Test Drives - Page 2 of 4

The 5 Most Expensive Cars To Insure

Car insurance is a necessary expense for those of us who drive. What a statement. You are probably thinking, wow, what an obvious thing to say. Cars tend to be a never ending burden on our wallets. From the monthly payments, gas and maintenance, to the dreaded car insurance.

However, for those of us that consider our cars prized possessions, it can really get expensive when we start talking about adding family members, insuring multiple cars, drivers under the age of 21 or 25 but we can really start talking about big bucks, when we involve the type of car we are insuring and trust me, that flashy sports car is really going to cost you.

The Countdown

Now the average American driver isn’t out cruising around in a Lamborghini or Ferrari, but for those lucky few it doesn’t come cheap. Using national averages, we have conjured a list of the top five most expensive cars to insure in the US:

5. Mercedes G55 AMG costs an average of approximately $3000 a year to insure.

4. Porsche 911 Carerra S Coupe costs an average of approximately $3100 a year to insure.

3. Aston Martin DB9 costs an average of approximately $3200 a year to insure.

2. BMW 750Li costs an average of approximately $3300 a year to insure.

And last but certainly not least our number one spot of most expensive car to insure in the United States is:

1. Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG costing an average of approximately $3600 a year to insure.

Now the average cost to insure any of the vehicles above, assumes the insurance covers an individual, experienced driver with a fantastic record. Imagine the cost if you add your 18 year old son to the insurance plan! Continue reading →

Mitsubishi ASX drive test. Fighter jet!

Mitsubishi ASX is a bold move from the Japanese manufacturer in the crossover segment, and after Outlander’s success, it’s presence on this segment was mandatory, especially in the face of such as Nissan Qashqai and co.

We’ve tested the European version fitted with the 1.6 litre 115 PS gas engine, and were surprised by this little SUV destined to be liked by youngsters and small families. The three main points to like? Exterior design, handling and modularity. The three main points not to like? Plastic quality, smallish engine and extremely annoying beeps coming from the car when you start the engine without having put your safety belt in advance.

This having been said, let’s tackle them in order in our Mitsubishi ASX test drive review:

Design 8/10: it really looks like a fighter jet on steroids. Its frontal part seems to be taken directly from the superb Lancer and is so mean that other cars in the fast lane are in a hurry to make way for you. For those looking for the most striking car in the segment: here it is! It’s a pity that the interior doesn’t catch on the exterior and is the usual somber ‘look at me I’m soo serious’ black on black that we usually get from Mitsubishi.

Quality 7/10: the interior materials on the Invite level are hard plastics on the doors combined with somehow softer plastics over the dashboard, durable textiles on the chairs and high-quality plastics on the door handles and central console. If you manage to get the Intense or Instyle packages the leather provided is of good quality but the overall feeling of sturdiness remains. It’s a well-assembled car, but without any refinement. Continue reading →

A Successful Vehicle Transport Business Depends on Solid Revenue

Cars are great for driving long distance and for commuting, but everyone, from an individual to a car broker, eventually needs to have a vehicle transported from one destination to another. In some cases it can be a regional job, and in others the transfer could involve a trip clear across the country. Whatever the case, car transport serves a purpose and useful one for many.

For truck transporter drivers, the jobs can be very lucrative and rewarding, both financially and as a chance to travel and see more of a country by road. That said, a lot depends on making sure that the truck used is maintained well and the car transferred is protected and kept from harm.

The Core Element of a Successful Transporter Venture

Having the means to maintain a truck and the equipment to transfer a car properly depends heavily on keeping a steady stream of jobs and demand going. That comes from fostering good relationships with repeat customers like car collectors, car dealers and personal property moving companies. Smart transporters are always marketing their services as well, whether it be with business cards and flyers or by phone and referrals. The wider a net is cast, the more possible connections and customers can be had.

Maintenance and Equipment

With a steady stream of business revenue established, maintaining a truck properly is key to holding onto business and delivering services. The running truck needs to be considered a top priority since, without it, the transport business won’t happen, period. That means investing the money and repairs when needed, changing tires and oil on time, and maintaining adequate insurance coverage in case of an accident. Continue reading →

What to do if your car fails an MOT test

Many people assume that if your car fails an MOT you have to get it repaired right away with that particular garage that tested your car but you actually have a few options available. We will start by going back to the beginning and looking at when you booked your MOT.

You are allowed to get your car MOT tested up to a month prior to the current MOT expiry date, the new MOT will also be matched to the same date as the current expiry date so you gain additional time on your MOT certificate. The system has now changed making everything computerised so you don’t need any of your old certificates although they are beneficial to keep for when you come to sell the car, you can find more information about an MOT from gov.uk here.

You may have already known about the month period that you can get your car tested which means you know there is no need to panic if your car fails its MOT. Unless your car is really bad and the MOT tester reports it as not roadworthy then you can still drive your car until the MOT expiration date. This allows you to look elsewhere to get the repair work done for a better price, you can then return to the MOT testing station to claim your free re-test. Continue reading →

How Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems Can Help You Save Money

Maintaining the right tyre pressure might not feature among the important tasks in your busy schedule, but are you aware of the ‘price’ you are paying for this?

10% to 50% of tyre tread life is lost when air pressure is not adequately maintained. This means more frequent and expensive tyre replacements. Besides, driving on underinflated tyres brings down fuel efficiency.

Maintaining the right tyre pressure saves fuel and money and increases tyre life as well. More importantly, failure to maintain adequate tyre pressure gravely increases chances of accidents due to tyre blowouts.

How to Maintain the Right Tyre Pressure to Stay Safe and Save Money

This depends on two factors

An awareness of factors affecting tyre pressure

Factors that affect tyre pressure include the quality of driving, driving surface and seasonal changes. Sometimes a screw, a nail or any sharp object on the road might perforate the tyre, causing the air pressure to drop. In winter, usually the air pressure goes down one or two pounds per month, in summers the rate of air loss is much higher.

A Mechanism which indicates low tyre pressure

Such a mechanism is called the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System or TPMS. By alerting you to low tyre pressure, so that you can remedy the issue at once, TPMS systems help you save money. This article looks at different types of TPMS systems and how they work. Continue reading →