VW Golf Named Best Lower Medium Car of 2011

If like me you grew up in the 90s then you’ll know what a motoring icon the VW Golf was, or even is. It was the car to have; it was the perfect hot hatch in GTI trim. The Golf set the benchmark for other hatchbacks to follow, whether it is performance, practicality or reliability the Golf was always on top. Unfortunately it was also on top of the must have list for car thieves.

Even if you could afford a Golf you would have a torrid time trying to get it insured, insurers were reluctant to insure them because they knew thieves wanted them. I wanted my first car to be a Golf but because of the insurance quotes I had to abandon that idea! Over the years VW has increased the standard security equipment in all Golfs, the high end R32 even comes with a tracker fitted.

Rather than just a hot hatch and a boy racer car the Golf has established itself as a reputable medium sized family car. It’s not just young lads looking for a Volkswagen Golf for sale these days! The new Golf is still as practical, reliable and great to drive as the models from the 1990s.

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Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Mercedes Benz of Germany has been producing the SL Class since 1954, it is a small 2 seat open top roadster. The new Mercedes-Benz SL stays true to its roots and is still a seat roadster but, rather than a soft top it now comes with a retractable hard top.

The current model has been with is since 2002, it got a facelift in 2006 which included a new bumper with three large cooling air intakes and a more pronounced V-shape as well as fog lamps with chrome surrounds emphasise the power of the two-seater and give it a wider look, new light-alloy wheels, new rear light.
There were some interior changes too, including new interior colours, high-quality metal door sills with Mercedes-Benz lettering and embossed aluminium trim elements, removable luggage cover, optional remote boot-lid release.

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Scottish debut of the Jaguar XKR-S

If you were at the MotorExpo in London then you would have got a glimpse of the bright blue Jaguar XKR-S on show. It is the latest high performance Jaguar to be produced by the Indian owned British brand. The XKR-S has 542 BHP, can do 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 186 MPH. When it goes on sale it will be priced at £97,000 which puts it in direct competition with the Porsche 911 GT3.

The new Jaguar XKR-S stands out from the norm with its wide wheel arches, deep carbon fibre splitter and a pair of cooling ducts either side of a black mesh grille.

The Scottish debut of the Jaguar XKR-S was held at the Race the Runway charity event. The charity event was organised by the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. The event, which was held at Edinburgh Airport, saw 32 cars compete in drag races along the 1,800 metre runway. The Jaguar XKR-S made it through to the semi final, where it was outpaced by cars priced over double that of the £97,000 XKR-S.

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Audi Security systems are top of class

The British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards were created to raise awareness of best practice in vehicle security. Cars are graded according to the New Vehicle Security Rating Scheme (NVSR), with points awarded under the categories of 'theft of' and 'theft from' the vehicle. The winners are the makes and models achieving the highest score in each category.

Audi, the German car maker snatched five awards at the Security Awards! The new Audi A1 was awarded win the City Car/Supercar category, the Audi A8 in Southend won in the Performance category, alongside the Audi A4 Saloon, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 compact SUV all of which received top marks in their respective categories.

Director of Audi UK Jeremy Hicks said: "I'm obviously delighted that yet again so many of our model ranges have excelled in the eyes of the security experts, but this year I'm especially pleased with our A1 award. We are always at pains to emphasise that our approach to bringing a sub-compact hatchback to market was just as uncompromising on every level as it would be for any other Audi model, and this award stands as further irrefutable proof of that fact."

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The Kahn Designed land Rover Discovery

It seems like every week we report on a new Kahn designed model, the team at Kahn have certain affection to Land Rover, especially the Range Rover. But now, the Kahn guys have produced a Kahn inspired Land Rover Discovery. Available at Land Rover Glasgow the new Kahn designed model follows the methodology of “less is more”.

The Kahn Discovery is distinguished from the normal Discovery by its subtle aerodynamic styling package consisting of a front and rear bumper with vented wheel arches, front grille with 3D mesh and front wheel arch led light technology. The Kahn package compliments the Discovery’s recognisable smooth, extended contour.

The Kahn Discovery is tailored for larger families who still seek individuality as well as the practicality offered by the Land Rover. The Kahn version of the Discovery includes 22inch RS-X alloy wheels, steering lock, privacy lights, sat nav, multimedia entertainment system, heated seats, front and rear park assist, and a whole lot more.

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Choose your Own Range Rover Adventure

Land Rover is offering an interactive Hollywood inspired film about choices. The film 'Being Henry', takes the consumer on a journey through a city in which they decide on the outcome of the story's main character. There are nine different storylines with 32 unique endings, which ultimately result in the creation of the consumers perfect Range Rover Evoque.

The story begins with Henry, making decisions throughout his journey which lead him into different realities. The consumer will be provided with a number of choices, including shooting rats with Granny, or leading Henry to be kidnapped and then tortured with a harpoon gun.

The choices that are made by the consumer are then converted into the creation of a perfect Range Rover Evoque. The colour, situational and emotional choices will be taken and used to present the fully personalised car.

The new Range Rover in Battersea provides the most personalisation options out of the Land Rover models. It can be tailored with designer interior packs, designer exterior packs , wheels and enhancement accessories, choice of three models - Pure, Dynamic, Prestige, trim and a range of technologies to enhance comfort and enjoyment on board to match the customer's taste and lifestyle.

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My Audi obsession gone too far

My friends and family think I’m crazy, as I take my love for Audi to a next level. I’m not just a fan of Audi but I am totally obsessed, I collected anything and everything to do with Audi and that includes internet articles. It’s so bad that I print every little article and make a book for that month.

My bedroom wall is plastered with pictures of every Audi models, and my floor has piles of magazine and news papers that have an Audi article. I visit the Audi website everyday to read the news section, updates and see all the latest pictures of news models coming soon.

I have attended every show that featured an Audi in it, I usually drag my dad, who will bribe my mum to come with us, and so we end up making it a family day out. My mum worries for my future, as I’m a girl with serious issues that will probably make the boys run away, unless he is interested in cars.

Last night while I was searching on the internet to see if I can find any news about Audi, I came across an article that made me scream so loud that my mum came running into my room. There was an article about the a Audi R8 Spyder that will be available to order in summer 2011, it’s not the usual R8 Spyder but an open air version, and it’s limited to just 66 models in the UK.

I couldn’t believe how beautiful the car was, I printed the article and added it to my June book and I also printed the picture to stick on my bedroom wall.

The best small family cars

The competition amongst car manufacturers in the small family car segment is tough as this is a segment of the market where you can catch both single or couples wanting a smaller round-around and families wanting a more economical family vehicle.

The Volkswagen Golf has always been amongst the more popular models and appeals to all ages and across gender barriers. Younger men tend to go for the sportier GTI version while older women favour a more frugal version. It’s always been hailed as a good performer that is fun to drive but the car is also seen as a bit conservative in its styling. But resale value is goods although it’s not the cheapest car to buy or to run; at least your investment is safe.

A more spacious alternative in the small hatchback class is the Skoda Octavia which also has the benefit of being cheap to buy and run. You should however try and avoid the cheaper models as they are somewhat spears on the equipment side. If you opt for the Greenline II model you get a car with sub 100g/km emission that averages 70 mpg. To test drive a new Skoda, Reading is one city you can visit a dealership.

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Finding ways to raise money

On the 9th July 2011, during the weekend, 18 employees from Volkswagen Financial Services and Volkswagen UK will be taking part in the 24 Peaks Challenge. The challenge involves walking up 24 peaks throughout the Lake District, each of which is over 2400 feet, in 24 hours total walking time.

To raise £10,000 for Remount, the armed services charity, the team will start at 5:30am on Saturday, tackling 10 peaks, covering over 17 miles aiming to finish at 10pm. On Sunday, the team will start at the earlier time of 5:00am to cover the remaining 14 peaks, covering over 14 miles.

The Remount charity provides help and support to Armed Forces personnel when they return to Civvy Street, where they aim to provide the psychological tools to personnel of all ranks and status as they reintegrate into civilian life avoiding illnesses such as depressions.

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Honda Powers London 2012 Athletes

Honda with its Power of Dreams slogan has teamed up with London 2012 Olympians to inspire people to follow their ambitions. Honda has teamed up with cyclist Ed Clancy, gymnast Beth Tweddle, javelin thrower Goldie Sayers and swimmer Jazmin Carlin, forming the Power of Dreams Team.

Honda will be following each of the athletes and showing both their talents and how it is they managed to achieve their dreams to represent the UK in the London 2012 Olympics. Each athlete has been provided with a new Honda in order to transport their equipment to competitions. They have selected a Honda Civic Ti, CR-V and Jazz as well as a CR-Z.

Simon Gardiner, Marketing Communications Manager for Honda (UK) commented: "We want to get across how dreams can drive what we do and who we become, by telling a 'behind the scenes' story of the athletes. The Power of Dreams is something we live everyday at Honda and it's great that the team have come on board to help illustrate this message. They are all fantastic ambassadors for their country, their sport and for Honda so we're looking forward to seeing them take home the gold."

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Jaguar XK Range On Show At Motorexpo

If you are fortunate enough to live close to London and are still contemplating whether to visit the MotorExpo in Canary Wharf or not then maybe this will sway your decision. At the MotorExpo Jaguar will be in attendance, showcasing the new 2012 XK Range. In the range and at the show will be the XKR-S, producing 550PS and 680Nm of torque, with a top speed of 186mph. The 0-62mph time is 4.2 seconds, with a 0-100mph time of 8.6 seconds.

The high performance Jaguar now features slimmer headlight units with LED running lights, sitting above a larger chrome-framed oval grille, finished - in the XKR's case - in black. A new horizontal vent and chrome blade are mounted on each wing, which give the Jaguar XK a longer and lower appearance. The rear of the car also sees new taillights which now utilise LED technology and a revised thinner strip which for the first time on an XK features the Jaguar leaping badge.

As well as the exterior the interior has been given a once over by jaguar, the new interior features new trim finished and body sculptured leather sports seats – available for the first time in the new Jaguar XK Chester.

Both convertible and coupe body style versions of the Jaguar XK and XKR will be available, with the new Jaguar XKR-S coupe at the top of the range. Prices start at £65,000 for the XK coupe and go up to £97,000 for the Jaguar XKR-S. All models will be on sale from September 2011.

Checking out a used car

A lot of people prefer to buy their car either from a private seller or from a small independent used car dealer as they feel this is the best way to get a good bargain.  But to be certain the car you’re buying is worth what you’re paying; make sure to give the car a thorough check before you part with your money.

On the exterior of the car, check the body work for a consistent paint finish and also make sure the gaps between panels are the same width. Any discrepancies means the car might have had a re-spray or been in a collision. You should also press gently on each corner of the car to check the suspension is smooth and if you see bubbling paint it’s usually an indication of rust. Check the tyre for depth and also for uneven wear. Uneven wear points to either suspension issues or that the tracking alignment needs adjusting.

If you open the bonnet you should check for any fluid leaks around the engine and other mechanical components. Check the oil, the engine coolant and the brake fluid and make sure they’re at the correct level. Also make sure the battery looks rust free and in good condition.

Inside the car check that the mileage is consistent with what was advertised and check that the wear and tear on seats and steering wheel is consistent with the age and the mileage. Also check the seatbelts; if they’re frayed it might indicate the car has been in a crash.

Then lastly check the paperwork and make sure the personal details match the seller’s and that the service history and MOT certificates indicate the car has been cared for.

If after all this you’re still happy with the vehicle presented to you, whether it’s from a private seller or a used car dealer, Essex, take it out for test-drive and make sure it performs to your standards. And if it does, now is the time to haggle on price, safe in the knowledge there’s nothing majorly wrong with vehicle in question.

What is the Motability Scheme?

The Motability Scheme is a Government backed scheme that enables disabled and those receiving Motability benefit to obtain a car, powered wheelchair or scooter by using their Government funded mobility allowance. It was founded in 1977 by Lord Sterling of Plaistow and the late Lord Goodman.

Since 1978 over two million cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs have been provided to help disabled people with their mobility needs. The Motability Scheme is a collaboration of Government, leading banks, and the motor and insurance industries. This scheme has enabled car dealerships to sell Motability vehicles in Southend.

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Fiat 500 by Gucci

Fiat has unveiled prices and specifications for the much awaited Fiat 500 by Gucci. The Fiat 500 by Gucci has been customised by Gucci Creative Director, Frida Gianni. It will be available with two engine options, a 1.2 litre - costing £14,656 OTR - and the 0.9 litre TwinAir - priced at £15,765 OTR.

I just need to make it clear before I go any further that the 500 by Gucci is purely a cosmetic tune up, if you are after a higher performance 500 then go looking for an Abarth for sale.

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The BMW M6

BMW unleashed the second generation M6 at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005. It is based on the new BMW 6 Series and shares the same 5.0 litre V10 engine and SMG gearbox as the current BMW M5. The M6 produces 514 bhp and can do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds! And has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Like the BMW M5 the M6 has a “power” button, modifies the throttle response. One the button is pressed it engages the full 514bhp. The M6 only weights 1,710 kg thanks to the carbon fibre reinforced plastic roof panel as well as thermoplastic front wings, aluminium doors and bonnet and compound boot lid.

The new BMW M6 in Shrewsbury is available as a coupe or convertible a light weight CSL version was rumoured but, BMW has officially rejected this. Both the M6 coupe and convertible can be visually distinguished from the 630i, 645Ci and 650i by their deeper front valance with air intakes, more contoured side sills, aerodynamic side view mirrors, an additional rear valance with diffuser and the absence of front fog lights.

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The best cars to own

The car magazine What Car? together with global marketing information services firm J.D. Power publish an annual car manufacturing satisfaction study based on input from car owners. This year 16, 840 car owners were surveyed and just like last year the top manufacturer was Lexus. In total 35 manufacturers were part of the survey but only 28 of them have been scored as the remaining 7 didn’t have sufficient amount of vehicles sampled.

Points are gained for vehicle appeal, quality and reliability, ownership costs and service satisfaction and from a total of 1000 points Lexus scored 845. The highest rated individual car was the compact executive Lexus IS. Other cars people were satisfied to own was the Honda Accord family car, the Lexus RX 4x4, the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Prius.

Honda was the runner up in the manufacturer’s survey with 833 points followed by Skoda and Jaguar in joint third. The cars car owners were least satisfied with came from Vauxhall, Suzuki and Chevrolet with the Ford Ka as the bottom car followed by the Kia Rio, the Vauxhall Corsa and the Suzuki SX4.

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