Whether driving for business or pleasure I try to get any weekend motoring out of the way in the morning – the earlier the better.
Living in south west London means a high density of traffic. And aside from the increased journey times of a later departure I’m also only likely to find out what the car I’m driving is like at low speeds, a useful component of a road test but not the full picture.
And besides, for pure enjoyment clearer roads are better.
Filed under Uncategorized
Launched in 2005, the new Range Rover Sport aimed to rival the growing trend of sporty 4×4s being launched by Porsche, Mercedes and BMW. Underneath it’s more Land Rover Discovery than Range Rover, sharing the same platform, which means it offers slightly better handling on the road, while still capable in the rough stuff.
At 6 foot 4 inches tall and nearly 18 stone in weight, it should come as no surprise that England rugby star James Haskell likes a big car. And he’s more than happy to tell you why the Range Rover Sport is his motor of choice
In this video James takes you on a ‘MTV Cribs-style’ tour of his Range Rover Sport and explains what he finds so special about the vehicle he calls ‘Snow White’.
Filed under Celebrities, Land Rover, Range Rover
The white van is often perceived as a real menace of the motorway, and the people who drive them can sometimes be mistaken as your typical rogue trader. The Ford Motor company sells 60,000 Ford Transit vansa year and 84% of them are finished in white. We asked our friends at Van Trader to surprise us with some interesting facts on the ‘white van’…
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The term ‘White Van Man’ was inadvertently invented by a disgruntled Radio 2 presenter over ten years ago after she had been cut up on her morning commute by a bad driver – who just happened to be driving a white van.
According to the AA, van drivers are safer, causing fewer accidents, than regular motorists. Apparently 68% of van drivers have made no insurance claims. And if you want another fascinating fact, according to the emergency services, ambulance and fire engine drivers have a very high regard for van drivers who are often the first to see and hear them coming and move over. That’s because a van driver uses his rear vision mirrors!
A few years back, the Ford Motor Company commissioned a study which revealed that 71% of van drivers regard themselves as ‘careful and considerate’ road users while the vast majority (74%) do not identify themselves with the term ‘white van man’. In fact, 37% found the term insulting! And since there are around 2.5 million white vans in the UK, that’s a lot of folk who could be provoked all too easily.
So now you know.
Visit Van Trader to browse our used Ford Transit Vans today
Filed under Vans
A Maybach 57 previously owned by Theo Paphitis of Dragon’s Den fame is currently for sale on Auto Trader for £130,000.
The stationery business guru and TV star took delivery of the Maybach 57 back in 2007 and was happy to explain why the ultimate high-end limousine was his car of choice. Theo liked to use the cabin as his “chill out zone” when travelling the length and breadth of the country on business.
His attachment to the luxury German manufacturer has continued ever since. Recently he invested in a Maybach 62 and Theo’s no shrinking violet as he opted for the latest in blinged-out customisation with full on chrome body and personalised RYM4N number plate!
And he’s not alone, the brand is famous for attracting such esteemed owners as Madonna, Puff Daddy and Jay Z.
Paphitis’ Maybach 57 is being sold by Marlow Cars, a prestige, sports and luxury car specialist based in Buckinghamshire. Luke Bangs from Marlow Cars told Auto Trader: “The Maybach truly is the ultimate in understated luxury, recognised by only those who know!”
Check out Marlow Cars’ YouTube channel for a closer look at the Dragon’s luxury car and more, or follow them on Facebook
Filed under Cars, Celebrities
Precision-parked Nissan Micras at the launch of the DIG-S engine
The Nissan Micra is a global car. More than six million have been sold since its 1982 launch and the current (fourth) generation of the car is expected to go on sale in a staggering 160 countries, twice the number the seemingly ubiquitous Ford Focus is sold in.
It’s all part of an ambitious plan for Nissan to become the dominant Japanese car manufacturer in UK, in Europe and beyond.
Against this background it was perhaps inevitable the Micra should throw itself open to accusations of blandness.
Ford is continuing to develop its EcoBoost range of engines, which will have a major impact on its average CO2 emissions. It comes as Ford announced a 1-litre EcoBoost engine will be Ford’s smallest engine it has ever built and its first three-cylinder. It will be launched globally in its small cars.
It will first appear in the forthcoming B-MAX compact MPV, but it is rumoured it could power vehicles as large as the C-MAX. If that’s the case, it will almost certainly feature in the powertrain lineup for the Fiesta, Focus and possibly the Kuga. Continue reading
Filed under Ford
Auto Trader is no longer just the number one destination for used cars. With the launch of our New Cars website, it’s now easier than ever to find everything you need to buy a brand new car, from expert and owner reviews to ordering brochures and booking a test drive – all in the one place!
You can easily search by body type, make, model and price or use the galleries and new menus to find a car that suits your needs. Say you’re interested in the new BMW we now have new make/model pages where you’ll find all the latest models with links to expert reviews and owner ratings. Then you just select the car you’re interested in, e.g. the new BMW 3 Series and there you’ll find everything from the MPG and CO2 emissions to the available trim packages and specifications.
You can also compare up to four different cars at a time, side by side, which allows you to easily compare value and available packages. Then it’s up to you to chose a local dealer to get more information and brook a test drive.
Our new TV advert is due to hit your television screens tonight but if you miss it, check it out below and discover the greatest new car showroom in the www!
Filed under New Cars, Uncategorized
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