Honda Accord Notched Chrome Brass License Plate Frame on 2040-parts.com

Money Advice Service’s Online Tool Helps Buyers Choose Wisely

NEW researched published by the Government-backed Money Advice Service (MAS) has found more than half of people who purchased a used car underestimated the running costs. Some 56% of motorists said that total cost, including maintenance, repairs, insurance and fuel had turned out to be higher than anticipated, while one in five (20%) have resorted to going into debt just to keep their vehicle on the road. 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.

Better Place Electric Car visitor centre opens

Better Place have opened a visitor centre in Israel to demonstrate their battery swap technology for electric cars Last October we wrote about a start-up company in Israel – Better Place – that had a new way forward for electric cars by taking the purchase of battery packs out of the equation, and was developing a system for ‘Battery Swap’ stations where electric car owners could drive in and swap their battery pack for a fully-charged one in a few minutes. That story first brought to our attention our favourite quote of last year – by Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn – who said “A hybrid is like a mermaid: if you want a fish, you get a woman; if you want a woman, you get a fish.” Which probably explained why Nissan – and its partner Renault – got involved with Better Place. Better Place aims to address the main concerns of electric car drivers by making the battery packs in electric cars ‘swappable’.

BAIC C70G

The BAIC C70 debuted at the 2012 Beijing International Motor Show and is based on the previous-generation Saab 9-5. The C70G, designed by Pininfarina, retains the X-shaped brand badge, which derives the Chinese word ‘Bei', meaning North. Although the exterior design of the car is slightly conservative, elents such as the sharp feature lines found adorning the car's sides mean the C70G remains sleek and elegant.