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Kia Scoops the What Car? Ultra Low Carbon Award

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Kia has picked up the What Car? Ultra Low Carbon Award for its environmentally efficient range of vehicles. What Car? Magazine particularly praised the new Rio that has carbon emissions as low as 85g/km, which makes the car the cleanest non-electric vehicle in the world.

This isn’t the first time Kia has been noticed for being environmentally friendly, as the all new Kia Picanto was honoured at the magazine’s Green Awards last summer. In addition, these machines have other qualities. They have reasonable specifications, surprisingly sharp looks and pleasingly composed handling, backed up with a 7 year warranty and the quotes for motor insurance isn’t sky high either.

Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, Paul Philpott, picked up the award and said, “Kia has been striving over recent years not only to deliver exciting, attractive, high-quality cars – but also to deliver real benefits to customers in the form of cleaner technologies that don’t carry a price premium. We are delighted that What Car? – one of Europe’s leading consumer magazines – has recognised our efforts.”

The manufacturer lacks ‘mass recognition’ among British motorists, despite their environmental credentials. However, there may be something for everyone as the all-new Picanto rivals the popular Ford Ka, whereas the larger Rio is a supermini. The Venga is a compact MPV that competes with the Nissan Note and the Cee’d rivals the Vauxhall Astra which comes in hatchback and estate guise. Other models include the Sorento which is a four wheel driver and the Sedona is a 7 seater people carrier. Would you consider a Kia?

Tags: Kia, Motor insurance, Rio, What Car?, What Car? Awards
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Lexus hit the top spot once more

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

The annual JDPower/What Car survey on Britain’s best and worse cars has once more hit the headlines as Lexus scoop the top spot again. It is now apparent those who take out motor vehicle insurance on a Lexus car have a very good chance of figuring highly in this particular survey as Lexus have taken the top accolade for all eleven years they have had a model eligible for the contest.

Double agony for Ford

At the other end of the pile the Ford Ka 2008 model came out bottom, to ensure its first appearance in the ratings was an ignominious one. The old Ka had in actual fact finished bottom last year and so Ford achieved an unenviable double.

Thousands take part

The survey is one of the biggest of its kind and has quite strict qualifying conditions; at least 50 cars of a specific model must be rated for it to enter the final list. Owners are picked at random to give their opinions and the number of participants this year was over 16,000. The cars which must be between 1 and 3 years old are rated in four different areas; servicing, quality and reliability, kerb appeal, and motoring costs.

Of course not everyone can afford to buy a Lexus even if they can get cheap car insurance and the average age of the participants (51) may suggest that survey does tend to feature owners that are accustomed to comfort and have many years driving experience. That of course will be no comfort to Ford and Vauxhall two of the biggest manufacturers on the planet.

Triumph for Japanese manufacturers

As mentioned already it is the second year running that Ford have had the bottom car and Vauxhall were voted the worst performing manufacturer. Japanese cars convincingly came out best. Of the top ten models 7 were Japanese, two from Lexus, two from Toyota and three from Honda. The top ten was completed by a BMW, a Mercedes and a Volvo. The survey also confirmed the rise of Skoda when it comes to customer satisfaction, they came third overall in the manufacturers table.

Customer satisfaction

The survey did reveal that car owners are more satisfied with their car than ever before with 4 out of 5 owners expressing satisfaction with their purchase.

Tags: Japanese manufacturer, JDPower, Lexus, Motor insurance, What Car Survey
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Skoda Superb in all departments

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

About 25 years ago the thought of even getting a motor insurance quote, never mind buying a Skoda, was anathema to the average motorist in the UK. The mere thought of being ridiculed by ones neighbours for buying a car that was assembled by an Iron Curtain country was enough to put anyone off. For those that could even put up with insults from their neighbours, the reputation Skoda had for being nothing more than “rust buckets” was enough to finish the job.

Car for the “man in the street”

How things have changed! Skoda vehicles today are scooping awards left, right and centre and if they still don’t turn the heads of the pretty boys on TV motoring shows they certainly do it for the ordinary motorist in the UK.

Customer satisfaction the key

Time after time awards voted for by readers of motoring magazines go to Skoda models for their customer service, something that was obviously emphasised to the company when they became part of the Volkswagen Empire. Customer satisfaction, the overriding experience that incorporates the quality of the car, the sales team who persuade you to buy it and the after sales team who look after it from then on in, is something that Skoda owners just eulogise about all the time.

The price is right

The new cars are not only competitively priced, they are downright cheap, a factor helped by the fact that Skoda has been paying the VAT on new cars for customers for what seems an eternity now. They are attractive cars and they are powered by engines from the same company who produce the wonderful Audi and Volkswagen cars. What more can a customer ask for, quality at half the price.

Yeti leaves its footprint for all to see

Skoda models now regularly win best in class prizes at motor shows and in competitive classes as well. The Skoda Yeti put all other entrants in the shade when it came to the mini-MPV class and finished up voted the overall car of the year at the Auto Express car awards. The Skoda Superb also won best in class not only as a saloon but as an estate too.

Profit all round

Skoda have reported profit rises of over 80% recently and there is no wonder when car drivers can save so much money on a vehicle that chasing after cheap car insurance does not seem half as vital as it did before.

Tags: Car Insurance, motor insurance quote, Skoda
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Nostalgia is not what it used to be!

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

A recent online poll asked motorists about the differences they find in driving today compared to twenty years ago, and what they liked and disliked about the respective periods. The poll revealed some interesting answers without any great surprises. One thing that was for certain about the contrasting periods was that the cheapest car insurance quote of 2011 would still work out to be more than the most expensive of 1991.

Cheap petrol and open roads

Not surprisingly the things drivers miss most is relatively cheap fuel. The days of filling up and paying the forecourt attendant with change out of your pocket have well and truly disappeared. If prices continue to escalate then the 1 in 25 drivers who say they get no joy whatsoever out of modern day driving might find themselves with more company.

If that does prove to be the case then the second highest ranking of things modern day motorists miss from those of 20 years ago might not be so important, yes you’ve guessed correctly, fewer vehicles on the road came in at number two in the nostalgia stakes.

Many motorists miss getting their hands dirty doing their own DIY repairs on their vehicle without invalidating their motor insurance, and cheap parking is another facet that is missed by many.

All about the car

It is when you get to the things that motorists prefer about modern day motoring that the message sinks in. All the top ten attractions for modern day driving in the poll were features involving the technology involved in the manufacture of modern day vehicles. More comfort, improved reliability, better safety, air conditioning and in car entertainment all featured. Enhanced fuel efficiency was in there as well, as of course was the greatest scourge to modern map reading, the Sat Nav.

Getting from A to B safely

The message? Well modern day motoring is all about necessity, not about the open road. It is about comfort and safety and not about adventure and intrigue. The modern day motorist is indeed cocooned in his car and to a certain extent appreciates that. It’s just a pity he can’t be cocooned from fuel prices, toll roads and the bogeymen around the corner, congestion charges.

Tags: cheapest car insurance quote
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New Russian car is no slouch

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

The motoring industry in 2011 will be graced by a name completely foreign to many households in the UK; they may be even more surprised to hear that the manufacturer is based in Russia.

It is probably twenty years since any UK car driver got a <a href=”http://www.motorquotedirect.co.uk”>motor insurance</a> quote on a Russian built car, which in those days would have been more than likely a Lada. The enigmatic Lada was the butt of jokes for many years in the UK and it got to the point where owning such a vehicle in Britain became an embarrassment. Well the new model of car coming out of Russia is nothing like the Lada, in fact it looks distinctly more like a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and it is indeed a supercar.

The Marussia Motors B2 model is truly beautiful. Its sleek, powerful form will seduce prospective buyers all over the world. It really does look like something from a Sci-Fi movie, although its designers have ignored the modern trend of providing supercars with an electric engine. This baby is a truly authentic gas guzzler and is proud of it. The other key feature of the car is that it is made entirely from carbon fibre, not only does this cut down on weight, it also means the car is a lot safer. The on board entertainment system will enable passengers to use Skype technology, which is timely exposure for the communications company as they look to raise their profile. Although no official news has yet been circulated on the cost of the B2 it is expected to come in at around the £150,000 mark, a similar price for example as the new Mercedes SLS AMG.

All in all, 2011 promises to be a big year for Marussia motors, apart from launching the B2 the Russian manufacturer is promising seven new models will be unveiled at the top motor shows in the New Year. The news has the motoring industry agog with excitement as seven new models in one year will be something of a record. Although details are still under wraps the new cars are rumoured to include a small city car, a luxury SUV, a luxury sedan and a sports coupé to complement the B2.

Tags: Advice, Car Insurance, Motor insurance, New Russian car
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Top Gear presenter caught between a rock and a hard place

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

For many motoring enthusiasts, Christmas is not the same without the Top Gear Christmas Special.

The programme fronted by the ebullient Jeremy Clarkson and ably accompanied by James May and Richard Hammond has been top of the motoring TV programmes for millions, over the years. Their infectious enthusiasm apparent to all.

The series which has just completed its 15^th year will be back early in 2011 and it will be a relief for many viewers as the last series was definitely shorter than previous years. The show is famed for its presenters putting fast cars through their paces and millions of viewers over the years must have obtained motor insurance quotes on vehicles they first saw on Top Gear.

Of course the series most famous episode was the one where Richard Hammond had his horrific accident in 2006. The dragster car he was driving crashed at 300mph and Hammond was in a coma with serious head injuries for many days. It may well be the two Christmas Specials that will be broadcast this year will also be remembered for one of its reporters receiving serious injury.

According to early reports James May suffered a head injury while filming the second of the two programmes in Syria. Apparently May was hurt when helping to get Jeremy Clarkson’s car out of a ditch. The recovery of the vehicle involved attaching a tow rope to the car and when the rope went taut James May was entangled in the rope. He was catapulted to one side, knocking his head against a rock. The presenter was rushed to hospital and given a brain scan as his injuries were judged to be that serious.

All turned out okay though and fans of the series will see the programme on Boxing Day. Why were the boys in Syria? Apparently they were trying to recreate the journey of the three wise men in the original Christmas story. The entire journey covered 1200 miles and viewers will have to wait until December 26^th for the outcome of the epic route.

The series also has another Christmas Special which was filmed in the USA and features the boys driving a Mercedes SLS, a Ferrari 458 Italia and a Porsche GT3 RS.

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Safety, Car Types
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Entries for Classic Car Show revving up

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Throughout the UK, Classic Car owners will be preparing to cast their vote and book their tickets for a very special weekend.

November 12th 2010 will see the Classic Motor Show present some of the finest classic cars in the world to enthusiasts at the Birmingham NEC. The major event at the show will be the award of the Classic Car of the Year, and there is no shortage of contenders.

Three magazines that specialise in classic cars have invited readers to submit entries for the competition which will be split into six categories. Each category will have a winner and from these six, one will be chosen as Classic Car of the Year. The six categories are; Pre-War, Forties, Fifties, Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.

Already an expert team of judges have been pouring over the quality of 300 entries and aim to whittle the figure down to a shortlist of 60, meaning there will be 10 cars in each section. The voting for this element of the competition will close on October 8^th. The winners of each section will then take their prized possession to the NEC in November where the final winner will be selected.

The variety of cars already submitted for entry is a veritable feast of classic motoring history. So far the judges have been casting their eyes over makes such as; Aston Martin, Lancia, Ferrari, Hillman, Vauxhall and of course Ford is represented by a classic Ford Thunderbird. In the pre-war section there is a 1926 Austin Healey and a 1944 Willy’s Jeep. It is true to say that every facet of car manufacture is covered by the variety of the entries.

Although it is fairly safe to assume that the winning owners will be more than happy with their prized possessions to be declared section winners, they will receive several prizes to boot. All section winners will receive free tickets and hotel accommodation for the show. Other prizes include a specialised car cover, a watch, a pressure washer and tools to keep their classic car shiny, bright and ticking over. The winner won’t even have to get a motor insurance quote either as one of the prizes is free comprehensive car insurance as well as a very nice trophy and over £1000 in prize money.

Tags: Car Insurance, classic car show, vintage cars
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Future of cars is changing

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Back in the 1980s Knight Rider, a television show from the USA, starred a black Pontiac Trans called K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) the car could talk, drive itself and also get its human driver out of any predicament using its onboard computer. At the time, it seemed having a car like this was just fantasy some might say it was even laughable. Yet today in 2010, this once futuristic car is becoming reality or very close to it, anyway. Currently four vehicles are slowly making their way from Italy to China driven by instructions from a satellite. If a car does come out that can drive itself, it will bring a whole new meaning to any driver car insurance when contacting a company for a motor insurance quote.

Some of the technology is already here and ready to use while other advances will need further research to iron out the current flaws. Today, several technologies are competing to eventually replace the current dependence on fossil fuels, accepted now as environmentally unfriendly and the truth is that they will eventually run out. Bio diesel and ethanol, both renewable fuels have made significant steps on the premise that we can always grow more. But both of these are causing controversy. A debate is starting to brew about the ethics and science of using crops to make fuel rather than food.

Everyone should have heard of a hybrid car and some will already be driving one. Hybrid vehicles combine a traditional engine but with an electric motor which delivers increased fuel efficiency and are the first stepping stone of the new technology. Hybrids will be around for some time to come, even when the all electric cars come to dominate the roads. Many of the cars made in the 21^st century last much longer than those of 10 or 20 years ago, and they will continue to need the support of the petrol filling stations. Today, all electric cars are the Holy Grail of clean transportation that all manufacturers are looking for. This is because they produce zero direct emissions. What is even more crucial about electric cars is that they have the potential to be completely none polluting by making it possible to recharge them with emission free solar or even wind energy. A lot of manufacturers are bringing out electric cars in the near future and eventually they will outnumber petrol vehicles.

Tags: Car Insurance, car insurance advice, future of cars
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BMW – the perfect mid-range manufacturer?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

When I first passed my driving test I had very little money but a burning desire to get mobile , so I invested extremely unwisely in a Morris Marina of dubious legacy, and even more dubious reliability. This affair, as you may guess did not last long – the only good news being that when I did write it off I escaped unharmed.

There followed a sad succession of awful cars most of which bit the dust in one way or another but at least the wrecks that I could afford to buy were getting slightly newer, and thus less prone to massively expensive repair bills. They also had features like working brakes(!), and silent exhausts.

Finally into my thirties I at last had an income with a modicum of disposability and I was in the market for a decent car and my heart was set on a BMW. After ages searching the press and trawling round local garages, these being the days before the internet could show hundreds of models at the touch of a button, I found a 3 series just 2 years old in immaculate condition with automatic transmission and just within my price range.

It was love at first sight and for the first time in my life (apart from the occasional drive of someone else’s decent motor). I was driving something quiet, comfortable and reliable and I relished every moment. This was a car that did everything it promised and did it in style. At that period I was travelling a lot for work and as a motorway cruiser it is still the best car I have ever driven, we also drove it to the French Alps for a ski holiday after taking out any driver car insurance and even after completing a journey that included travelling through the night it still felt comfortable to be in.

The only drawback as I’m sure any BMW owner will confirm were the high motor insurance and servicing costs – especially as at that time only authorised dealers could reset the annoying service warning indicators, and other relatively minor jobs like cam belts required a special tool that, you guessed it, only the dealers had. Sadly then at around 120,000 miles the financial pains were starting to outweigh the pleasures so we had to part company. I was delighted and also a little saddened to be overtaken on the motorway a few years later by my old Beemer still looking good and obviously living up to the reputation of , in my opinion, the best car manufacturer in the world.

It’s just sad that I can’t afford another one

Tags: BMW, Cars, Motor insurance
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