels stuck in a ditch, but has their investment really been worth it?

The fact is that 4x4s have a bad rap, they are fuel-hungry, carbon un-friendly and generally charged with being the biggest bully in the playground; driven by drivers who have never driven ‘off road’ in their lives. With the majority of the UK population living in urban areas, the amount of drivers who benefit from a 4×4 all year round is relatively small. So what do we do? Stick with our run-arounds and sports cars and put up with a few weeks of mayhem every year? Or trade them in for a 4×4 and line the tax mans pockets with our hard-earned cash as punishment for high-emissions and low fuel economy?

Luckily for urbanites, the solution lies in the increasingly popular Crossover vehicle. Crossover SUVs are a much better deal for city-dwellers and townsfolk who are looking for a way to avoid a winter meltdown without being inconvenienced for the remainder of the year. Whilst Joe Public may find it difficult to distinguish between a 4×4 and a crossover, there are some key differences, namely in the driving performance and their carbon efficiency. Crossover SUVs combine the driving comfort and practicality of a road car, offering space and agility for busy mums and dads rushing around town, with off-road capabilities such as higher ground clearance and four wheel drive or grip.

Some crossover SUVs also offer many more miles per gallon than traditional 4x4s. Take the Volvo XC90 for example, which offers 34mpg compared to 30mpg for the Land Rover Discovery. The Volvo XC90 also has a lower carbon footprint and attracts less road tax than both the Discovery and the Range Rover. And whilst providing the same fuel efficiency and same annual road tax as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the XC90 is significantly cheaper and ‘A’ Road friendlier.

Hugely popular crossover SUVs are the Peugeot 3008, which won What Cars? Crossover of the year award; the sporty Mazda CX-7 and the value for money Ford Kuga which has more than proven its off-road abilities in snow and ice.

There is no doubt that January and February can strike fear into the hearts of many UK road users who may be tempted to leap immediately into 4×4 ownership; but it’s important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. So before you decide to buy, ask yourself whether the winter months really warrant the investment and think about opting for a more practical solution…

Buying from new is tempting because you know where the car’s been. That is to say, you can be confident that the car hasn’t been treated badly in the past and you can be safe in the knowledge that your warranty protects you should anything go wrong. But what are the main things to consider when striking the deal in the first place?

Picture from UggBoy on Flickr.com

What to look for

Before you think about what to buy, consider what the car will be used for. If you are a high mileage driver and need to think about economy, you should carefully consider smaller engine cars or even diesel models.

Do your homework too with regards to potential insurance and tax costs. While that may seem obvious, it’s easy to forget how much they can add to the bill so do some research in order to avoid costly mistakes.

Don’t be afraid to haggle

Don’t be fooled into thinking that haggling is only reserved for second hand vehicles. Remember that a new car sale is big business for any salesperson and they will bend as much as they can rather than see you head out of the exit and towards their competitors.

Even if they cannot shave anything off the asking price they may be persuaded to throw in some optional extras that wouldn’t have been provided as standard. If you get an upgrade on trim, metallic paint or any form of accessory then your efforts would have been worth it.

Alternatively, if you take out finance with the dealer directly, this may give them some room to negotiate a discount.

 About that finance

Accepting the dealer’s finance offer may appear to be the simplest option but you need to ensure that this is the most cost effective way forwards. While they may offer you a discount on the purchase price, is this negated by a higher APR than you could find from a loan elsewhere? Look at several loan companies and be sure to check a loan comparison site too.

Another popular finance option is to use a credit card and if you can purchase the car within your current credit card limit then this could be an option worth considering.

Using your credit card to fund your purchase is the most flexible option as you can pay as much or as little as you like every month but it is essential to work out the total interest that you’ll be paying before you make the purchase.

Above all, when you’re buying a new car the message is to do your research both as to the type of vehicle and the way in which you’re going to be paying for it. As long as you’re armed with all the information, you can buy with confidence.

We’ve witnessed a £135K Bentley being spray painted pink by the likes of Paris Hilton, prestige badges replaced with the names of footballer’s girlfriends and a Lamborghini Gallardo decorated with stars and stripes courtesy of ‘Pimp my Ride’ presenter Xzibit.

But perhaps even more distressing than the sacrilegious modifications many celebs have made to their new cars, is the tangled mess they leave behind when they crash them! The last few years have seen a whole host of shunts, bangs and smashes from celebrities who go through cars faster than most people go through toothbrushes…

Rowan Atkinson proved that playing a fool for so long can often rub off after he crashed his £650K McLaren F1 supercar in August 2011, wrapping it around a tree where it promptly caught fire.

Who could forget the moment Richard Hammond nearly lost his life after a 288mph crash in a dragster? All in the name of motoring TV!

Remember Jamiroquai? Lead singer Jay hit the headlines back in 2006 when he massacred his £1million Lamborghini Diablo – one of the most expensive celebrity crashes of all time.           

Of all the new cars you wouldn’t want to crash, the Bugatti Veyron is probably the one that most springs to mind. But crash one is just what Dutch ‘feel good’ guru Emile Ratelband did when he encountered an oil slick and crashed into a pole.

Walking disaster Lindsey Lohan crashed her V12 Mercedes on Sunset Boulevard in 2007, making it her third car crash in the space of two years!

Katie Price is known for her love of horsepower so you can imagine how she felt when her Toyota 4×4 smashed into two horses while on holiday in Argentina, killing them both and leaving the jeep a write off.

One thing is for sure, celebrities and their love for the limelight are certain to keep us amused with their new car antics for years to come, so watch this space for news of baby-pink Bugattis and the like, meeting their end in a shower of debris.

Take the Drivemocion for example. This battery powered LED message sign is attached to the rear window of your car so that you can express your feelings to fellow drivers without having to open your mouth or gesture frantically with your hands. But with a limited range of ‘smiley face’, ‘thank you’, ‘sorry’ and ‘back off’ this gadget doesn’t cover half the useful phrases you’d normally use. Plus, having to fiddle with the remote to choose which message to display means that whoever it was intended for will be long gone by the time you’ve finished fumbling!

These days we all spend much more time in our cars than we probably should so numerous gadgets have been created to help us feel more ‘at home’ on the road. But tea and coffee facilities in the car? Is this REALLY something we need? Wouldn’t you rather stretch your legs at a Wild Bean café with a cup of coffee and a hot roll, rather than staring at your in-car ‘water heating element’ whilst gagging for a brew?

Furry Dice? Enough said.

Any car gadget that can keep kids occupied on a long journey is gratefully received by car owners, but one that any frazzled mum or dad would be glad to see the back of is the In-Car Karaoke machine. Ear-splitting ‘notes’ and cheesy backing tracks are enough to make any driver head straight for the nearest wall.

In a quest to allow customers to ‘stay connected’ at all times, GM’s OnStar Facebook application enables drivers to verbally dictate a message to update their status. You can even listen to your entire newsfeed whilst driving! Has society really got to the point where we can’t even drive to the shops without having to log in to Facebook? What’s next, holographic images of your friends photos displayed on the windscreen? Does anybody else miss the days when car driving was all about the simple pleasures of, well, driving?

So if you’re planning on treating yourself to a brand new car gadget this Christmas, take a minute to stop and think – what’s the point?

The used car market is thriving, so you can get some great deals on cars that are only a few years old or ‘nearly new’.  Often the hardest part is narrowing down your choice in the first place.

What features do you need in a car?

The first step once you’ve decided to change your current car is to think about which features are most important to you. Are you interested in the amount of torque a car has, the horsepower available or how long it takes to get from 0-60 mph? Or is it more important to know how many miles per gallon (mpg) it does, how much it costs to run and how likely it is to break down?

Think about what you will be using the car for – long journeys (in which case mpg is important), business (in which case you’ll need plenty of space) or short trips around town (will stop/start technology be important)? Do you need lots of boot space for shopping or children’s prams? If yes, then you can narrow down your search to hatchbacks. The list is somewhat endless and only you will know what is important and what isn’t.

Make a note

Simply writing down some of the key features your used car needs to have can help you narrow down your search significantly. Perhaps you’ve seen a few cars parked out on the road that you quite like the look of – make a note of their make and model. Or perhaps one of your friends drives a car that you would like some more information on. Magazine and TV adverts are an ever-present source of inspiration when you’re thinking of buying a car, so pay close attention to them too.

Now that you’ve got an idea of what you need and also what type of car you can see yourself driving, you can start to do your research.

Research, Research, Research!

Researching used cars online is so much easier than researching brand new models, not least because there are so many first-hand reviews available. Parkers.co.uk is a great site if you’re seeking reliable owner’s reviews – here you can get a great idea of what it’s like to actually own your chosen model as well as an insight into those little known characteristics that only an owner would know about.

Car comparison sites are also a great way to compare your ‘wanted features’ checklist with a number of similar models, for example, the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf.  What Car? Has a fantastic car comparison widget on their website which displays all of the features of up to three cars alongside each other. Here, it’s possible to compare features such as specifications, mpg, NCAP ratings and insurance groups at a glance!

Face to Face or Online?

When it comes to actually purchasing your used car once again you’re faced with a few choices – should you buy online or offline, from a private seller or a trade seller? Many people now sell their cars privately by parking them in prominent places around town and leaving their contact details in the window – if you spot the car you want, it’s easy to arrange a viewing simply by calling the owner and telling them you’re interested. If you’d rather buy from a used car dealer, it’s often difficult to know where to go. Here, Google is your friend. Just type in ‘Audi’ or ‘Volkswagen’ for example, followed by ‘used’ and your home town for instant access to all the places you can buy from locally.

Purchasing a car online isn’t as scary as it used to be either and is becoming more and more commonplace. Again, there are lots of sites where both private and trade sellers can list their cars for sale – Auto Trader being the most popular example. When looking online don’t be afraid to call the owner up and ask any additional questions you might have before arranging a viewing. 

Worry free purchasing

Almost all large dealer groups have a used cars section on their website or on their forecourt. The benefits of buying from them of course is that you have the safety net of a large organisation if something were to go wrong as well as the possibility of obtaining a used car warranty.

The plethora of information available on used cars really does take the worry away from making a ‘bad’ or ‘ill-informed’ decision. The only thing left for you to do is to look forward to taking a few of them out for a test drive!

To be continued in Part 2 …..