Why are we so conscious of the car we drive

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Whilst motorists in other countries do attach importance to the type of car they drive, in the UK the car appears to be of far more importance, even in some cases more important that the type of house someone lives in. Britain sells on average 2,500,000 cars per year and the contract hire and leasing industry has been built as a result of the British motorist acquiring a new car with such frequency.

So why have our motoring habits changed so much from say the 1950’s, when everything one bought was built to last? Whether it was a fridge, oven or motorcar, it was expected to last if not a lifetime, certainly 20 years or more, it changed subtly and the public didn’t realize that they were slowly but surely being drawn into consumerism.

In the 50’s cars were sturdy and definitely built to last. Unlike today, very heavy gauge steel was used in the body panels; it took quite an impact to dent a car panel. Head on collisions were best avoided. The cars were heavy; there was very little give in the panels.

People in England didn’t travel much in the 1950’s but they heard told of the American throw away culture and it all appeared quite disgraceful, buying products knowing that they would not last, indeed not wanting them to last, so they could acquire a newer version.

It didn’t take long however before the British found themselves going down the same road; seeking out the more modern and newer designs of just about everything. Slowly but surely we followed the American consumer in wanting newer and more modern, in preference to durability. All this seemed to reach a peak in the late1980’s when something more than a year or two old, seemed to be viewed as a relic. Many motorists today choose a 2-year contract hire term rather than 3 even when all the indications are that a 3-year contract hire term is more appropriate for their circumstances.

During the last war the British learned to repair things if they went wrong and this culture continued long after the war; many motorists used to maintain their own cars, cars had the potential to last forever. A toolbox in the boot of the car was considered an essential item for many motorists. The better off would use the AA or RAC who would patrol on motorcycles and sidecars. When they spotted a member who would have an AA or RAC badge on their grill, they would salute. Nowadays heath and safety would have something to say about them taking the hand off the handlebars to salute. So how did they call the breakdown service if their car went wrong? Strategically placed at the roadside were boxes with a telephone inside, so that the motorist could phone for help. But of course only those who were members could use them; they would have a key to open the box, how the world has changed.

After years of building cars to last, it dawned on the manufacturers that this might not be the best way to sell more cars. Why would someone go out and buy a new car after three years when their existing car was still the latest model ten years after buying it and it was running perfectly, perfectly that is for those days. Mechanical breakdowns were very commonplace; a typical Sunday when families went out for a drive, would see the roadsides strewn with cars with steam pouring from under the raised bonnet.

The 50’s saw the launch of Ford’s Mark 2 Zephyr which followed the American design style but of course was a much smaller version of the typical American car. Vauxhall introduced the Cresta, it’s style was very American right down to its white wall tyres and tail fins and it appeared to be a copy of the Packard. Two-tone paintwork was introduced with this model, which was popular. Class was not the first word that came to mind when describing this car but there were no shortage of buyers.

It also had the effect of making the cars around it, which were mainly black in colour look rather dull. The body panels of these new American style cars were thinner than they had previously been manufacturing.

A new style vehicle registration plate was launched in 1963 the last digit was the letter A. It was 60 years after number plates were first issued in Britain in1903. At first the new registration plate was only issued in certain parts of the country, but it wasn’t long before it became nationwide.

It looked rather odd at first, then some motorists decided they quite liked the idea of showing everyone that they had a brand new car. So they bought a new car and proudly drove around in their smart A registered car but, in what seemed like no time at all, the B registration was introduced and then they weren’t so proud and this was the start of the “latest registration” trap that many motorists found themselves in.

This system changed in 1967 when the E registration came out in January but only lasted seven months and was then replaced by the F registration. August was set as the new month for vehicle registrations, which must have been a bit frustrating for the motorist that bought a new car in January 1967 thinking that he was going to have the latest registration plate for the next twelve months.

Manufacturers discovered that with the number plate changing each year and more frequent model changes, motorists who otherwise would have stuck with their car, where being persuaded to change them. The new registration date wasn’t ideal, the 1st of August was chaos; everybody wanted their new car delivered on that day. Although in those days most motorists were expected to turn up at the dealership to collect their new car, rather than have it delivered.

During the 90’s it was reported that new cars were being stockpiled in various remote parts of the country, in old farm buildings, aircraft hangers and fields. This was done in preference to manufacturers cutting production levels. Apparently this resulted in some motorists buying a new car to get the latest registration plate, and yet getting an older car than the one they were disposing off.

During the Thatcher years of the 1980’s, people appeared to fall further into the trap of having to have the newest and latest of everything and cars were certainly no exception. People felt under pressure and some motorists found that it was a lot easier to just buy a personalised number plate and avoid being judged for not having the latest registration plate, or at least until there was a model change.

Always one step ahead the manufacturers started to bring out facelift models: This involved making small but noticeable changes to the design. This was a lot less expensive than introducing a new model and still had the desired effect; making those who had the pre facelift model, feel that their car was getting old.

September 2001 saw the next change to way registration plates were laid out;, showing the month and the year of registration. An example of the new plate would be GL 52 FGD. The idea being that it would ease some of the pressure from manufacturers and dealers of having to deliver such large numbers of vehicles in August. Perhaps also making people less aware of the number plate, well perhaps but contract hire and leasing companies say they find it very difficult to get anyone to take delivery of a car in February and August.

The Manufacturers found other ways to discourage motorists from holding onto their cars for too long; engines are no longer straightforward, very few problems can be solved without diagnostics. Very often special tools are needed to do the simplest of jobs and even checking the gearbox oil levels often cannot be done without diagnostic equipment from the manufacturer.

These changes are pushing the small motor mechanic out of business and the owner of a particular marque towards the main dealership to have work done. This is making second hand cars more expensive to maintain and is a factor in people changing their cars, once they are outside the manufacturer’s warranty.

Another consequence of this change is that the life span of second hand cars will become shorter, when owners discover that they cannot work on their own cars. As maintenance costs go up, cars will be scrapped sooner. This is what the manufacturers would like to happen, because it is an essential part of the cycle, for there to be buyers of the second hand cars coming onto the market, when they are replaced by new cars.

There will however always be some smaller workshops that specialise in a particular marque such as BMW; they will have the tools and the diagnostic equipment and will survive after other small garages have gone out of business. Their charges reflect the fact that they have had to invest in special tools and diagnostic equipment but they are nevertheless, less expensive than the main dealership.

Once a vehicle is outside its warranty, it can certainly be worth considering a specialist garage. Sometimes it means travelling to find the nearest one but the savings can make travelling worth while. The marque they have chosen to specialise in is generally the cars they love, so they are often real enthusiasts and still know how to repair, rather than just replace items.

Complicated electronics in cars today is another example of how manufacturers have cleverly pushed the motorist into changing their car more frequently. Motorists are, with justification, fearful of having electronic problems with their car once the warranty has expired.

Certain manufacturer’s vehicles have become increasingly unreliable and many motorists fear having one of those electronic faults that in spite of all the diagnostic equipment, the dealership cant seem to cure and dealerships charge you for diagnostic time, as much time as is necessary to find the fault.

It occurs to many motorists whose cars that are outside the warranty, that they could find themselves in the situation where they have such a fault that nobody seems to be able to cure. Although they often cost in the order of 1,000 per annum or more, at least you have peace of mind if you take out the manufacturer’s warranty.

There are many people who would like to be less conscious of the car they are driving and not be led into buying the latest model and having the newest registration plate. However they are unlikely change unless everyone else does. But everyone else isn’t going to change, human nature is what it is; cars are very important to many motorists’ image and self esteem.

The motor industry has been very smart in the way they have changed how we buy cars; It is now quite unusual for someone to chose a 4 year term when taking a car on contract hire .Gradually they have changed our perception of what is an old car from 15 to20 years to 5 or 6 years old, without us noticing it was happening.

Should you have any queries or questions with regard to Fleet Management, Licence checking Contract Hire, Personal Contract Hire, Lease Purchase or vehicle Hire Purchase, please do not hesitate to contact us. Bowater Price plc 01494 536 536. www.bowaterprice.com.

How to Shop for Utah Auto Insurance

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The bills and expenses from damages to property and from medical bills are usually extremely expensive. Because day to day commutes increase your chances in being in one of these expensive accidents, it is vital that you are under the protection of Utah auto insurance. Because it is so important, many of advanced countries such as the United States and others have mandated insurance.

Auto insurance in the most common type of insurance, and is the type of insurance used to insure automobiles. If you have auto insurance and you are at fault in an accident, the insurance will cover the expenses up to the amount you have bought. It is important to have these policies to protect yourself against the costs of being liable for huge sums of money.

It is paramount that you have insurance coverage for each vehicle you have. You can and must insure all trucks, cars, vans, and motorcycles that you own and operate. The coverage limits are very flexible, and you should decide how much coverage you need and can afford.

There are a lot of different ways and methods to insure your vehicles, and this effects different damage claims. Because of this it is important that each person understands and can compare and contrast the different proposals offered by each companies. You must have this in mind while shopping for insurance.

Previous to making a decision on what company you go with, decide what type of coverage you need. Make sure these numbers are constant while shopping through companies or the prices you see will not reflect which one is really cheaper for what you want. While shopping online or over the phone, make sure the limits you want are what they is quoting you.

Many companies can give specific discounts to customers. Make sure you supply the companies with all the information you can, because companies offer big discounts for things such as being a good student and having a clean driving record. These discounts can greatly affect the bottom line.

It is wise to have an insurance broker help you in looking for insurance for a number of reasons. Because they work with many different companies, they can do the shopping for you, and choose between a lot of companies which would be the best and cheapest for you. Other companies offer to show you the rates of their competitors, but they often do it in a matter which unfairly represents the other companies. You can be assured that the brokers will get you the best deal available.

How to find Utah Auto Insurance Quotes

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Utah auto insurance quotes can be found all over the web or by working with an agent. It’s very easy to find the most affordable ones if you consider all your alternatives.

One of the best methods is the internet. You can research a variety of companies and come up with a solid range of quotes to choose from. You can match up your findings until you come across the finest one

It’s a painless process! All that is required of you is fill out a form that gives you quote results through e-mail in seconds.

Agents are also beneficial and they have their advantageous. They are very skilled and educated. He or She is someone you can confide in. They are qualified to find what you need.

Once you build a bond with an agent they accommodate to your needs on a different level than the computer can. He or She weighs all the options, and finds a quote that fits you.

The agents are still there to give you guidance if needed, even if you already purchased your plan. They can help you with any confusion and contact your insurance company. There services and knowledge can help you extremely.

The internet or the agent is smart way to find the best policy out there. There is no point in paying more for insurance if you don’t have to.

Rental Cars in Ontario: Understanding Late Fees

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Ontario car rentals are much the same as those elsewhere in that, if you fail to return the vehicle at the correct time, you’ll be charged extra. While this can be frustrating if you were stuck in traffic and didn’t make it back to the rental company within the specified time frame, it’s pretty much a universal rule.

When renting a vehicle in Ontario, it’s a good idea to know what the late fees will be. Every car rentals service will differ in price, so it’s always a good idea to get the details from them before you even leave the lot. However, there are some reasonable similarities that will give you the gist of late fees in Ontario.

What to Expect for Late Fees

There are generally two main types of late fees. The first begins from the time you were supposed to return the car and continues until you actually return it. Lately, these prices have gone up quite a bit, meaning that if you are more than a couple of hours late, it’s actually cheaper to take the day rate instead. The usual late fee is around 2/3 of the daily rate, but is charged per hour. For example, a car that costs $55 per day will cost you $30 or so per hour that you keep it past the return time.

The second type of late fee is far more onerous. Rather than just charge you for the hours you are late, these fees are retroactive. So you will end up paying $30 per hour for the ENTIRE time you had the vehicle, from the first pickup. It’s very important to check with the company on their late returns policy before signing anything, as this will all be in the contract.

Why Charge Late Fees?

Despite the fact that it seems quite unfair to the consumer to charge late fees, rental companies have a reason for doing this. Often, only a few select vehicles are rented from any given location. That means that the car you`ve rented is probably rented out to someone else shortly after you return it. The company will need time to clean the vehicle and inspect it for damage before it can be handed over to the new driver and they allow for this time.

However, imagine that you return the car three hours late. The anxious customer has been waiting for half an hour for his car and now it’s just arrived. The employees must rush to inspect and clean the vehicle before they can give it to the now irate client. It’s very possible that they will lose business this way, hence the higher rates.

Car rentals in Ontario are no different from those elsewhere. They need to be earning money and late returns cost them. However, many rental companies still have a grace period that extends anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour past the necessary return time.

Avoiding Late Fees

There are a few ways to avoid late fees when renting a vehicle in Ontario. - Plan for an extra half hour in case of traffic. - Don’t forget to plan for filling up the gas tank. - Call ahead if you’re going to be late and let them know . . . sometimes you can waive the late fee. - Forget the grace period. Even if there is one, plan to return on time. - Have the clerk update your pickup time if you arrive late, otherwise you`ll return the vehicle at the same time and still be considered late.

Car rentals can be tricky if you don’t pay attention. There is no need to pay late fees if you stay on top of things and plan accordingly.