Guest Post:: Cool Mum Car

As a soon-to-be first time mum, I put off the task of shopping for a new car for as long as I could! The thought of trading in my stylish little convertible for a more practical family car was not appealing to me! Now the summer is coming to an end and the baby bump is a constant reminder that my two-seater convertible just won't do anymore, I need to set about the serious business of family car shopping!

Living on the outskirts of London, I've always found that small cars are best. I love the convenience of being able to park them in tight city spaces and can't face the idea of manouevering a large people carrier into an average London parking space. After shopping for baby bits and bobs in Selfridges the other day I came across a Fiat dealer in central London. I didn't actually realise there were any Fiat dealers in the city but decided to bite the bullet and start car shopping.

I was actually pleasantly surprised. Along with family practicality, my two key requirements were style and small. I found the Fiat 500 and really loved it! As a small car, I didn't think that it would be big enough but actually there was plenty of room for a child seat inside and a buggy in the boot. It comes in loads of cool colours and is even available as a limited edition Fiat 500 Gucci model - definitely a cool mum car!

The best thing though is that I don't have to give up driving a convertible. The Fiat 500C has a retractable roof so me and baby will be able to enjoy the summer breezes too! Morale of the story: there is such a thing as a cool mum car, thank goodness! (Just to clarify: this is a guest post from my friend Charlotte; I am not expecting a baby but am very pleased for her. To clarify further, she will most definitely be a cool mum!)

New Fiat Panda from only £99 per month

While looking at the below Fiat 500, I came across a Fiat Panda offer from only £99 per month. Seems like a fantastic offer to me, not that I need a new Panda but if I did that woul be a pretty good deal!

Although the words 'Fiat Panda' conjure up visions of the hideous old car my first boyfriend drove, this car has transformed to share nothing more than the name and subtle styling details with its predecessor. An MP3-compatible stereo system, a 'city' mode to make driving in and parking in tight spaces easier plus a generous 206 litres of boot that increases to 236 litres with sliding rear seats. There's even a 4x4 version too!

New Fiat 500

A good friend of mine recently purchased a new Fiat 500 and I must say, I was very impressed! I had always thought that a 500 would be too small and would lack power but it turns out that neither of those things are true! As well as having plenty of space to seat 2 adults in the back, the new Fiat 500 also has a fair bit of power behind it too and was nippy up hills and along the motorway.

Better still, the new Fiat 500 is available in a huge range of colours both inside and out and special editions include the new Fiat 500 by Gucci (pictured above). Loving that this combines the Italian style of two iconic brands - stylish and fun!

Fiat in London

For those who follow technology and fun, modern design, Fiat has become an increasingly attractive choice in recent years. The current Fiat range includes the economical Fiat Panda, the family-friendly Fiat Doblo and the stylish Fiat 500. Fiat in London has become particularly popular as there are numerous small cars in the range that are simple to park and more green meaning that they are excluded from the London congestion charge.

If you are searching for a great deal on a new or used Fiat in London, contact Fiat Marylebone. As a leading Fiat dealer in London, they offer the full range of new Fiat cars in addition to an fantastic selection of used cars. Fiat offers in London include a new Fiat in London from just £99 per month, making it affordable to drive a new Fiat in the capital city.

Other elements that add to the draw of Fiat in London include the popularity of the brand with numerous celebs including Tara Palmer Tompkinson, Florence & the Machine, supermodel Elle McPherson and others.

To find out more about buying a Fiat in London, contact Fiat Marylebone. Whether you are looking for a new Fiat in London or a used Fiat in London, you’ll find the perfect car to meet your needs with friendly advice available too.

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!