Category: News

Classic hot hatches are still in hot demand and despite their increased popularity, there are still bargains to be had.

So get looking through the classified adverts, because these classics are worth grabbing while they’re still around.

Renaultsport Clio 182

Renaultsport has form when it comes to creating fast, nimble and effortless agile hot hatches. The Clio 182 was a key example. Light and relatively inexpensive, it showed others how a hot hatch really should be done.

Used numbers are still strong but they’re shrinking as more and more cars are snapped up. Keep an eye on service history when looking at an example, and look out for unwanted modifications too.

Volkswagen Lupo GTI

The little Lupo GTI made waves when it arrived back in 2000. Small, stocky but powerful, it harked back to the original MK1 Golf GTI. In fact, its 123bhp out-punches the modern Up! GTI, showing just how much performance Volkswagen packed into this car back then.

Plenty of visual changes separated it from the regular Lupo, and today they’re highly sought after with clean examples commanding reasonable price tags.

Renaultsport Twingo

The Renaultsport Twingo danced a similar tune to the Lupo GTI. It was ultralight, highly powered and designed to maximise fun on the public road. Yes, the interior quality may not have been quite as good as the sturdy German’s, but it came with plenty of standard equipment which helped things along.

Decent examples don’t cost the earth today, either, and you get plenty of go-faster looks for your money.

Fiat Panda 100HP

Fiat’s little Panda is a well-known name in the compact car segment, and there have, throughout the years, been various sporting versions. The 100HP is a standout, as it finally put the Panda among more premium rivals.

That’s because it’s so good to drive. Lowered suspension, grippy tyres and fine handling came together to make a genuinely exciting package. They’re great value at the moment too – so get one while you can.

Volkswagen Golf GTI MK5

Classic Golf GTI models are racking up big prices on the used market, with nostalgia for the hot hatches of old driving up the price tags on cars like the MK1 and MK2 GTIs. However, this increase hasn’t affected the later, more modern MK5 edition quite so much.

But that’s no reason to avoid it. A complete revival of fortunes over the flabby and disappointing MK4, the MK5 marked a new age for the GTI. Comfortable, packed with equipment and well-styled, it’s a great option to go for on the used market today.

Skoda Fabia vRS

Skoda’s vRS models have always come pleasingly under the radar. Powerful and great to drive they may be, but conservative styling has meant that the vRS models haven’t always flagged up on people’s lists when looking at a hot hatch.

The Fabia vRS is one you should consider, however. It’s smartly styled, well put together and a hoot for whoever is behind the wheel. Plus. they don’t come with huge price tags, so they’re a great one to go for today.

Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

When Alfa Romeo revealed that it was shoehorning a 3.2-litre V6 engine inside its dinky 147 hatchback, few people could believe it. Close to 250bhp and a 0-60mph time of just over six seconds meant that it could more than hold its own against other performance hatches of the time.

It commanded a serious price tag when new – just over £23,000 back in 2003 – and it has continued to maintain a strong price, maintained by enthusiast demand and interest. Still, search hard and you’ll find a bargain, and it’s likely to be a car you won’t regret buying.

What is it?

Though crossovers are all the rage in the new car market and the race to electrification is seeing a world of hybrids and EVs coming to the fray, the, err, crossover between the two has been rather minimal so far.

Sure, it’s possible to buy an electric MG ZS and a variant of the new Peugeot 2008 will be battery-powered too, but those seeking a more eco-conscious option from their pseudo-SUV have been largely restricted to the former and, in more recent times, Hyundai Kona variants.

There is an alternative, however, and one that has led the way in hybrid within its segment. That’s the Toyota C-HR, which has featured an electrified variant ever since its 2016 introduction. It’s been far from a flop either, with 14,600 shifted in its first year on the UK scene — though this does include pure internal combustion choices.

Keen to build on its success and perhaps even take on the class-leading Nissan Juke, Toyota has opted to refresh the car for 2020 — but is it enough to grab a stronger hold in arguably the most competitive new car arena?

What’s new?

Toyota is a firm proud of its ‘self-charging’ hybrid powertrains, and it’s decided to offer only electrified units in the refreshed C-HR. The previous 1.8-litre option remains with a little bit of fettling to boot and now lines up with a fresh 2.0-litre alternative drafted in from the Corolla hatchback. Examples powered by the latter see some suspension and soundproofing tweaks, too.

Visual changes are subtle but certainly present, with a little bit of a touch-up to the front and rear bumpers while head- and taillights receive updated LED tech.

Rounding out notable changes to the crossover is a (much-needed) upgrade for its infotainment system, which now also boasts support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What’s under the bonnet?

We’re behind the wheel of the refreshed Toyota C-HR with the new 2.0-litre unit sat underneath its bonnet. The four-cylinder unit is linked to a 650v electric motor, with the two combining to produce 184bhp. Power is fed to the front wheels via a CVT transmission.

As a result, 0-60mph takes eight seconds with a top speed of 112mph said to be possible. Toyota claims the C-HR returns 49.6-54.3mpg in mixed driving conditions with emissions weighing in at 92g/km.

Those looking for an engine that’s effortless and efficient should fix their eyes this way. It’s happy to sit in EV-only mode for most lower-speed driving, with the transition to using its petrol engine seamless. Power does thin out early in the rev band and its CVT does result in a fair bit of noise under heavy throttle usage, but low-end torque makes for a smooth driving experience.

What’s it like to drive?

If there’s one thing Toyota didn’t need to alter about the C-HR, it was the driving experience — and fortunately, it hasn’t.

Town capabilities are impressive as ever, with the car taking the difficulty out of driving thanks to its well-judged steering and compact dimensions, which is sure to win buyers over. Visibility is still compromised as a result of its unconventional styling, though.

Its strengths as an urban runaround don’t compromise its capabilities elsewhere, either. A supple ride and low wind noise make it relaxing at motorway speeds, while a keen chassis means there’s fun to be had on twisty roads — though the car will fight hard against any yobbish mannerisms with an intrusive traction control system.

How does it look?

Admittedly, your only way of distinguishing a new C-HR from an old one would be by lining up the cars side-by-side and having someone who already knew the difference pointing it out to you. That, or by looking for a post-69 registration plate.

It’s not without changes, though. Very subtle tweaks come to the front and rear bumpers of the car, while Toyota proudly boasts new LED tech in its head- and tailights. Fresh alloy wheels designs are introduced as well.

Though perhaps not as opinion-dividing as the previous Nissan Juke’s aesthetic, the Toyota C-HR certainly has a bolder approach to design than most conventional crossovers. We’ll let you make your own mind up whether that’s a good thing or not, but from our perspective, we’re quite taken by it.

What’s it like inside?

You may have picked up on a theme of changes being minimal but effective, and that continues into the C-HR’s cabin. It remains spacious up front, with an impressive deployment of premium-feel materials around the cabin. Build quality continues to be impressive too — with the sense that nice stuff is built to last.

Boot space hasn’t been altered with the new powertrain, remaining at 377 litres with all seats in place. That puts it well below the new Nissan Juke’s 422 litres — giving its key rival a leg up.

The main change inside the C-HR is the new infotainment system. It’s an updated version of Toyota’s existing set-up rather than a total overhaul. It’s certainly better than before, but we still think there’s room for improvement — its satellite navigation can be slow to react, responsive isn’t up with the best and it’s far from the most intuitive option on the market. The addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto presents alternatives, but we think it’s time for a ground-up rethink of the Toyota software.

What’s the spec like?

Pricing for the refreshed Toyota C-HR kicks off at £25,625. As standard, it’s offered with 17-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control, the firm’s new infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support out of the box and LED reflector headlights. There’s also Toyota’s Safety Sense package, bringing tech highlights like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, automatic high beams and automatic emergency braking.

We’re behind the wheel of the car in an equivalent spec to the UK’s limited-run Orange Edition. Only 500 units of this are slated to arrive on our shores and brings with it 18-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, keyless start, satellite navigation, blind spot monitoring, full LED headlights, a JBL audio system and that eye-catching orange paintwork among other goodies.

Though it’s certainly well-equipped in this spec, it does come in at £32,595 and is only offered on 2.0-litre engined cars. For our money, we’d look to drop to a lower-spec model.

Verdict

Tweaks to the new Toyota C-HR may be minor, but they each enhance the overall package without compromising too much.

Its new powertrain immediately stands out as the sweet-spot in the line-up, though its high price point will likely steer buyers toward the smaller-capacity unit. The model is showing its age though, with its boot capacity now outclassed since the car’s original 2016 introduction. More needs to be done infotainment-wise to keep up with the times as well.

With that in mind, however, the C-HR continues to be an effortless drive, exceptionally stylish and offer a lot of equipment.

Facts at a glance

Model: Toyota C-HR Orange Edition
Price: £32,595
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid
Power: (bhp) 184
Torque (Nm): 190Nm (engine) 202Nm (electric motor)
Max speed (mph): 112
0-60mph: 8.0
MPG: 49.6-54.3
Emissions (g/km): 92

Classic car owners could be helping towards a more sustainable future, according to a classics expert.

Mike Brewer, classic car expert and presenter of Wheeler Dealers, believes that owning a classic could be seen as the ‘ultimate in recycling’ and should be regarded as a way of preserving history for future generations to enjoy.

“We live in a world where everything is disposable, but every time I go and see a classic car and put it back on the road, I’m recycling”, said Brewer.

“Crucially, I think that the classic car world is doing far more good by recycling cars and keeping them on roads for generations to come.”

Classic car ownership brings with it a variety of bonuses to the potential buyer, with lower insurance rates and cheaper parts being two potential plus points, added the TV star.

Not only is owning a classic car helpful to the environment, but it boosts economies too, says Brewer.

“They generate loads of money for the economy by keeping tradespeople employed and businesses thriving,” he said.

“The owner of a classic car needs to fork out to keep it on the road. It’ll be at an age where it needs to be restored, repainted and have new steel put in it.”

Mike Brewer was speaking about classics ahead of the launch of his latest bookazine, The Ultimate Guide to Classic Cars, which will be unveiled at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC this weekend (November 8-10).

“I’ve loved cars all my life, especially cherished classics,” said Brewer, who has a Mini Cooper and a Citroen SM among his own collection.

“As a result, putting my Ultimate Guide to Classic Cars together has been a labour of love. Classic cars are something I’m so passionate about that the guide practically wrote itself. I hope my enthusiasm for the subject shines from its pages.”

The bookazine is also available to order online at the discounted price of £4.99 (usual price £6.99) from www.bit.ly/breweroffer.

What is it?

Pick-up trucks aren’t quite the institution in the UK that they are in Ford’s home in America. Out there, the F-Series trucks range from huge to ludicrously, unnecessarily, where-can-you-even-drive-it massive. However, here we get the Ranger, which is rugged enough to survive farm life and plenty big enough for our narrow streets.

In F-Series trucks, the Raptor badge denotes a whopping great V6 with sports car levels of power and chassis upgrades unseen this side of a rally car. Suitably ‘murica, then.

However, the newly introduced Ranger Raptor we get is rather more subdued under the bonnet, sporting a mid-powered diesel. ‘Subdued’ is a relative term, though, because it still stands out a mile here, amping up the standard car to 11.

What’s new?

This being a new model in the Ford Ranger line-up, pretty much everything you see is new, with the key upgrades being those that allow it to eat up any terrain at any speed. Perhaps the most important part is the new Fox Pro shock absorbers with position-sensitive damping, which smooth out the roughest roads and look fantastic in yellow, peaking out beneath the flared wheel arches.

Other kit that’ll aid your rally raids on the countryside include a terrain management system with six selectable drive modes to alter drive settings for different surfaces, front and rear ventilated brake discs and a front aluminium skid plate.

What’s under the bonnet?

The aforementioned diesel engine is a twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel unit that makes 210bhp and, more importantly for such a car, 500Nm of torque. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that’s been beefed up for the Raptor and gets new gearing.

As the performance figures suggest, this thing doesn’t exactly deliver blistering pace. What it does deliver, however, is muscular low-down torque that feels like nothing could slow it down. It’s perfect for off-road driving, dispatching steep inclines with as little fuss as if it was horizontal.

What’s it like to drive?

With chunky all-terrain tyres, those trick suspension dampers and four-wheel-drive, the Ranger Raptor is most at home adventuring where normal cars cannot. We took it green laning – which involves driving down unpaved routes in the countryside – and it was unflustered, even on the greasy clay surfaces of the South Downs. At any speeds, even when it gets bumpy, the suspension smooths the route out in carpet-like fashion.

Even when the going got particularly nerve-wracking, with sticky mud and deep puddles on a deeply rutted route, the brutish pick-up just kept ploughing through. As an aside, with mud kicked up and caking every panel, the Raptor looks fantastic.

Fortunately, out on the road, it doesn’t fall apart as you might expect an off-road focused vehicle to. It’s not the most refined at highway speeds, but road noise is surprisingly limited, meaning you can have conversations without raising your voice. It also refrains from lolloping about in corners, despite the soft suspension’s long travel.

How does it look?

Pick-up trucks have an inherent rugged cool to them, but the Raptor takes the idea and amplifies it to caricature levels – and the result is a fantastically OTT pick-up that definitely looks better the filthier it gets.

Styling changes over the standard Ranger include an F-150 Raptor-inspired grille, front bumper-mounted LED fog lights, durable sidestep boards, and chunky, flared wheel arches to accommodate the new tyres and suspension system. Our model was also fitted with optional Raptor graphics, which should be tacky, but somehow work here.

What’s it like inside?

The Ranger Raptor’s interior is a typical Ford affair, with customers coming to this model from the firm’s other cars or trucks likely to feel immediately at home.

For a workhorse model, Ford has bestowed a surprisingly plush interior upon the Raptor, with plenty of soft-touch materials and cosseting sports seats. The Blue Oval generally struggles to achieve a true premium feel, but here it works to give an air of justification to the circa-£50k price tag.

For a big truck, you might be surprised at the lack of everyday practicality, though. With the load bed cover items in the back are safe but chuck your weekly shop in there and you might find yourself clambering deep into the bed to retrieve loose vegetables after a drive through town. Therefore, the rear seats and footwell tend to play hosts to any cargo, which becomes problematic when you have passengers.

What’s the spec like?

The £47,874 price tag might seem a bit steep at first, but Ford goes some way to justify it with a hefty standard equipment list.

With regards to what’ll keep you out of trouble on the rough stuff, there are chunky all-terrain tyres, Fox Pro shock absorbers, aluminium skid plates, ventilated disc brakes front and rear, four off-road tow hooks, and selectable drive modes to optimise the electronics for the road surface.

Inside there’s a Raptor-specific suede trim with heated seats, leather steering wheel, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav, and a rear-view camera.

Other equipment of note includes bi-xenon headlights, rain sensitive windscreen wipers, privacy glass, a power converter and various collision avoidance systems. The only option added to our test car was the Raptor decal pack, costing £900.

Verdict

Truth be told, the standard Ranger could probably do 90 per cent of what the Raptor is capable of. However, it’s that extra 10 per cent that not only makes the pumped-up pick-up such an enticing prospect, but fully justified in its hefty price tag.

If you’re looking for something with more off road capabilities than you’ll ever likely need, which also looks great and packs plenty of creature comforts, the Ford Ranger Raptor is all the truck you could ever ask for. Just don’t expect blistering straight line performance from that diesel engine…

Motoring’s biggest story right now is the imminent merger of French car giant PSA Group and Italian-American behemoths Fiat Chrysler.

With terms agreed for a 50/50 merger to create one of the world’s biggest motoring firms, the likes of Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Maserati, Abarth and DS among others are all about to sit under the same giant umbrella.

That gives us huge scope for potential new models and interesting technological crossovers (of the sharing kind, not the pseudo-SUV, though those are likely too). We’ve come up with some cars we’d like to see from the new French-American-Italian alliance…

Abarth 208

Abarth’s 1.4-litre engine is one of the greatest things to come from FCA, and using that as the basis of Peugeot’s next hot hatch is an idea we can get behind.

The new 208 has immediately made an impact for its impressive looks, while early reviews say it has the chassis to cope with a lot more grunt. The perfect candidate for an Abarth makeover, Monza exhaust and all.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Hybrid4

Alfa Romeo has arguably the best looking saloon on the market in the Giulia, though it lacks on powertrain choice when compared with key competitors like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4.

That could quickly be rectified with access to PSA’s huge selection of powertrains, with its new Hybrid4 plug-in setup a strong contender. It pairs a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 13.2kWh electric motor, in total producing 296bhp and offering 32 miles of EV-only driving. Potent and efficient, what more can you ask for?

Alfa Romeo MiTo electric

With the supermini market ever-more competitive, the Alfa Romeo MiTo would likely struggle to make an impact on the market if FCA alone gave the model a second generation.

PSA has two strong contenders in the market in its portfolio — the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 — so draping those cars’ impressive underpinnings in a glorious Alfa Romeo design would surely be a hit. For extra kudos, an all-electric variant using the French giant’s tech would give it all the components for success.

Ram 1500 Aircross

FCA’s literally largest offerings come from RAM, which produces a range of trucks that are incredibly popular in the American market. We’re not saying these trucks aren’t already comfortable, but PSA could certainly add to it.

You see, the French firm currently has no market presence in the US — so the country hasn’t experienced the comforts of Citroen’s squishy Aircross models. We think taking the soft, yet well-judged suspension setup and extra comfy seats from the C5 Aircross and sticking them into a big RAM truck would be a great introduction.

Vauxhall Insignia Hellcat

If there’s one thing the Americans do particularly well, it’s putting massive, high horsepower engines into unassuming vehicles to create unlikely rivals for supercars… in a straight line at least.

This is perhaps best epitomised by the Hellcat series built by Dodge, which utilise a 707bhp V8 for truly tyre-shredding performance. This would prove perfect for Vauxhall to spice up its rather mundane range, giving the Insignia rep-mobile some much-needed fire under its bonnet.

Peugeot 5008 Quadrifoglio

Alfa Romeo might not be best known for its reliability, but if there’s one thing it does really well it’s making cars that driving enthusiasts love to get behind the wheel of. The Quadrifoglio versions of its Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV are considered up there with the best in their segment.

Despite looking great, though, the same can’t necessarily be said of Peugeot’s bigger cars. They’re some of the most stylish in the business but could do with a little more excitement. The 5008 would be a great match for Alfa’s performance platform – perfect for those families whose kids always make them late on the school run.

DS 7 GranLusso

Maserati is FCA’s luxury group, making it the perfect match for DS, which does the same job for PSA. Except, DS is probably more premium than luxury, so Maserati’s luxury-focused GranLusso trim would push the DS 7 Crossback into a whole new, more expensive segment.

The SUV would remain largely the same, but get more plush materials inside, bigger, sexier alloy wheels, and clever technology such as soft-closing doors.

New Fiat Punto

One of the key advantages for FCA Group is that it’ll have access to tried and tested vehicle platforms and powertrains across a wide range of mainstream vehicles that would allow it to expand its range without too much research and development.

Fiat could benefit hugely from this because its range currently consists of a million varieties of 500, a few Pandas and the Tipo. With the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa platforms, Fiat could reintroduce the popular Punto.

What is it?

Crossovers continue to be number one on the menu for UK buyers, and after making large strides in the MPV market before it, Renault has flipped its business into the crossover market looking for similar results.

With the larger Koleos and Kadjar receiving recent updates, the final piece of the brand’s SUV puzzle is getting an update, too. And here it is, the new Captur.

Sitting at the compact end of the market, the Captur comes with styling updates, an improved interior finish and brand new engines. But is that enough to boost the Captur’s popularity?

What’s new?

With this second generation version, Renault has refined the Captur’s design and it shares a lot of attributes with the new Clio. With the crossover sitting on the same platform as the smaller car, it also shares a near-identical front design – while the cockpit design also looks similar.

Renault has also added the option of a fully digital instrument display alongside the new 9.3-inch infotainment display – but that’ll cost you extra.

The model has been extended by 110mm – allowing for a useful 90-litre increase in boot space and additional interior space – while the new engines provided are more efficient. Renault is also adding a plug-in hybrid version in 2020, which will have 28 miles of pure electric range.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Captur is offered with a new range of five engines – three petrols and two diesels. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available throughout the line-up, with both the entry-level TCe 100 petrol and dCi 95 diesel paired exclusively with manual ‘boxes. Interestingly, this is the pick of the transmissions as the automatic simply isn’t good enough.

With the popularity of diesels falling, it’s likely that the petrol units will be favoured by buyers. Customers have the option of 99bhp, 129bhp and 153bhp engines – with the middle option already used in the Megane and Kadjar.

Of the petrol options, the base 99bhp unit can return a claimed 47.1mpg and 118g/km CO2 – but that can be trumped by both diesels. Renault claims that they can return 58.9mpg, with the entry 94bhp unit slightly cleaner in terms of CO2g/km – although there isn’t much difference between them.

What’s it like to drive?

On the road it’s remarkably firm, crashing over larger pot holes and failing to soak up even the most modest of bumps. It’s comfortable inside, with the decent seats giving plenty of support but the driving position feels a little cramped. The diesel engines are a little noisy while the automatic is poor – slow to shift and often wrapping itself in knots. Our pick would be a petrol engine with a manual gearbox – a combination few would have recommended a few years ago.

How does it look?

On the whole, little has changed from the previous generation – with Renault basically adding the front design of the new Clio and including LED headlights as standard on all models. But that’s not a bad thing, as the Captur does look smarter thanks to these changes.

Bold wheel arch extensions, C-shaped daytime running lights, chrome grille detailing and an overhauled rear-end design offer are the main highlights of the new model – with Renault also employing a floating roof effect.

What’s it like inside?

With the Clio introducing an all-new cockpit design, Renault has now added it onto the Captur – with the top-spec models featuring digital instrumentation on a 10-inch display and a 9.3-inch portrait infotainment screen. A seven-inch display is included as standard.

As Renault has lengthened the car, interior space has improved – allowing for more passenger and storage space. The boot has grown by 91 litres from 445 litres up to 536 litres, while the rear bench can be shifted to make for either extra legroom or loading space.

What’s the spec like?

The Captur is offered in three trim levels – Play, Iconic and S Edition – with entry level equipment up to a good standard for the £17,595 starting price.

Kit on Play models include LED headlights, automatic climate control, cruise control, a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, 17-inch alloy wheels and driver assistance systems, such as lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition.

Models in the Iconic guise feature rear parking sensors, a different set of 17-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paint work and roof bars – while the top-spec S Edition car comes with a reversing camera, front parking sensors, synthetic leather upholstery, a 9.3-inch infotainment screen, a seven-inch instrument cluster and diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Captur Iconic models start from £19,095, while the S Edition options have an initial cost of £20,595.

Verdict

While this end of the SUV market is pretty crowded, the new Captur has a decent stab at it. While it’s hard to recommend any of the current offerings in the relatively dull end of the market, for some a pumped up driving position and jacked-up looks are far more important than the better handling and overall package of a standard hatchback. If that sounds like you, the Renault is worth a look.



More than a third of drivers who use their cars for work or commuting call in sick for at least one day a year because of car-related back pain, new research has found.

The research, which was conducted by carmaker Volvo, discovered that out of a sample of 2,000 adults who drive to work or for work purposes, 35 per cent admitted to having taken at least one day off work in the past 12 months because of back pain caused by uncomfortable car seats.

Applied to the 22,032,000 motorists in the UK who drive for work or commuting, the scale of the problem sees the economy hit by losses of £8.8 billion each year in lost productivity.

In addition, one in 10 said that they had taken a full working week off because of back pain.

Not only that, but the research discovered that nearly one in five of those surveyed had swapped out their cars for a more comfortable model to combat back pain, therefore putting additional stress on fleet operators. One in three also had to visit their local GP or physiotherapist for back pain – costing the NHS £191.94 million in appointments and hospital visits.

Kristian Elvefors, managing director for Volvo Car UK, said: “Back pain from poor quality car seats costs the UK economy billions in lost productivity, but also adds pressure on fleet providers to ensure their cars are comfortable for all drivers.

“Finding a replacement vehicle at short notice isn’t easy and costs money. Volvo is committed to ensuring that all of its customers, regardless of shape or size, find the seats in their car incredibly comfortable and pain-free.”

According to the Swedish manufacturer’s research, 63 per cent of drivers prioritise seat comfort above everything else when it comes to cars. Also, one in 10 of those drivers surveyed said that they have had passengers refuse to ride in their car because of its uncomfortable seats.

More than half of British drivers wait more than two months before getting faults with their car fixed, a new survey has revealed.

A survey of 2,020 drivers revealed that not only do motorists put off repairs for two months, but also showed that over half couldn’t change a tyre if they needed to.

In fact, 14 per cent of those questioned only fix faults when it’s urgent, while more than a quarter don’t know how to check the oil. Of the MOT tests taken this year, one third were fails while one in 10 was because of dangerous faults.

And yet, despite motorists agreeing that repair costs could be cheaper if addressed earlier, UK drivers spend £574.50 a year on repairs.

Lucy Davies at Green Flag, who commissioned the survey, commented: “Green Flag would like to help educate drivers on the importance of consistent and timely vehicle maintenance.

“Regular car inspection, maintenance and repair will ensure that future repair costs are minimised, hence we encourage all UK drivers not to underestimate the importance of proper car care”.

Green Flag says that each week, drivers should be alert to signs that a car isn’t running as smoothly as normal and listen out for if the engine turns over more slowly than usual when started – this could be a sign of a battery nearing the end of its life.

In addition, tyres should be checked each week for any cuts, damage or reduction in pressure.

People who smoke in their cars could be knocking up to £2,000 off the sell-on value, according to vehicle valuation experts.

HPI says that many smokers are unaware of the smell and physical damage to the interior that smoking can cause, putting off future owners.

It also suggests that giving the car a deep clean can cost up to £150, but doesn’t guarantee the smell will be gone. In some cases, the smoke can work its way deep into the fabric, requiring a complete retrim to fix.

Furthermore, repairing marks, stains and cigarette burns that may have appeared can knock profits further down.

Fernando Garcia, consumer director at HPI, said: “Smoking in cars is bad news as far as re-sale health is concerned. The first thing a car dealer will do when looking at a car being sold by a smoker is knock down the price of the part exchange.

“A car for part-ex has to be made fit for re-sale and this becomes considerably more difficult and expensive when that car was previously driven by a smoker.

“There is often no obvious visual damage, but the smell of smoke is a major problem for motor dealers. Smoke becomes ingrained in the fabric of the car and climate control system, requiring a professional valet and a specialist tools to clean the air conditioning.”

As the winter months approach, it’s often best practice to shield a classic car away from the elements. Gritters, increased rainfall and less-than-pristine road surfaces can all play havoc with a classic, ruining fragile parts and damaging bodywork.

It’s why most classic car drivers put their pride and joy into hibernation over winter. However, what do you need to do beforehand – and during – to ensure that your car is left without damage during its deep sleep, and awakes in the spring as right as rain? Read on…

Give it a wash

This step is a reasonably obvious one. Giving your car a thorough clean will ensure that any contaminants on the bodywork or in the cabin will be removed, and therefore won’t be left to fester after the car is put away.

Even when a car is stored, any dampness left behind can eat into bodywork and components – so make sure that it’s thoroughly dried off before you put it away.

Find a proper place to store it

Again, a pretty obvious step. You’ve got to make sure that you have a proper place to store your car over the winter, be that a garage, lock-up or large shed – and anything in between. The most important factors are that it is watertight, dust-free (as much as possible) and void of damp, too.

You can also find inflatable car storage ‘bubbles’ which circulate treated air inside, effectively isolating the car from any outside fluctuations it humidity or temperature.

Disconnect the battery and equip a trickle charger

If you don’t disconnect the battery, it’ll eventually run out of charge and the car won’t start. Sure, you can just ‘jump it’ to get it started, but if the battery is left too long without charge it’s bad for its health.

By disconnecting the battery from the car and connecting a trickle charger, you can ensure that some charge is constantly put into the battery and slowly discharged, keeping the elements within it healthy. That means when it comes to starting your car up in the warmer months, not only will it start the first time, the battery will be in good health.

Pump up the tyres, or jack the car up

Keeping your tyres in good condition is really important. Not only are they the only point of contact with the road and therefore the first point of concern for safety, but flat spots can also create a really annoying rattle as you drive along.

And that’s exactly what you’ll get if you leave your car in the garage for months and don’t take care of its rubber boots. Leave the car standing and the weight of the car on the ground will flatten the contact point.

To avoid this, either put the car up on jacks or pump the tyres up to a higher pressure.

Check fluids

After a long summer of driving, it’s probable the fluid levels in your classic need a check over to ensure they’re all optimal and ready for next year.

Check the car’s oil to see if it’s in a healthy condition, there is a good amount — too little or too much can result in components seizing. Have a look to see if brake fluids and coolants are at good levels too, while it’s also worth topping up the windscreen washer reservoir.

Car cover

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Huge thanks to @classicadditions and @andrewduncanparker for the fantastic service and help with this cover for the P1. Should have got one years ago! #Carcover #ClassicAdditions

A post shared by Ted’s Car Valeting (@car_photographs) on Mar 31, 2018 at 1:38pm PDT

Once you’re done with the pre-storage cleaning, checks and other TLC bits, it’s time to put your classic away for the winter. We’d recommend storing it in a garage if possible, though whether inside or out, it’s always worth putting a car cover over it.

This will keep the bodywork away from the elements — working to prevent damage to the paintwork, and aid in protecting from corrosion. Car covers come in all different shapes and sizes, so it shouldn’t be a problem finding the right one for your car.