Sometimes choosing to lease a car rather than buying is a better option. If you are considering your options read this to help weigh up the pros and cons.
If you lease a car you will get the opportunity to change your car usually every three years. If you get bored easily then leasing is a good option as you know you can change your car regularly without going through the hassle of buying and selling. Why not go for a luxury car lease as by paying monthly you are often able to afford more than you would if you were buying. You can therefore own a really nice car without paying out a great deal upfront of taking out a loan. Another benefit is leased cars always have the latest safety features giving you extra piece of mind.
Leased cars are usually under warranty giving you security. It is likely that by leasing you won’t need to deal with major repairs. Therefore leasing can be more stress fee as you know you won’t be hit with a massive repair bill.
Cost is always an issue when choosing a car. When buying you usually have large up front costs and continual repairs and servicing costs. A lot of car buys also involve loans to cover costs and a benefit of leasing is being debt free! In some cases leasing long term will actually be more expensive than buying but you need to consider that the ease of leasing might still outweigh the reduced cost of buying.
If you are particularly environmentally friendly then you might consider an electric car lease. Buying electric cars can be expensive but leasing them in the short term can be more cost effective. You also have peace of mind that you are doing your bit for the environment.
Drawbacks of a lease are that you might be subject to mileage restrictions. Another potential problem is that you can’t customise your car. Also if you are liable for small repairs then any you make must be up to your leasing companies standards. This means you might not be able to choose the cheapest repair company or repair the car yourself.
There are lots of different reasons why you should lease a car rather than buy and hopefully this has given you something to think about.
Driving in London is not only costly it can be extremely stressful, follow these tips to save money & remain calm…
It may be hot but avoid using your air conditioning if you want to save on fuel costs. Air conditioning places huge demands on the engine using up a lot of petrol.
Change gears at lower revs to save fuel, don’t be tempted to race around. London is not somewhere you can drive around quickly – be patient!
If you’re driving in London then there’s no doubt that you will be queuing and quite possibly breaking a lot. Avoid heavy breaking – this not only avoids excessive fuel consumption but is better for the environment.
Remember that if you enter the congestion zone, you will have to pay the charge. If you forget you will have to pay a fine so make sure you visit the TFL website and pay up.
Make sure you keep your tyres well inflated. Underinflated tyres increase your fuel consumption by about 2%.
Avoid short journey as a cold engine uses twice as much fuel as a warm engine. In London there is a wide variety of public transport to choose from so walk or take a bus or tube.
Empty your boot! Keep essentials only in your car to avoid the engine having to work harder than necessary.
Consider joining a London car club. Car clubs not only save you hassle and money they can be much more environmentally friendly. Some car clubs even offer an electric car option for city driving.
Vauxhall is currently looking for the greenest drivers in Europe. Demonstrate your skills online and on the road and you could win a revolutionary Vauxhall Ampera and be one of the first to drive this unique electric range-extended car.
Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team attempted 800 miles on one tank. Surely there is somebody in the UK who can do better??
All you have to do is sign up here and follow the three steps:
- Online quiz: Answer 10 questions about environmental driving in the shortest time possible and score enough points to qualify for the second round. If you are not happy with your result, try again. Enter before 11th June.
- Online Simulator: Qualifiers from the quiz will be tested in our online driving simulator starting 17th May. Complete the online driving game in the shortest time. The best scorer from each participating country qualifies for the live driving event in Copenhagen.
- Driving Event: Takes place in Copenhagen and Malmö on 22-24 July 2010. For the lucky finalists this unique event is your chance to demonstrate your eco-driving skills at the wheel of real ecoFLEX cars, at the location of the last UN Climate Change Conference, and in competition with Europe’s greenest drivers!
We have already proven that the UK produces great fast drivers with the likes of Hamilton and Jenson Button…who went on to win six of the first seven races of the 2009 season, equalling a record achieved by only two other drivers: Michael Schumacher and Jim Clark. But can we master the skill of petrol preservation??
Ready for the challenge?
Sunny days are coming! Time to get the family out for a nice weekend away, especially with the commencing (although illusive) summer around the corner.
However, when you try and think about it it’s always the same old story: the train isn’t really the cheapest option and travelling with three kids can get quite complicated and stressful.
Best option would definitely be the car: you can pack up everything without wondering how you are going to carry it around, watch the kids closely and enjoy the benefits of having a vehicle during your stay.
Here is a selection of great MPV family cars for you to choose from!
Citroën Xsara Picasso, Renault Espace and the Vauxhall Meriva all offer good looking interior and exterior design, fun entertainments, practical features including big spaces and most importantly the best security you need for your children.
Special security features include automatic door and boot locking (when car in motion), outer rear seats Isofix child seat anchorage points and high tensile steel side protection bars.
The brand new Meriva offers a wider range of features that you will currently not find in any other family cars.
The vehicle is equipped with innovative clever doors which open the other way. This new system makes it easier for everyone to get in and out and insures an improved roadside safety.
The new Meriva welcomes everyone with space for up to five and luggage or bulky items. How many seats do you need today? Five? Four? Three? Just two? In Meriva the choice is yours. The outer rearseats can be individually moved backwards or forwards, or folded flat for more luggage space. The system provides unbeatable levels of versatility – without ever having to remove a seat.
So pack up the car and the kids and wherever you decide to go, enjoy the ride!
Green driving has been a trendy topic for a while now. Apart from driving a car that emits less CO2, there are a few easy things you can do whilst driving to further reduce your emissions. The trick is to reduce the amount of work your engine has to do. The less it has to work, the fewer the CO2 emissions, and the less fuel you’ll need to use.
Personal car travel produces 13 per cent of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. It also contributes to local air pollution and congestion. The type of car you own, the way you drive it and the fuel you use can make a big difference to your impact on the environment.
Here are 6 great tips to help you become a greener driver.
Pump up your tyres
Make sure your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure level. This will cut down the resistance your tyres endure while moving and your engine won’t have to work as hard.
Time to do some Spring cleaning
We all carry around un-needed items in our vehicle just in case. This creates extra weight that our car has to carry around. Unfortunately if you are determined to become the green type, you will have to get rid of your precious items to cut down both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Drive at the right speed
At 70 mph, you use 9% more fuel than at 60 mph, and up to 15% more than at 50 mph.
Avoid repetitive stops
Every time you stop then start again in a traffic queue, the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear.
Revving up wastes fuel and increases emissions
Revving up like a Formula 1 driver wastes fuel and emits more CO2. Try changing up a gear at a lower rpm. For petrol cars, try 2500rpm and 2000rpm for diesel cars.
Prolonged stationary periods with the engine running is wasteful too
When idling, your car is wasting fuel and still emitting CO2. So if you’re going to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, switch off your engine.
These tips can have a great impact on the environment and will also help you save a great deal of money!
A good quality second hand car should last you for a long time, and provide you with years, and miles, of quality service. However, as with most things in life, used cars require regular maintenance and preventative checks.
When you buy your car from a car dealer, it will have already been serviced, MOTd and given the general once over by a trained mechanic, but you can’t expect your car to run for years without giving the love and care that it deserves. The used car’s handbook will offer guidance on how often the car should be serviced, and some used cars even have onboard computers that tell you when a service is due; these should not be ignored.
You may think that regular servicing works out as being too expensive, as some services (depending on the make and model of the car) can run into hundreds of pounds, but the money you’ll save in the long run makes this more than worth it. Regular servicing ensures that your car doesn’t develop any new faults that can become more expensive to repair retrospectively. Any issues with your engine, your brakes or even something simple like your tyres need to be caught early, before they become serious problems – costing you more.
In addition to keeping your car in tip-top condition, regular servicing also helps used cars to retain their value because buyers, whether private or a used car dealer, will look for proof that a car has been looked after and serviced regularly.
Car shows make for one of the most exciting days out for car lovers, and the UK is always a hub of activity when it comes to trade shows showcasing the latest new cars. Car shows are places where you can see glamour, glitz and the pinnacle of design from the world’s top car manufacturers. Car lovers and car dealers alike get to view what’s in store for the future of the car industry, mingle with the car designers themselves, and sit inside some of the most expensive cars ever built.
One of the main trade shows this year, showcasing the latest in new cars, is MPH in London and Birmingham. This trade show takes place in November, and features the boys from BBC’s Top Gear putting on a show
If November seems too far away, there’s a car trade show in May taking place in Bristol. The Footman James 31st Bristol Classic Car Show holds the accolade of being the longest running car show in the UK for classic cars.
If you like your new cars to be fast, loud and exciting, then you’ll want to attend ‘Autosport International-The Racing Car Show’, which is held at the beginning of the year, in January. This show takes place in the NEC in Birmingham, and sees the latest cars from the world of motorsport and biking, as well as showcasing some of the latest high end marques.
Whether you’re in the market for a new car, or if you just like looking at new cars, car trade shows in the UK are just the place to visit.
