All the latest automotive news…

As most of the cities in the UK are very crowded, with space at a premium, you ideally need your car to be fairly compact. This instantly rules out the bulk of larger vehicles. You also need your car to be very fuel efficient, as the constant stopping and starting you will experience in the city will increase your fuel usage considerably. This means that smaller cars would be preferable, perhaps even diesel cars.

With the size of the vehicle, and the fuel consumption of the vehicle both being important factors, you should probably dismiss all 4×4 vehicles when looking at new cars for use in the city.

Instead you need to look at compact, fuel efficient cars that are light and easy to handle. Here are some examples of new cars that would make excellent cars for sale. These are definitely ones to look out for when looking for cars for sale .

1. Volkswagen Golf
2. Toyota Corolla
3. Vauxhall Corsa
4. BMW Mini
5. Nissan Micra
6. Renault Clio
7. Fiat 500 Abarth
8. Vauxhall Zafira
9. Mercedes A-Class
10. Honda Civic

Not everyone will find small cars of use in the city, especially if they have families. For this reason, larger new cars such as the Vauxhall Zafira would be preferable to a small car because you can easily get your children in and out of the car safely, yet it is still cheap and reliable to run.

It seems that the city centre locations in the UK are becoming more and more inhospitable to the city car driver. The congestion charge in London, increased car parking prices and an attempted congestion charge in Manchester have all told the motorist that he isn’t welcome in the city.

However, as public transport is still as unreliable as ever, the motorist knows that his car is still the best form of transport. It is important what type of car you drive in the city though, as a big 3 litre Toyota Landcruiser isn’t the best vehicle for driving around town, both for parking and for fuel consumption.

So what types of used cars and new are best suited to city living?

It sounds obvious, but you want a smaller car when in the city. The smaller the car, generally the better fuel consumption you get out of it. 4×4 cars are to avoided at all costs, especially as they will soon cost you even more in terms of road tax.

New cars such as hybrids are a good idea, as when you’re sat in traffic or travelling very slowly, your car can switch to electric so as to save you even more in fuel costs.

It’s also a good idea to speak to your car dealer and ask about the fuel consumption on each model of new cars and used cars before you decide, as they will be able to tell you what the real MPG is, rather than the manufacturer stated MPG.

Whether you’re looking for a practical family car, or a car for business use, there is quite a choice of saloon cars on the market that would do the job perfectly. The ideal family car would have five seats, a spacious boot and four doors (as you don’t want to struggle folding down the front seats to allow the kids in).

These are the same requirements for business cars, which is why saloons make excellent family and business vehicles.

One of the best business and family saloon cars is the BMW 3 Series. Buying a used BMW such as the 3 Series is a smart move because BMW cars are always exceptionally sound from a mechanical point of view. They rarely develop engine faults and they offer performance, luxury and safety at an affordable price. A used BMW also offers you a prestigious business car, which is very important.

Equally impressive is the Ford Mondeo. A used Ford is a great choice from a financial point of view because Fords are very cheap to service and maintain. The Ford Mondeo used to be the most popular car in the UK (before it was replaced by the BMW 3 Series) and it was this popular because of the average family man choosing it as a family car.

A used Vauxhall Vectra is another option for a quality saloon car at a cheap price, offering performance and affordability in one package.

Any one of these used saloon cars would be ideal as family cars or as business cars.

Land Rovers are the ultimate cool car. For over 20 years they have been consistently challenging themselves and coming up with more innovative models to meet our needs, and with these great offers, you won’t be able to resist.

The Freelander 2 is one of the hottest 4×4’s around…available in 11 gorgeous colors, this dream car is yours for only £249 a month at 5.9% with 20% deposit. This vehicle was one of the first to be awarded 5 star ratings by the ENCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) for its top safety features. Naturally, the Freelander 2 is perfectly suited for all driving conditions, including tarmac, grass, gravel, snow, mud, ruts or sand; putting no limit on your expeditions.

Alternatively, go for the Discovery 4 which has a more progressive and contemporary exterior, giving it a refined presence on and off road. It also comes with new signature headlights, which are strikingly styled front lamps with LED light technology, provide better driver forward vision, while the new rear lamp assembly creates a ‘jewel-like’ effect. The Discovery 4 can be yours for a small £399 a month at 5.9% with 20% deposit.

The Range Rover Sport is Landrover’s most performance-orientated vehicle yet. It is the definitive luxury sports tourer. It comes complete with a new multi functional steering wheel meaning there’s no need to take your hands off the wheel. The Range Rover sport also offers Remote Park Heat, which allows you to set your vehicle to pre-heat the engine which in turn heats the interior, allowing you to travel in comfort and warmth. This stunning car can be yours for just £549 a month at 5.9% with a 20% deposit.

Start the New Year off in style with our Land Rover dealership.

If you’re looking for beautiful design, an incredible engine and an extremely reliable car, then a Jaguar is the car for you. At Caffyns, not only do we offer unbeatable prices, but we also offer the Jaguar Privilege scheme to make our leases more readily available and affordable.

The scheme is simple - Based on your chosen term and mileage, a Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV) is calculated for the end of your Jaguar’s lease agreement. The value of the GMFV can then be used to renew your agreement. You could also retain your current car and pay off the GMFV or you could simply return the car with no further payments. The scheme allows for easier fixed budgeting, allowing for more flexibility in your lease agreement.

If you opt for the sporty XF Luxury, we’ve got another option for you – pay £399 a month at 5.9% with a £7,999 deposit. This vehicle oozes style and sophistication and surpasses all its competition with its fine finishing and brilliant design. The Jaguar XF comes complete with a 7-inch full colour touch screen display, Phosphor blue lighting and interior mood lighting, and is available in a choice of 13 colours.

Alternatively, the XK V8 Coupe is also available if you prefer something more powerful and contemporary. The XK comes with front and rear parking aid which will help you manoeuvre out of tight situations. There are also rain sensors on the windscreen which will detect raindrops and switch the wipers on automatically (so cool) and it also comes with xenon headlamps with automatic levelling. All this can be yours for only £799 a month at 5.9% with a £8,233 deposit.

Visit Caffyns Jaguar dealership in Eastbourne, East Sussex to find out more about our current availability of Jaguar cars and payment schemes.

Everybody likes to see their hard work being rewarded – but who says it needs to be others that reward you? This Christmas, treat yourself to a new stylish and practical car. Visit Caffyns Peugeot in Sevenoaks, Kent, before the 31st of December 2009 and you’ll beat the 2.5% VAT increase applicable from 1st January 2010.

By purchasing before the New Year, you’ll be saving yourself an attractive £324 when you buy the new 308 Verve 5dr, starting at only £10,995. This car oozes style and sophistication, both by design and through its eco-friendly engine. All Peugeot’s 308 Verves are low CO2 emission cars which lower tax and fuel costs, saving you money over time as well as cutting your carbon footprint.

This 5 door car is ideal as either a first or family car, both for its affordability and spacious interior; whether it’s a carload of family or friends, everyone is guaranteed a comfortable journey. Aside from design and interior, Peugeot are aware that what we all want is a car that provides superior performance, and this car definitely delivers. With great control, a cost effective engine and availability in both petrol and diesel engines, you can choose the best engine for your mileage needs.

Seeing as Christmas is just around the corner, Caffyns are feeling generous, and this shows through the great offers available to you. We’ll service and MOT all makes and models with an exclusive 25% discount on all our Flexi Services during December 2009 – hurry in to avoid disappointment! And just to top it off, If you decide to buy any used car from Caffyns Peugeot Sevenoaks before the 31st of December, we’ll give you a free tank of fuel as well as complimentary floor mats – Think of this as a Christmas present to you.

Visit your local Caffyns Peugeot Dealership today for further information.

Check out key features of the Vauxhall Astra 2010 in the videos below, including design features and Vauxhall’s signature Adaptive Forward Lighting technology.

A driver’s car is his prized possession. Whether you own a new car or a used car, you tend to love the car that you drive as though it were a member of your own family, and in many cases it feels as though it is!

New cars or used cars, drivers love them and tend to spend lavish amounts of money on them whenever they can. That could be in the form of valeting, servicing, accessorising, performance enhancing or sometimes, when the worst happens, repair work.

One of the most popular forms of expenditure on new cars and used cars alike is personalised number plates. Personalised number plates used to be very expensive and were the exclusive domain of rock stars and royalty, but now the prices have come down, personalised number plates can be bought by anyone, and sported by any types of cars. You no longer see personalised number plates on just new cars such as Ferraris or Limos; you can now see personalised number plates on used cars such as the Nissan Micra or Ford Mondeo.

Personalised number plates can add a touch of class and exclusivity to your car. They can feature your initials, your name, nickname or even the name of your wife, child or company. Personalised number plates also make great gifts for loved ones as they’re very personal presents and show that a lot of thought and consideration has gone into the choosing of the gift.

So whether you have a new car or a used car, a personalised number plate will make your car look that extra bit special.

The recession has seen many casualties, with the car industry being one of the hardest hit. This has led to some great choices in new and used cars this year though, with many top of the range vehicles being heavily reduced to try to stimulate the market. Cars that would perhaps have been out of our budget 18 months ago are now within the price ranges of many people.

For example, for a top of the range type of car many car buyers are now opting for a used BMW. BMW cars are, by their very definition, a symbol of quality. They are well made, great to drive and prestigious for the owners. A used BMW such as an X5, 5 Series or a Z4 used to be out of the price range of most people, but their prices have come right down meaning that they are affordable for many.

Another option for those looking for a good quality used car is a used Ford. A used Ford such as a Fiesta, Mondeo or a Focus can be picked up cheaply, and as with all Fords they are very cost effective to run and to maintain. The cheap running cost of a used Ford is a big plus point in the current economic climate.

Another car that offers good value for money this year is a used Vauxhall. Vauxhall cars are well made and offer a similar low cost maintenance to a used Ford. A used Vauxhall such as an Astra or a Corsa can be bought cheaply, and they’re highly reliable.