'Rewards' for drivers who back road prices

Motorists will be offered incentives to take part in road-pricing experiments, under government plans to rescue its policy of reducing congestion by charging vehicles by the mile.

Rather than forcing drivers to install a black box, to track their cars’ movements, ministers hope to encourage volunteers by making the system financially attractive.

The Government was taken by surprise by the strength of feeling against road pricing in the petition opposing the idea on the Downing Street website. It attracted 1.8 million signatures, compared with 5,000 for a petition supporting road pricing.

The Department for Transport is developing an approach where drivers will be offered a choice: carry on paying motoring taxes or switch to a road-pricing meter in the car that could save money.

Drivers could be offered a discount on fuel duty in return for agreeing to pay a distance-based charge, which would vary according to the level of congestion. DfT officials are studying an American trial in Oregon in which drivers who agree to pay a mileage charge have duty deducted from fuel bills.

The department hopes to test the voluntary approach in regional pilot schemes due to be announced this year. Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge are being considered for the experiments.

The hope is that positive reports from volunteers will help to silence suspicions about the concept, including concerns that the black box will be used to spy on drivers’ movements and to raise the overall amount paid in motoring taxes.

Ministers have promised repeatedly that neither of these things will happen but the size of the petition suggests that many drivers do not believe them.

Under the new approach, drivers would be encouraged to see the black box as a useful tool, not an intrusive tracking device. The box, which would use satellite positioning and a digital map to record the vehicle’s movements, would act like a taxi meter. Drivers would be able to see the true cost of their journey mounting up as they sat behind the wheel and might decide to travel at a cheaper time, by a cheaper route or even on public transport. At present, motoring taxes are almost invisible to drivers because road tax is paid annually and fuel tax is collected automatically at the filling station.

The RAC Foundation supports the voluntary approach but believes that the Government should offer participants a whole package of benefits. It has developed a concept called “UK Drive Time”, which would involve installing a black box capable not just of calculating the distance charge but also of giving advice to the driver about congestion and offering faster alternative routes.

The system could also allow the driver to pay less for insurance. Norwich Union already offers a “pay-as-you-drive” policy under which drivers pay less if they avoid driving late at night and in the morning peak, when most crashes occur.

Edmund King, the foundation’s director, said: “It would be political suicide to force road pricing on drivers. They need to be tempted to opt in.” David Begg, the Government’s former transport adviser, said that ministers should learn from the introduction of the Oyster travel card in London. “No one was forced to get an Oyster card but the incentives were gradually increased and now more than ten million people have one,” he said.

An American road pricing experiment in Seattle found that almost 80 per cent of volunteers made fewer car journeys on congested roads when offered a financial reward.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1658091.ece

Ford focus wins top honour at Auto Express Used Car Awards 2007

Ford took the top award at the Auto Express Used Car Honours 2007 by securing best used car with the Ford Focus.

Further winners for Ford were the Ford Mondeo, which won the category for best family car while the Ford Focus also won the award for best compact car. The Ford Fiesta was commended in the supermini category and the Ford Focus ST was commended in the hot hatch category.

Commenting on the Ford Focus honour, Auto Express Editor David Johns said: "When it came to picking an overall winner, there was no argument. The Focus offers an unbeatable all-round package".

The Ford Focus was the overwhelming choice of Auto Express's panel of expert judges, which included Jeff Paterson from industry trade bible Glass's Guide and car trader-turned TV presenter Mike Brewer. They summarised its performance by pointing out that the acid test of asking themselves whether they could recommend a car to a close friend or relative didn't apply to the Focus because all the judges would happily take one home for themselves to keep!

Ford Focus strengths recognised by the panel of experts included its quality interior, fine engines and excellent chassis, and genuine desirability. Like any other Ford – the judges noted – owners also benefit from low running costs and a huge dealer network.

Kevin Griffin, director of fleet operations Ford of Britain and responsible for used car sales nationally, commented: "The top award recognises the strength in depth provided by the Ford Focus range. Also, it underlines the quality and reliability offered by the Ford range backed up by low cost of ownership and an unmatched dealer network."

Tesco to pay for fuel damage

Tesco has pledged to pay millions of pounds for repairs to cars damaged by contaminated petrol.

The supermarket giant has today taken out full page advertisements in national newspapers apologising for the damage caused to thousands of vehicles owned by its customers.

The advert says that the rogue petrol, which was tainted with silicon, has been drained from its store forecourts and replaced with a 'fresh, clean supply'.

It reassured its customers that its petrol can now be used 'with confidence'. The advert, which appears under the headline 'Tesco petrol. It's back to normal and we're sorry' goes on to offer to cover the cost of any repairs.

It carries the phone number 0800 028 6428 for customers to obtain further information and advice.

Contaminated fuel: Claiming for Damages

The Association of British Insurers has today announced that comprehensive motor insurance policy holders might be able to claim for accidental damage, provided they could prove where they purchased the fuel. Receipts would need to be submitted in order to make a successful claim, but this is great news for drivers with vehicles damaged by contaminated petrol.

For more infromation, visit the Association of British Insurers website:
www.abi.org.uk/

Car Shoppers Continue to Search for Hybrid Cars on Desperate Seller

With the days of 50p petrol prices long gone, and the average price now 89.1p per litre, motorists are beginning to demand more fuel efficiency from their cars.
 
Recent car searches on Desperate Seller.co.uk, one of the UK’s leading car selling and buying websites, reveals that more and more consumers are turning to hybrid cars as the solution for increased fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions.
 
The Honda Civic 1.3 IMA Executive, which tops the Environmental Transport Association's green rankings, has featured in the Top 3 number of vehicle searches on Desperate Seller for the past three consecutive months. The Honda Civic offers everything a hybrid consumer could want: it has low greenhouse gas emissions; is relatively quiet; and scores well in the NCAP ratings.
 
The five door Toyota Prius, also features high in the number of searches on Desperate Seller.  The Prius uses battery power to back up a 1.5-litre petrol engine and emits just 104g/km of CO2.
 
Other vehicles showing significant increases in the number of searches include, the Daihatsu Charade 1.0 EL, this city car offers fantastic fuel efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions of just 114g/km of CO2.  Also being searched for is the Toyota Aygo, this three-or five-door car posts the UK's second-lowest CO2 emissions of just 109g/km not far behind the ultra-clean Toyota Prius.  And the Peugeot 407 1.6HDI S 110, one of the most high specced green cars on the market, which not only breaks 50mpg but also has respectable CO2 emissions of 145g/km.
 
With hybrid cars, on average having a 90% lower carbon emission rate than traditional cars, and motorists being able to save hundreds of pounds a year in fuel bills by choosing a greener car, Desperate Seller.co.uk have a wide selection of fuel-efficient vehicles for consumers to choose from. 
 
For further information, please visit; www.desperateseller.co.uk
 

Contaminated fuel: What to Watch For!

As an investigation is launched by Trading Standards officers after thousands of motorists claimed they had been sold contaminated fuel, what should you do if you think your car has been affected?

It has been reported the outlets were selling petrol contaminated with ethanol without telling customers, although motoring organisations have been quick to call this unlikely.

But if you find yourself having car trouble, check out these tips :

What to look for:
* Drivers who have poured contaminated petrol into their tanks will notice their cars running roughly almost immediately

* AA technical specialist Vanessa Guyll said drivers would quickly find the car struggling to reach normal revs, slowing down and running badly

* By this point, a sensor in the exhaust pipe which measures exhaust gases will be sending information to the car's engine control unit (ECU) to run less fuel through the engine

* Many cars would move into "limp home mode", which allows the car to be driven slowly but with less acceleration - a protection built into most modern cars to prevent damage to the engine

* If the fuel is contaminated, the exhaust sensor will have turned a white or pink colour or have a white ash-type deposit on it

* The affected fuel is unlikely to cause any long-term damage to engines, provided drivers seek help immediately.

* However, the exhaust sensor would have to replaced at a cost of about £100

What should you do:
* Vehicle owners who suspect they may have been affected by contaminated fuel should take immediate action

* The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said drivers should keep all fuel receipts and note their mileage

* A spokesman said owners should contact their car dealer or manufacturer for advice if their engine starts to misfire or run roughly

* You should avoid driving the car, but your dealer should give the best advice on this

* The SMMT said if faulty fuel was proved to be the source of the problem, suppliers may be responsible for repair costs.

* The SMMT spokesman said owners should contact their local trading standards office for legal advice.

* The RAC has warned drivers not to attempt siphoning petrol from their tanks.

4x4s 'twice as likely' to roll in crashes

Large four-wheel-drive vehicles are more likely than other cars to roll over in crashes becuase of their higher centre of gravity, researchers have found.

Their occupants are also more likely to be killed or injured if they hit a roadside safety barrier.

The findings, from a study for the Highways Agency by the Transport Research Laboratory, challenge the perception that the “Chelsea tractors” are always safer to drive.

The researchers studied thousands of crashes in the past decade and found that 4x4s, also known as sports utility vehicles, offered more protection in collisions. Their greater mass and higher riding position mean smaller vehicles tend to come off much worse, especially when a 4x4 overrides their side-impact protection systems. In cars involved in crashes in 2001, at least one occupant was injured in 61 per cent of non-4x4s compared with at least one in 48 per cent of 4x4s.

But the study also found that 4x4s were more vulnerable to turning over after hitting objects such as kerbs or when swerving violently. Injuries tend to be much more severe when vehicles overturn.

Only 2.9 per cent of other cars involved in a crash in 2001 overturned, compared with 6.2 per cent of 4x4s. The gap widens when a crash involves a collision with safety barriers, with 41 per cent of 4x4s overturning compared with 11 per cent of other cars.

Men jousting with 4x4s

What else would you do with a Rav4?

www.rav4jousting.co.uk/

Looking to buy a Rav4? Start your search here at Desperate Seller
www.desperateseller.co.uk/

Buying a New Car - Here are Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid

Top 10 Worst Car Buying Mistakes

In the UK, used cars account for over three-quarters of all cars sold each year. With buying a car the second largest purchase a consumer will make, getting it wrong could cost you thousands of pounds or you could end up with a vehicle that you won't be happy with later on.

Desperate Seller.co.uk shares the 10 common mistakes that car buyers often make, so that you can learn how to avoid them, enabling you to make better informed decisions when you buy your next new car.

1. Buying new instead of used: Whilst its great to have that new car smell and the sticker on the window to tell everyone you’ve just bought a new car, from the moment you drive off the dealer’s lot your new car will lose anywhere from 10 to 20% of its value. Why not shop smarter and purchase a used car instead. You’re likely to find that the same model of car that is just one year older can be dramatically less expensive but still comes with all the latest add-ons.

2. Not determining exactly how much you can afford to spend: Before you begin the shopping process, you have to determine exactly how much you can afford to spend. This is where the internet can really help. Several sites, including Desperateseller.co.uk have buyer’s guides that can help you compare one model to another within your budget. You can also read comprehensive reviews and ratings from leading car magazines and consumers who drive your potential future car every day.

To determine the price you are willing to pay for your future car, you need to find out the minimum price being offered to private sellers on online sites, the maximum price from retail dealers and the going rate from an average of the prices asked in the classifieds.

3. Not knowing what kind of car you're looking for: The other vital decision to make before you begin the shopping process is to decide what kind of car you want. Take into account your average mileage, the number of people that will be driving the car, impact on the environment and your own tastes of comfort and style.

It's also important to look three to five years down the road, to make sure your purchase will still be suitable if your needs change.

4. Not researching online: Thanks to the internet, car buyers have access to a wide range of information. There are many online car buying services and also car manufacturers' Web sites that have detailed product information.

Check the going rate for your new car by visiting www.glass.co.uk

And, before money changes hands, make sure you're up to speed on the legal aspects of buying and selling by reading the AA's advice for private car sales, by visiting www.theaa.com

Avoid bad deals and purchasing a banger by doing your research online.

5. Not starting your search on Desperate Sellerwww.desperateseller.co.uk: Desperate Seller is one of the UK’s leading car buying and selling website. Not only do we offer free information about car models, features, prices, and more, you can even find owner ratings, car suggestions, and reviews on the site.

6. Not taking a test drive: The test drive is one of the most important parts of the car-buying process. Once you’ve selected a potential vehicle to buy, a test-drive is a must! Try and arrange the test drive at the seller’s home, this should give you a better feel for the car by visiting the seller’s home and talking to their family. Also, never be swayed by shining looks: a quick valet and a new set of number plates will make any old wreck catch the eye.

It's critical that you take ample time—at least 30 minutes—to conduct a complete test drive and perform a thorough walk-around of any vehicle you're considering.

7. Not researching the value of your current car: If you’re relying on selling your current car to finance your new purchase, its vital that you know the value of your current car before buying your new one. Find out what both the used-car retail and wholesale prices are, so that you'll know what you should be able to get if you trade it in or if you sell it yourself.

8. Forgetting to cost out the running costs: The ticket value of the car is just a small cost to consider, many people forget to calculate the running costs of their new car. Make sure you include the cost of insurance in your budget for a new car. Sites such as Money Supermarket www.moneysupermarket.co.uk can search all leading insurers by filling in one form to provide you with a quote for insurance.

9. Not knowing a car's history: Insist on viewing the full service history from new to the most recent service and check that all the paperwork is in order. Never buy a used car without getting an independent check from a company such as HPI www.hpicheck.com who will check the records to make sure the car hasn't been written off, stolen or has outstanding finance.

10. Not having a used car checked by an independent mechanic: When buying a used car, condition is everything. Before you buy a used vehicle, have it checked by an independent mechanic. A good mechanic should be able to tell if the car has been in a major accident or has a hidden but costly problem. If repair work is needed ask for a quote, this will come in handy for your negotiations.

By avoiding these common mistakes, Desperate Seller can help you save thousands of pounds on your next car.

For further information, please visit; www.desperateseller.co.uk

More people opting for gas-guzzling used cars

The latest used car sales statistics released by Experian on 22 January have revealed that there has been a slight shift towards bigger cars during the third quarter of 2006, suggesting that cost conscious used car buyers are perhaps not as prudent or environmentally friendly as they might think they are.

Experian's Managing Director of the Automotive division, Rob Whalley believes that: "[The] increase in sales of older used cars that have larger engines, use more fuel and usually have higher CO2 emissions, is at odds with concerns for both the environment and the costs of running a car."

He concluded by saying that increased taxes and fuel prices have caused large car prices to drop further.

This certainly mirrors the 'car searches' that we have seen at Desperate Seller.co.uk.

Not what you want to do to a Ferrari

This is what happened when a Western Australian millionaire idiot got drunk and then drove his expensive Ferrari....

Here's the story from The Sunday Times...

Ferrari Gets Unwanted Nose Job
Andrew Chubb

December 18, 2006 01:00pm

IT'S a heart-breaking sight for car enthusiasts. This near-new Ferrari received an unwanted nose job when it ploughed into a traffic light in South Perth on Sunday.

Witnesses said the driver revved the Italian stallion at the lights next to the Windsor Hotel, at the intersection of Mends Street and Mill Point Rd, dropped the clutch and burned off around the corner, but humiliatingly lost control and slammed into the pole around 7pm.

Windsor manager Brian Hopley said the man appeared to be trying to impress bystanders in front of the packed hotel.

"He was waving at everyone in his new Ferrari, revving his engine up and making a big scene and he took off with a screech of rubber and went straight into the traffic light pole," he said.

Another witness, a Windsor patron who wished to remain anonymous, said the driver tried to run from the scene but was pursued by security staff and patrons tackled by hotel security staff and handed to police.

"I just saw him run and a few of us gave chase," he said.

"(The security staff) just chased him down and tackled him in the Windsor's car park."

Mr Hopley said he was astonished by how quickly pictures of the incident were circulated.

"I came to work this morning and got it off one of my staff members. I sent them to my wife, and she'd already received it from her daughter two minutes before," he said.

"It was a nasty waste of a brand new car, but the guy was an idiot, much to the amusement of our patrons."