Car Buying, Selling, Care & Safety

The Volkswagen Golf R with improved fuel efficiency

Posted in buy new car, car, car news, car pictures, Ford car, VW by Priyanka Dalvi on September 16, 2009
Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen Golf R

The new Volkswagen Golf that launched at Frankfurt Motor Show yesterday appears to beat the Ford Focus RS with its smaller engine reduced weight and improved fuel efficiency.

VW has slotted a 2-litre turbocharged engine developing 265bhp into the R – 35bhp less than the Ford Focus RS. It will outgun the fast Ford initially but the electronically-limited top speed of 155mph means the RS has 8mph on its German rival.

The Golf R is all-wheel drive and with a manual ‘box still accelerates to 62mph in an impressive 5.7 seconds. With a combined fuel economy of 33.2mpg, it’s 21 per cent more efficient than the R32.

The Golf is considered to be very conservative. It has always been in demand since its launch and so is the demand higher for any used Volkswagen Golf car. These cars are very sturdy and reliable. Now with improved fuel efficiency, it is the bessstest of best!

For more information on used Volkswagen cars read the Volkswagen cars hub on Auto Trader UK. You might like to review the Focus RS in complete detail on the used Ford cars hub.

Frankfurt Motor Show 2009 – New Car Launches

Posted in car, car pictures by Priyanka Dalvi on September 8, 2009

Frankfurt will play host to some of the most awaited debuts of the year from Ferrari 458 to the Vauxhall Astra but what is that car that you have been waiting for….

A sneak preveiew of this years biggest motor show at Frankfurt.

BMW hybrid supercar

BMW hybrid supercar

With BMW revealing its hybrid supercar – the efficient dynamics concept car which redefines the motoring landscape. BMW has paid close attention to the aerodynamics of the concept car to help maximise performance and lower emissions. The supercar pushes out BMW M car levels of performance – 356bhp, 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds (like the new V8 M3) and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Search for new and used BMW’s on Auto Trader’s BMW cars hub.

New Mazda CX7

New Mazda CX7

The new compact SUV from Mazda – Mazda CX7. Mazda will also be showcasing other eco-friendly technologies in Frankfurt including hydrogen-powered cars and its fuel-saving i-stop system. Search for new and used Mazda cars on Auto Trader’s Mazda cars hub.

Citroen DS3

Citroen DS3

Citroen will launch the revamped Citroen C3 DS model – The Citroen DS3 – It’s the first in a new line of DS models from Citroen which will eventually include the DS4 hatchback and DS5 saloon models.  Citroen claims the DS3 will be one of the smallest vehicles in its class beating the Mini Cooper, Ford Fiesta and Alfa Romeo Mito. Search for new and used Citroen cars on Auto Trader’s Citroen cars hub.

These are some of the few insteresting launches on this year’s Auto show at Frankfurt. Read the complete list of new launches at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009 which starts from 17th Sepetember untill 27th September.


Superb commercial – 2009 Subaru Impreza: Action-packed

Posted in car pictures, Subaru by Priyanka Dalvi on April 30, 2009

Subaru Impreza is one of the practical hatch bought by performance lovers.  It has got European looks. Its the motoring equivalent fo fighter jet. Don’t believe it, have a look at this advert.

The 2009 Subaru Impreza brings more horsepower and noticeably peppier performance.

Here comes the power-packed 2009 Subaru Impreza

Check Subaru Cars hub for more interesting news.

Five of the best Superminis listed

Posted in buy a car, buy used car, car, car pictures, Car Reviews, Ford car, Nissan, peugeot by Priyanka Dalvi on April 23, 2009

Superminis are bought because they are affordable, fun to drive and can be parked easily. They can act as fashion symbol for some of its buyers. If you are in the amrket for budget superminis, you simplay aren’t short of choices. Which one would you vote for?

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta looks more appealing and it remains a good car to drive with some decent engines. The handling is excellent, the suspension is firm but not harsh, while the steering has a sharp feel.

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

Renault Clio

More than 13 million Renault Clios have been built since its introduction in 1991, so the new car certainly had a lot to live up to. It has grown in size and quality, and it is definitely the nicest Clio yet to be inside.

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

Peugeot 207

The Peugeot 207 is a good all-rounder with a strong image, enhanced by its bold looks.  It has an improved driving position, it rides and handles well and seems well built.

Peugeot 207

Peugeot 207

Nissan Micra

The Nissan Micra‘s image is love it or hate it. Launched in 2003, the third generation Nissan Micra was a ground breaking supermini, setting a new benchmark in styling, practicality and value for money.

Nissan Micra

Nissan Micra

Fiat Punto

The Fiat Punto is good looking, with a comfortable interior and plenty of room for drivers of all shapes and sizes. It’s great fun to drive.

Fiat Punto

Fiat Punto

Other Superminis worth considering:

The Fiat Grande Punto is surely the prettiest supermini on the road.

The Fiat Grande Punto is – as its name suggests – bigger than previous Puntos. But that’s not to say it’s lost its youthful charm.

The Fiat Grande Punto is surely the prettiest supermini on the road. Its front is reminiscent of the Aston Martin DB7, which can only be a good thing, while the rear and sides carry on the curvy theme. There are plenty of neat touches around the Grande Punto.

So often interiors fail to live up to the expectations set by the bodywork. Not so with the Grande Punto.

As the Fiat Grande Punto has grown since its predecessor, so has its levels of practicality. There’s lots of room in the front, and all but the tallest of rear passengers can fit in the back fairly easily. At four metres in length, Fiat says the Grande Punto is the biggest in its class, although at 275 litres,

The Fiat Punto feels sure-footed and composed at speed, which has a lot to do with the extra width of the larger car. The steering is precise, although not so razor sharp as other models in the supermini class.

Fiat has been working tirelessly to iron out the niggling little problems which used to beset its vehicles and the Grande Punto seems as well built as anything else from Europe.

With prices starting from around £7,500, the Grande Punto is an exceptionally cheap machine. Even our top-of-the-range test car weighs in at well under £13,000; and that has plenty of bells and whistles. Huge demand (the Punto is one of the 20 most searched for car on autotrader.co.uk) keeps second-hand values healthy.

The Grande Punto oozes style from every angle. It’s great fun to drive, especially in the 1.9 Sporting guise. But best of all is its tremendous value for money.

Read Used Fiat Grande Punto review

The Honda S2000 is all about that incredible engine

Posted in Automotive, car, car buying, Car Finder, car news, car pictures, car review, Car Reviews, honda by Qamar Rehman on March 18, 2009

For many, the Honda S2000 is all about that incredible engine. It revs – and roars – like a motorbike and is totally unlike any other roadster available today.

The S2000 sports a powerful, 2.2-liter, high revving engine while the high X-bone monocoque frame provides excellent rigidity and load distribution.

Nothing exemplifies Honda racing skill and ingenuity like the S2000 CR “Club Racer.” A firmer suspension, quicker steering ratio and fully functional front and rear spoilers have been specially designed to connect driver, vehicle and road.

The Honda S2000 has a strange blend of head-turning ability, while still having reasonably conservative looks. Its long, low bonnet is the starting point for the car’s sleek looks, and there’s some real design flair with its boiled sweet-coloured rear light cluster held in a smoked glass unit. The S2000 comes equipped with a set of 17-inch alloys and a pair of oversized tailpipes poking out from under the rear bumper. Bold S2000 badging along the front wings emphasises the car’s branding further.

The Honda S2000 scored four out of five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests, which is competitive for a small roadster which debuted in 1999. It features driver and passenger airbags as standard, although side airbags aren’t available.

 

Compare more Honda Cars

Honda S2000

Honda S2000

Honda S2000 Car

Honda S2000 Car

Volvo C70 appeals to men and women equally

Posted in auto, Automotive, car, Car Finder, car news, car pictures, car review, Car Reviews, Volvo by Qamar Rehman on March 10, 2009

The Volvo C70 is a two-door manufactured by Volvo Cars in two generations: the first from model years 1997-2002 as coupé and from 1997-2005 as a softop convertible. The second generation Volvo C70 has been marketed since 2006

Volvo’s don’t usually turn heads but this one does and we reckon it is the contrast of serious and fun styling which should make it appeal to men and women equally rather than aiming at either gender’s wallet.

The downside of many of the new hard-top convertibles is the boot-space sacrificed. Not so the C70. Admittedly with the roof down there is just 200 litres of boot space but keep your lid on and there’s a little over double the volume.

The C70 is an all new model so no reports as yet on its reliability. According to our Reliability Index, its predecessor performed averagely with the axle and suspension accounting for almost half of all problems.

Subaru Legacy has won sales because of it’s Comfort and Performance

Posted in car, car news, car pictures, car review, Subaru by Qamar Rehman on March 5, 2009

subaru legacy

subaru legacy

Subaru have worked hard to lift the Legacy to compete alongside rivals such as BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Lexus IS. Does it this Subaru car meet customer expectations? Is Subaru Legacy at par with Ford Mondeo Estate?

Driving the Legacy gives us that sense that it is one of the best comfortable Estate, rather bought as a family car. It is very attractive and has many impressive lines and curves. The interior looks of the car are quite decent. The controls are clearly marked and are easy to use.

The Subaru Legacy is a fun to drive estate. The four-wheel-drive system contributes towards incredible grip and the strong body control ensures balanced handling and fine composure. The ride is normally comfy, even with the larger alloy wheels. The steering is accurate and responsive. This makes the driving quite smooth and the car is easy to handle.

subaru legacy

subaru legacy

Subaru Legacy is a more practical with proper justice to the storage space utilisation. It has enough leg-room. The boot is large, well shaped and holds a family’s luggage easily, but it’s not as spacious as those of some estate rivals such as Ford Mondeo.

Another thing that would impress its buyers is its Reliability. Subaru has a huge reputation for reliability, which is why it sells well in rural areas. So this Legacy should prove robust and durable. The Legacy scored a good four out of five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests, and there have been a raft of improvements since the current model’s introduction in 2003.

subaru legacy

subaru legacy

Overall, the Subaru Legacy is an attractive family estate giving its drivers a comfortable journey and strong performance. Had it been little cheaper it would have won many sales. Can Subaru make cheaper Estate is the next question.

Other Subaru Hits:

Vauxhall Tigra Coupe Fairly Practical and Fun

Vauxhall Tigra is a rare breed of teeny drop-tops that manage to be fairly practical and fun. Its cheeky demeanour means it can tread where others can’t in urban areas and shuns cutesy, curvy looks for a real angular treat.

Vauxhall Tigra is clearly a Vauxhall – its trademark angular headlights and creases on the bonnet make that totally clear.

Against the angular and contemporary exterior, the cabin looks dated. Lifted from the previous Corsa, Vauxhall have tried to jazz it up with a pair of sporty seats, which are dark red on the limited edition Exclusiv Red, but it lags behind some of its competitors. The top half of the dash is well laid out, with white dials and silver inserts. But the space in front of the gearstick, although large is a fraction too small to store CDs.

The Tigra range starts at £13,750 – about the same as a Ford StreetKa – and rises to almost £17,000. The range topper’s prices only fall short of the excellent Mazda MX-5 by a little, which would be the top choice for keen drivers.


Subaru Impreza – A car for Performance Lovers

Posted in Automotive, car pictures, car review, Subaru by Qamar Rehman on March 4, 2009
Subaru Impreza

Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza has gone mainstream – it’s now a hatchback with a more ‘European look’ and added practicality. So has the lairy ‘Scooby’ gone soft? Subaru Impreza has a design which resembles honed by mechanics rather than stylists. Its motors are like fighter jet which gives a hint that it is definitely aimed towards the male market.

Subaru’s decision to make the latest Impreza a hatchback was mainly driven by its desire for its biggest selling model to enter the mainstream and compete more directly for sales with cars like the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and Vauxhall Astra – AutoTrader.

The seats in the Subaru Impreza are comfortable and offer pretty good support in corners while the driving position is excellent. But there isn’t much to comment on its interiors. Some good points that adds to its practicality is – good interior space and five doors. Though the boot space is slightly down compared to Ford Focus.

The most interesting bit of this car is its ride and handling. This relaxing cruiser with soft handling and good grip rides well even over rough roads. The extra sticking power four-wheel drive of the Subaru Imperza offers makes up for any play in the suspension and makes it a relaxing ride.

Subaru Impreza Montage

Subaru Impreza

On the road this equates to lots of grunt on the way out of corners and in higher gears. It also makes the car feel fast without appearing stretched, and suits the soft but secure handling.  The car is more refined and its muted exhaust does not make any noise, if you had expected. The extra volume can be added with the addition of an exhaust from Subaru tuner’s Prodrive when one is released in the near future.

The Subaru Impreza proves the point that unshakeable reliability does not have to equate to motoring tedium – AutoExpress Driving the Subaru Impreza WRX gives you the sense more money has been spent on the mechanical components of the car than its styling or creature comforts. Full marks for its performance, but buyers should keep in mind its running cost since Impreza is is not a cheap car to run.

Subaru Cars Hub

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