Vauxhall dealers in the past have had a range of cars on their forecourts to suit even the lowest budget. The company itself, if not the dealers, has been in existence for more than one hundred and fifty years. The founder of Vauxhall Motors was Alex Wilson, the factory he opened originally manufactured pumps and engines, it wasn’t until the turn of the century, or more precisely 1903 when the company produced its first motor car. At this time the dealers were in a minority and those who wished to buy this car will have had trouble finding one.

Twenty years later the Vauxhall Motor company made a deal that would affect its dealers and customers for generations to come. Put simply, the British company was bough out by American car manufacturing giant General Motors. At this time, GM only had to spend two and a half million dollars to purchase the entire Vauxhall company, factories and dealers included. The American influence on design and manufacture meant that for almost sixty years Vauxhall cars were very similar to their American cousins. A brief interlude during the war years saw car production cease for the manufacture of the Churchill tank for the war effort.

After the war it took Vauxhall and its dealers another twenty years to achieve a revival of fortunes. Two cars, namely the Viva and Victor were instrumental in this resurgence during the late sixties. Ford has always been a major competitor for Vauxhall and the seventies were no different. While the dealers reported high sales of the Viva countrywide, the Ford Cortina was still a far more popular option of motorists. At this time it was also the case that as well as Ford being a major rival, British Leyland was considerable competition.

The mid seventies were a battlefield in the British motor market with dealers making fortunes selling a variety of models. The primary Vauxhall model of the period was the Chevette, a three door hatchback representing a new trend in the car industry for smaller family cars while the Cavalier, a saloon car produced by Vauxhall was finally beginning to compete with the dominant Cortina from Ford. By the end of the seventies the gap between Vauxhall and Ford was closing, although Ford were still the most popular car company in Britain in terms of sales by dealers.

Dealers were blessed with a complete revolution of the Vauxhall range during the eighties. Some of the cars that rolled onto the forecourts of dealers during this period are in fact still in production today, although heavily revised. The Astra was one of this new generation and continued the trend for small family cars replacing the rather tired Viva. More importantly, the eighties saw the release of the Mk 2 Cavalier, now competing against the Ford Sierra, the replacement of the Cortina. In addition, a foray into the executive saloon market was undertaken by Vauxhall with the Carlton rolling out to dealers all over the land. This car was rather successful, packing a punch in terms of technology and comfort.

More recently the nineties saw Vauxhall building upon past successes. The Astra was still the core car in the range and the most popular amongst dealers. This decade did see the release of the Corsa representing a move by all the major car companies to produce a’ supermini’ car. These two models have continued being produced going into the new century with a variety of facelifts and minor changes. Today, the cars produced by Vauxhall range from small hatchbacks to large MPV family vehicles. Ford are still their main rival and only in recent times have the Vauxhall Motor company’s dealers released figures showing that they have finally taken the mantle of Britain’s most popular car manufacturer.

Motor industry expert Thomas Pretty looks into the history of Vauxhall dealers and the cars on their forecourts. To find out more please visit http://www.dickensgroup.com/vauxhall.cfm

In New York, Chicago and Miami owners of new and used Mini’s are signing up for a new gimmick of personalised billboard messages displayed at the road side.

A radio chip embedded within the key fob sends a coded signal to the billboard that you are approaching and messages will flag up, dependent on the information the driver has supplied in a questionnaire. Examples are ‘Hi Kate, nice day for your convertible’.

There have been complaints that Mini key fobs do not activate until within ten feet of the car, making them a little pointless. However, it is suspected that an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is responsible for the signal with a sensor in the road that sends information of the owner to the billboard.

This technology is not new. It has been used for some time in identification implants in livestock and pets as well as items like access control cards.

Manufacturers have invested in tags with RFID technology to track products as they go through the supply chain but doesn’t this open up the possibility of tracking Mini owners and their activities?

Mini say this will not happen and that no personally sensitive information is held within the tags. Is it possible for ‘hackers’ to get into this transmitted information and change the messages to something wholly unsuitable? No different to any other digitally displayed advertising.

So, what is the idea of this? Is it just a gimmick for Mini drivers? I doubt that any business is going to plough those sort of set up costs into such a venture just to entertain its current customers.

It’s more likely that this is just another form of advertising. But is it a good one? In typical Mini style, they like to steer they’re advertising campaigns to show everyone that Mini owners are having a better time than everyone else. To see a personal billboard message is meant to show everyone that Mini owners are special.

However, with all the publicity surrounding the danger of mobile phone usage while driving, is it any safer to read a personal message instead of a text message? Is it good advertising to drivers of other vehicles who are then going to naturally be looking for the nearest Mini to see what ‘Kate’, ‘Bill’ or ‘Tara’ looks like?

It is argued that these billboards are no more distracting than other road signs. People read road signs all the time without it causing a problem but these are usually warning or directional signs. Isn’t a personalised message a little different?

Maybe this would make Mini drivers, and others, less observant to what is going on around them if they are watching out for their name to come up in lights.

And what if you were stationary in a traffic jam? Apparently, 3 different personalised messages would be flashed up over a period of time before the billboard reverted to its usual standard advertising. By which time, everybody knows the name of the Mini driver and if he/she is driving irresponsibly at least you can personalise your insults!

If more than one Mini is in the vicinity, then it will pick up the nearest, display the owners message, and change to the next one after 10 seconds. Does this bring a potential for jealous road rage?

If this is purely gimmicky advertising aimed at non-Mini drivers, is it fair to play on a Mini owners ego to do the job that a quality car should do by itself? Is it fair to make Mini owners pay for their advertising?

Of the 150,000 used Mini and new Mini owners in the US, 1,000 have so far subscribed to this messaging service. Mini intend to monitor response to this campaign over the next three months. The government have already done so and intend to publish their findings on this subject very soon.

Marketing expert Shaun Parker looks into the new ego boost for used Mini owners. To find out more please visit http://www.coopermini.co.uk/

I had always been a car nut, as a kid my bedroom walls had been plastered with the models of the day but mostly with pictures of beautiful little open topped sports cars racing through the British countryside.

Now in adulthood I thought my chances of re-enacting these scenes were slim to none. However for a birthday gift one year my wife had contacted a classic car hire firm and not knowing which model to get had simply bought me a voucher for a weekend in whatever particular hire car I would like.

This idea was brilliant; to hire a classic car for the weekend would be fantastic and twinned with a couple of nights in a hotel would make for a very enjoyable trip. I went to the hire company’s website and laid my eyes on possibly four of the greatest cars ever made; this was going to be a difficult choice.

Firstly they had a gorgeous little Austin Healey 3000 available for hire. As a 1965 model in British racing green it had been the car I had envisaged myself driving all those years ago. After seeing this car in various races throughout the sixties, being able to hire one of these glorious little motors would be a privilege, and one that would surely be memorable for the rest of my days.

Before I capitulated to signing up for the hire of this car I made a concerted effort too look at the other classics available for hire. If I had thought that the first option had bowled me over the second car I viewed gave me even more of a shock; a beautiful example of the fabled Jaguar E-Type, soft top of course.

This revolutionary car had transformed the sports car market, its engine, the handling, but above all its styling had placed this magnificent car well ahead of its time. So much so that even Enzo Ferrari, the creator of the Ferrari motor company had called it ‘the most beautiful car ever made’.

The car today still does not look dated next to contemporary Ferraris and Porches, in many ways it is superior. Being able to hire one of these outstanding cars would be a delight I would have never expected to have.

They also had available a Mercedes Benz 280 SL, this cute little car can still be seen as cool today, with classic styling that will never be surpassed. The fact the performance and handling were clearly from a different generation was not important, it is not about going fast in a classic open top, it is about enjoying your surrounding and the company, anyway going faster than fifty in a convertible just ruins your hair.

Finally there was the veteran of the pack, the Triumph TR3A, being made up until 1962 it also had looks to die for, and its performance is also acceptable in the modern world. Being the first car with disc brakes as standard at least you know it will be safe and with a 0-60 of twelve seconds its acceleration is not all that bad. But as I said earlier, it is not all about performance.

These cars were from a different era, despite that they still have jaw dropping good looks and the ability to turn heads. The choice of which one to hire for my weekend away was a hard one, the Austin and Mercedes both had appeal, as did the little Triumph but there was no question really. Who could turn down the chance to hire a classic E-Type for the weekend?

To drive around what has been hailed as the best looking classic car of all time, the most iconic car of my generation was too good a chance to pass up. I would hire the Jaguar and tour the English countryside in style, my only worry now was the weather.

Car hire and classic vehicle expert Shaun Parker is knowledgeable in an array of classic car hire options. To find out more please visit http://www.classic-touring.co.uk/

I drive my Mini Cooper and I feel souper dooper.

Oh dear, not the most inspired of musical lyrics but Madonna’s nonetheless. She obviously feels so strongly about her Mini Cooper S that she felt the need to include it in the songwords of the American Life song.

After racking up an estimated 50 parking fines in her Mini and BMW 7-Series it seems she is not the only celebrity to not want to park her treasured car too far out of sight. Singer Lily Allen has recently been reported to have had slanging matches outside her London home over parking her Mini in the street. Apparently, simply owning a Mini is enough status to not need to feed parking meters – or so she thought!

Other celebrity owners include Elijah Wood. Ok, he may be a hobbit but thats not a necessary requirement for owners of the new Mini Cooper D Clubman. With a huge 930 litre luggage capacity space is not compromised for style. And this version has style by the shed load!

Double doors at the back mirror the original estate but many innovations have been included on this Mini to bring it bang up to date. A split drivers door and folding back seats allow for easy access with plenty of storage and with the seats in the upright position, the Mini Clubman can comfortably accommodate 5 adults.

Its sporty reputation has not been lost and standard equipment to back this up includes; Dynamic Stability Control for optimum traction, a sophisticated suspension system, the latest ABS system, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, brake assist, cornering brake control, 4 disc brakes and run flat tyres. With low ground clearance, a top speed of 120 mph and lively acceleration, this model looks and feels as sporty as you would expect it to.

As far as the exterior is concerned, subtle updates include double rear wipers and chrome handles. As ususal, the Mini Clubman comes in a choice of designer colours and a choice of roof design including the nations favourite – the Union Jack – and also a fun heli-pad design. Bi-Xenon technology is integrated to provide twice the output from the dazzle free headlamps and this comes as an optional extra.

Inside, various colourways can be chosen to include black, cream, blue, yellow or red as well as that classic oak trim which can be substituted with brushed alloy, fluid silver, fine white silver or piano black – if you really had to. Sports seats, rain sensors with automatic headlight activation, heated seats and bluetooth control on a leather steering wheel are very cool optional extras to make even short journeys a true driving experience.

Safety is of optimum importance to Mini Clubmans and to this end six airbags, an ultra rigid chassis, crash boxes and highly efficient restraint systems are all incorporated.

Despite its quite pricey tag of 16,000, pounds long term this will be a very economical car. Immediately saving money on tax with its impressively low emissions at 109g/km of Co2, all due to the auto stop/start function. Fuel consumption is also set at a staggering 68.9 mpg. So fill up, go forth and enjoy!

Expert car dealer Shaun Parker looks into the new Mini Clubman and checks out its assets. To find out more please visit http://www.coopermini.co.uk/

A driver hired by the UN to rescue a wounded war photographer from hostile territory drives through a hail of bullets in an attempt to get his charge safely to the border. Despite his efforts, on arrival, the driver finds that one of the bullets reached the photographer through the seats and has fatally wounded him. The driver continues on his journey to deliver the photographers dog tags to his elderly mother – the photographers dying wish.

This was the plot to one of a number of action-packed short films, produced by BMW exclusively for the internet and starring Clive Owen as the driver . In this particular film, a BMW X5 was the vehicle chosen to withstand such a pounding. A whole different story would have been told if they used BMW’s Dixi 3/15PS! It’s unlikely the photographer would have been found in time, let alone making it as far as the border!

The meaning of Dixi is ‘I have spoken’ and when used it usually translates to ‘I have said all that I had to say’. Quite a statement and well deserved! Launched in 1928, the Dixi was the first of BMW’s open topped cars. Built under license from Austin it was powered by a 743cc 4 cylinder engine producing 15hp with a top speed of 50mph. The first 100 Dixi’s were supplied in kit form and were available with a range of different body shells. Not exactly dynamic but ground breaking stuff nonetheless. The Dixi is the vehicle responsible for seeing BMW through the difficult years of the Depression.

And further research has led us to today’s offering of the latest convertible from BMW – the One Series. The world’s first premium convertible in the compact segment incorporating all of BMW’s reknowned economical assets without compromising on high performance. As expected, environmental concerns are taken into consideration with all of BMW’s know how on minimizing emissions.

The roof of this gorgeous baby opens and closes in a tiny 22 seconds and at speeds of up to 25mph. With our ever increasing global warming becoming a factor in every day design considerations, sun reflective leather now comes as standard, reducing the interior surface temperature up to 20 degrees. This new technology is currently exclusive to BMW.

With aesthetics in mind, a sporty look has been aimed for with a re-designed front valance, re-profiled sill panels and a rear diffuser integrated into the bumper. A new design for the roof accompanies the new model. A fabric roof with tiny metallic anthracite fleck interwoven brings a new look. The in-built air conditioning sensors will respond accordingly with the roof down to act more on outside temperatures.

New safety measures have also been implicated with the new BMW in the form of two roll bars activated by sensors which register imminent danger and extend from behind the rear seats in a fraction of a second, protecting the occupants.

With all these innovative new additions, it’s a shame BMW no longer produce their short films.

Expert BMW enthusiast Shaun Parker looks at the latest BMW Coupe released. To find out more please visit http://www.cooperbmw.co.uk/

I’m about to write an article on Used Mini’s and already I’m chastised for using the wrong term!

Apparently the term is ‘Mini Cherished’. What is the difference I ask myself?

Open any used car magazine and there will be used Minis for sale in various degrees of condition and age. Speak to any Mini owner and you will find that their vehicle has been cherished for many years. Many of them are given names by the owner to personalise them – strange but true.

The Mini has been in production since 1959 and is still going strong. Spares are still available and restoration projects are going on all over the world, tucked away in garages and barns as enthusiasts on-going projects.

Races are organised throughout the year at Brands Hatch and Snetterton with categories such as Standard Mighty Minis, Super Mighty Minis and Xtreme Mighty Minis for the hardened racers. Miniworld owners club arrange events throughout the year such as the British Mini Fair set for January 2008 which will include trade stands, pride of ownership display, club displays and competitions.

Festivals, shows, meetings and action days are structured well in advance and the London to Brighton race, set for May 2008 promises to be the event of the year.

So, it is apparent that Mini owners don’t just view their vehicle as a means of getting from A to B. They truly cherish them and take every opportunity to show them off. In fact, owning a Mini comes with a whole social structure of its very own.

But if all Minis are cherished what of the Mini Cherished official label?

BMW have taken over the production of Minis since 2001 and therein lies the cut off point for Used Mini. Owners of this treasured little car that makes such a big impact everywhere it goes now have the choice to market their Mini through Mini Cherished.

The Mini Cherished Programme won the Used Car Scheme 2006 from Auto Express magazine for their service to Mini owners. All Minis advertised through this site have had a full health check carried out by official Mini technicians. If the car is not up to the standards that keep Mini up with the best, the technicians will fix it with genuine Mini parts, ensuring its 12 month MOT and MOT cover. All paintwork and trim will be restored to suit its age and mileage and a full valet will be carried out.

A full service history, as well as an independent vehicle history with mileage checks, accompany an unlimited mileage minimum 12 month warranty. Mini Cherished will offer advice on optimum tyre replacement and treatment as well as their own emergency service. They can also arrange test drives and help to obtain insurance quotes.

And just for fun, Mini Cherished offer access to the MINIstry of Ownership. This is an exclusive area which can offer information on fun events, chat rooms, route planning, driving tours and financial assistance. Accessories can also be obtained to personlaise your cherished Mini perhaps avoiding the need for a name!

Expert Mini enthusiast Shaun Parker looks into the Used Mini market. To find out more please visit http://www.coopermini.co.uk/