Cut your costs and your carbon

I spend more each month on fuel than I do on food, and that includes going out for meals. Sadly I don't get nearly the same satisfaction from a full tank of petrol as I do from a beautiful meal.

The costs associated with motoring are important to most drivers. Filling up, road tax together with service and maintenance all add up and leave many drivers frustrated.

So what can we do to cut our costs and at the same time lower our carbon emissions? The obvious place to start is the car you choose to drive. If you want to ride around in a 4X4, then which is the best option in its class? Carmony.co.uk include green ratings on cars displayed, which help you to easily see the green credentials of the vehicle. We also display running costs for a vehicle, so when choosing a car you can determine which cars on your short list will cost you more or less to run.

Once you have decided on your car - you should spend some time thinking about how you care for it and how you drive it. This will help you to keep your costs down throughout the time of ownership.

Reducing the amount of fuel you burn, will have a huge impact on your monthly outgoings, leaving you with cash to spend on items you will get a lot more enjoyment out of.

Make sure your tyres are pumped.
Close your windows.
Drive smoother.
Swith off your engine.
Choose the right gear.
Drive Less.
Slow Down.
and sweat

For more details on each of these tips click here

Oil spillage aisle 4

Last week the discount supermarket announced they would begin selling discounted cars in Germany. Over the past few years we have seen supermarkets offer so much more than their original grocery offerings. Tesco etal had the accusing finger pointed at them when Woolworth's closed down, as they begin to offer wider and wider ranges of goods.

Would you buy your next car from a shelf stacker at your local store? In my local supermarket it is hard to find someone who knows what a courgette looks like - so lets not start discussing the MPG of the cars on my shortlist.

I think this is harder for Lidl to do with such a big ticket item. I am happy to get a deal on my milk and bread, but not sure that I have the faith to spend a few grand with them. In the UK the Co-op, Tesco and Sainsbury's have all entered the car dealer market, all choosing to operate under different names or with partners but with similar brand values.

Do we want the added stress of supermarket shopping added to the stress of buying a new car?



Just think of the nectar points!

DIY Car Repairs

A report out today suggests that a large number of drivers are repairing their own cars, instead of choosing 'expensive' car servicing. The report is almost identical to one released in America on March 4th, which could either mean the UK and the states are following suit or some PR person has spotted an opportunity. We love that the customer in the BBC film seems to have his own garage with a ramp.

Many drivers have chosen to replace simple things such as oil, water or even a wind screen wiper. This is probably as far as most people get these days. Flip open your bonnet and all you see is a one huge mold of an engine, leaving most people clueless as to how to start fixing a problem. The car manufacturers will also advise you not to tamper with things you don't fully understand, as you could end up doing more damage than good.

F1 goes remote control

A very clever viral from the people at Vodaphone - could be very dangerous if we all chose to operate our cars in this way, although it may help for the times when you have lost your car in the supermarket car park. You just have to hope you don't mislay your phone. Also not sure what happens if you receive a call during your driving, as suppose the same rule applies - only use the phone if its hands free, and certainly no texting whilst driving.


enjoy

A few jokes, as it's Comic Relief today

A few car jokes to hopefully get you in the mood for Comic Relief today.

Joke 1

A policeman pulled alongside a speeding car on the motorway, glancing into the car, he was astounded to see that the lady who was driving was knitting.

Realising that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and the siren, the policeman wound down his window, turned on his loudspeaker and yelled, "Pull over!"

"No", the lady yelled back, "It's a scarf!"

Joke 2:

I was recently riding with a friend of mine.

We were coming to a red light, and he shoots right through it. I ask him, "Why'd you do that?" He tells me this is how his brother drives.

We come to another red light, and again, he shoots right through it. I ask him, "Why'd you do that?" Again, he tells me this is how his brother drives.

We come to a green light, and he SLAMS on the brakes. My heart nearly goes into my throat. I shouted at him, "Why do you do that?!"

He replied, "You never know, my brother could be coming the other way."

Joke 3

A blonde takes her broken car to be repaired at her local garage, fearing a large bill.
But luckly within two minutes the mechanic has it up and running normally "It was nothin serious love, just crap in the air filter"

She Replies "Brilliant, thank you. How often do i have to do that then?"

Joke 4

A man is enjoying a drive along an amazing, bendy, country road when a woman dressed in tweed driving an old muddy 4x4 comes hurtling round a corner.

He moves over to avoid her, but as she passes she leans out the window and screams "PIG!"

Astonished, the man turns and yells abuse back at her

As he rounds the bend he crashes into a pig.

And finally...Joke 5

Policeman: I stopped you because you were doing over fifty miles an hour.

Motorist: That's impossible, I've been driving for less than an hour.

We apologise for these jokes and pray that Comic Relief will be much better!

Great Car Ads

Car adverts on TV are rightly viewed as some of the finest adverts on television. Car manufacturers go all out to grab your attention and out do each other. Recent years have seen anything from dancing robots (Citroen C4) to the live Honda Skydive which was appointment TV.

However this has not always been the case. Here are some gems which you may remember, perhaps they are before your time or maybe you managed to wipe them from your memory.

Peugeot 305




From America a Mitsubishi ad with a jingle we know you will love:


Ford Cortina Advert from the 80's


Another winner, this time from Vauxhall with the Cavalier


And Finally an advert for the Nova


What are your favourites?