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  • Ask What Car? ? live Q&A

     What Car? will host its latest live lunchtime Q&A session on Tuesday, August 10, between 1-2pm.

    Join us here on whatcar.com, where our experts will be on hand to answer any car buying questions you have.


    Whether you're looking for advice on buying a new or used car, or have some other motoring-related issue that you'd like to try and resolve, our team of experts will be on hand to help out.



    How will it work?
    Simply log on from 1pm, submit your question and we'll get through as many as we can.


    This week's experts
    Answering your questions will be the following What Car? team members:
    • Iain Reid: whatcar.com producer
    • Jim Holder: What Car? magazine editor
    • Peter Lawton: whatcar.com deputy editor
    • Matt Sanger: What Car? used car editor
    • Ivan Aistrop: What Car? road tester


    Depending on how many questions we get we might not be able to answer them all, and some issues might be too involved to clear up in the limited time we have available.

    Set the date
    Make sure you don't miss the opportunity to put your questions direct to the What Car? team by entering your e-mail address in the box on the right ? and you'll get a reminder sent direct to your inbox before the Q&A session starts.

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...



  • Petrol prices to soar

     Petrol prices will go up this month, and are set to soar next year, it was predicted today.

    Record-high forecast
    The Retail Motor Industry, which represents around two-thirds of the UK's petrol stations, said petrol prices could rocket to an all-time high of 125.9p-a-litre next year.

    The perfect storm for prices
    The planned increases in fuel duty in October and January, and the 2.5% VAT increase in January are to blame for the long-term increase in prices, while the rise in the cost of crude oil and fluctuating exchange rates could result in a 4p increase in fuel by September.

    Brian Madderson, RMI Chairman Petrol, said: 'A crude oil price increase will feed through the supply chain and could result in prices going up by as much as 4p-a-litre in the next three weeks.

    'We also need to remember that the new Government did not cancel Labour's Budget commitment to raising fuel duty by 1p-a-litre from October 1 and a further 0.76p from January 1, with both having VAT added.

    'Then we have the coalition's emergency Budget proposal to increase VAT to 20% from January 4, so the outlook remains extremely difficult for motorists and retailers alike. We could see new record pump prices within six months.'

    Beat the price rises
    Fuel prices might be on the up, but that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do to limit the effect on your wallet. Have a look at these money-saving features.

    Petrol or diesel
    Could you save money by switching your fuel from petrol to diesel ? or even vice-versa? Have a look at our petrol vs diesel calculator.
    Petrol or diesel calculator



    Green driving tips
    Cut your bills by following our green driving tips. Simple actions could save you a significant amount of cash.
    Green driving tips




    Get interactive with whatcar.com...



  • Top cop: 'Don't turn off speed cameras'

     The UK's top traffic policeman has told the Government that switching off speed cameras will lead to more people being killed on our roads.

    The Government has pledged to end funding for fixed speed cameras, and Oxfordshire council has confirmed it will switch off its 72 speed cameras to save money.

    Top cop warns of increased fatalities
    However, chief constable Mick Gianassi, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on roads policing, claims there will be a rise in fatal road accidents as councils axe speed cameras because they can't afford to operate them.

    'The evidence is that road safety camera partnerships have resulted in significant reductions in road casualties over the past decade,' said Gianassi. 'There are almost half the number of casualties that there were eight years ago.

    'There is clear evidence that the public accept speed cameras. We recognise that we have to save money, we recognise that road safety has to play a part of that, but these cuts are a particular threat to the sustainability of the system.

    'I am working with the Government to persuade them that action needs to be taken to protect the system and the future of our road safety'

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...




  • Skoda Roomster driven

     The recently refreshed Skoda Roomster is a bit like the motoring equivalent of a loft conversion.

    It?s just a little longer than the Fabia supermini it?s based on, but that elevated roofline and big side windows makes the cabin feel much bigger and airier.

    Whether there are two or three grown-ups in the back ? or two child seats ? there?s plenty of space for all and the Varioflex seat system makes the Roomster more versatile than most family cars: the seats can fold, tumble forward, slide back and forth or be taken out altogether. The middle seat can also be removed and then the two remaining seats pushed inwards for a bit more elbowroom. There?s plenty of space for odds and ends too, while the 450-litre boot will easily swallow the entire contents of the kids? toy cupboard.

    Not just for kids
    The grown ups will be happy, too. For starters, the interior now looks and feels better, with the dashboard in particular getting some nicer, soft-touch plastics.
    The new engine line-up includes three 1.2 petrol engines and two 1.6 diesels, so the Roomster is now cheaper to run than before. You can also add a DSG automatic gearbox to the most powerful petrol.

    We drove the 1.2 TSI 105 with the semi-automatic DSG ?box, and the 1.6 TDI 90 with manual change. Both have enough power to whizz the Roomster past slower cars or lorries, but the diesel is noisier than the petrol model and it vibrates a bit more, too. The DSG gearbox can be a bit slow to react, especially when you?re pulling away, and the manual ?box is a bit clunky, but you can easily live with either.

    It?s the same with refinement: there?s a rumble of road noise on rougher roads, and the door mirrors whip up a bit of wind noise, but you won?t need to raise your voice too much to be heard over it.

    What Car? says:
    Cheap, cheerful MPV that?s good family transport



  • Which celebs work for car makers?

     Victoria Beckham has landed a job at Land Rover working on the new Evoque and Everest-conquering climber Bonita Norris is the face of the Nissan Juke.

    Do you know which other celebrities have tied in with car manufacturers?

    Try our quiz to see how many real pairings you can spot and how many fictitious partnerships we've invented.


    How to play
    Just look at the pairings, below, decide if they're for real then click for the answer.



    DI Burnside (from The Bill) and Fiat


    Click here

    for the answer




    Craig Phillips (from Big Brother 1) and Mitsubishi


    Click here

    for the answer



    The England Cricket Team and Jaguar


    Click here

    for the answer



    Tom Cruise and Bugatti


    Click here

    for the answer



    Ricky Hatton and Subaru


    Click here

    for the answer



    Jodie Kidd and Maserati


    Click here

    for the answer



    Wayne Rooney and Mercedes-Benz


    Click here

    for the answer



    Justin Timberlake and Audi


    Click here

    for the answer



    Stephanie Twell and Citroen


    Click here

    for the answer



    Get interactive with whatcar.com...






  • What Car? video blog: Matt on matt

     What Car?'s Matt Sanger takes a practical look at the latest trend in car colours, matt black.































  • Drug driving kits by 2012

     Kits to test if drivers have been using drugs could be available to police forces by the end of the year.

    The kits, dubbed drugalysers, would mean officers no longer have to get a doctor's permission to take a blood test to gather evidence that could be used in court.

    Drugalysers within 'months'
    Road safety minister Mike Penning has revealed that drugalysers could be installed at every police station by 2012, but that the first test devices could be in use within months.

    'It is vital that the police have the tools they need to tackle those who drive while impaired by drugs,' said Penning.

    'This selfish minority show a flagrant disregard, not only for their own lives, but for the safety of others and we are determined to tackle this menace.

    'That is why we are taking urgent steps to make drug screening technology available as soon as possible.'

    Roadside test on the way
    The first versions of the kits are expected to be ready in September, and will initially be for use in police stations. The Government has put £300,000 towards designing a device that could be used at the roadside.

    Julie Townsend, campaigns director for road safety charity Brake, said: 'The introduction of drugalysers is long-overdue. However, we need to go further than just introducing testing kits in police stations.

    'In other countries, screening devices are used at the roadside to catch drug-drivers; we need to be moving urgently towards this type of screening in the UK. We also desperately need to close the loophole on drug-driving by making it an offence to drive with illegal drugs in your body, so police don't have to prove impairment.'

    Drink-drive figures fall
    Provisional statistics on accidents reported to the police involving drinking and driving in Britain in 2009, show that fatalities have fallen by 5% to 380, from 400 in 2008. It is the first time drink-drive fatalities have fallen below 400 a year.

    Seriously injured casualties fell by 9% from 1620 in 2008 to 1480 in 2009; slight casualties resulting from drink-drive accidents fell by 8% from 12,990 in 2008 to 11,990 in 2009.

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...




  • Tyre test on video

     Cheap rubber might be easy on your wallet, but is it really worth the saving? We tested a selection of budget tyres against three premium brands to find out.

    Pop in to your local tyre fitter and you?ll have the choice of dozens of brands. Some will be expensive ? up to £100 each, including fitting, for a basic Ford Focus or VW Golf ? while others seem a snip at half the price.

    There can?t be that much difference in performance, can there?

    We pitted three premium tyres against three budget alternatives in a series of braking tests, and the results were shocking.

    In the wet, the budget tyres took an average of 14 metres ? the length of an articulated lorry ? longer than the premium tyres to pull up from 70mph.

    Watch the video
    See our video of the test, then click below to read the full feature explaining why buying budget tyres could cost you dear?


















    Read the full feature here ? Tyre test - why budget tyres could kill




  • Best and worst? family cars

     Family cars lead tough lives ? they need to cope with the kids and eat up the miles of the weekly commute.

    With demands such as these, you'll need to know which cars are up to job ? and those that can't take the heat of family life.

    The best of the best
    Mazda 6


    Our favourite family car is the Mazda 6. It?s fun to drive, well-priced and well-equipped.

    There?s plenty of room inside the 6 and the simple seat-folding mechanism is an extra bonus, which off-sets the fact that some of the interior might not look as snappy and appealing as the exterior.

    While it might not be the quietest contender, as an all-round package it?s still a top performer and highly dependable.

    What Car? pick of the Mazda 6 range - 2.2D 163 TS



    The best of the rest
    Ford Mondeo


    Next up is one of the best-known names in motoring ? the Ford Mondeo. You might dismiss it as too obvious a choice, but you?d be missing out if you did.

    Superb handling ability is matched by a composed, quiet ride that makes the Ford a true all-rounder.

    It?s also a big car, so you won?t want for space inside, and build quality is durable.

    What Car? pick of the Ford Mondeo range - 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec



    Skoda Superb


    A car with this name certainly has a lot to live up to, and the Skoda doesn?t disappoint.

    The sumptuous materials, plentiful equipment and impressive build quality might make you think you?re in an executive car, but the prices won?t.

    Get in the back and you could be in a luxury car ? there?s an amazing amount of legroom ? while the boot is huge. There also the bonus of a clever, combined hatch/bootlid.

    What Car? pick of the Skoda Superb range - 1.4 TSI S



    Volkswagen Passat


    The Passat is an incredibly comfortable mile-muncher, so if you spend a lot of time on the motorway, it could be ideal.

    There?s not as much room as in the Skoda Superb, but the Passat certainly isn?t pokey, and it's well-equipped, too.

    It?s not a bad-looking car from the outside, although some of the plastics in the cabin feel a bit on the cheap side.

    What Car? pick of the Volkswagen Passat range - 2.0 TDI CR 140 S



    Toyota Avensis


    You won?t buy an Avensis to look flash, but beauty is only skin deep, and the Toyota?s talents go way beyond that.

    Reliability is king, while all of the materials in the cabin are top-notch and the controls operate smoothly.

    It?s easy to drive, comfortable to travel in, and now comes with the peace-of-mind of a five-year warranty.

    What Car? pick of the Toyota Avensis range - 2.0 D-4D TR Nav



    The not-so-hot
    There are no one-star family cars, but the Kia Magentis is the only car to get just two stars. The replacement for the Magentis arrives at the Paris motor show at the end of September and will go on sale in the UK early in 2011.

    It should continue to offer lots of equipment and space for the money, but hopefully it will also take a stride forward in terms of the driving experience and quality.

    Renault?s three-star Laguna is next. It certainly looks pretty stylish and is well-equipped, but the ride is harsh and the resale values could make you wince.

    The Vauxhall Insignia is stylish and comes loaded with creature comforts, safety equipment and cutting-edge features, but refinement is just okay, while the steering doesn?t make for a fun time at the wheel. However, the Insignia now comes with a free lifetime warranty (for the first owner ? the second will have to pay).

    The B-Class from Mercedes-Benz has lots of space and can cruise nicely on the motorway. It?s expensive, though, and, again, the way it drives won?t light your fire.

    Our final three-star family car is the Peugeot 407, which is about to be replaced by a car that will closely follow the ?5? concept seen at this year's Geneva motor show. We?re keen to see if Peugeot has improved the poor ride and seat comfort of the outgoing model.

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...




What Car? News Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:19:00 GMT

Vehicle Signs - Vehicle Signs
...unity. If people don`t know who you are and what services you provide how are you going to conjure up repeat business in the future? Word of mouth is ok but this will only bring you so much business...
Visit Vehicle Signs...

Wedding Cars Aylesbury - Wedding Cars Aylesbury
...The bride will have been preparing for this day for months and she`ll want every element to be just perfect for her wedding. From the choice of wedding cake supplier to the supplier for the wedding c...
Visit Wedding Cars Aylesbury...

Roof Bars - Roof Bars
...t another car recently and it came with roof bars for free. The car wasn`t new, we can`t stretch our finances that far, but it`s a decent second hand number. With one owner from new and free roof ba...
Visit Roof Bars...

Clifford Car Alarms - Clifford Car Alarms
...rd is a recognized company that has maintained its position for the last 20 years as a leader in innovation when it comes to security systems for vehicles. The company knows the value of security meas...
Visit Clifford Car Alarms...

Van Roof Bars - Van Roof Bars
...hod of transport that`s been used over many decades by workers such as couriers and craftsmen, police and postal workers, florists and fence erectors, sales and security men. Vehicles such as these c...
Visit Van Roof Bars...

Airport Taxi Wiltshire - Airport Taxi Wiltshire
...haven`t seen the sun al year but that is all behind me now. I am going to Egypt where the weather is lovely at all times of year. I have just finished packing for the trip and all I have left to do ...
Visit Airport Taxi Wiltshire...

Grab Hire Lorry - Grab Hire Lorry
...here`s new works under way near our local railway station and each day I pass a fleet of tipper grab trucks that are hard at work. It seems that the work is being carried out in preparation for the e...
Visit Grab Hire Lorry...

Mobile Catering Units - Mobile Catering Units
...t to suit their individual needs. Whether you`re catering for schools, industrial sites or fayres and carnivals.Alot of people of there own ideas in mind to what they want there trailer to look like o...
Visit Mobile Catering Units...

Car Valeting Brighton - Car Valeting Brighton
...always that easy over the winter months. The salt and grit that`s left on the road makes it impossible for the car to be kept clean all of the time, plus it can be freezing trying to wash the car whe...
Visit Car Valeting Brighton...

Car Recovery Watford - Car Recovery Watford
...mpany as it can be used as a phrase when searching on line. I believe it is essential that every driver should be registered with a car recovery company and this does not mean that you have to splash ...
Visit Car Recovery Watford...

Bmw Car Service - Bmw Car Service
... a main dealer BMW workshop for a service and the labour costs alone will leave your eyes watering. Book a bmw car service through a mobile car mechanic and you`ll find their prices are far cheaper. ...
Visit Bmw Car Service...

Car Repair Watford - Car Repair Watford
...travel around in. Some folks might rely on their cars to get to work in whilst others need them to transport the kids to and from school. As necessities go, cars can be expensive, not only to buy but...
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Chip Tuning - Chip Tuning
...r engines tuned to the manufacturer`s specification but that doesn`t mean to say they have to stay like that for long. Each engine can undergo a process called chip tuning which changes the engine`s ...
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Audi Roof Boxes - Audi Roof Boxes
...rted offering a computerized control system for its cars called ?Multimedia Interface`. This comes essentially with a rotating control knob designed to control radio, satellite navigation, TV, heating...
Visit Audi Roof Boxes...

Scrap My Car - Scrap My Car
...entre isn`t good. Your Fiesta has failed miserably and it will cost you a fortune to have the work carried out on the car if you want to get it throughout its test this year. Is it worth it? No it`s...
Visit Scrap My Car...

Towbars - Towbars
...nty of these towbars in use during the summer holidays or on bank holiday weekends. The motorways and A and B roads are packed with caravans that are being taken to seaside camp sites. Speed boats or ...
Visit Towbars...

Airport Transfer Somerset - Airport Transfer Somerset
... transfer somerset as I have a friend coming from Canada in the next couple of weeks who I have not seen for many years. I am so looking forward to seeing her, I really can`t wait. The reason I need...
Visit Airport Transfer Somerset...

Car Valeting Newhaven - Car Valeting Newhaven
... it is a place where there are a lot of firms offering the service of valeting. car valeting Newhavenseems to do very well but there is specialist equipment involved in the process. Everyone who wan...
Visit Car Valeting Newhaven...

Used Catering Trailers - Used Catering Trailers
...ng trailers does not mean you have to compromise on style ,quality or finish .All used catering trailers are serviced in fine detail to a high standard and can be presented to suit your individual ne...
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Luxury Coach Hire - Luxury Coach Hire
...venues? If you have to drive yourself and your team from one venue to another you`ll be wasting valuable time that could be put to better use. Business travelers could benefit by utilising other for...
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Selling My Car For Scrap - Selling My Car For Scrap
...There comes a point in life when cars start to cost their owners serious amounts of money and it could be wiser to invest in a newer vehicle. Old and dilapidated vehicles might not be road worthy any...
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Westfalia - Westfalia
...he web that sell many makes of tow bars ,to give you a wide choice. Having a good choice under one roof will make sure you get the correct one for your car or van and it will be reliable for the load ...
Visit Westfalia...

Car Alarms - Car Alarms
... and they`ll want to stop any harm from coming to them. People lavish large amounts of money making their cars look stunning so they`ll need to protect them with car alarms. Vehicles that have car a...
Visit Car Alarms...

Diesel Cards - Diesel Cards
... company that took on projects all around the country. We were issued with company vans that ran on diesel and we could clock up 40,000 miles a year with ease. Regular trips to service stations to fi...
Visit Diesel Cards...

Electric Bike - Electric Bike
...nd plenty of folks are thinking about the impact their carbon footprint is having on the planet. What steps can we take as nation to reduce harmful emissions whilst being a little kinder to the envir...
Visit Electric Bike...

Parking Enforcement - Parking Enforcement
...ur store should use the spaces because they plan on visiting your business. It`d be pretty cheeky if people parked their cars outside your business and then headed off into the distance. What right ...
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Cheap Diesel - Cheap Diesel
...heap diesel and petrol? Especially in today`s times when we are constantly seeing fuel prices increase before our very eyes with some of the changes being daily! You can now make diesel and petrol pur...
Visit Cheap Diesel...

Electric Moped - Electric Moped
...sport to get you to and from work but does it meet with your green credentials? Having looked at various types of transport for the daily commute you thought the moped would be the best option. Yet,...
Visit Electric Moped...

Zafira Parts - Zafira Parts
...nt and, although I have had it for a really long time, it has always been a really good car for me and totally reliable. In the last couple of months, however, more and more things have started to go...
Visit Zafira Parts...

Vauxhall Spare - Vauxhall Spare
... the London borough of Lambeth. Founded by Alexander Wilson in 1857, Vauxhall motors is a UK car company and is a subsidiary of General Motors. Having a partnership with Opel in Germany it manufacture...
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Van Roof Rack - Van Roof Rack
...ught for work. Since setting up my own business three years ago I have had a Renault van, it was a lot smaller then the one I have now and I had regular problems with it, which then caused me great di...
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Rhino Roof Bars - Rhino Roof Bars
...no roof bars might be of benefit that will attach to the van`s roof. A versatile set of rhino roof bars can happily facilitate ladders as well as other longer pieces of equipment. They`ll keep items...
Visit Rhino Roof Bars...

Airport Transfers Aylesbury - Airport Transfers Aylesbury
...lt for a well respected client as they jet into an airport on company business. They should be met at the airport by an experienced chauffeur who can escort their passenger to a luxury vehicle. It g...
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Thule Roof Racks - Thule Roof Racks
...d a van. Every time you go camping it`s the same old story and each time you chastise yourself for not investing in a roof rack. In the bad old days roof racks tended to be pretty basic but today`s ...
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Visit ...

Ecu Remapping - Ecu Remapping
...ase in power can be seen. You might love your Lamborghini but want to boost the power of the engine slightly. That beautiful Bentley might look the part but it could leave you desiring more BHP on t...
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Muck Away - Muck Away
...s and local authorities can all be in need of a muck away service at some point. They don`t` always have the facilities or the machinery to shift large mounds of dirt and when they need to carry out...
Visit Muck Away...

Coach Hire - Coach Hire
...provides coach hire for different types of events and people. She really enjoys her job as she says that there is a lot more to coach hire than one would initially expect. For example, she said she ...
Visit Coach Hire...

Vinyl Lettering - Vinyl Lettering
...ith vinyl lettering upon them. It used to be just vans that had lettering upon them but company cars now have graphics upon them as well. You can`t blame companies for trying to promote their busine...
Visit Vinyl Lettering...

Cheap Car Servicing - Cheap Car Servicing
... to sound like my dad now but I can remember the days when you could get a full service for 60 quid. My goodness, if only those days were still with us because the last time I took my motor for a ful...
Visit Cheap Car Servicing...

Parking Solutions - Parking Solutions
...et a mate for a coffee at a place in town and I decided to use this little outdoor car park that I tend to use from time to time. Running a bit late I realised that I didn`t have enough change and lo...
Visit Parking Solutions...

Snow Chains - Snow Chains
...n going skiing abroad this year will be a decent set of snow chains. The chains are intended to use on roads that are covered in snow and should not be used on roads are snow free. The purpose of the...
Visit Snow Chains...


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