Ten practical ways to reduce your car insurance premium

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
May 052013
 

 
IMG 0735 M Ten practical ways to reduce your car insurance premium uncategorized
Not all insurance companies are the same they basically are the middlemen in between you the policy holder and the underwriter, the underwriter first needs to understand the type of risk associated with your disclosed profile and to see if you are an ideal policy holder for them to underwrite, if not your premium will be higher than underwriters targeting that particular profile of risk.

So by reducing an insurer’s appraisal of your risk you can reduce the insurance premium you end up paying.

There are of course many factors you either can’t change or can’t change easily for example your postcode if there is a high car crime rate your premium will be higher even if third party.

However there are ways to reduce your risk and basically reduce your insurance burden:-

  1. If you have a garage or a driveway you should use it as it is suggested this will reduce your payments by 4-8%.
  2. Avoid insuring high risk drivers on the same policy as this will add to the cost of the insurance premium.
  3. Avoid getting caught speeding or using your mobile phone as the latter is a serious offence which is reported to add more than 40% to the premium.
  4. Avoid modifying your car from the default manufacturers specification as this results in higher risk.
  5. If you have just passed your test take additional tuition for example PassPlus this will reduce your premium.
  6. Choose a car which reflects your risk if you have just past your test choose a vehicle with a 1.2 litre or perhaps even electric and if you want a little more power earn your way to the new car by building your no claims discount.
  7. Sounds an Obvious one this but don’t crash even if you have protected no claims discount as this will still reflect in a higher renewal.
  8. If you have no security system installed, it would be worth purchasing a professional install of a thatcham approved security device .
  9. Share the risk with the insurer by increasing your personal excess in case of a claim.
  10. Buy a new car which comes with 12 months free insurance could be a good option, but can also be rejected if the driver is deemed high risk.

If you manage your own perception of risk prior to buying a car and use the above tips to reduce premiums will ensure that your Car Insurance costs are kept to a manageable cost.

The Astonishing Mercedes Benz A45 AMG

 Mercedes  No Responses »
Jan 182013
 

i pS5bJdh M The Astonishing Mercedes Benz A45 AMG mercedes models

It’s going to take a while to get used to this. Mercedes Benz cars are supposed to be big, imposing and luxurious. Owning a Mercedes Benz means you are a significant member of society. You have the money to buy a Mercedes and the taste to appreciate Mercedes styling and the legacy of the brand.

What if the car isn’t significant in size or looks? What if it doesn’t look like a Mercedes Benz? A Mercedes that looks ordinary is like a three star Michelin restaurant selling Rice Crispy treats. Those treats better have something extraordinary in them. Luckily, Mercedes Benz let the clever people at AMG have the car with permission to do whatever they want. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is the performance expert for Mercedes Benz. They’re responsible for the frighteningly fast Black series of Mercedes Benz performance cars.

The A45 AMG is the same size and shape as any other sub-compact. It’s got five doors, the essentially fastback design with (when viewed from the side) an oval for the passengers and a box for the engine and the general look of a second or third car. It also carries a $50,000 price tag.
Continue reading »

Punching its Weight — Cadillac Hits Back with 2013 ATS

 Cadillac, Spy Shots  No Responses »
Dec 212012
 

IMG 0901 M Punching its Weight — Cadillac Hits Back with 2013 ATS spyshots cadillac

They say in some spheres that less is more.

This is certainly the case when it comes to compact cars, which are luxury brands’ biggest sellers.

Now, with the launch of the 2013 Cadillac ATS in the Middle East, Cadillac are hitting back at BMW, Mercedes and Audi with a compact car of their own.

People move up to luxury cars by entering the compact market: Cadillac want to strike while that iron is hot. How?

The Reassurance of Safety

Not only does the ATS hit hard: it can take the hits. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests, the ATS achieved five stars — the maximum — in each category it was tested in: frontal crash, side crash, rollover, and overall.

In places like the UAE, where the dangerous driving on the roads makes car insurance as essential as it is mandatory, it’s good to know the vehicle can handle a bump or two.
Continue reading »

How to Buy a Used Car, Without Getting Ripped Off

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Dec 052012
 

Used cars are a great way to save money. After all, not everyone wants a long-term auto loan or has the money to put down on a brand new vehicle. By doing some research and having cars inspected, it is possible to buy used cars without getting ripped off.

Research the Dealer

Researching a dealer is very important so you should start by asking friends, relatives, coworkers and neighbours about where they and the people they trust bought their vehicles. Such advice will be honest and uninhibited. Additionally, people should look online to read reviews and ratings of area dealers. Local business associations, like the Better Business Bureau in the USA or Trading Standards in the UK will also have information about any past complaints filed against a business. The best dealers have a history of helping consumers find affordable and reliable vehicles.

Budget and Model in Mind

The first thing you should do is figure out how much he or she can spend on the vehicle. This helps narrow down the choices. Next, investigate different used cars and figure out a basic make and model. Most dealers have websites with current and past listings up. This helps people better understand what the market looks like and what is within their budget. For a more impartial opinion on the worth of a car, check out a website like this where you can find detailed valuations by make and model for each year.

Have the Car Inspected

The next step is to have the car inspected by a mechanic. You could ask a friend who knows their way around cars or could head to a local mechanic and pay a little for an inspection. This ensures that consumers know what is wrong with the vehicle so that it doesn’t break down a few months after purchase. Used cars often need minor work, but they shouldn’t kick the bucket right away. With the inspection in hand, you can ask for lower rates on the vehicle or move on to a different dealership.

Avoid Add-Ons to a Deal

Dealers make a lot of their money with warranties, selling roadside assistance plans and credit life insurance. If you want to walk away with a great deal then you need to say no to such add-ons. Researching book values on vehicles helps with this. There are so many price comparison websites online that make it very easy to find a cheap roadside assistance package or even a warranty at cheaper prices than most dealers can offer.

With some careful research, you can find a respected dealership and work with professionals to invest in a used car. This will save you money and ensures the vehicle you do end up buying is a good investment. Anyone who does not have the vehicle inspected or does not research a car’s worth could end up getting a less-than-ideal rate on a vehicle. The moral of the story: do your homework if you don’t want to get ripped off.

Compare Vehicle Leasing Deals Online

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Jun 142012
 

IMG0156 M Compare Vehicle Leasing Deals Online uncategorized

Comparing Vehicle Leasing Deals Online

The Problem


Trying to find the best car leasing deals online can be a real nightmare. With a dizzying array of cars and offers available, trawling through countless sites to get the best bang for your buck just doesn’t sound like any fun at all. Choosing a car or van can be hard enough, let alone where and how to lease it.
Let’s look at what you’ve got to think about:
• Maintenance – Do you need your contract to include car maintenance?
• Contract Term – What period of time does your contract run for?
• Mileage – How many miles will you need to be able to cover?
• Payment Terms – How do you want to pay for the lease?
This kind of information often lurks in the small print – finding it can be like a looking for a needle in a haystack, making accurate comparison very difficult. One deal might look great, but if it lets you down in an area that’s important to you, there’s no option but to move on and try another finance company. With so many of them out there, searching could take some time.

The Solution

Fortunately, there’s a solution to all of this – you can now compare vehicle leasing deals at Comparecontracthire.com which is an indispensable resource. What’s great is not only can the site help you find the best deals for the car you want; it can help you choose a car or van by the most suitable offers available.
The search options are comprehensive – with 15 ways of searching for the vehicle and deal you’re looking for, if the perfect offer is out there – you’ll find it.
Some of the search options available include:
• Contract length & terms
• Annual mileage
• Maintenance
• Vehicle manufacturer
• Vehicle type
• Fuel economy
• Emissions
With more than 12000 makes and models of car and van available, you can be sure you’re not missing out on anything. If you want to lease a car then this is the site for you, whether you’re an eco-warrior looking to drive up to 20000 miles per year, or someone with off-road aspirations who wants maintenance included.
For bargain hunters there’s even a dedicated section of the site for special offers.
Another bonus of this site is that you deal direct with the finance company you’ll be getting the vehicle through – there are no third parties or middlemen.
Jargon Busting

The site is also a useful resource for those new to vehicle leasing, with a ‘contract hire explained’ section detailing exactly what it entails, and an excellent jargon buster for everyone to understand. This information can help make sure contract hire is right for you. If that wasn’t enough, the site features impartial advice on many other topics.
And if you want to check out alternatives to lease hire, you could try the Exchange and Mart New Audi section. They have a range of models available and you can browse at your leisure online.
But if you’ve decided to take out a contract hire agreement, get in the know and check comparecontracthire.com before you make a decision. You could save money, get exactly what you need, or even find out the car of your dreams is within reach.

 

Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting

 Ford  No Responses »
Apr 162012
 

mustang 550x290 Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford

When the first Ford Mustang went on sale in 1964, the Beatles had just broken America and the post-war baby-boom generation was coming of age.  The Mustang was a product born to serve the times, the classic mix of dynamic style and affordability ensuring its continuing popularity today. 

Conceived in the early 1960′s, the Mustang took the basic design of the Ford Falcon and gave it muscles.  It was a looker too – the famous running horse motif and the long sloping hood, lower roof and low seating produced a slimline effect that had instant appeal.

 Ford sold 97,705 coupes that year and over four times as many the following. In the midst of demand for a racing model that could take on the Corvette, Carroll Shelby modified 100 ‘K-code’ high-performance models which are still highly praised today.  Even as Chevrolet and Pontiac brought out their own new ‘muscle’ cars in the later sixties, they could not rival the Mustang in popularity.  

 The seventies saw a tighter model with smaller power plants: the less-powerful 2.8L V6 engine was a hit and later a V8 engine was also available meaning that in 1975 Mustang II achieved record sales.

 Later in the decade, the Mustang grew in length but lost weight as the lightweight ‘Fox body’ chassis came into being.  There were now also luxury options including the ‘Ghia’ model.

 The eighties gave the Mustang a turbocharged boost and the convertible, missing for almost a decade, made a comeback.  Early nineties saw a redesign and a new 5.0L V8 for the GT, which could gain speeds of 60 miles per hour in around six seconds.

 Mustang, in the early noughties, kept the scalloped sides and taillights split into three, reminiscent of the vintage models. With features like smart suspension which reacts to road surface changes, Mustang took a leap into the 21st century and will continue to do so.

 Next year the 2013 models coming out range from the Mustang GT to the Boss 302, Shelby GT500 and the V6, building on the success the brand has received across generations.

  • shelby%20gt500%202 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford shelby%20gt500%203 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford shelby%20gt500%204 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford shelby%20gt500%207 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford shelby%20gt500%206 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford shelby%20gt500%205 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford shelby%20gt500%201 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford 74789802661865776 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford 1576255262041496714 Th Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting ford

The Budget Conscious Buyer and Global Automobile Scenario!

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Apr 112012
 

All over the world there is a growing market for cars in every segment; however, there is a huge demand for cars especially in the small car and sedan segment in the global automobile market. And automobile manufacturers are not lagging behind in making use of this opportunity.  When they eye for the middle class and upper middle class with classis posh outlook combined with good technology which can give them mileage and maintenance free cars; they win the race before launching the car itself– there is high demand for fuel efficiency car nowadays.  Every car manufacturer is trying to attract their customers by luring them by promising more mileage per liter petrol or diesel.

Low cost hatchbacks are already on the roads worldwide and they have become quite popular in the low budget car segment; whereas cars like the Honda City and the Ford Fiesta are doing exceptionally well in the sedan segment.  What the middle class looks for while purchasing a caris comfortable seating arrangement with good pull up, suitable rates, adequate mileage/liter fuel.  If they are satisfied with all these basic requirements then they pay their attention towards colors, make style, appearance, interior and exterior designing etc. — this is the picture with common people.

Cozy accommodation provided for the front and back passengers are neat and sleek in almost all cars which are considered good features in acar targeted towards the mid-level budget.  Many cars are produced in this segment and the prices are kept very much within a feasible range; with companies like Ford, Chevrolet and Honda being some of the major competitors in the hatchback and sedan segment. Not only do they introduce various technical improvements for the benefit of their customers; but the after sales service of these competitors is also up to the markto woo as many customers as they can in this global slowdown.

One can observe that the colors and combination of the cars is almost same and they have one or two colors in the offering which might be different and might not be available with another car manufacturer—they also often release premium colors for their consumers; however there is no resemblance in designing as almost all company cars are unique and have distinguishing features that separate them from each other.

All car manufacturers have taken enough pain to make drivers feel comfortable while driving these cars, and for this they have added a lot of features as far as the interiors and exteriors are concerned, including added features like GPS, Driver information systems, audio systems and safety and security measures etc.

Car manufacturers have woken up to the fact that in order to attract as many potential buyers as possible, it is required that they offer them some additional perks apart from the basics; the reason why a majority of the top players in the market are offering things like free insurance, exchange bonuses and a host of other goodies and freebies.