Find a car to suit your lifestyle

Carmony.co.uk on the Chris Evans show.

Earlier this week Carmony got a call form the lovely Rebecca Pike (Foxy) from BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show, asking if we would like to be interviewed in the innovation slot. Obviously we didn't need any time to think of our answer and the next thing you know we are planning trip.

Carmony was to feature on a special show which was dedicated to motoring, a show that was taking place in the New Forest at the stunning Chewton Glenn luxury country hotel and spa. Last November Chris Evans helped raise money for the charity Children In Need with the Children In Need Drive Time Dine and Disco with added Fabulous Ferrari Tour. This week the runners and riders got to live out their dreams and drive one of Chris Evans wonderful cars.

Friday afternoon traffic is never wonderful, so allowing plenty of time I set off just after lunch - hoping to arrive early to explore the hotel and get a good look at the luxury cars. I set off in the pouring rain and could hardly see a thing on the motorway; once past Birmingham the sun came out along with the traffic jams and the accidents. I needed to arrive by 18.00 at the latest, ready for my slot at 18.30. Google Maps had kindly informed me it would take 4 hours and 22 minutes, they clearly had not accounted for everyone else doing the trip and for 50% of those doing the trip on the country roads to be doing so in a tractor. Six hours later and with 10 minutes to spare I arrived, with Rebecca chasing me on the phone.

I was whisked up to the Radio 2 suite introduced to the team and we all stood and watched Andy Murray miss out on the Wimbledon final, if only I was a tennis fan! The teams from the fabulous Ferrari Tour had clearly been having a wonderful time, and who wouldn't given the cars they had to drive. One by one they got their 15 minutes of fame on the radio, waxing lyrical about their day, and a few shout out to their friends and family. Then it was my turn, I was led out to the balcony given headphones and a mic and repeated in my head carmony, carmony, carmony and tried to remember not to swear.

The interview was over in what seemed like seconds and I was sure I had got across the key messages. I remember telling Rebecca about the Lifestyle search allowing you to search by need and I even managed to squeeze in a reference to the running cost data which we provide on the site, along with a few name checks for the site. All in all I was pleased with the performance, and my Mum rang to say I was good so I must have been!!

You can hear the show by clicking here . If you don't want to listen to the award winning DJ Chris Evans and you only want to get to the Carmony.co.uk slot - you need to fast forward to about 1 hour 40 into the show.

Should we ban smoking in cars if kids are onboard?

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health are calling for a ban on smoking in cars whilst children are passengers.

They argue that the UK falls behind many countries in terms of protection for children. Parts of Canada, Australia and the US have already banned smoking in cars if you are travelling with a child. Smoking has already been made extinct in an office environment and in pubs, in order to protect other adults, yet we can still smoke freely on the school run.

With many drivers seeing their car as an extension of their home they will no doubt feel that the 'nanny state' is taking a step too far. Opponents will also have major concerns as to how this will be policed.

We have talked before about the issues relating to smoking in cars and resell value, a more pressing concern is obviously a child's health and welfare.

What did this guy invent?

He invented an object which has been seen in cars for over 50 years. The item is not essential, but it is instantly recognisable.

The inventor is Julius Sämann, who back in 1952 invented those lovely scented trees that have hung from countless rear view mirrors: The Magic Tree.

It was also rumored that he invented silly string, but this seems to be a misunderstanding. To invent a tree which is magic is one thing, but string which is silly as well that is just too much for one person.

Petrol to hit £1.15 per litre

Petrol prices have been steadily climbing over the past few weeks, and it looks like they could surge to £1.15 per litre before the end of summer. Diesel will climb also, with the figure £1.26 being likely.

The price hike is largely down to the city speculators forcing up the price of crude oil, as they gamble on its future value.

The current average price for Petrol is over a £1 per litre and is hitting motorists, who have already had the impact of the fuel tax rise and the increase in road tax.

Research is now showing that the increase in fuel prices is forcing drivers to use their cars much less, to help control spending. The study by AA/Populus, found that a quarter of the 15,000 drivers surveyed are using their cars less.

It is important to think about all the costs associated with a car when purchasing a car. The asking price for a vehicle should not be the only criteria you think about. At Carmony we display all cars with running costs. These running costs include: road tax, estimated service maintenance and repair costs, plus details on fuel expenditure (for which mileage can be dictated). This is to help you make a much more informed choice when deciding which approved car to purchase.

Lefties - we are not alone

In total 74 countries drive on the left hand side of the road. So if you are thinking of driving abroad this summer and are worried about tackling a roundabout in the wrong direction, then you may want to travel to one of the countries listed below. I appreciate some look more inviting than others, but if you fancy two weeks in Zimbabwe fair play to you.


Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bophuthatswana
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Channel Islands
Ciskei
Cyprus
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Grenada
Guyana
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Lesotho
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
New Zealand
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Seychelles
Sikkim
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St Kitts & Nevis
St. Helena
St. Lucia
Surinam
Swaziland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Uganda
United Kingdom
US Virgin Islands
Venda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Do you listen to football in the car

Will you be listening to the match tonight whilst driving home in the car? If so then you might want to think again - we are not in the game of predicting the score so this is not a warning that your team will lose.



A study by some research bods at the University of Leicester warns that listening to the match whilst driving can be a dangerous distraction. Their study found that more than two million motorists have had an accident or near-miss while driving and listening to the footie.

It appears that football fans, get as emotional in their cars as they do in the stadium stands. Tests carried out for the study showed casual listeners drove at a consistent pace throughout matches. Whilst, the football fans had a driving style that varied considerably and was sometimes erratic, particularly as the match progressed.

The researchers say if you enjoy football and get emotional and distracted, I recommend you pull over and listen to the match

Are you a flasher?

According to the Highway Code:

Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

So when I flash my headlights to tell another user to go whilst at a crossroads, am I breaking the law? If so, is this something the police would pull me over for? I am not sure I know anyone or have seen anyone who actually uses this as a warning. Unless I have been reading this incorrectly and annoying drivers up and down the country.

Another misuse of car equipment is the car horn.

The Highway Code details:

The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn while stationary on the road or when driving in a built up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am, except when another vehicle poses a danger.

Obviously these laws do not apply to taxi drivers or buses

Family Car

Car drivers with families are becoming increasingly more aware of the need for improved vehicle safety. When looking for a family car, choosing the right vehicle means that there are essential requirements that need to rank higher on the list of priorities.

However, this does not necessarily mean that a family car with better car safety is not going to be sexy, sporty or a real head turner?

Safety

Car Safety is a must for every car driver. Just how safe cars are, is a subject that requires a great deal of consideration when looking for a family car. In fact, since September 2006, ISOFIX standard child car seats have moved towards the top of the list of priorities for car drivers with children, in terms of child car safety.

The Which report is a fantastic source of information on this topic - and these guys are completely impartial.

Entertainment

As the comfort of the family car is moving much closer to the comfort of being at home, keeping the children entertained on journeys is becoming another key consideration when buying a family car. Many parents will have spent journeys playing games like I-Spy or spot the different colour cars - or maybe you will have played game like portable connect 4.

However, children today are much more demanding and want to have the latest in car entertainment available to them - and although they will happily sit in the back with their iPod on - they would much prefer to watch the adventures of Buzz Lightyear, or play the latest PlayStation game. This is a great way to keep the little ones occupied - and often bigger ones too.

Space

Driving with the family can mean anything from journeys to the seaside to dropping them off at one of their many activities - which at times makes you think they have a better social life than you. Space therefore becomes of particular importance, whether how to fit everyone inside the car or to how to make sure you can get the child buggy in the boot.

We have developed the lifestyle search to help you resolve this. Simply enter the number of seats you require, together with the items you will need to put in your boot. We will then show you the contenders that best match your requirements.

Carmony's ad's

Carmony has a poster campaign across the UK. Hope you like it.

For those who want to choose an approved car from a list of needs which includes colour:



If speed is more your thing, then tell Carmony how fast you want it to be



You may simply want to choose by size and therefore may find our browse by model search useful or alternatively tells us the number of people you need your car to carry using our lifestyle search



Your first concern may be how green your vehicle will be, perhaps for environmental concerns or maybe to find a more fuel efficient car and save you cash.

Is it time to go topless?

First, apologies for the dreadful pun in the headline. However it seems to have caught your eye.

Over the Easter weekend we have started to see the hint of a blue sky, a moment of sunshine and that means thoughts turn to taking the roof down on the car. For those who already own a convertible you will know the joy of driving along with the wind blowing around you. For those who do not have the pleasure of driving one of these cars, you may find yourself looking with envy as these cars go by in the summer, comforting yourself with the thought that it will no doubt rain soon.

For those in the market for a convertible, you will find a long list of cars available. Narrowing your list to convertable still leaves many choices for the car buyer. Looking for a car on Carmony we can help you narrow your search, making sure you are seeing the right cars for you.

Choosing the option 'browse by model type', will lead you to sports cars. This category includes convertibles, you can search by model type and narrow your search using the filter on the left hand side.

Another search option is 'lifestyle' if you want a blue or black convetible choose that, if you want it to be speedy tell us, how many people do you need room for? Answer three questions then see what Carmony have to match your needs. Again use the filter on the left to narrow you search.

So what are you waiting for, summer won't last forever you know. I might not last until June!

A selection of covertible cars currently available on Carmony:

Porsche Boxter £24,995, 29,000 miles

BMW Z4 £18,495, 4,436 miles

VW Beetle Cabriolet £8,990, 25,635 miles