Chevrolet Malibu Ignition W/key 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 on 2040-parts.com

56% of drivers 'underestimated car expense'

MORE THAN half of people who have bought a second-hand car in the last two years have found it more expensive to run than they expected, according to a Government-backed body. Some 56% of motorists said that total cost, including maintenance, repairs, insurance and fuel had turned out to be higher than anticipated and one in five drivers (20%) have resorted to going into debt just to keep their vehicle on the road, the Money Advice Service (MAS) found. One in four (26%) of the 3,000 people surveyed who have bought a second-hand car since 2012 now has regrets about their purchase, with many of them saying they had not worked out whether it was really affordable or that the purchase price was too much in the first place.

Mercedes S Class production cut as sales fall

Mercedes is cutting production of the range topping S Class to a one shift operation as sales fall ahead of the new 2013 S Class. But there are now plenty of signs that even premium car makers are not immune from the economic climate – particularly in Europe – as sales start to slide. We recently commented that Jaguar sales are not as strong as they were and now it seems Mercedes is starting to feel the punch as sales of the range-topping S Class falter.

Brabus tunes Mercedes S-class for Frankfurt motor show

German tuner Brabus is working its magic on the new-generation Mercedes-Benz S-class for the Frankfurt motor show, the Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo iBusiness. The clumsily named sedan comes with an iPad mini that can control all COMAND functions from the back seat. Of course, Brabus wouldn't be here without adding gobs of power to the normally staid S-class.