If nothing else, one thing's certain in 2007: things aren't going to get any cheaper for the motorist. Insurance and fuel costs, the two biggest financial drains when running your motor, will climb further still. Norwich Union, one of the UK's largest insurance brokers, expects to impose rises of up to 40% in 2007, with an average hike of 16% for customers. If that doesn't sound like much in the way of a reward for your loyal custom, start shopping around. But beware. Spiraling claims means other insurers are set to follow Norwich Union's lead.
Try a price comparison website and look for internet-based operators with lower operating costs, who are better equipped to ride out market fluctuations and resist hiking premiums. Meanwhile, despite a return to health for oil productivity, stability of supply and subsequent lowered prices, the Chancellor has inflated petrol prices through more tax, claiming he only has the country's wellbeing in mind. How considerate. As you can see from the state of our congested roads, it's had an immediate effect.
So, what's the answer to beating 2007's used car price hikes? Try downsizing. An increasingly popular option among those without an ego the size of their car, buying a smaller one means you pay less in the first place, and then suffer less road tax, won't be charged as much by insurers and can enjoy 50mpg fuel-sipping economy. An added perk is less money to be lost to the dreaded depreciation. (more...)
Before the advent of the internet, finding a quality used car was a challenging endeavour. Often it entailed visiting several dubious used car dealerships and settling for a rough approximation of the car you were looking for. Really, there was no better way.
And in terms of security, buyers had none. The moment you plunked down hard cash on the barrelhead and drove the car off the lot, it was yours and you were responsible for it, whether it was a winner or a lemon. More often than not it was a lemon.
But when the internet came along all that changed. Not only did it become easier for buyers to locate the used cars they were looking for, but they also had more power as a result of having access to virtually unlimited options. Needless to say, this was a situation that did not sit well with most used car dealers. In the end, they had to decide to either change with the times or become extinct. (more...)
Though finding cars is easier than ever with the help of the internet, many shoppers cause themselves unnecessary headaches by neglecting to do research in advance. While it is true that auto sites can help you locate just about any car ever made, if you don’t know what you want, they won’t help you much.
That is why before you visit an automotive sales site and start perusing their listings, you should take the time to think about what kind of vehicle you want. A good idea is to write out a list of four or five makes, or better yet models, and research them online. Take your time reading both customer reviews and expert reports. These sites are often free of charge and they will give you a good idea of what owners and industry insiders think of the vehicle.
After you have thoroughly researched all of the cars on your list, you will want to check the average selling price of each vehicle. This is the price that private sellers and dealerships actually sell the model for, and it can be quite different from the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Again, there are reputable websites that offer this information free of charge. (more...)
Founded in 1919, French automobile maker Citroen was the first European company to successfully mass-produce cars. Ninety years later, they make some of the most popular cars on the continent.
According to the company, they sold more than two million units of the C3, one of their most popular hatchbacks. So, why are Citroen hatchbacks so ubiquitous in Europe? Well, one reason is that they are specifically designed for getting around European cities. They are lightweight, efficient, small, and get excellent petrol millage. They also have an attractive price tag and retain their value better than comparable models.
Who’s driving them? Citroen hatchbacks make a perfect first vehicle for parents who are looking for a safe, economical, and easy to handle car for their children. But make no mistake about it, Citroen hatchbacks are not luxury vehicles. They are not for the driving enthusiast who prizes luxury and driving performance above all else. They are simply for getting from A to B in a safe and efficient way. (more...)
Kia produces cars that are of competitive and world class standards while maintaining affordable rates. Kia Motors is a South Korean company. In fact it is South Korea’s second largest automobile manufacturer. The company also has an American arm, Kia America.
In the UK, Kia is one of the fastest growing car companies. It offers quality vehicles to the public at prices much below the competition. The Kia Rio is often considered to be the most affordable sedan in the US.
Kia produces different ranges of cars to meet the requirements of various consumers. The Kia Sportage is caters the SUV market and is at par with SUVs in it’s range, but at an affordable price tag. (more...)
Hyundai is a brand name associated with reliability and quality. Hyundai cars have always been popular in the UK and a large number of people prefer to get a Hyundai model over any other brand.
Second hand cars are increasingly popular today. Second hand cars are more affordable than their brand new counterparts, and often one can get a flawless vehicle at price that more than kind to your pocket!
Before purchasing a second hand Hyundai, it is important to decide your budget. Planning a realistic budget is a good idea as it will help you make a calculated decision and get the best for your cash. Also, what you are going to use the car for is important. Will you be using the car alone or do you have kids who will travel in the car? (more...)
Citroen have been manufacturing cars and other vehicles since first being formed by Andre Citroen in France in 1919. They were the first mass producers of motor vehicles outside the USA.
Since then, Citroen have gone on to manufacture a wide range of cars under their distinctive brand emblem, including the instantly recognisable and distinctive 2 CV. In 1976 Citroen were purchased by their fellow native car makers, Peugeot. Since then, many of the models produced have resembled the Peugeot counterparts.
Due to the sheer number of cars that have been produced by Citroen, there is a large choice of citroen used cars to be found in any of the many used car online websites, showrooms and supermarkets to be found throughout the country. (more...)
In the present economic climate, many people are now forced into having to tighten their budgets and to keep a tight hold on their purse strings. This is especially the case for the larger, most essential purchases, such as when purchasing a car.
Gone are the days for many people of being able to purchase a brand new shiny car every two or three years. The fact is that these cars lose their value from the minute they are driven out of the showroom.
It is therefore much more economically and environmentally wise to purchase a used car. These cars can be found in many used car supermarkets and online used car showrooms, found throughout the country. However, an often much more prudent method is to buy a used car from a private advertiser, who will place an advertisement for this in the classified section of the local newspaper. They may also advertise by way of putting a poster in a shop or car window stating for sale, used car . (more...)
It should come as no surprise that as the economy in the UK continues to improve, car and home sales have also improved. The reason for this is simple: when times are tough and people don’t know where their next pay cheque is coming from, they tend to put off large purchases.
But then when the economy improves, large ticket items are often where you see the most growth. While the numbers are nothing to write home about, we do know that car sales are up and that most industry insiders expect them continue to grow as consumer spending and employment rebounds.
Believe it or not, the first market that experienced noticeable growth was the used car market. There are several good reasons for this. To begin with, when the economy is improving, people often remain cautious about major purchases, but since a car is a necessary item, they are sometimes willing to invest in cars second hand . (more...)
Automex is an automotive parts manufacturer and retailer in the UK. Since 1975, the company has produced copper brake pipe sets. These sets were quite popular before the Second World War, and then they all but disappeared, mostly due to the high cost of copper.
But what the founders of Automex somehow knew is that owners of luxury vehicles and sports cars would be willing to pay a slight premium for superior performance. That is why they make products for specific luxury vehicles like the Jaguar XK120 and the Messerschmitt FMR TG500.
Early success gave the company the confidence and the funds they needed to expand their product line over the next few years. By 1980, Automex was producing copper coils and copper nickel piping in a wide variety of sizes. Almost three decades later, the little company has expanded its operations and is now selling goods everywhere in the world on the internet. Their website, Automotex.co.uk , is one of the company’s prime sources of income. (more...)
In the last months of 2009, the UK economy limped out of a recession that lasted for five consecutive quarters. We say limped because the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by an anaemic 0.1 per cent, which was less than expected. However, there were a few positive signs that have convinced a few economists that the economy is on the slow road to recovery.
Probably the most encouraging sign was the increase in new cars sales. As you may know, car sales are a key indicator of consumer confidence and they often signal future economic growth. Of course, it is much too early to come to any conclusions or even to offer an educated guess as to the future of the economy. But absolute certainty is for scientists and sometimes consumers must take a risk.
Why buy now? According to recent reports, cars for sale in the UK have increased for the seventh straight month in a row. The latest uptick means that car sales have risen by more than thirty per cent from last year’s lows. While it is impossible to say if this trend will continue, what we do know is that car values and prices have steadily increased along with sales. (more...)
Though they were introduced in the early nineteen-thirties and are currently quite popular, roadsters tend to go in out of fashion frequently. If you have never heard the term before, a roaster is a two-seat convertible car that was traditionally produced without rear or side windows. Of course, contemporary roadsters must have windows because not having them would be dangerous, not to mention illegal. But the basic style and design remains, for the most part, unchanged.
In this article we are going to discuss one of the most popular lines of roasters from one of the premier names in luxury vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class was introduced more than a decade ago as the roadster experienced yet another revival in Europe.
As you might expect, the revered automaker had to put its own stamp on the classic car and they did so with the SLK. According to the company, the SLK was the first roadster to offer a retractable hood that was constructed from steel panels rather than the standard soft fabric top. Did this new innovation have an effect on mercedes slk car price ? The answer is no. The car remains one of the company’s most affordable models with a starting price of only around 30 thousand pounds. (more...)
Founded in 1944, Kia Motors is South Korea’s oldest car company. They are also one of the fastest growing automobile makers on the planet with sales of over one and a half million a year. The reason behind the company’s late surge is simple: it took them decades to expand their operations overseas.
While other Asian car makers like Honda and Toyota were conquering North America and parts of Europe in the late nineteen-seventies and early eighties, Kia was still focused squarely on the Asian market. In fact, the company didn’t incorporate in the United States until 1992, and it took even longer for them to come to Europe.
Fortunately, the company is making up for lost time, especially in Europe where it is one of the fastest growing international carmakers. At present, Frankfurt is the base of their European operations; it is also where most of their European manufacturing plants are located. Since Kia has grown into a popular brand in Europe, finding a used kia should be a piece of cake. (more...)
Kia Motors is South Korea’s oldest carmaker. Founded in 1944, they are what you might call a late bloomer. Though they were popular in Asia for decades, it took them quite some time to export their cars to other countries. That may be why KIA is one of the fastest growing automobile manufacturers in the world today.
Another obvious reason is that they happen to make highly affordable, fuel efficient vehicles, which is exactly what the market demands, especially in the wake of a global recession. How fast is KIA growing? They are currently the fifth largest carmaker in the world, in spite of the fact they didn’t enter the North American market until 1992.
It took them even longer to come to Europe, but when they did it was clear that their vehicles appealed to consumers. At present, Kia is one of the fastest growing foreign auto makers currently operating in the European market. Finding a used Kia is a cinch on the internet. (more...)
The market for second hand vehicles is growing very rapidly all over the world, as people realise the good sense in investing in a used vehicle. As more and more people consider this an option, more and more options are now becoming available to buyers!
There is a wide variety of cars on the market, and the only way to preserve your sanity while shopping for a second hand car is to know what you want, and how much you want to pay for it. Obviously, knowing your budget means narrowing your options down considerably. On top of that, if you also know what make you want to go for, your search for the right car can be easy and quick.
For example, a person who knows they want a used Citroen , and also know that they want a compact city car, will be able to narrow their search down to a couple of models. So although Citroën makes a wide range of cars to suit different consumer needs, the buyer’s life is made fairly simple. From here, all they need to do find the best dealers and the best offers, and they are all set to go!
The emergence of online used car comparison and directory sites have made it easy to search for thousands of cars at the click of a mouse.
Used cars are very popular among buyers today. The most obvious advantage is that you can get a decent car for a great price, if you look at the right places, at the right time and make the right negotiations.
It is a fact that a used car is most definitely going to be cheaper than its new version, but even used cars can be quite expensive, depending on which model and make you’re going for. It is important to understand how used car prices are set.
It is no secret that car dealers are usually very eager to get their used cars sold. If you have been to a car lot, you will know what I’m talking about. It’s all about hard selling. The price that the used car finally is set at, is the addition of the price the dealer paid for it, the amount it cost him to get the car in good shape, and then if the vehicle has been bought on loan, then his loan interest, and other overheads. On top of this, there is obviously the profit. (more...)
Whenever you want to buy a car, you have several options. You can either choose to buy a new car or a used car depending on your budget. Buying a new car is often very expensive, especially when there are many second hand alternatives that may be just as viable.
There are many second hand cars for sale UK has to offer, and it is because of this that used car sales are rising. If you want to buy a used car, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.
The first thing you need to decide is how much you want to spend on a car. Some used cars are expensive, especially the more well known brands. Choosing a brand that fits your budget should be your first task in finding a second hand automobile. (more...)
If cost is your first consideration when choosing your second-hand car, you must consider all the factors involved in your new purchase, not just the basic used car prices .
Factor one, the most obvious, is the price of the car itself. You can keep your costs down by doing internet research. There are several price comparison websites on the internet, and by doing your research carefully, you can be reasonably sure of the keenest price. Even if you finally decide to buy locally, you can use the knowledge to negotiate the price down.
Factor two, any additional costs in necessary repairs must be taken into account into the overall price. There may be no point in buying the cheapest car available if you have to fork out to have the clutch repaired or the paint work touched-up. (more...)
When the UK economy finally emerged from a protracted recession, even the experts didn't know what to expect. Would consumer spending rebound or would consumers continue to scrimp and save? While the numbers aren't all in, it appears as if consumers are willing to wait for more auspicious economic data.
After all, the economy only expanded by an anaemic 0.3 percent in the last quarter of 2009. Not to mention the fact that other popular economic indicators like home and car sales have remained flat. There is, however, one market that has shown signs of life in recent months.
We are speaking specifically of the used car market. That's right! Second-hand UK car offers are finally attracting customers as sales and prices have recently improved. Why? The answer is obvious—people don't have the money to buy new automobiles, so they settle for pre-owned models. (more...)
Buying a car can be a very long process if you look in the wrong places. People traditionally go to their local car dealer and search their lot to find a vehicle. In our current society that heavily depends on the internet we no longer have to do that.
Every car dealer that strives to succeed will normally have a website that lists their entire inventory. Used cars in particular are in high demand since most citizens are unable to afford newer models.
Second hand Kia sales have risen drastically in the past several years due to the recent economic collapse. In addition to having low prices, Kia also has one of the most robust lines of automobiles on the market. (more...)
There is a wide choice of UK second hand cars that are available but it is vitally important that the necessary checks are made before any purchase takes place.
There are various guides and websites that are available which give the purchaser an idea of how much a used car should be which is based on the model, age and the mileage. The overall condition of the car is also very important and if you are not knowledgeable on this subject it is always a good idea to obtain expert advice.
A car that is well maintained with a full service history from a reputable garage would be the first choice for anyone and it is advisable for the new owner to keep this service history up to date, should they need to sell the car themselves at a later date. (more...)
Though it has finally emerged from recession, the UK economy has seen brighter days. Unemployment is on the rise, the debt is at a record high, and government spending is out of control. Not to mention the fact that banks have tightened their proverbial purse strings and loans are hard to come by.
This is bad news for the average citizen, who may need a loan to purchase big ticket items like a car or a home. Of course, buying a new home can be put off until the economy improves. But what do you do if you desperately need a car for work but cannot afford one?
One increasingly popular option is to purchase cars second hand . In fact, three out of every four cars sold in the UK last quarter were used cars. Why is this? Well, when people cannot afford new cars and they cannot get loans, they naturally turn to a less expensive option. (more...)
Second hand is fast becoming the mantra of the times. More and more people are willingly spending their money on quality second hand items. Be it clothes, homes or cars, an extremely attractive category of nearly new has evolved, which is cost effective and excellent value for money!
A car that has been used even just for a few months can cost significantly less than its brand new cousin. If used well, cars are something that can go on for years together, so a well used car can be a great buy. Obviously the vehicle has to be thoroughly checked and scrutinized before buying.
As more and more people get interested in the used car market, buying and selling a second hand car has become easier than ever before. There is a huge used vehicle database on the internet, and this has thrown the market wide open, with healthy competition, excellent vehicles, and good prices. (more...)
