Tough crash test standards introduced by safety experts Euro NCAP this year are starting to catch cars out. In the latest round of testing, the Toyota Urban Cruiser scored only three out of five. That’s a disappointing score for a manufacturer which has become used to five star ratings.
Euro NCAP crash tests were overhauled earlier this year. Instead of separate scores for adult, child and pedestrian protection, there’s one overall score out of five. What Euro NCAP calls ‘Safety Assist’ is also included in the assessment, which examines whether car safety features such as stability control is fitted to the car.
These changes were widely expected to see fewer cars scoring the maximum rating, but results have continued to be impressive almost across the board. The Toyota Urban Cruiser is only the second car under the new test standard to achieve such a low score. Toyota has been surprised by the result, and says its own internal tests led them to expect a five-star rating.
Apart from this one shock result, there’s plenty of good news. Ten out of 12 cars tested scored five out of five.
If you’re shopping for a used car at Autoquake.com, you can check its Euro NCAP rating in the specifications section of the car’s listing.
Welcome to Black Friday. It’s the day after Thanksgiving in America, and traditionally the date when US retailers roll out all sorts of special offers to tempt Christmas shoppers to part with their hard-earned cash.
Like Trick or Treat and other American traditions, Black Friday is making its way over here. Apple, for example, is offering special Black Friday deals all across Europe.
Expect more of the same on Cyber Monday next week, the ceremonial kick-off to the Christmas shopping season for online retailers in the States.
We know what you’re thinking. This is the bit where we announce Autoquake.com’s special offers for the festive season. Except we won’t, because there aren’t any.
At Autoquake.com, it’s Black Friday every day. Our prices are already an average of 10% lower than car supermarkets’, which themselves are usually much cheaper than main dealers’. We’re confident that whatever special deals you might find elsewhere, Autoquake.com still offers the best value used cars on the market.
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Dermot Halpin, the former president of Expedia Europe, has joined Autoquake.com as CEO. Whilst at Expedia, Dermot had overall responsibility for Expedia Europe, which grew its sales to around £2.5 billion in 2008.
Over the past five years we’ve developed an excellent e-commerce platform to sell fleet cars directly to consumers. Dermot is a world-class e-commerce expert and brings deep online experience in one of the most dynamic and competitive online markets that will be of huge benefit to our platform. We are delighted to welcome him on board.
A few words from Dermot:
“I’m really excited to be joining the great team at Autoquake.com. At Expedia we were the internet pioneers who made travel products available to consumers in an easy and transparent way. We built one of the biggest travel companies in the world by helping consumers find the right flights and hotels at lower prices, and by helping the hotels and airlines to improve their margins by providing a new and efficient method of distribution.”
“There are clear parallels with Autoquake.com which uses the internet to help people to purchase cars in a more transparent way, and at the same time helps fleets to make their inventory available directly to consumers to achieve higher returns.”
Dermot spent over 7 years at Expedia, starting in 2001 as Operations Director for the UK business and then holding the role of President for Expedia Europe for the last 3 years. Prior to that Dermot held several senior positions within Tele2, a Swedish telecoms operator. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and studied Engineering at University College Dublin, Ireland.
Autoquake.com is on track to increase the number of cars it has sold by 60% in 2009 with revenue increasing by 180% in 2009.
More drivers would trust the Queen to fix their car than any other figure in public life. That’s the tongue-in-cheek finding of a survey by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
The IMI asked 2,000 consumers if their car broke down and an official motorcade stopped to help, who would they hope had come to their rescue?
Just under one in five (16%) thought the Queen would be able to help with basic repairs. Just 13% thought Tory leader David Cameron would know what to do, and just 9% would hope Gordon Brown stepped out of his car and rolled up his sleeves.
On a more serious note, the survey found that eight out of ten drivers felt it was difficult to tell a good mechanic from a bad one. A huge 82% thought an industry-wide standard for mechanics would improve the reputation of the motor repair industry.
The IMI wants consumers to look for garages which employ mechanics who have passed the Automotive Technician Accreditation scheme. Autoquake.com would also suggest seeking out members of The Good Garage Scheme. Every independent repair outlet which has signed up has to abide by a code of conduct.
Personal recommendation is another great way to find a garage you can trust. If a friend or family member has relied on a particular garage for years, why not give them a try?
The new car scrappage scheme won’t be extended again. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has confirmed there will be no more financial incentives for scrapping old cars when the current pot of money runs out.
Funding is expected to last until the end of February 2010, when the revival in new car sales looks set to stagnate.
That’s bad news if you’ve been thinking of buying a new car next spring and have a suitable trade in. It’s really bad news if you sell new cars for a living.
However much the scheme has benefitted new car dealers, the truth is that only a limited section of the car buying public has a decade old car to part-exchange and the money to pay for a brand new car. Even before the pot of scrappage cash runs empty it pays to remember that for most of us, a used car continues to be a more sensible buy.
A new car, even one with a scrappage discount applied, loses value most quickly over the first 12 months it is on the road. The rate at which cars lose value slows as they get older, so why not let someone else take the first big hit of depreciation and buy a used car at a fraction of what it cost two or three years ago?
By the time a new car reaches its third birthday, it could be worth just a third of the original list price. Is that new car smell really worth it?
Scrappage scheme or no scrappage scheme, the smart money continues to buy used.
It may be cold and dark outside, but now is the time to buy a convertible at Autoquake.com. We have over 50 drop-tops in stock at prices which have plummeted by an average of £1,403 (10%) in just two months.
The market for convertibles always goes quiet in winter, but this year’s price drops are steeper than normal. Smart buyers can take advantage of this seasonal trend to buy a car for hundreds of pounds less than they might pay in spring or summer.
The Autoquake.com stock of Audi convertibles is on average £1,923 (10.7%) cheaper than two months ago. Used Peugeot convertibles are down £960 (11.5%) and used Renaults have dropped by £1307 (15.1%).
In spite of Britain’s reputation for bad weather, wet days make up less than half the year (153 days annually in London according to the BBC Weather Website), and winter is only slightly wetter than summer, so there’s no need to be put off running a convertible all-year round.
There are 15 wet days in December. That’s just three more than in July. Even if the weather turns, modern drop-tops are well insulated against the cold, and the latest generation of cars with folding metal hard-tops in place of a fabric roof are just like coupés with the roof raised.
The speed at which convertible car prices are falling is outstripping the rest of the used car market. Autoquake.com’s stock has seen an average fall of 7.6% from September to November. While convertible prices have dropped 10%, estates have fallen by 8.3%, five-seat MPVs have dropped by 7.9%, and executive saloons have lost 6.9%.
Buyers shouldn’t expect these low prices to last forever. Autoquake.com expects prices to stabilise or rise slightly in January, and convertible prices will pick up in the spring. So now is the time to buy a bargain.
It’s the Christmas present nobody wants: fuel prices could hit £5 a gallon by late December. The VAT increase in January, which will see the tax rate rise from 15% to 17.5%, will push prices higher still.
The RAC has predicted that a litre of unleaded will cost around 110p per litre before the year is out. That’s just over £5 per gallon. According to the fuel price comparison website, PetrolPrices.com, the current average is 108.6p per litre.
Diesel will also rise, the RAC believes. It expects the current price gap of around 1p per litre to be maintained, bringing a litre of diesel up to 111p. That’s almost £5.05 per gallon.
The oil companies have come under fire from the RAC for steadily increasing forecourt prices when the cost of crude oil has fallen to less than $80 a barrel from peaks of over $100. The RAC’s spokesman, John Franklin, said: ‘The motorist would like to see more transparency from the oil companies. It’s not clear why the price of crude is coming down but the price we pay at the pumps is going up.’
At Autoquake.com, you can keep your fuel bills down even when prices are rising by choosing the right used car. Visitors can search our stock by fuel economy to find models with low running costs.
‘Going Dutch’ will have a whole new meaning in a couple of years: the Dutch government has announced plans to introduce road pricing from 2012.
All Dutch vehicles will have to be fitted with satellite tracking equipment, and drivers will be charged for every kilometre travelled. The rate is expected to be €0.07 (around 6p). Other motoring taxes will be slashed. Car purchase tax, which adds as much as 25% to the cost of a new car, will be abolished, as will annual road charges.
It might seem like bad news for the average car driver but the Dutch government predicts six out of ten drivers will actually be better off under the new scheme.
The Dutch hope peak traffic levels will drop by 15%, and that carbon dioxide emissions will fall by 10%. It has also predicted a 7% drop in the number of accidents.
Other nations with an interest in road pricing – Britain among them – will be watching the scheme closely.
Few buyers relish the prospect of having to haggle to get a fair price on used cars. That’s especially true if you’re buying from a dealer. For starters, you’re up against a professional salesman who haggles with customers day-in, day-out. Chances are, they know what you’re about to say before you do.
Even if you do feel comfortable asking for a discount, how do you know when you’ve reached a fair price? It’s easier said than done.
At Autoquake.com the price you see is the price you pay – there’s no need to haggle when our prices are rock-bottom in the first place. However, if you do decide to buy elsewhere and find yourself standing toe-to-toe with the salesman, follow these tips for a better deal.
Do your research
It pays to know how much other similar cars are being advertised for elsewhere. Print off the lowest prices you can find and keep them in your back pocket in case negotiations stall.
Look at online consumer price guides like Parkers.co.uk as well. These will give you more ammunition if you think the used car you want is overpriced. Trade guides like Glass’s also over online valuations, although there is a charge.
Know the value of your part-exchange
One tactic some dealers employ is to give a discount on the car you are buying, but to undervalue your part-exchange. Again, know how much it’s worth before you go near a showroom so you can’t have the wool pulled over your eyes.
Better still, be prepared to sell your car privately. It’s extra time and trouble, but you will almost certainly get a better price for it.
Be polite, but be firm
If the salesman tries to stick to the asking price, don’t get frustrated or angry. Always be polite and keep the conversation friendly. Just make it clear that you expect a discount or you won’t be buying.
This is when your rock-bottom internet car price should come out of your back pocket.
Be ready to walk away
If you’re not happy with the price, turn your back and walk out the door. There are other dealers and other cars.
Make sure you leave your phone number, and don’t be surprised if you get a call in a few days’ time. If targets are looming, the salesman could quickly see things your way.
Inspecting a used car can be a minefield. Where do you start? Modern cars are so complex and few of us have much mechanical knowledge. Follow these tips, though, and you should avoid the lemons and pick up a peach.
Although we hope you’ll want to buy your next car from Autoquake.com, this advice should be especially useful if you plan to buy your next car privately.
Check the paperwork
Don’t just examine the car – ask to take a look at the paperwork. Make sure the seller shows you the car’s service history. Don’t take their word that every service has been carried out on time. Check the stamps in the service book. Ideally, the seller will have receipts for the work, too, and details of any repair work which has been carried out.
If the used car is over three years old, make sure it comes with an MoT certificate. To make sure it’s genuine, you can call the MoT validation line on 0870 330 0444. Check the mileage on the certificate is lower than the current mileage – otherwise the car has been clocked (someone has wound the odometer back to make it appear the car has covered fewer miles).
Next, ask to see the V5, also known as the logbook. Hold it up to the light and inspect it carefully. A real one will have a watermark. If the seller is a private individual, check that it’s their name and address on the V5. Otherwise you have cause to be suspicious. Is the car really theirs to sell?
Under the bonnet
Keep hold of the V5, as you’ll need it when you start to examine the car. Find the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The easiest to spot it is at the bottom of the dashboard on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Check that it tallies with the number in the V5. If it doesn’t, the document belongs to another car. Be very wary if you can see any sign of the VIN number having been tampered with.
Now open the bonnet and turn your attention to what’s underneath. Don’t be put off if the engine is dirty, and don’t necessarily think a clean engine is a good sign – the owner could be trying to hide something.
Instead of focusing on superficial appearances, concentrate on specifics. Check the oil level using the dipstick. It’s basic maintenance to keep the level topped up, but many owners neglect this. Fresh oil should be clear and the colour of honey, old oil will appear thick and dark. Remove the oil filler cap and inspect the inside. Any milky or mayonnaise-like deposits are a sign that oil is mixing with water.
Make sure the engine is cold, then take off the radiator cap and look at the water. Any white spots are bad news, as that’s a sign of oil and water mixing. A blue or red tinge shows that there’s anti-freeze in the water, as you would expect. An orange colour could be a sign of rust.
Now inspect the engine block itself for any signs of oil leaks. Some sellers may try to cover these up by giving the engine a thorough clean, which is why you’ll be checking it again later.
Get a clear view
It’s always best to arrange to see a car in daylight and in the dry. Otherwise you won’t be able to see the bodywork properly.
Take a good look around from a few metres away from the car. Are any of the body panels misaligned or wonky? Can you see any dents and scratches beyond normal wear and tear? Is any of the bodywork a different colour from the rest of the car? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, the car may have been in an accident and repaired poorly.
Now get up close and look for any sign of rust. You’ll see a bubbling under the paint if it’s taking hold. Take a look at the tyres. Are they worn and in need of replacement? Have they worn more on one side than the other? This might suggest a problem with the suspension which could be expensive to fix.
Open and close all the doors and the boot. Does everything open easily and close properly first time?
On the test drive
First of all, this is your chance to find out how the car drives, not for the seller to try to close the deal. If they try to hold a conversation politely tell them that you want to concentrate on your driving.
Does the engine start first time? Does the clutch engage smoothly? Does the steering respond quickly or does it feel slack? Is the car comfortable over bumps, and do the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line?
Ideally, you should drive the car on a variety of roads, so you really get a feel for what it’s like at different speeds.
Make sure the lights work, the windows wind up and down, and the stereo is in good working order. Anything you find which doesn’t work is a chance to negotiate on the price.
After the test drive
Once the drive is over, pop the bonnet open again. Take another look for oil leaks just to be sure.
Have a thorough nose around inside the car and in the boot. Is there a musty smell or are the carpets damp? If so, this suggests a water leak or rotting bodywork.
If you are happy with the car, it’s still worth having a mechanical inspection done before you part with any cash.
You should never buy a car without carrying out a history check through an organisation such as HPI. This will tell you if the car has any outstanding finance or has been written off in an accident.
How Autoquake.com helps
If that sounds like a lot of hard work, Autoquake.com makes inspecting a used car a whole lot easier. For a start, you can find out most of what you need to know from the comfort of your own home. There are 40 photos of every car we stock, and our condition viewer shows you any damage beyond normal wear and tear. Comprehensive descriptions really put you in the picture.
You can test drive a car before you drive away, so long as you have put down a deposit and made an appointment. With our 7 day money back guarantee you can just return the car for a full refund if you find it’s not for you. How many dealers or private sellers make the same promise?