Clocking used cars

HPI, the vehicle history expert, has warned consumers (and fleet customers) that they need to protect themselves from the risk of buying a clocked car.  The latest figures from HPI reveal an increase of more than 10% over the last 5 years in the number of used cars it checks that have recorded a mileage discrepancy. 

According to figures from HPI’s National Mileage Register (NMR), over 1 million cars it checked in 2011 had an inconsistent mileage reading, leaving many used car buyers vulnerable to paying over the odds for their vehicle.

Kristian Welch, Consumer Director for HPI, commented,”It is simply too easy for sellers to hike up the value of a car by turning back the miles on the odometer, making clocking one of the biggest risks for consumers. Worryingly, we are seeing a new trend whereby some owners are clocking a car regularly throughout their ownership, making it even harder for buyers to establish if a vehicle’s mileage is correct”.  

A further problem highlighted by HPI is that some people who are returning their leased cars to the leasing company, adjust the vehicle’s mileage so that they meet the terms of their PCP /PCH(personal contract plan/leasing) agreement, which is further adding to the problem.

Unfortunately, modern digital odometers make it much easier for clocked vehicles to evade detection. It is not illegal to change a car’s mileage but not declaring that mileage change to a potential buyer is. 

Clocking a used vehicle can add potentially hundreds of pounds to the value of a used car, plus unsuspecting buyers could be saddled with higher running costs further down the line, as the vehicle is likely to have more general wear and tear than expected, and may have missed its servicing intervals.

If you are buying a used car, an HPI Check includes a mileage check as standard, offering you the safeguard against the growing danger of clocking. 

HPI’S TIPS ON SPOTTING A POTENTIALLY CLOCKED VEHICLE*

• Check the service history – Check all the mileages displayed in the service history and look for invoices and service stamps from a genuine dealer or servicing outlet.
• Speak to the previous keeper – Contact the previous keeper if possible to confirm the mileage of the vehicle when they sold it.
• Trust your judgement –Look for any evidence that may indicate clocking – anything out of keeping with the general condition of the vehicle (worn seats for example on a low mileage car).
• Check the mileage again – Clockers sometimes wind back the mileage for the first viewing and then return it to its original value once you buy it.  Check the mileage is the same when you pick up the vehicle.
• Look for signs of wear and tear – Does the wear and tear on areas such as seats and the steering wheel match its mileage?  Look out for brand new easily replaceable parts, which don’t match the vehicle’s displayed mileage.
• Conduct an HPI Check – Don’t take the risk and let HPI check its mileage database of 135 million mileages.

*Many of these signs detailed could be completely innocent, so do look for more than one of the above as possible evidence of clocking.

Alternatively before you buy a used car why not look at leasing a new vehicle?  The costs to do this are really attractive and you don’t have to worry about clocking as the car is brand new.

Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover has announced that it is creating around 1,000 new jobs at its Halewood Operations manufacturing plant, near Liverpool in the UK. These new positions, which will support the on-going significant demand for the popular Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2,  takiing the workforce at Halewood to almost 4,500.

Jaguar Land Rover HR Director, Des Thurlby, said: “These 1,000 new jobs are further evidence of JLR’s clear ambition for continued growth. We are moving Halewood to three shifts and 24-hour operation to meet increased global demand for our products. JLR’s supply chain is also set to benefit, with thousands more jobs expected to be created”.

The new automotive jobs at Halewood will include car production operators, supervisors and engineers and all new employees joining the production line will receive training towards an Intermediate (Level 2) Apprenticeship.

If you are interested in the new positions at Halewood Operations visit www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com/halewood for further information.

New Generation Hyundai i30

Hyundai’s New Generation i30 is now on sale bringing style, efficiency and comfort to the compact family car segment, with prices starting at £14,495 on-the-road. Blue Drive technologies are standard on all 1.6 CRDi manuals with CO2 emissions from just 97g/km and fuel economy up to 76.3mpg.

The new i30 range has a high level of standard vehicle specification and it will be the lowest priced sub-100 g/km 5-door model in the C-segment with the lowest fuel consumption and the lowest BIK at £876 per year for 40% tax payers.

The New Generation Hyundai i30 offers a line-up of four engines (two petrol and two diesels) with five power outputs ranging from 90 to 128ps and four trim levels – Classic, Active, Style and Style Nav.

It is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, with the overall length increased by 20 mm (to 4,300 mm), width is enlarged by 5 mm (to 1,780 mm) and height has been reduced by 10 mm (to 1,470 mm).  

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO Hyundai Motor UK, commented: “The new generation i30 represents another leap forward in terms of Hyundai’s design, refinement and build quality. Coupled with our generous standard specification and backed up by our industry leading Five Year Triple Care assurance, the New Generation i30 truly represents the complete package for customers looking for a high-quality vehicle at an affordable price.”

New SEAT Ibiza range

SEAT’S most successful and well-known model, the Ibiza supermini, is being prepared for its UK showroom launch next month and SEAT has just confirmed exact pricing and vehicle specification details of the new range, which will be available to order later this month.

The great news is that the new model is being introduced without a price increase over the outgoing car and the majority of New Ibiza derivatives will be available at a lower price than their outgoing equivalents.

The entry-level New Ibiza, the 1.2-litre 60 PS E in three-door SC bodystyle, remains available at just £9,995 RRP on the road. The UK range extends up from the E through S A/C and SE to the sporty FR model and for the first time New Ibiza ST customers will be able to enjoy an FR version Formula Racing sub-brand as well.

The core basic model in the new line up, the SEAT Ibiza S A/C, is now offered at an average of £300 less than the outgoing S Copa editions and the most affordable Ibiza 5dr is therefore the 1.2 70 PS S /C model, at just £11,430 RRP on the road.  

New SEAT Ibiza ST

The New Ibiza boasts reshaped headlights that include elements inside the clusters similar to the new Alhambra MPV and the recently-revised Exeo family of executive class saloons and estates.  

Elsewhere the front grille is smaller and sharper and the front fog lights take on a rectangular shape, with the front end on all models featuring the sporty, ‘downward-facing’ trapezoidal lower grille (formerly limited to FR and Cupra models). 

At the rear the New Ibiza’s tail lights have been completely redesigned with sharper lines while FR models gain LED tail lights for an even more distinctive light signature.  Eye-catching new colours have been added to the range, including Lima Green and new alloy wheel designs complete the exterior changes.

Managing Director of SEAT UK, Peter Wyhinny, said: ‘We’re really excited about the imminent arrival of the New Ibiza in the UK. This stylish new supermini ticks all the boxes for buyers by being not just significantly more modern to look at, more stylish, more practical and, with the debut of the Ibiza ST FR, significantly more fun.  But, crucially, our best-seller is now also even more affordable, too!”

New Mazda3

The new upgraded Mazda3, which includes an emission-busting 1.6-litre diesel Sport model, has been given a residual value uplift, according to the experts at vehicle information provider Glass’s Guide.

The upgraded Mazda3 range features 18 models with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines (three power outputs). It has had an average residual value enhancement of between 3 percent and 6.5 percent per model over the benchmark three years/60,000 mile lifecycle.

The residual value of a car is important when leasing your vehicle as the contract hire car finance companies set their lease rentals using this figure, amongst other factors.

The new Mazda3 features a choice of six trim levels – S, TS, TS², TS² Nav, Sport and Sport Nav, as well as the special edition 1.6-litre MZR petrol Tamura and 1.6-litre diesel Tamura.

The 1.6-litre diesel Mazda3 models offer ‘low’ CO₂ emissions (115g/km) and a combined cycle fuel economy of 65.7mpg and are likely to the most popular for fleet users.

Mazda Sales Director Peter Allibon said: “The residual value uplift given by Glass’s Guide to the upgraded Mazda3, coupled with improvements in emissions and fuel economy on most models, the addition of a new Sport model and Mazda’s established core fleet strengths –  excellent vehicle reliability, strong residual values and fun-to-drive characteristics – means corporate appeal has been strengthened even further.”

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and the Emergency Stop Signalling (ESS) is fitted as standard on every model, together with six airbags.

Honda CR-V

Honda is unveiling the first engine from their new Earth Dreams Technology range at the Geneva Motor Show 2012 this week. The 1.6-litre i-DTEC  is the first in a new generation of fuel-efficient and low-co2 engines being introduced to Honda models over the next three years.

The models lining up next to the new 1.6 litre i-DTEC engine include the stunning Honda NSX Concept and the European Honda CR-V Prototype. The European CR-V Prototype provides the first official showing of the styling direction for the all-new, fourth-generation CR-V, set to go on sale in autumn 2012.

The CR-V Prototype has taken a bold styling direction with a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward with improved aerodynamics. Its vertical taillights remain for the new model and now feature a more three-dimensional style that wraps further into the overall design of the vehicle.

The Honda CR-V is one of the world’s top-selling SUVs and is sold in more than 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa. This European 4th Generation CR-V SUV will make its official debut at the Paris Salon in the autumn of 2012.

Honda EV-Ster

Honda is also showing the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model in the form of an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater convertible sports car. Plus, two new Jazz derivatives are also being shown for the first time.

The Jazz Si features an upgraded sporty suspension package and has styling changes to the interior and the exterior. The second variant, the Jazz 1.2 with Idle Stop, delivers a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 3g/km compared to the standard 1.2 model.

In addition, Honda is also displaying the rest of its car model line-up comprising of the new Civic, the hybrids – Jazz, CR-Z and Insight – as well as the Accord range in Saloon and Tourer guise. The FCX Clarity, the world’s first production fuel-cell vehicle, makes another appearance at Geneva as well. Honda contract hire on all the current range is on the site now.

Hyundai i30

The New Generation Hyundai i30 has just been crowned ‘Car of Year’ by the car review website CarBuyer. The CarBuyer Awards identified the leading cars in 18 different sectors of the market, which offer the best overall value for money and their team of experts judged each car on the shortlist on criteria such as running costs, safety, mpg, performance and owner satisfaction.

From this list CarBuyer then selected the overall Car of the Year champion and this year it is the Hyundai i30.

Steve Fowler Editor-in-Chief, Auto Express and CarBuyer, said: “The new i30 is a brilliant, all-round family car – it really ticks all the boxes: it’s spacious, comfortable, is well priced and cheap to run. Oh, and it’s a bit of a looker, too! It’s further proof of Hyundai’s emergence as a major player in the UK car market and that’s down to its ability to know exactly what today’s car buyers want.”

The new Hyundai i30 has an impressive combined fuel economy of 76.3mpg – an increase of 21% over its predecessor – and CO2 emissions from just 97g/km, thanks to its Blue Drive technologies. 

In addition the i30 is of course backed by Hyundai’s 5 Year Triple Care warranty giving you total peace-of-mind. The full range of Hyundai i30 and all other Hyundai models is on the site on Hyundai car lease.

Click for the BMW car lease offer

The brand new BMW 520d BluePerformance EfficientDynamics diesel saloon manual is currently on the site on BMW car lease from only £373.53+VAT per month. This is the latest BMW 2012 model year and is packed with BMW’s low-CO2 technology.

CO2 emissions are 119g/km and combined mpg is 62.8, so this executive saloon is an ideal company car for any business. The offer is based on a four-year contract, 6 rentals in advance, non-maintained lease and 10,000 miles per annum. Other terms are available from our car finance partner, as are quotes with accessories, so fill out a Contact Form today for further details on this great BMW lease offer.

Honda app for new Civic

Honda has introduced a new smartphone app to support the launch of the new Civic model across Europe and to engage with future customers by delivering information on the new car.

Martin Moll, Head of Marketing, Honda UK, said, “People today want information as part of their journey towards purchase but simple data and stats can be pretty dull. With the new mobile app the challenge was to really engage with the audience whilst at the same time deliver a relevant and involving interaction. In many ways this is the same experience we are trying to reflect in the new Civic when you discover something new and innovative.” 

The app incorporates a number of key interactive elements enabling you to fully explore some of the key features of the new Civic, including:

• An interactive “hot spot” to demonstrate the Honda “Magic Seats” system plus a fun game that shows the variety of items that can be conveniently stored within the interior and luggage area.
• A dynamic 360 degree viewing facility that provides a virtual tour of the interior space of the new Civic and equipment that becomes even more engaging with the iPhone version, which uses an accelerometer.
• You can create your own “wind tunnel” experiment through the smartphone mic and discover some of the key aerodynamic and handling characteristics of the new Civic.   
• Provides users the ability to “explore models” and to create their own new Civic, choosing the exact model, engine, grade, colour, etc., with a social media and email facility to post and share your model on Twitter or Facebook. 

New RS5

The new generation 450PS V8-powered coupe flagship, the RS 5, is enhanced by styling revisions, LED lighting updates, more efficient electromechanical power steering, more standard (and optional) equipment and is available now, priced at £58,725 OTR, with first UK deliveries beginning in April.

The new RS 5 Coupe certainly has impressive performance credentials with a 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds (previously 4.6), top speed electronically-limited at 155mph, MPG 26.9 (previously 26.2) and CO2 emissions at 246g/km (previously 252g/km)

It has had DVD navigation, Bluetooth phone preparation, cruise control and Audi Music Interface iPod connection added to its standard vehicle specification, with a new optional Sport Package added at £2,250, that includes Dynamic Ride Control, sports exhaust, dynamic steering and 20-inch rotor-design titanium-look alloy wheels

The  exterior styling updates include a slight revision to the grille design, a sharper and more pronounced bonnet, new wraparound LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights, new look front and rear bumpers and a new “10-spoke” design for the 19-inch alloy wheels.

Interior design changes include a new flat-bottomed RS three-spoke steering wheel and detail improvements to the air conditioning, Multi Media Interface, mirror adjustment and electric window switchgear, the gear lever and the instrument stalks. 

Like all RS models, the RS 5 Coupe applies its power to the road with its quattro permanent all-wheel-drive, plus a sport differential is available as an option (the sport differential actively distributes the power between the rear wheels via two stages).

To cope with all that power, large, internally-ventilated wave brake discs with eight-piston callipers and a 365-millimetre diameter at the front, ensure incredible stopping power. Or, for especially committed drivers, carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs are also available at extra cost, as is the Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) system. Audi car leasing prices on the new model will be loaded shortly.