Time For A Change

I'm back after a while away, ready to answer any questions you may have with regard to the motoring questions of your life.

The big one at the moment seems to be the dreaded changing of the car.  Sometimes this is forced on us when the old one dies, or you just feel the need for something more modern.

There seems to be three categories here.  The first is those with enough money to go out and buy the latest shiny example of what your heart desires.  The second is with a very limited budget where you have to scrape around enough pennies to actually buy something roadworthy.  Then the third, which I think most of us fall into is, we can afford something decent and practical.

Then the fun really starts.  The market today seems to be moving faster, with every niche being filled by manufaturers keen to expand brands.  Audi started with a Q7 4x4, then moved down to the ever popular Q5, then smaller again with the Q3, and maybe in 2016 we will see the Q1 ? So now the choices are greater, but this makes your decisions even more difficult.

Then you need to pay for it.  Cash ?  Its still done, but with the cost of new cars these days, most of us will finance it by going down the route of hire purchase or personal contract.  The main benefits of the latter seem to be lower monthly repayments and a guaranteed future value at the end of the 3 or 4 year contract.

Another consideration is what do you want the car for ?  Is it just to impress the neighbours ?   Or do you need a practial way of getting to work ?  Is space and saftey needed for the regular school run ?  Or as I discovered the other day, a car needs to be a good all rounder. Capable of shuttling to and from the airport with bags and cases, then traveling across the country with comfort and economy in mind.  Then not worrying too much about charging about muddy Cornish lanes.

So at the moment I seem to be sticking with what I have.  My old Audi A6 Avant diesel is still ticking all the boxes, and would hate to lose it.  In the past I changed an old Mercedes TE, for a newer Mercedes ML, and that was an experience that taught me that newer doesn't always mean better.

So if anyone has any questions for me or any issues you would like to raise, do get in touch.

Too Soon For Us ?

Following on from my last post regarding the Fiat Freemont, this is what the company had to say:

Thank you for contacting the Fiat Information Centre.

Firstly, it is great to hear that you are interested in our fantastic Fiat
model range vehicles.

Unfortunately we can advise that there is currently no official information
available on the introduction of the Fiat Freemont for the Uk market.

If you would like us to keep you updated once we have further information
on this subject, we will be happy to email you back with the latest
updates.

Please forward us your full contact details so we can keep you informed
once these updates are made available.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you have any other questions
or need further advice, we invite you to contact us by replying to this
email or calling on our international freephone number, 00800 3428 0000
(choosing option 2).

We are here to help Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.

Alternatively, stay in contact with your local dealer. our website is also
packed full of useful information detailing our current range of products
and services.

I have included the web address below for your convenience.

Kind regards,

Terry
Fiat Brand Ambassador
www.fiat.co.uk

Western Spaghetti

The latest bit of badge engineering to appear from the Chrysler/Fiat merger is the Fiat Freemont.  (Fiat.co.uk) Aimed to replace the gap left by the Croma, Ulysee, and Multipla.  But anyone expecting innovative new design might be a bit suprised.  Fiat have taken the Dodge Journery from the Chrysler group, changed a few badges, plonked in a 2 litre engine from the Bravo, and there you have it a new Fiat model.

 

Not too sure how this big Fiat will be received.  The UK market has an aversion to large Fiats, Citroens & Renaults, so it will be good to see how a badge engineered Dodge works out.  But it will face stiff competition from the other 7 seat MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra, Renault Espace etc.  With prices being just under the £30,000 mark

The Fiat group have also taken an interesting look at the Test Drive.  We all know what a pain it an be to arrange appointments, travel all the way to the dealership, when all you want to do is drive a car.  Lancia in Europe have something called Ypsilon at home.  Where you can set up the test drive online, an hour later the salesman and car turn up at you door.  You go for a drive, are left with a brochure and a phone number.  Easy and straightforward.  All we need to do is wait to see if Chrysler (Chrysler.co.uk)  take the initiative when it launches its version of the Ypsillon in a few months time.

Aston Surprise

Had a call from the owner of a 2008 Aston Martin DB9.  He had a little shock when he removed the leather from the key fob.  I revealed the Volvo logo.  It seems that Aston Volvo & Ford all being owned by the same people meant that they took swopping parts to new lows.  Not quite sure how this Volvo key fits in with the brands emphasis on heritage and prestige.  I am still waiting for Aston Martin (astonmartin.com) to get back to me!

On a better note the saga of the Toyota Celica had a happier ending.  A car bought from Apollo Motors in Bolton (Apollo-Motors.co.uk) had a clutch judder.  Not a problem said they, and put a new clutch, still juddered.  So new flywheel, still juddered, so back it went with the fix it or take it back ultimatum.  And believe it not they did fix it and one customer is very happy with her purchase.

But would this have been the case has she bought at auction.  I know someone who is a big fan of British Car Auctions,(british-car-auctions.co.uk) and is quite willing to take the gamble on a used company car or trade in for reather reasonable money.

The auction houses have come a long way from the old tin shed and dodgy part exchanges that spring to mind when you think of car auctions.  But I think it is necessary to have some basic car knowledge or take someone with you who can spot problems easily.

MG (mg.co.uk) is expanding its line up.  Apart from the venerable MG TF, and the new MG6 hatchback, a saloon version is due to appear called the Magnette.  As someone said you would have to be really old to remember the old MG Magnettes, thanks.  I think this Chinese/British brand is one to keep an eye on, as once they have some diesel engines to help the line up who knows what might happen.

Back To Basics

It seems to me that cars these day are getting more & more technically advanced.  Like computers, phones and TVs the latest technology to make life "easier" is being introduced at a rapid rate of knots.

How many of your cars functions do you use on a regular basis ?  Cruise control on the motorways in the UK is an on off affair most of the time.  ESP ?  When was the last time you turned it off ?  Heated seats, do we really need them?

There used to be a time when a cheap car was seen as just a tool.  Something you bought to get you from A to B or  sometimes get as far as C.  Today the options of basic budget motoring are limited.  Most manafacturers are keen to offer air con & electric windows in even base models.

Now I know the 2CV was a design statement that originated in the 1930s, but it was a vehicle that had everything you needed, but made do without such things as wind up windows, or central locking.  Can we not have a modern equivalent ?

http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/

The Tata Nano is the closest thing around today which has been built to a price.  But its main aim is to get the people of Asia off their Honda motorcycles and into a four wheeled car.  A modern equivalent of the Reliant Regal of the 1950s, which got the British public from motorcycles into a 3 wheeled car ! And then followed by 4 wheeled versions such as the venerable Mini.

What I would like to see is a stripped down basic 4 seater, following the BMW train of thought.  If you want something you pay extra for it.  A bit like Easyjet motoring.  Cheap initial purchase but the more you want the more you will pay.

So ulike in the 1970s where even heaters and seabelts were on the options list.  Things like aircon, radio, electric windows, or even packs of equipment could be supplied.  Do you really want to pay £2000 for a sat nav when all you ever do is drive to the office and back ??

And cheap doesn't have to mean nasty.  There must  be a way of avoiding the horrible tinny metal and shiny scratchy plastics, and switches that feel as if they will come away in you hand .  With fuel costs rising even more can someone produce a car which has more substance that style, yet will still appeal to a broad market of first time and cost concious motorists ?

Chrysler Crisis ?

Was in a Jeep dealership the other day, and this go me wondering what Chrysler had to offer at the moment.  The answer was not a lot.  If you regard Jeep as a separate brand, the only model on offer is the venerable Chrysler Voyager, beloved of taxi firms and parents with lots of children.

But it seems all this is about to change as part of the Chrysler/Fiat merger.  Already we have little Fiat 500s buzzing around the US.  I shudder at the thought of driving a 500 on a US interstate.  You would have to pick out a really bright colour so they could all see you.

But the benefit of this merger for Chrysler UK is the reintroduction of the Lancia brand, which disappeared in 1994.  The new Ypsilon and the Delta will be sold through Chrysler dealers and re badged as Chrysler's.  How this will effect the depreciation remains to be seen.  I wonder how many people will buy them as Chrysler's and put the original Lancia badges back on ?  Which badge would you want on your car Chrysler or Lancia ?

The other little surprise was the fact that the Chrysler Sebring is no more.  Since the late 90s British tourists to the US have hired out these convertibles in there thousands.  It was nice to have a four seater convertible for your holiday but they were quite awful to drive.  Underpowered, wobbly body and nasty plastic trim.  I broke more that one of them.  But don't despair it has been replaced by the Chrysler 200.  Which plans to be better powered, and should have improved handling and a better quality interior.  I will let you know.

So is Chrysler a brand that can be improved upon ?  If Skoda can turn themselves around then why not Chrysler?

Aston Martin Cygnet

I know why Aston have produced the Cygnet, helps with company's overall mpg and co2 figures, but still £35 thousand pounds for a £12500 Toyota IQ ?

Apparently there are Aston owners out there who are willing to fork out this kind of money to have matching Aston's in the garage.  The styling is basically the same, as is the engine.  So what you end up paying for is a leather interior with different dials, a nice paint job, and a few Aston badges.  I'm sorry I just couldn't could you?
 http://www.astonmartin.com/

It seems Rolls Royce may go the same way with the Mini, Fiat have had a go with a Ferrari badged 500.  So what will we have next, a Lamborghini badged Polo ?

And the eternal question, why can you do a 450 mile round trip with no problems yet take the dog to the park and you get a puncture which ruins a fairly new tyre ?

Also the Apollo Motors fiasco continues. The Toyota Celica with the juddery clutch.  It has had a new clutch, a new flywheel, and is now worse than ever.  Toyota say it needs a new clutch and the replacement must be faulty.  Apollo Motors want to fix it.  I think this may be their last chance before the keys get handed back.