Dorman Hw17388 Parking Brake Hardware Kit 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.

Half of drivers try home fixes

ALMOST HALF of the UK’s drivers have tried to fix their car at home with help from an online video rather than take it to a garage. A study by breakeryard.com shows two-fifths of drivers use videos from websites such as Youtube to learn how to fix their car. The study also showed that more than half (54%) had also tried to fix their car at home to save money on repair bills.

McLaren P1 (2013): powertrain revealed with 903bhp and electric driving

McLaren has revealed first details of the P1 supercar's hybrid powertrain. The headlines are: a combined 903bhp, 664lb ft, and the ability to drive 6.3 miles on zero-emission electric power. McLaren P1 powertrain: the details The engine is, as expected, an uprated version of the 12C's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8.