Auto-Sleepers for sale

Perhaps you’ve seen some advertisements for pre-used Auto-Sleepers for sale and are wondering whether this route is for you.

Let’s look objectively at some of the pros and cons associated with purchasing used as opposed to new Auto-Sleepers motorhomes.

Cost savings

For many people, this is a prime motivator when looking for used Auto-Sleepers motorhomes.

It’s an understandable assumption that there might potentially be some interesting savings over purchasing one new.

The good news is, that’s correct! There are some potentially excellent deals out there on Auto-Sleepers vehicles that are in good used condition. Continue reading “Auto-Sleepers for sale” →

If you have always liked the idea of driving an SUV, but been scared away by the purchase price or running costs, now could be the perfect time to get over your fears and collect the car you’ve always dreamed of.

For one thing, advances in engine technology mean that they are no longer the gas-guzzling behemoths they once were, destroying your bank balance as rapidly as the planet with their unquenchable thirst. These days, the modern, efficient and cleaner diesel engines are capable of at least 50mpg, something that would have seemed impossible a decade ago.

But it is not just the running costs that are reduced. These are expensive motor cars, yet shop around and you can lease an Evoque or a BMW X3 for less money than you believed possible. Of course, there are other benefits to a lease deal beyond financial convenience. Choose the right package, and you can have all your servicing costs taken care of, too.

With the finances all under control, that only leaves one question to be answered – which of these iconic SUVs will you choose to park on your driveway? Let’s put them side by side and take a look. Continue reading “Choosing a Luxury SUV” →

How to Improve your Journey by Using Great Apps

There are so many of us these days that carry Smartphones with us everywhere and it means that we are able to use all sorts of apps that can help our lives to be easier. Some may help us to keep in touch with people others give us information and some entertain us. This means that there is almost something for everyone and for every situation.

YourParkingSpace has done some research into the various driving apps, which can help journeys to be more pleasurable. They may improve efficiency and speed of travel as well which can be really useful. They looked at apps designed for drivers but also at those they thought would be useful for passengers as well. A summary of the apps that they found follows below.

Apps for Drivers:

WAZE

Waze is traffic app which is updated by people on the road. This means that is continuously updated with information about accidents, hazards and congestion on the roads. The app uses this information to give the driver the quickest possible route to their destination. There is also the option to compare fuel prices so that they know where to fill up to save money. The app community keep it up to date, not only improving travel information but also the maps. They even make improvements to the user interface based on feedback from the users. There are millions of people using the app and sharing information proving drivers with the most up to date routes. Continue reading “How to Improve your Journey by Using Great Apps” →

Which type of Car Leasing is Right for You?

Whether you’ve just passed your test or you’re simply looking to upgrade your wheels, the good news is that financing a car doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. There are plenty of different options out there, to suit all budgets. Of course, you can always take out a loan to pay for a car, but sometimes, leasing is much more cost-effective. However, it can be difficult to know which type of leasing is best suited to your needs, so here’s everything you need to know.

Personal Contract Hire

With personal contract hire, you pay a fixed monthly amount that is based on the anticipated depreciation value of the car – this is the difference between the price of purchase and the resale value at the end of the contract. PCH is best suited to people who want to drive a brand new car every few years, but are not bothered about owning the vehicle. With a PCH agreement, you simply hand back the car. Payments are always fixed and you can even include a maintenance package to cover the cost of servicing and minor repairs. You will have to agree to a fixed mileage though, and the fees can be costly if you exceed it. You should always make sure that you lease from a trusted company, such as All Car Leasing.

Pros: Hassle free, lower monthly costs

Cons: You will never own the car and you can’t make any modifications to it.

Who it suits best: Someone who wants to always drive a new car, and isn’t fussed about owning the vehicle.

Personal Contract Purchase

A PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement gives you more choice at the end of the contract. Instead of simply handing the car back, you have the option to buy it for what is known as a balloon payment, which is the minimum future guaranteed value agreed at the start of the contract. With PCP agreements, you’ll always pay a deposit and then low monthly payments, which can make driving an expensive car more attainable. At the end of the contract, you have three choices – hand the car back, buy it with the balloon payment or part-exchange it. You could also extend the finance.

Pros: Flexibility, low costs.

Cons: Can be one of the more expensive methods of buying a car if you choose to pay the balloon payment at the end of the contract.

Who it suits best: People who are indecisive.

Hire Purchase – Those who can’t afford a dream car but want to own it outright

Hire purchase is an easy way to finance a car. You will pay a deposit, followed by monthly payments, and once you have met the full cost of the car, you take ownership. The finance company calculates the cost of the car based on the price of the car, the amount you pay as a deposit and the amount of instalments. The loan is always secured against the car, which can make it easier to get finance, but the monthly payments are higher than other methods of leasing. The car can’t be sold and might be re-possessed if you fall behind on the payments.

Pros: You can drive a car you can’t afford to buy outright, but be safe in the knowledge that you will own it eventually.

Cons: You can end up paying high interest rates, so it’s best to shop around before you commit.

Who it suits best: People who are sure about their dream car but can’t afford to buy it outright.

What happens at the end of the contract?

You will be contacted by the leasing company to arrange a convenient day for the car to be collected. The mileage will be checked, as will the condition of the car. This is so that the company can ensure you haven’t gone over your mileage limit, and you haven’t damaged the car beyond ‘fair wear and tear’ – if you have done either of these things, you may need to pay a small fee.

The Low Down on UK Road Laws

Van Monster have research all of the most recent road laws including some statistics in relation to them. It is worth checking them to make sure that you do not get caught out by any of them.

Rule 148: Drivers in England and Wales must not smoke or allow anyone to smoke when in an enclosed private vehicle should someone under 18 be on board. This carries a £50 fine, but as of 29^th June 2016 no fines had been issued although there were verbal warnings giving to some drivers.

Rule 90: Any health condition likely to affect your driving must be reported to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The fine for this is £1,000 and you could be prosecuted. However, among drivers over the age of 65 three in ten drivers have medical conditions which should be reported and have not. Continue reading “The Low Down on UK Road Laws” →

What will the Future hold for our Car Technology?

Whenever a new car comes out there seems to be some new technology that it has. Whether it is to make it easier to drive, safer or more efficient, there are many rapid changes going on. There is set to be even more changes in the future and some of these possibilities are discussed below.

YourParkingSpace took a look at the new technologies that are just in their initial stages to see what might come onto the car market in the future and an infographic has been put together in order to demonstrate this. With driverless cars and Internet connected vehicles the possibilities are very exciting but there could be a lot more changes than just these. Continue reading “What will the Future hold for our Car Technology?” →

How to keep your car running for as long as possible

Cars are very expensive investments and are subject to wear and tear in their normal usage. For the sake of your finances it is important to keep a car running for as long as possible before buying a new one. This is not difficult to do by following some simple guidelines.

Invest in a Great Car

The very first thing that it is important to do if trying to maintain a car for as long as possible is to invest in a great car to begin with. This will involve shopping around and researching which types of cars are the most prone to repairs and which types of cars are generally trustworthy and reliable.

It may also help to talk to owners of such cars and find their own personal experiences. Internet forums are a great place to find out about any problems that can affect a particular model. Do not neglect to ask the advice of car experts – they will be able to give advice on which cars will be more prone to breaking down or needing parts replacing.

Many makes and models of cars have specific weak areas that are prone to damage or wear and tear. Owners clubs online hold a great wealth of information about such problems and will allow any car owner to prevent such problems on their own cars. Even if prevention is not always possible, it still helps to be prepared and anticipate the cost of repairs to any particular part.

At this stage it is important to choose a car based on its reliability and not on its looks. When looking for a car that is easy to maintain for a long period of time looks should not generally be a major consideration.

Keep up with Servicing and Maintenance

Many new cars will come with a servicing schedule and guidelines on when to replace certain parts of the engine or other parts of the car. In order to keep a car in great working order and running for as long as possible it is advisable to stick very rigidly to the owner’s manual and its suggestions on servicing and replacement of parts. Continue reading “How to keep your car running for as long as possible” →