Cars

[Hugo]

The 59 cars that will face £2,745 rise in car tax from April under new VED bands
The government has confirmed a list of cars that will face a big increase




https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/59-cars-face-2745-rise-30334680

[Hugo]

Best British cars: Top 50 all-time greatest British-built cars revealed
The British car industry has had its highs and lows but what are the best cars ever built in Britain? We pick our top 50!
By:Auto Express
23 Sep 2024
I'm gutted that my Hillman Imp and Ford Capri were not included in the top 50 cars       


https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/99216/best-british-cars-top-50-all-time-greatest-british-built-cars-revealed

[Ian]

Looking at the reliability record of some of the top marques, you should be glad they aren't... 

[DVT]

My first car was a Mini (Austin Countryman) and I have had an Escort Mk1 Sport, but no other cars I've owned on that lost.
I have had 3 Avengers, a Sunbeam Imp Sport, Riley Elf, and 3 Honda Civics that were all British built, the Civic should certainly be on that list although my latest one was built in Japan!

[SteveH]

Luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce will expand its Goodwood factory and global headquarters to meet the growing demand for bespoke models.

It will invest more than £300 million so it can build more highly-customised versions of its cars for its super-rich clientele.

Although UK petrol and diesel car sales are due to be phased out by 2030, the boss of Rolls-Royce declined to say whether the firm would stop selling cars with combustion engines to clients abroad.

Rolls-Royce sold 5,712 cars in 2024, down from its record of 6,032 in 2023, but the total value of its sales was higher due to it selling more bespoke builds............. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c205qlex5w3o

[Hugo]

Drivers told to have tea bags in their car or risk a £2,500 fine
A motoring expert has shared an unconventional yet successful tip for drivers using an unexpected item. He said black or green tea bags were particularly effective
Greeen Tea bags ugh?     A works colleague used to put his used Green Tea bags in my waste bin and my bin smelt like Bog Island on a bad day!
Seriously though wouldn't it be better if all cars had a heated windscreen as standard


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/drivers-told-tea-bags-car-30744785

[Hugo]

More than 85,000 drivers broke 20mph rules in 2024
In the first full year of enforcement, 48,337 drivers exceeded the limit in south and mid Wales. Enforcement began a little later in north Wales, where 36,710 were caught.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c983839zydno

[SteveH]

The UK's largest luxury car maker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), says it will invest £65m ($81m) to expand its bespoke paint services in response to growing demand from wealthy customers.

The plan includes opening new paint facilities in Castle Bromwich, UK and Nitra, Slovakia.

The firm, which is owned by India's Tata Group, says it expects to more than double its bespoke paint operation, including helping clients match the colour of exclusive Range Rover SV models to their private jets or yachts.

It follows a similar move by Rolls-Royce, which announced earlier this month that it was investing £300m to build more highly-customised versions of its cars for super-rich customers................ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c897dwdvp43o

[DVT]

... all I need to do now is decide which colour to have my jet, yacht and car painted!

[Hugo]

DVLA car tax warning as new rules to be rolled out in just a few weeks
The DVLA has issued a caution to specific motorists about significant upcoming changes in driving regulations that will take effect from this spring. Key updates to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) car tax will be implemented from the beginning of April.



https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dvla-car-tax-warning-rules-162127403.html

[SteveH]

Motorists filling up at the pump given £3 warning by RAC
It’s not been a good start to 2025 with prices going up for the fourth month in a row, writes Neil Shaw

Motorists have endured a fourth successive month of escalating fuel costs. The RAC reported that since October's onset, the cost per litre has climbed by 5p for petrol and 6p for diesel.

This surge is partially linked to a mid-January oil price spike, which saw the barrel price surpass 80 US dollars for several days. Additionally, the pound's minor weakening against the dollar has rendered wholesale fuel pricier for retailers.

As January ended, the average cost per litre of petrol stood at 139.0p with diesel at 145.7p. But analysts say there are hopes the situation will get better................ https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/motorists-filling-up-at-the-pump-given-3-warning-by-rac?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Germany's once-mighty car industry is in crisis. What will it take to fix it?

For decades, car-making has been the jewel in Germany's industrial crown, a powerful symbol of the country's famous post-war economic miracle. Its "Big Three" brands, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, have long been praised for their performance, innovation and precision engineering. But today, the German motor industry is struggling. With the faltering economy a key factor in federal elections this month, how can it get back on the road to recovery?..............  cont
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6pzwj6qq7o



International business correspondent
Listen to Theo read this story......... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kqplnj

[Hugo]

Car tax warning for all drivers and full list of vehicles affected within weeks
Here's everything you need to know about the new Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) changes coming into effect from April, 2025 - and how much more you'll need to pay
That's all very well but isn't it about time they did something about those cars that are driven on the road without ever paying any road tax ?


https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/car-tax-warning-drivers-full-31066837

[SteveH]

Have you ever seen any unfamiliar road signs that have tripped you up? Well, you wouldn't be alone in the UK.

There are plenty of uncommon road signs to be found within the nations that could lead to fines, license points or even accidents if they are not navigated correctly.

Unusual and rare road signs quiz: Can you identify them all?......

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24992355.unusual-rare-road-signs-quiz-can-identify/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Hugo]

Have you ever seen any unfamiliar road signs that have tripped you up? Well, you wouldn't be alone in the UK.

There are plenty of uncommon road signs to be found within the nations that could lead to fines, license points or even accidents if they are not navigated correctly.

Unusual and rare road signs quiz: Can you identify them all?......

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24992355.unusual-rare-road-signs-quiz-can-identify/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

                  I'll have to read the Highway Code more often