It's like a Skoda, but meaner - Meet the Fabia vRS

Still thinking about what car to get when the time finally comes for me to part with my beloved Daewoo. The Skoda Fabia vRS has now taken my fancy! It's based on the award-winning Skoda Fabia, that I used to drive before it got hit by a lorry on the M25.

The VRS is more powerful than the Fabia I used to drive and has a 1.4 TSI 180bhp engine with DSG transmission, I don't know exactly what that means but it allows the car to reach speeds of up to 139mph and it can do 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds -that's fast!

It has paddles on the steering wheel to make quick gear changes - very good for not scuffing your heels...I mean for a sporty drive. All these features make the new Skoda Fabia vRS the fastest and most powerful Fabia that has ever been made. There are sporty seats which hug you to the chair and climtae control to ensure the cabin is always the right temperature. Plus, the cabin is equipped with a stack of cool media equipment. Check it out at Birchwood Skoda in Sussex.

New Kia Sportage - not really me, so why do I love it?!

In a complete change to all the other cars I've been looking at, the new Kia Sportage is big, powerful, has 4x4 capabilities and just is completely not me. But for some reason, I love it!

It's fuel-efficient, particularly the diesel engines and has a high driving position with great all-round visibility, which I also love. And despite its rugged looks and awesome off-road capabilities, it feels comfortable and relaxing in the cabin.

Dare I say it, the Kia Sportage surprised me. It has luxurious like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, electric windows, CD and MP3 player and great looking, supportive seats.

I have to say, the thing that most attracted me to Kia was the great value 7 year warranty and I was looking at smaller cars like the Picanto but there's something about the Sportage that really stands out to me. My local Kia dealer in Sussex offers test drives of the new Kia Sportage so think I may pop along there and test it out.

Suzuki Swift Scores Big on Safety

My Grandad had a Suzuki Swift until last week when he went to the garage for a service and ended up trading in his Swift and driving away in a Mercedes! I had borrowed his Swift from him in the winter when he was away on a world cruise and I really enjoyed driving it. I was quite hoping that he would have sold it to me rather than trading it in for a Mercedes but oh well.

I could always get a new Suzuki Swift from Birchwood Suzuki in Sussex who are probably my closest Suzuki dealer. Apparently, the new Suzuki Swift that has been released this year in the UK is much improved on my Grandad's car.

It's available as a 3 and 5 door model and is extremely safewith a five-star rating from Euro NCAP crash safety testing. That's top marks to you and me! Stuart keeps telling me to get a safer car, think he's concerned that my little orange Daewoo wouldn't fare too well in a motorway crash now that I'm driving more miles so I'm sure he'd like this, he'd also like that it starts from less than 10 grand!

Lisa Snowdon Passes with Flying Colours!

38 year old model and presenter Lisa Snowden has passed her driving test first time with only 3 minor faults! The former presenter of The Big Breakfast and Britain’s Next Top Model was said to be ‘so happy’ but claimed to be ‘really nervous during the test.’

Lisa’s task now is to buy herself a car to show off her top quality driving skills. Apparently her car of choice would be a Range Rover although she says she may probably go for something more environmentally friendly.

Lisa's driving instructor has also taught such celebrity students as Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Alexander McQueen...wowzers!

Do you get road rage?

According to recent research published by the Institue of Advanced Motorists (IAM), seven in 10 drivers get angry with other road users and almost a third of these drivers admit that their anger makes their is detrimental to their driving. 

Of the 1,497 respondents carried out by motoring charity IAM, 70% claimed that they got angry with other road users. 28% of these felt that getting road rage behind the wheel affected their own driving competence.

Tailgating, other drivers taking a call while driving and centre lane hogging were cited as being the biggest sources of annoyance. Other distractions included passengers, billboards and advertising, watching out for safety cameras (a little ironic!), mobile phones, in car entertainment and sat navs.

Advice for drivers who feel they are reaching boiling point is to pull over and separate themselves from the cause of anger rather reacting with a gesture or aggressive driving. If you are the subject of road rage, the IAM advises you to pull over to a safe, public place or apologise for mistakes by just giving a polite wave. If you're looking for a used car, there's no need for road rage...visit The Car Shop used car supermarkets across the UK.

Fred Flintstone eat your heart out!

The human-powered car is set to be released next year. Apparently you won't have to pedal it like Fred Flintstone, it will be powered by handles which produce a rowing effect. It is supposed to be able to reach speeds of 60mph although I assume that's with 4 people really pushing it! It's a great idea but unfortunately not for me. Sorry!

How much should you pay for a service?

For the first time ever, this year I decided not to give my car a service. It had only done 5,000 miles in the year so I did a bit of basic car maintenance myself and opted not to give it a service. Was this a good idea, probably not. Apparently it will ruin my otherwise perfect service history and also could knock a bit off the resale value of my car.

Think my last service cost in the region of £200, but have just seen this offer with Birchwood Ford for a cheap servicing deal costing just £99! Got me thinking, just how much should you pay for a service?

Neville Gets It All Wrong!

This tickled me: Manchester United star, Gary Neville, filled his petrol fuelled new Audi Q7 with diesel! Unsurprisngly, it then cut out as soon as he turned the key. Apparently he had to call his Dad, Neville Neville (that really tickled me!) to come and pick him up!

Tips on how to cut motoring costs

Just found this article about ways of cutting down motoring costs. Found it really interesting - did you know that if you fill up your tank more frequently, e.g. half a tank at a time, you can improve your fuel economy? Because your car isn't carrying around the extra weight of an additional half tank of fuel it is more efficient. Also, checking the tyre pressure regaularly means that your car will be more fuel efficient and tyres will last longer.

How to change a flat tyre

I'm all for girls getting involved with basic car maintenance. Last week I checked the oil in Stuart's BMW1 Series, put air in the tyres, topped up the screenwash, filled up with diesel and cleaned the car inside and out!

It got me thinking, should I know how to change a tyre incase the necessity ever arises? I have AA membership so have always thought that meant I didn't need to know how to do this. It's not a problem in Stuart's BMW1 Series because it has run-flat tyres. In my Matiz though it might be sensible to know how to use the tyre change kit I have in the boot. (My tyre change kit is insanely girly and even has a mat to kneel on and a pair of gloves so hands don't get dirty!)

Anyway, found this video on youtube and thought it might be useful to anyone else wanting to know how to change a tyre. The comments are all a bit filthy though! Why can't a girl change a tyre without guys making stupid comments?

Ford are making promises...

Ford UK have just unveiled their new marketing campaign. It's based on the Ford standard promise where they claim that thier cars offer more 'as standard' with a good amount of features that you may have to pay more for elsewhere.

Seems like the campaign also hints at 'more as standard' from a customer service point of view from Ford dealers, although I haven't seen any details about this. Could be interesting to see how they develop this though.

From the adverts that they've previewed, looks like the Fiesta and Focus feature quite heavily in the campaign.

Kia Picanto Tops Which? Car magazine’s Reliability Survey

New Kia Picanto

The new Kia Picanto has beaten off fierce competition to top Which? Car magazine’s Reliability Survey for 2010. Owners of the South Korean made supermini gave it a score of 98.1% for reliability.

Kia is the only car firm in the UK which offers a massive seven-year warranty on all their new cars. I’d be pretty tempted with an offer like that; they may not be the sexiest cars in the world but how can you beat seven years of worry-free motoring?

Skoda is the best!

Skoda Fabia

Once seen as a motoring figure of fun, in recent years Skoda has undergone a transformation more dramatic than anything Madonna has ever done to become a respected player in the car industry. Another major achievement came this week when Skoda were named best car manufacturer in an extensive survey by Which? Car magazine.

The Czech company's fortunes turned when it was takeover by Germany's Volkswagen back in 1991 but it’s only in more recent years that Skoda is actually beginning to get the credit it deserves. I had a silver Skoda Fabia a few years ago and really loved it…was devastated when I crashed it into the side of that lorry on the M25. It lived up to its safety rating though, I was fine so would definitely consider another Skoda.

Is Biking Less Stressful than Driving?

Although not a biker myself, I must admit to having a bit of a fascination with Triumph bikes. There's something about these classic British bikes that really grabs my attention but not really sure what it is. Perhaps it's the idea of a bike: less worries about traffic jams and parking, less room to store pointless junk and lower motoring costs.

I'm not entirely convinced, think I would prefer to drive around in a Renault Clio or another small car to avoid the hassle of changing in and out of leathers but still keep the 'easy to park' benefit.

What Car? all set for relaunch but Why?

Apparently, 'What Car?' are relaunching their motoring magazine after a year of customer research. The new look car mag is due to feature more car tests and an A-Z guide to all new cars on sale in the UK. My question is, with all the great information available for free on the internet, will people be fussed about buying a car magazine for advice? Particularly when what car? reviews are available online for free.

Small, sporty and sexy!

The new Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is now available. Looks incredibly fun, sporty and cool and promises the true racing performance that Abarth is famous for. Although the new Abarth 695 may look a little like a sportier version of the Fiat 500, it features a whole bunch of performance features not available in the Fiat range.

The 695 Tributo Ferrari perfectly highlights the link between the Abarth brand and it's home town of Maranello, which it shares with Ferrari. With sporty performance any Ferrari engineer would be proud to put his(/her) name to, the new Abarth 695 is undoubtedly a performance vehicle in every respect.

From the sporty Abarth seats in Alcantara and leather to the three-spoke steering wheel and the electro-hydraulic "Abarth Competizione" gearbox, the Abarth 695 is a truly impressive small sports car. For even more responsive driving and sporty handling, switch to 'SPORT' mode and experience the driving thrills that Abarth has built its reputation on. Just proves that (fortunately) you don't need to be a millionaire to own a truly impressive sports car. You can test drive the new Abarth 695 at Lipscomb Abarth in Kent.

New Alfa Romeo Giulietta Launched

The all new Alfa Romeo Giulietta is due to be released later this month at Lipscomb Alfa Romeo in Kent. This sporty car looks really attractive and is said to offer sporty Alfa Romeo performance in addition to plenty of space and comfort for five passengers.

According to a press release, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta is due to be released at Lipscomb in Kent on 31st July 2010.

New 'Naughty' Volvo has Arrived in Kent

The brand new Volvo S60 promises precise handling, new safety features, powerful engines and stunning design.

The name itself isn't new - the first Volvo S60 launched almost a decade ago. Apparently the new ‘naughty Volvo’ is different from its predecessors and is set to rival Audi and BMW to secure a bigger slice of the premium sports saloon sector. We'll have to wait and see...

London's good for a fine...

Apparently London is the UK's road-fine capital with more fines dished out for road offences in the big smoke than anywhere else in the country. The average London driver is likely to pay out an average of £680 in motoring fines over their lifetime.

Drivers in the North-West were the next worst-off with the average fines over their lifetime reaching £352! Drivers in Northern Ireland were the least likely to commit motoring offences (or get caught doing so!) with the lowest number of motoring fines of anywhere in the UK. Motoring law is a tricky subject indeed!

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car - when did it become a Kia Ce'ed?!

Watched Top Gear again the other day and thoroughly enjoyed the escapades of the three motoring musketeers as they attempted to design and build their own 'cool' versions of the motorhome, was hilarious!

Then noticed that the star in a reasonably priced car now has a new car! How have I not yet noticed this? It was the new Kia Ce'ed and actually looked pretty cool! Andy Garcia (despite the awful moustache!) seemed to manage a pretty good lap in it and it looked rather impressive on the top gear track. Perhaps a Kia is the way forward? Haven't heard Jeremy Clarkson say anything bad about it yet which usually means it's good!

Land Rover Gets a Posh Makeover

Wow, apparently Victoria Beckham has developed another set of skills (well, let's face it she couldn't really sing or dance!)

Posh Spice has joined the Land Rover design team to work on their new special edition Baby Land Rover.  Extending her design talents from the world of fashion and perfumes into the world of cars doesn't seem like too much of a leap and I reckon that Mrs Beckham will do a fab job of designing the new Land Rover.

Quite fancy myself in Ibiza...

That is a Seat Ibiza SC, rather than the 'White Isle' after which it is named!

One of my friends bought a new Seat Ibiza last week and took me out for a spin it in at the weekend. I must say, I was very impressed!

It looked great, was really quiet, seemed really well put together, apparently is pretty good with petrol and the boot was even big enough for all our shopping bags after a day out at Bluewater, can't be bad!

Maybe I do still want a convertible...

After all my umming and ahhing between a convertible and a regular car, I thought I'd settled on a regular car, but then read this article and thought again. I do still really want a convertible and would really love to experience the sunshine in an open-top car.

Really love the Audi A4 convertible and also the BMW 1 Series convertible. They're both like proper cars with the added benefit that the roof can come down so are still pretty practical too. Although, Stuart is still banging on about getting a Mini Cooper convertible, not too sure about this...will there be enough room for all my shopping bags?!

Kia aim for global appeal

Kia's Chief Designer, Peter Schreyer, has stated that he wants Kia to have global appeal, starting with the new Kia Sportage.

I think it looks pretty awesome personally, really love the styling and sporty looks of this car - could be pretty cool. Although, couldn't be much further from the 2-seat sports car I've been dreaming about! Hubby says I need a front wheel drive car that can cope in the snow because his BMW 1 Series doesn't do all that well in bad weather.

Might pop into the new Kia Eastbourne showroom while we're down that way this weekend. Quite fancy having a nosy at the new Kia Sportage.

Why you've gotta love Top Gear!

Just found this article about Top Gear. It's back on TV this Sunday and apparently will be more about motoring and less about the silly stunts. I quite like all the silly stunts though, think it makes the show so much more accessible and much more entertaining!

Famous examples include the American Road Trip (does anyone remember the 'Man Love' truck?), the cross-channel adventure and the Toyota pick-up! Looking forward to the boys being back on the air this Sunday eve. Now that Jack Bauer is no longer dominating my Sunday nights, this will be a welcome return for a great British classic show!

Are you eating 2 days worth of extra calories per week?

Just read that apparently motorists consume around 4,000 calories of food and drink a week while at the wheel. A survey by Kia has shown that as many as 56% of drivers much while motoring. Chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks topped the lists according to the poll by Kia Motors.

Popular reasons for the snacking include 38% saying they had always eaten and drunk while driving, while 43% of people surveyed claim that snacking relieves boredom. That’s a lot of calories to consume! My annual mileage last year was only around 4,000 miles so surely this can't be true for low mileage drivers? If it is true, that’s around one calorie per mile!

Glamping It Up!

Haha, just read a brilliant article about 'glamping' and am extremely intrigued!

Essentially glamping is just posh camping but some of the ideas out there are pretty cool, like the luxury tents with hot-tubs and four poster beds! It seems to be becoming a bit of a trend and is, therefore, not cheap! Although if you share with another couple of family it becomes much more reasonable. Plus, even regular camping isn't that cheap these days (so I've heard!)

Another problem with 'glamping' is that I'd want to pack a hell of a lot more for a camping trip than I would for most holidays. So would need some kind of roof racks or roof boxes for that extra luggage space. Overall though, glamping sounds like something I could get into!

Top Tip - reverse into parking spaces to reduce carbon footprint!

Apparently, if you reverse into parking spaces at night you'll save fuel and reduce your carbon footprint - reversing out of a space in the morning when the engine is cold uses a lot of fuel. There's something I'd never thought of! Also, apparently you can organise a 'smarter driving course' from the Energy Saving Trust for £15 per driver. Don't know if this is only for companies or private individuals too.

Why women prefer speed to economy

According to a recent survey by TRL, around 45% of men said they would reduce their speed to save fuel, whereas only 37% of women said the same.

Admittedly, I fall into the 37% category - when I drive my little Matiz on the motorway, I keep to around 68mph as I've found that gives me the best fuel economy. Having said that, I can understand why some women might prefer a little speed every now and again:
a). there's the fact that we take longer to get ready and are therefore more likely to be in a rush
b). women are more likely to have busy social calendars due to an inherent desire to make everyone else happy
c.) there's an argument to say that controlling the speed at which we drive gives us an element of control in an otherwise uncontrollable world
d.) if, as modern working women, we're picking up the fuel bill who is anyone else to argue with us?

Electric cars could take over sooner than we thought

Apparently Mercedes are planning to install electric charging bays across the UK in preparation for the electric car takeover! To me this seems a little premature, I must admit but I'm sure that Mercedes-Benz know what they're doing.

Apparently the Mercedes owned brand, Smart, will soon be launching the popular Smart for two car as an electric vehicle. It will be known as the Smart for Two Electric Drive and will be in production by 2012. So maybe these electric charging stations are not a waste of time at all?

Who doesn't like a nickname?

Just read an article in The Telegraph about how Chevrolet have sent out a company-wide memo asking staff in the US to stop referring to the brand as 'chevy.'

This seems a little odd to me. Surely, the fact that the company has a nickname means it is familiar to people and that can only be a good thing? Apparently the recent desire to lose the popular 'chevy' nickname stems from their new advertising agency who have claimed that it is bad for their brand. Said agency then went on to cite the success of big brands such as Apple and Coke...is it me or is Coke not a nickname for Coca Cola?! I for one still plan on calling Chevrolet 'Chevy' and they can't stop me!

£1 million pounds of used car savings

Apparently, the used car supermarket I mentioned in my last blog post (The Car Shop) have some kind of price reduction event that woks out at £1 million of used car savings across all their stock. According to the annoying drop down box on their website, the savings are because the book price of used cars has dropped? Does that now mean that my Matiz is worth less? Not that it matters, think my little bro will be buying it.

Another reason why not to drink drive...

As if you really needed another reason not to drink and drive, this drink driver appears not to notice the toll booth and ends up flying over it!

Of course I hope no-one was hurt, but further proof that drink-driving is not big or clever! see the video of drunk driver jumping toll booth here.

Will this car fit in my shopping bag?

It seems like a strange concept so, naturally, I'm intrigued. As a self-confessed shopaholic and car fan, the idea of a used car supermarket appeals to me on more than one level. However, surely the idea of a supermarket for cars is a little over the top? They don't fit in your trolley and you can't carry them away in a shopping bag, so what makes it a car supermarket? I guess it's because they have a bigger choice, rather than because they sell baked beans!

Subaru Legacy - Japan's safest car

The new Subaru Legacy has just been named Japan's safest car in the JNCAP assessments - making this the third year in a row that the manufacturer has been recognised for its high levels of safety.

Subaru were first recognised by JNCAP for their high safety standards back in 2007. Cars credited include the Subaru Impreza, the Subaru Forester and the Subaru Exiga.

Since safety is one of the biggest factors for me when choosing my next car, I'll definitely be looking at a Subaru.

Happy 60th Birthday to the VW Campervan - that's unbelievable!

Happy birthday to the VW Campervan which is now, unbelievably 60 years old!

Even though not a camper myself, I do love these and have always quite fancied disappearing off for a weekend in the sunshine in a VW campervan. Apparently you can rent them for just that sort of thing, which is cool. However, the lack of running water, loo, etc may still put me off!

Think I would rather buy a new Volkswagen and drive to a swanky hotel but the idea of a VW campervan holiday does still seem quite romantic, at least in theory!

Does nobody celebrate their 60th birthday these days?

Firstly, congratulations to SEAT on reaching a milestone 60th birthday. It has been 60 years this week since the company was established in Barcelona in 1950. Although it's weird that such a huge anniversary is not being celebrated. The SEAT website itself doesn't mention the 60th birthday and none of the SEAT dealers seem to be making a big deal of it. Come on SEAT - you're only young, let your hair down and go celebrate!

Might be getting an MG convertible - watch this space!

So, the opportunity has arisen for me to finally own the car I have been lusting after for many years...an MG F convertible.

Only problem is that the car in question has a dodgy battery so will need to get that sorted first. Fortunately I have a mechanic friend who is pretty confident that the problem is easy to solve and my garage are really great so will check it over and fit a new battery for a very reasonable price.

I have car insurance sorted and my AA breakdown cover is valid for any car I drive so that's good too. Have the car for the weekend on a 'try before you buy' type basis but I'm sure I'm going to love it then my garage will fix it up for me on Monday morning! Yay!

You may be wondering where the Matiz will be going, it wont be going far. I'll keep her as well and my little brother will also look after Lily K the Matiz!

Exciting times! :)

Volcanic Ash = more UK holidays by car

Apparently, due to the volcanic ash, more and more people are packing up their cars and opting for a drive holiday rather than a fly holiday.

I can actually see the sense in this - why worry about your holiday when you should be looking forward to it? However, I can't see all my luggage for a holiday fitting in my tiny Matiz! A pretty ingenius solution, as pointed out in this volcanic ash article, is to have roof rails fitted to the car.

I would not have even thought about this but am now considering it for my next car. The new Chevrolet Spark that I wanted a while back, is available with roof rails on the LT model. Alternatively, you can buy roof rails from an online parts store like Birchwood Ford Parts.

Don't know about a holiday in the UK though - think I would still have to go abroad but could maybe look at driving to France or Spain.

V Cute Electric Car

Japanese car manufacturer, Mitsubishi, have just launched their first electric car, the iMiev and it's insanely cute!

I have to admit that with a range of just 70 miles, it's a bit unpractical but still a real breakthrough. Apparently it even has plenty of space for four tall adults to fit into it.

Had a funny thought, will telling our kids we had to fill our cars with petrol be like my parents telling me they watched black&white TVs?

http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/04/21/come-ride-me-all-electric-mitsubishi-imiev/

Toyota Takes on the Volcano!

Ok, so this isn't particularly girly but is pretty cool!

The Toyota Hilux has been used to monitor the Icelandic volcano due to the car's tough reputation. The Hilux was the first car to cross the Arctic to the magnetic North Pole and was also the subject of a Top Gear show in which they tried, and failed, to destroy the Toyota in a number of imaginative ways!

Flights may have only just started up but the Hilux has been all over the volcano in the meantime! Toyota and Volcano pic

An eco-sports car?

Just read an article on Digg about the new Lotus Elise and was thrilled to find out that there are some sports cars out there that are not completely destructive to the environment! The new Lotus Elise boasts the lowest C02 emissions for performance in the world and does 45 miles to the gallon (apparently that's pretty good for a sports car!) My nearest Lotus dealer is in Maidstone so may pop along and take a look - slightly out of my price range at the moment but good to know about for the future...and for dreaming about a little too! Lipscomb Lotus in Maidstone seem to have a really nice looking showroom so may go and be nosy! http://www.lipscomb.co.uk/lotus

I'd prefer David Beckham naked!

This is ridiculous - apparently views of scenic countryside are more distracting to drivers than the Armani advert of David Beckham in nothing more than a pair of pants! I have to ask who were car insurance company Zurich aiming their survey at?

According to Zurich, the Top 10 distractions for motorists recorded in their survey were:

• 1. Attractive women
• 2. Stonehenge (& other heritage sites)
• 3. Yorkshire Dales (& other scenic views)
• 4. Flocks of birds
• 5. Angel of the North (& other art installations)
• 6. Ferraris and other supercars
• 7. Shop window displays
• 8. Attractive men
• 9. The David Beckham advert for Armani
• 10. Roadside graffiti

Methinks the advert may have had a few more male participants than females - otherwise naked Beckham would have been way further up the list! Oh, and also men find attractive women the biggest distraction when driving with 2/3 of men surveyed claiming that the find the opposite sex very distracting!

Saving money on car running costs = More to spend on shoes!

Top 10 tips to run your car more efficiently

With petrol prices getting close to record highs again, here are a few tips to help make your car more efficient and therefore cheaper to run = more money for shoes! You’ll be surprised at how just a few simple changes can make your car run more smoothly and feel more fun to drive as well as saving you money.

• 1. Do you really need to drive?
That’s the question you should ask yourself every time you go to pick up your car keys. Most wear and tear happens when the engine’s cold and it can take around three miles of normal driving before cars are up to their proper working temperature. If you can, why not consider leaving the car at home and walking to the shops? It will be far better for both you and your car (think how much better your favourite little black dress will look once you’ve dropped a couple of pounds!) Not only does walking instead of driving for short journeys save harmful wear and tear to the car, it also saves fuel (v expensive at the mo) and the planet (a modern car's pollution-catching catalytic converter can take up to six miles of normal driving before it works effectively).
• 2. Clean up your act!
Keeping your car clean and tidy can actually save you money! Not only does cleaning your car on a regular basis help to protect its value and make driving safer, it can also improve your car's efficiency. If your car resembles more of a travelling wardrobe than a car, it’s time for a clear-out! The weight saved will help reduce your car's fuel consumption = more money for shoes! It's also worth polishing up the body of your car as a sleek, clean car cuts through the air much more easily than a muck-spattered motor. Don’t forget to hose down the underside too.
• 3. Healthy car = low costs = more money for shoes!
Routine maintenance is a sound idea for any car as it helps ensure that it is reliable and safe as well as efficient. A little time spent keeping your car in the best of health can avoid a lot of hassle and expense later on. Make sure to do the simple things, check the oil and the water are toped up and don't let any warning light go unheeded. Come on ladies, we can totally do that!
• 4. Under-pressure
Think about it - tyres are one of the most important parts of your car and the only thing keeping you in touch with the ground. As a general rule, check your tyre pressure every time you fill up the tank. Tyres at the correct air pressure will help reduce fuel consumption, reduce noise and wear, and allow the car to steer and handle as it should. Under-inflated tyres can reduce fuel economy by up to 15 percent. Also, make sure that the tread has plenty of depth and look out for any stones or nails that may cause a puncture. Cheap replacement tyres can be a false economy as many wear more quickly. Look for a quality name at an affordable price – just as would do with a pair of staple black shoes.
• 5. Is it really that hot?
There's nothing more refreshing than a cool blast of air conditioning on a hot day but be aware that air conditioning can reduce fuel economy by up to 10 percent, so using it selectively can save you a bundle of cash when it comes to refilling the tank. Let’s face it though, it’s not that hot in the UK! However, not using your car's air con regularly can lead to some expensive repair bills so even in winter, it’s recommend that you should switch on the air conditioning for a short period every week to keep it working in fine order – just remember to switch it off when you’re done!
• 6. Wind up that window!
Just as air conditioning can lower fuel economy by up to 10 percent, driving with the windows and sunroof open can also increase fuel consumption by the same amount. When driving around town, open windows are fine, just remember to wind them up when heading out onto freer flowing roads and motorways.
• 7. You’re a smoothie!
Driving smoothly is always a good idea both for the car and also for your fuel consumption. Harsh braking and acceleration make the car do a lot more work, use more fuel and cause greater wear on certain parts such as the clutch, brakes and tyres. Look ahead and anticipate what other cars around you are likely to do. This way, you can adapt your driving in advance to avoid sudden changes, so your driving will be smoother and passengers will have a more relaxing journey too.
• 8. Shop around
Any savvy shopaholic knows that shopping around is the best way to a bargain, yet many drivers don't shop around enough when it comes to their cars. Everything from servicing to petrol is available at a keener price if you spend a little time doing your research.
• 9. Remember the 5 Ps!
Proper planning prevents poor performance: plan your route online before heading out to see if there are any likely hold-ups or delays. On your daily commute, try organising a car-share where you can pick up colleagues to share the cost of fuel and parking. The little extra distance you may have to travel will easily be offset by the split costs, and you’ll have someone to have a natter with on your way to and from work.
• 10. R&R does you good
Everyone hates being stuck in traffic jams, so why not use that otherwise wasted time for a little R&R? As long as you've allowed plenty of time for your journey, an occasional hold-up shouldn't cause a problem. So sit back and keep calm: turn on the radio or plug in your MP3 player, let a bit of fresh air in and drink some water as staying hydrated is proven to help driver alertness. If it’s clear that the traffic isn't moving, turn off the engine and wait until the queue begins to move before restarting. This simple practice will save you money in fuel and taking control in this way will make you feel better rather than more stressed.

So there you have it, 10 simple tips to help save you money on your car running costs and leave you with more money for the important things in life, namely shoes, clothes and chocolate!

Sexy cars for girls!

True to my word, I have done a little bit of research and have come up with what I think are the sexiest cars for girls! This list is based purely on my personal perception of what makes a car sexy and has very little to do with engine size, horsepower, etc and a lot to do with looks - who are we kidding girls, looks do matter!

Some of these sexy cars for girls are more affordable than others but this is more a fantasy wish-list than anything else! I'm pretty sure if I won the lottery, I'd buy more than one of these cars tomorrow!

• The streamlined and stylish Renault Megane Coupe
• The very sexy Audi TT
• The world's best-selling roadster Mazda MX5
• The sleek, sassy and stylish Mercedes SLK
• The gorgeous and surprisingly affordable Vauxhall Astra Twintop
• The incredibly sexy and stunning Lotus Europa - all I can say is wow! (Always loved a Lotus and they are definitely designed for girls, or else why would the pedals be so small?)
• The sporty Mazda RX8 - a sports car with bags of style and sex appeal!
• The rather powerful Seat Ibiza Cupra - probably aimed more at boys but sometimes girls crave a little power, sports seats and alloys - they make it look damn sexy in Fast and the Furious!
• The elegant and sophisticated Citroen C5 - not what you'd expect from Citroen in terms of styling. Perfect for girls looking for a stylish car to rack up some motorway miles in
• Last, but by no means least, is the unique and intriguing BMW Z4

Feel free to add to this list, challenge any of my suggestions or put these sexy cars for girls in order from 1-10. Until I win the lottery I may have to keep on dreaming!

Ultimate girly cars in the movies!

While compiling my recent list of the top ten most girly cars around, I couldn't stop thinking about the pink car that Lady Penelope rode around in on Thunderbirds and it got me thinking, which are the cutest girly cars in the movies?!

Top Ten Girly Cars in Movies

• The blue Ford Thunderbird from Thelma and Louise
• The pink Porsche Boxter driven by Elle in Legally Blonde
• The candy pink Audi TT driven by Elle in Legally Blonde 2
• The FAB1 - Lady Penelope's car from Thunderbirds
• The Lotus Esprit that Julia Roberts drove in Pretty Woman (more just for the fact that it was in Pretty Woman!)
• The Mini Cooper that Charlize Theron drove in the remake of the Italian Job
• The iconic Volkswagen Beetle - Herbie!

Need to have a little think about the others and will have to update this list!

Top Ten Girly Cars!

It is my aim to compile a list of the top ten girly cars around at the mo. The below is in no particular order, just a bunch of girly cars that I like. Perhaps if anyone in cyberspace is reading this, they can help me number these cars in order of girliness?!

Top Ten Most Girly Cars

• The diddy and incredibly cute Ford Ka and Ford StreetKa
• The VW Beetle - to make it even more girly go for the pink convertible version and the flower on the dashboard
• Ok, so am being a little biased with this one but only because I love it so much! Chevrolet Matiz
• The ever-popular Ford Fiesta - go for a truly girly colour like purple and some glitzy accessories to make this car even more girly
• An Audi TT Convertible - this is a gorgeous girly car, particularly like it in red
• The world's best-selling roadster, the Mazda MX-5. Granted this is not purely a girly car and it could be argued that this is a unisex roadster but come on, it looks far too small and sexy to be anything other than a girly car!
• Mini Cooper - ok, so this is more of a unisex car but it still has to make the list for being so cute!
• Being so undeniably girly and so small it could almost fit in your handbag, the petite Renault Twingo is a fabulous girly car
• The uber-sexy BMW Z4 oozes style and, although not cute and cuddly, will make you feel amazing when you take it out for a spin! Plus, can be picked up for a pretty good price as a used car
• Again, another cute little run-around, the zippy Citroen C1

Looking back over this list, think I may have favoured the cute little cars too much (with the exception of the awesome BMW Z4). Maybe I should also compile a list of sexy cars for girls? That'll be the next project - watch this space!

Sparky and sparkly!

In my hunt for a girly new car, I've just come across the new Chevrolet Spark. This car has loads of customisable features like the sparkly graphics that can be added to the side of the car and the matching sparkly mats too!

Quite like the fact that it's a 4-door car but looks like a 2-door car (the back door handles are hidden!) and also like the cool sports bumpers, chrome front grille and rear spoiler - I'm not a girl-racer, I just think these features happen to work well on the Chevrolet Spark.

Shame there aren't more girly colours - like dusky pink - and also would be good to have even more customisation options but all in all, I quite like this car!

Saving the world - one new car at a time!

So, the government's recent scrappage scheme was supposed to get the old bangers off the road and replace them with new, more fuel efficient, less polluting 'green' cars which has put a thought in my head...

In my quest for a new car, I've been mainly drawn to the swish looking convertibles but it turns out that some of these are not particularly good for the environment. With all the hype about global warming and the environment, I've been having a look at a few Ford cars which offer a fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly option than my car. The Ford Ka looks like quite a nippy little car and has great fuel efficiency and low road tax so could be a good option although may be a tiny bit too small for me.

Also like the Ford Fiesta Econetic which is one of the UK's most fuel efficient family cars, C02 emmissions are just 98g/km.

The new Ford Focus Econetic offers another attractive option and would perhaps be more comfortable for my husband to drive too. A little big bigger than any other car I've previously owned but maybe now I'm growing up (apparently!) a bigger car could be the way to go.

Been reading an article all about green cars and how the government are investing millions into new greener car technologies so seems like this is an area that is only going to grow and develop.

The quest continues!

Used cars in Kent and Sussex

Still searching for the perfect used car in the Kent or West Sussex area. The used Ford StreetKa that I quite liked has now gone but it looks like there are still quite a few used cars at Lifestyle Europe that I could choose from.

Still considering a small car so a used Renault Clio could be a good bet, also used Renault Twingo, used Ford Fiesta, used Ford Focus or a used Mazda 2 might work - too much choice!

The other consideration is how long I want to have my new car for and whether I should go for something a little bigger as I may want some more space in a few years time. In that case, would be looking for something along the lines of a family sized car like a used Mazda 5, a used Mazda 6 or a used Ford Mondeo - hatchback of course.

Could go even bigger (to cater for any eventuality) and go for a used Ford Galaxy or the very cool used Ford Kuga. However, I think that maybe a mid-sized car is the compromise. Although still can't shake the feeling that I really want to throw caution to the wind, abandon all logic and just buy a convertible! Ah well, I'm sure it'll all work out somehow.

Girl buying a used car

Ok, so I would like to buy a car to replace my little Daewoo, as much as I love the little Matiz it's probably time for a change now the car is 8 years old. Thinking of going for a used car from a local dealer. I've been trawling the web and it looks like Lifestyle Europe have a lot of dealerships so a fair amount of choice. So far, have seen a great value used Ford Streetka...yes I'm still banging that old 'I want a convertible' drum! Along the more sensible lines, I'm also considering a 2006 reg used Ford Fiesta, a 2005 reg used Ford Focus, a silver used Renault Clio, a 2006 reg used Ford Fusion and a very cute 2007 reg bright red used Ford Ka - then my nails definitely would match my car!

Must re-paint my nails bright orange to match my car...apparently!

At the Geneva motor show Volvo decided to unveil a range of accessories to match their cars. Fair enough, but am I the only one who has never once considered whether or not my nails match my car?

Among the accessories that Volvo has unveiled to match its cars are a range of nail polishes, driving gloves and weekend bags - all of which actually look pretty cool if you ask me. Would be so much fun to start up a company selling accessories to match your car, that would be cool!

Now this seed of thought has been planted in my head, I would actually quite like to go out shopping for a pair of burnt orange driving gloves to match my little orange matiz although won't be painting my nails to match just yet!