Nice New Vauxhalls

The UK government scrappage scheme has provided a welcome boost for car sales across the country as drivers benefit the £2000 part exchange value for their 10-year old (or over) car.

The increase in sales has been dramatic, with sales of new cars up by around 11% over the same time period in 2008. Recognising the success of the scheme, the government has recently announced its extension, providing funds to cover an extra 100,000 vehicles.

This scheme is proving to be one of the most successful subsidies in the car industry in recent years. It seems that both sellers and buyers are in a winning position. The car manufacturers claim the boost in sales has safeguarded jobs and the car buyers benefit from a £2000 part exchange value that without the subsidy they would never have achieved.

According to WhatCar? Vauxhall has been one of the real winners of this scheme and is the only manufacturer to have two models in the top ten best sellers list for September 2009. The Vauxhall Cosra is number two in the list with sales of 16,379. The Vauxhall Astra is two places behind in fourth place with September sales recorded at 13,190 cars.

The sales figures will be welcome news to the workers at the two UK Vauxhall plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton, although the future of both sites remains uncertain following the take over by Canadian parts manufacturer Magna from US car giant GM.

The UK scrappage scheme funding is available when trading in any 10 year old or over used car as part exchange for a new car. It is not limited to Vauxhall. The scheme will not be available forever so to take advantage of it you need to act quickly.

Author Mark Woodcock

More and more hatchbacks are popping up on the UK roads these days. While these cars may seem trendy, they also make a lot of sense. And fortunately several different car companies are designing their own version of the hatchback. Therefore, if you are looking to purchase a hatchback it is easier than ever. Here are reasons why you should purchase your very own hatchback.

Best Selling Car In Britain

Hatchbacks are actually the best selling cars throughout Britain. They have been designed to meet the needs and specifications of those that own them. And they compete well against the other cars on the street because they offer lots of space, lower fuel costs, and a sporty look. Consider purchasing one of these top rated hatchbacks:

· Volkswagen Golf. The Golf is without a doubt the most popular hatchback. Volkswagen practically pioneered the hatchback several years ago. And today the car still remains one of the best selling vehicles. It is a quality vehicle with a lot of space. And the engine is surprisingly strong.

· Ford Focus. Another popular hatchback is the Ford Focus. This car may not look like much, but it offers its owners a lot. It has been Ford’s best selling model for the last ten years. You will love everything about this hatchback, including its price.

· Renault Megane. The Megane is a quiet, relaxing car to drive. It is a comfortable car to sit in whether you are behind the steering wheel or in the passenger’s seat. In addition, the suspension is smoother creating a perfect lightweight ride that is enjoyed by all.

· Vauxhall Astra. The Astra is an amazing hatchback that will surely standout on the road. In addition to its sleek appearance, the car handles itself well on the road. The engine is fantastic. And the basic model comes equipped with all that you need, including those vital safety features to protect you and those you love most.

· Audi A3. Looking for a luxury vehicle that will not break your bank? The Audi A3 is simply that. It is your gateway to luxury at a decent price. This hatchback has a great exterior and it is stylish. You will love the high quality interior and the reliability of this vehicle.

· BMW 1 Series. Drivers are always wanted for BMW vehicles. And the 1 series is a great option for your new hatchback. It is a great performance vehicle that is not as costly as other BMW models. It has an amazing engine and an unprecedented ability to handle the road.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of the Foray Motor Group who are a Ford Ka Dorset supplier of top quality Fords.

I’m sure most people who have even a vague interest in Cars must have heard of the Vauxhall VXR8 also known as the Monaro this is Vauxhalls insane muscle car that defiantly flys in the face of current motoring trends. Well I’ve discovered there is an entire VXR family a sort of family from hell if you like. Vauxhalls slightly understated corporate statement goes something like “VXR takes the experience, knowledge and passion gained from racing and crystallises it into a range of high performance road cars”

Well they’re not kidding! A few minutes spent online led me to a high octane fuelled world where I became entranced by a staggering array of performance figures that left me in awe and amazement, well almost.

You see Vauxhall did not stop at the VXR8 oh no they have created a range that means everyone can experience blistering performance right across the spectrum from the ubiquitous hot hatch to the family saloon and even the MPV all receive an injection of pure adrenaline.

Young men with the money to afford the insurance will be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of the Corsa VXR which is the smallest model to get the VXR treatment.

It comes with a 1.6 litre 4 cylinder Turbo-charged engine that produces 192 PS and 230NM of torque which increases for five seconds to over 260NM when you apply the turbo over boost. This adds up to a 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 140mph. Unlike hot hatches of yesteryear advances in braking means that this will actually stop when you apply the brakes thanks to large diameter disc brakes front and rear you get nice blue calipers as well so no need to get your spray paint out lads.

The Corsa has lowered sports suspension and switchable Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) including Traction Control for those who like to show their road skills without assistance. 17″ Alloy wheels come as standard with ultra-low profile tyres and optional 18″ V spoke Alloys with even lower profile tyres can be had to increase your small but imposing presence round town or more likely in shopping mall car parks after hours.

Next on the list is the Astra which Vauxhall claim to be their hottest hatch ever and then some! The 2.0 litre 4 cylinder Ecotec comes with an updated Turbocharger producing 240 PS and 320NM of torque which propels you from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and gives a top speed of 152mph. The Astra comes with a centrally mounted trapezoidal tuned sports exhaust, close ratio six-speed gearbox and large diameter disc brakes finished off with 18″ or 19″ Alloys.

The Vectra has always been a favourite with fleet buyers but not sure if they would let you loose in one of these. The VXR gets a 2.8 litre 24valve V6 engine with a twin scroll Turbocharger no less. Those in the know will tell you that this is normally reserved for rally cars and such like, what it means is 280PS and 355MN of torque. 0-60 comes in 6.1 seconds and top speed is restricted to 155mph.

You would think Vauxhall would leave it here but even the Meriva and Zafira have received the VXR treatment. These are the popular MPV models which have been given the potential to make you the fastest Mum or Dad on the school run, not sure if the kids will appreciate Recaro sports seats no doubt they will be busy getting food all over them. It is always handy to know that by the time you have loaded up all their clobber and then gone back home to get the conveniently forgotten sports kit you will still arrive at the school gates before you left!

Well I could not finish without giving the VXR8 a mention, Vauxhall have made some recent “tweaks” to the performance and although they have published an eye watering 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds they have kept the top speed a bit quiet needless to say it is very fast. They have been up front about the CO2 emissions though, something like 365 g/km oops! Never mind.

Jon Barlow

Of course the most obvious answer to this question is “because you’re not a car designer dummy”. Even if I was though I probably would have raised a cheer for the person who solved the age old automotive conundrum of how to transport a family and all their junk around in something smaller than a removal lorry and without the styling and handling characteristics that go with it.

Before you say anything I realise that this was not the greatest problem that mankind has faced and we need to put things into perspective here but nonetheless the solution still required a stroke of genius.

1999 was the year when Vauxhall introduced the Zafira to a rapturous audience. It reinvented family motoring and caused the demise of the trusty estate car or at the very least gave it an identity crisis. Vauxhall was unrepentant however and the near decade that has elapsed since its launch the Zafira is still being purchased in large numbers and is cherished throughout this land almost as much as the family pet..

It would be a lie to say that the seven-seat Zafira can match the very latest compact MPVs for steering feel or agility, but the handling is safe and predictable. Grip levels are strong and body lean through bends isn’t excessive. However, at times the suspension damping doesn’t cope well over rough surfaces and it lacks control under hard cornering but what do you expect in an MPV? The brakes are strong with very short stopping distances especially at low speed. The aircraft-style handbrake is neat although a bit fiddly at first

Renault could claim that they were first into the compact MPV sector with the Scenic but it is the seven-seat Zafira that undoubtedly transformed it and has inspired such competition as the Grand Scenic, VW Touran, Toyota Verso and Mazda 5. Some manufacturers only offer five-seat versions of their Zafira rival, but Vauxhall has optimised the Zafira in seven-seat form, for those who just want five seats it offers the Meriva instead. The line-up of models is huge and in addition there are special editions too, which change periodically. More recently Vauxhall has taken the model more up market with an ‘Elite’ trim.

The Zafira offers a wide range of petrol and diesel engines but its weight means that the smaller less powerful units do sometimes struggle a bit. The Zafira is fairly popular as a fleet vehicle so Vauxhall offers a 1.9-litre diesel but retail customers are accounted for as well with more affordable petrol engines. This is fortunate, as the Zafira sometimes looks a little expensive compared to some rivals, particularly when you consider standard equipment levels that could be more generous.

The latest Zafira, with its rakish headlights and smoother lines, is undoubtedly a better-looking car than the original. The interior is also stylish and constructed from quality materials. The driving position is high and reassuring whilst head, shoulder and knee room are ample and the seats are comfortable. The Flex7 folding seat system is still holding up well and by folding the seats flat you can enhance the already-capacious boot considerably. The smaller-engined petrol and diesel Zafiras really impress for fuel economy and retained values are still surprisingly good considering how many used Zafiras are available on the market, servicing costs and intervals are very competitive too as a result of the enviable reliability record of the car.

All in all the Zafira shapes up well and whilst still being ubiquitous in numbers who would choose to be different just for the sake of it? Besides if you still want to cling on to your young carefree days where your right foot seemingly solved all of life’s problems then there’s always the Zafira VXR available at a Vauxhall dealer near you.

Jon Barlow