Month: May 2020

London is the car theft capital of the UK according to new data released by stolen vehicle recovery experts Tracker.

Analysis of theft data for 2019 shows the UK capital is the region with the highest number of stolen and recovered vehicles, followed by its neighbouring county of Essex.

West Midlands, Manchester and West Yorkshire made up the top five.

Tracker says Essex has jumped to second place as Essex Police have been uncovering ‘chop shops’ where stolen vehicles are stripped for parts to be sold on.

Meanwhile, comparisons with UK Police Force data shows that the West Midlands has seen a 45 per cent increase in vehicle theft between 2016 and 2019. Meanwhile, Hertfordshire had seen a 50 per cent increase in thefts.

Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, said: “It is clear from both sets of data that thieves have stepped up activity in some regions over recent years.

“During this period of lockdown, it is even more important that car owners remain vigilant and do what they can to keep their car safe.

“Our analysis highlights some interesting manufacturer preferences by region, as 4x4s continue to dominate our top 10 most desirable makes and models that thieves are stealing.

“However, whilst it is common for car thieves to target premium marques, we should not underestimate the appetite for lower value cars.”

Tracker says BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover vehicles were the manufacturers of choice for criminals in the south-east of England, while the BMW X5 was the most stolen and recovered vehicle in West Yorkshire.

Furthermore, 92 per cent of the vehicles recovered by Tracker last year were from keyless thefts, up from 66 per cent the year before.

Drivers of cars with an automatic gearbox are paying close to £100 more to insure their cars compared to manual versions, new figures show.

On average, a motorist looking to cover their automatic car pays an average of £94.07 more than those who are purchasing a policy for their manual vehicle, data from 15 million individual quotes has shown.

Drivers of manual cars will pay an average of £466 per year to insure their cars, while those using an automatic vehicle will have to fork out £560 instead.

Yet despite this increase in cost, the number of people making enquiries for automatic car cover has risen, according to MoneySuperMarket, who analysed quotes provided between January 2018 and February 2020. Automatics now make up 28 per cent of insurance enquiries, rising from 22 per cent just two years ago.

While the average cost of insurance has fallen in recent years, the cost of covering a manual vehicle has dropped by 24 per cent – contrasting the fall of just 14 per cent for automatic cars.

When it comes to location, drivers in London are most likely to get a quote for an automatic car, with 51 per cent of residents choosing an automatic vehicle. In contrast those drivers in Belfast and the Isle of Lewis were the least likely to opt for an auto, with 86 per cent of the quotes in these areas being made for manual cars.

Dave Merrick, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket commented: “There are many factors that can affect the cost of insurance premiums, such as age, driving experience and the car make and model.

“From January 2018 to January 2020 we have seen a huge increase in the price difference between insurance for both automation and manual cars. This has risen from 5 per cent to 21 per cent and has stayed stable for the last six months.

“One reason for this could be a result of increased technology in automatic cars over time for, example, the parts that make up an automatic gearbox are more complex and could cost more to repair. However, due to improvements in technology, an automatic car might help you save money in the long run through better fuel efficiency.

According to MoneySupermarket, the reason for the premium that automatic cars command is simply because they cost more to repair than manual versions. It’s why insurance claims are often higher for automatic cars.

SORN, which stands for statutory off-road notification, is an official notice which states that you’re taking your car ‘off the road’ and not currently driving it. By doing this, you no longer have to tax it or insure it.

There are many reasons why motorists do this, whether it’s to save a bit of cash while they don’t need to drive, or because they’re working on a classic car that’s not currently roadworthy.

The government recently revealed the latest vehicle registration figures, which includes the number of each vehicle that was declared SORN in the fourth quarter of 2019, so we’ve collected the most common models to appear in this list.

One caveat: The models aren’t always split up logically, with some varying by trim level and some incomplete data, meaning these numbers are approximate. The most commonly SORN’d model was ‘Other British Missing’, likely referring to the nearly 40,000 classic British cars being ‘restored’, for example.

VW Golf – 67,000-plus

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this list is dominated by some of the best-selling cars in the UK, and the Golf is top of the list. Specifically, the performance-focused Golf GTI, first sold in 1976, was fourth overall with almost 13,000 examples being SORN’d.

Ford Fiesta – 57,000-plus

Another hugely popular car, it’s no surprise that everyone’s favourite city car is on this list. First introduced in 1976, we’re now on the seventh-generation of Fiesta. Proving hugely popular with young and old drivers alike, its low running costs and good practicality make it a car worth holding onto even when it’s not roadworthy.

Ford Focus – 54,000-plus

The second of three Fords on this list, the Focus is one of the best-selling family cars in UK history. When it first went on sale in 1998, its styling was considered a game-changer, and having sold in huge numbers ever since it’s no surprise to learn there’s more than 50,000 in storage.

Vauxhall Corsa – 40,000-plus

Much like the Fiesta, the Corsa has gained a reputation as an excellent small car. It has gained an image as more of a young drivers’ car than the Ford – being cheap to run and having cute styling has made it a hit with buyers since the 90s.

Peugeot 206- 29,000-plus

Another darling of the 90s small car scene, the Peugeot 206 proved hugely popular during its short stint on sale in the UK between 1998 and 2006, evidenced by the fact it’s so high on this list.

Land Rover Discovery – 28,000-plus

Land Rover’s first car to be targeted more at being a family car, the ‘Disco’ proved hugely popular thanks to its large luggage space and more affordable price – yet still being capable off-road. There have been three generations since the first went on sale late in 1989.

Ford Ka – 26,000-plus

In a list dominated by small cars, the Ka is one of the smallest. Introduced in 1996 it won plaudits for its diminutive packaging and fun styling while offering diverse body styles that included a convertible and sporty version.

Mini – 22,000-plus

There were many variations of Mini in this list, including those made by Austin and Rover. However, of the purely Mini-branded models there are more than 20,000 currently off the road – a hugely impressive number for a classic brand that demonstrates just how popular it is.

Mazda MX-5 – 19,000-plus

Car enthusiasts will not be surprised to see this small roadster in this most-SORN’d list. The Mazda MX-5 is almost universally loved for offering affordable performance and a hugely appealing roof-down driving experience. However, early models are well-known for being rust magnets, but their owners love them so much they rarely let them go!

MG B – 14,000-plus

Much along the same lines as the MX-5, the MG B is a two-door convertible sports car, which was in production between 1963 and 1995 (but with a big gap in between). The British-built icon is hugely popular with enthusiasts, who are keeping its memory alive.

The majority of mainstream car manufacturers have been around for so long it’s almost impossible to think of them as anything other than a faceless corporation.

However, they all started somewhere, with many of those that have been around the longest getting their name from their founder.

We’ve brought together some of the most famous names in the car industry and explained the origin story of the companies they created.

Ford – Henry Ford

One of, if not the most famous names in the car industry, Henry Ford was an American industrialist and businessman who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

His greatest gift was creating the first affordable car, having been the first to properly develop the assembly line technique of mass production. The Model T revolutionised transport and began the car on its journey to become the world’s primary mode of transport.

Skoda – Václav Laurin and Václav Klement

In 1895, in the city of Mladá Boleslav in what is now the Czech Republic, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement started selling bicycles together. The pair then moved on to motorcycles – essentially bicycles with an engine within the frame – and by 1905, were selling their first car.

The car was made under the L&K brand, but in 1924 the factory was partially destroyed in a fire. This led to a merger with Czech engineering firm Skoda, and the car manufacturer would survive two World Wars and socialist-era planned economy to still build cars today.

Ferrari – Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari was a racing driving in the ‘20s before setting up Scuderia Ferrari, a racing team that specialised in preparing Alfa Romeos for other drivers to compete in. He ultimately moved on to build his own race cars but was halted by the outbreak of World War Two.

Ironically given the iconic name it has become, Enzo Ferrari didn’t actually want to build road cars, but reluctantly started to do so to fund the Scuderia Ferrari racing team. The first road car was the Ferrari 125 S, powered by a 1.5-litre V12 engine, and went on sale in 1947.

Lamborghini – Ferruccio Lamborghini

Lamborghini started life as a tractor manufacturer – and it still makes them today, in fact. However, in an interview with American magazine Car and Driver, long-time Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni explained how the sports car arm came to be.

Ferrucio owned two Ferraris, and would regularly burn through clutches. He eventually decided to ask his own tractor mechanics to fix his car rather than keep paying Ferrari to do it. He was angry to discover the clutch was a generic part that he also used on one of his tractors.

One day he met Enzo Ferrari and aired his grievances, to which he replied: “You are a tractor driver, you are a farmer. You shouldn’t complain driving my cars because they’re the best cars in the world.”

This, unsurprisingly, angered Lamborghini, who vowed to show him how a sports car should be built. The rest is history.

Honda – Soichiro Honda

Soichiro Honda was born in a small village near Mt Fuji in Japan. After six years as an apprentice mechanic in Tokyo, he returned home in 1929 to open a shop that made piston rings, but a wartime bombing and devastating earthquake meant he had to sell the remnants of his business.

In 1946, he had an idea to use surplus generators from World War Two to power bicycles. The idea was a huge hit and he struggled to keep up with demand as he developed the idea further.

In 1948 he teamed up with businessman Takeo Fujisawa to create the Honda Motor Company we know today. It started building motorbikes before adding cars in 1963.

Bentley – W.O. Bentley

Walter Owen Bentley, who preferred to be known as W.O. Bentley, started Bentley in 1919 after receiving £8,000 from the Commission of Awards to Inventors after he received an MBE for contribution to the war effort – his aluminium pistons were fitted to fighter planes and were more powerful and reliable than what they replaced.

His policy was simple: “We were going to make a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.” It planned to build road cars that were essentially race cars with luggage carrying abilities.

After initial reluctance to compete at the Le Mans 24hr race, he changed his mind after a customer car came fourth in 1923. Bentley would go on to win five out of seven races after that.

Porsche – Ferdinand Porsche

Along with his son, also called Ferdinand, Porsche Sr. started the Porsche car company in Germanuy in 1948, aiming to be known for making great sports cars and race cars.

Porsche Sr. had worked on Daimler-Benz vehicles in his independent design and engineering firm, and was behind the design of the Volkswagen Beetle. He’s even credited with building the world’s first petrol-electric hybrid vehicle.

The first car built by the new Porsche company was the 356, using a souped-up, rear-mounted Beetle engine that made 40bhp.

Rolls-Royce – Henry Royce and Charles Rolls

The iconic luxury car manufacturer was born in 1906, when electrician and mechanic Henry Royce teamed up with high-quality car dealer Charles Rolls.

Royce had built his first vehicle in 1904 and signed an agreement with Rolls that would see these vehicles sold exclusively by Rolls’ London-based company under the name Rolls-Royce.

Because it was such a success, the pair created the Rolls-Royce company and launched the six-cylinder Silver Ghost, which would quickly be known as the best car in the world.

Tesla – Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Ian Wright, Elon Musk and J.B. Straubel

It’s almost impossible to talk about Tesla without mentioning its controversial CEO Elon Musk. However, you might be surprised to learn that although he played a huge part in its success, he didn’t start the company.

That was electrical engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who were motivated to start their own electric vehicle company in America after GM cancelled its EV-1 project in 2003. Tesla Motors was incorporated the same year.

Elon Musk joined in 2004 when he invested $6.5 million (about £5.2m) during the company’s first round of investment. However, Musk took an active role in advancing the company and its vehicles, helping it avoid bankruptcy to ultimately become CEO himself in 2008.

A lawsuit settlement in 2009 allowed Elon Musk, Marc Tapenning, Martin Eberhard, businessman J.B. Straudel, and the company’s third employee Ian Wright to call themselves co-founders.