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.
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Monday, 5 March 2007
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/
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
Friday, 2 March 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
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.
Thursday, 1 February 2007
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/
www.rav4jousting.co.uk/
Looking to buy a Rav4? Start your search here at Desperate Seller
www.desperateseller.co.uk/
Monday, 29 January 2007
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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