Category: Cars

Stopping distances and tyre wear

Written by Declan
Many of us are aware that stopping distances can be affected by many things such as the weather, tyre wear and tyre pressures but yet you may not realise exactly how much tyre condition can affect the time it takes your vehicle to stop. The law states that tyres must have at least 1.6mm of tread in a continuous band around the centre three quarters of the tyre, anything below this is classed as illegal and can cost you a fine and three points on your license per tyre. Although this is what the laws states, many mechanics and tyre fitters stress that really tyres should be replaced when they reach 3mm of tread. A new tyre starts off with 8mm of tread but once it gets to 3mm of...
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Passenger airbags

Written by Declan
Passenger airbags were first introduced into vehicles in the 1970’s in the USA and in the 80’s in the UK. Passenger airbags have proven to save lives and increase the safety for a passenger if you are involved in an accident. For some situations, you should turn the passenger airbags off such as if using a rearward facing car seat on the front passenger seat. This is because if the airbag is activated it can cause the car seat to be pushed up and into the back of the seat which can be fatal. Some cars are fitted with an airbag deactivation switch allowing you to turn the airbag on and off depending on which passengers you are carrying but many vehicles need to be taken into a dealership to...
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Preparing your car for sale

Written by Declan
If you have a second hand car that you wish to sell then there are a few things that you should do before advertising it to try and ensure that you get the most money for it. It surprises me how many people put up pictures of a vehicle they have for sale that has not been cleaned. It maybe that some people will see beyond the surface dirt but for others, this could be enough to put them off immediately without even bothering to read through the rest of your advert. Before you picture your car give it a good once over clean and polish ideally, and do not forget the interior. For as little as a pound you can buy a product called back to black that is...
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Hire car for free?

Written by Declan
If you have a car accident that isn’t your fault, did you know that you may be entitled to a hire car for at no cost. Many insurance companies will only offer you a courtesy car which is usually a very small car but if you have an upgraded policy then you may be entitled to a like for like car. If you have not chosen this option there are still ways in which you can get a like for like car without having to fork out on renting one. An accident management company will be able to arrange to get your car repaired and also supply you with a like for like car if you are involved in an accident that isn’t your fault. If the other person has...
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Buying a new car

Written by Declan
It can be very exciting buying a new car from a dealership. You can usually go and have a look round and test a few of them to get the feel for what you want prior to buying it. The beauty of buying a new car is that you have the peace of mind of a warranty and many manufactures are now extending this well over the three years. When you arrive at the garage, allow yourself some time to have a look around before you get in to a discussion with a sales person. They can be very helpful but you may feel a little under pressure if they are there initially. Once you have had a look round, then speak to one of the sales people and ask...
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