Proto 3/8" Drive 1-3/8" Crowsfoot Socket Wrench An8506-16 on 2040-parts.com

Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Win a ride in an Aston Martin V8 Rally GT

As promised in the new March 2010 issue of CAR magazine, here's your chance to win a few laps in an Aston Martin V8 Rally GT – piloted by current British rally champ Keith Cronin. This once-in-a-lifetime ride in the race-spec Aston takes place at Race Retro, Europe's premiere historic motorsport show. The Vantage is a rare racing version, developed by Aston Martin and Prodrive in 2006.

Geneva motor show 2009 A-Z preview and review

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 04 March 2009 11:00 Welcome to CAR Online's coverage from the 2009 Geneva motor show. This is your one-stop shop for news, photographs, blogs, video, analysis and comment on every new car launch. Click on our quick links below to jump to our new content:• The CAR blog live from Geneva• Videos of new cars at Geneva - video footage has been moved to page 2• A-Z of every new car launch• Photo gallery from Geneva• News from CAR's reader reportersFULL A-Z OF EVERY NEW CAR• Alfa Romeo Mito GTA concept • Aston Martin DBS Volante and One-77• Audi A4 Allroad and TT RS• Bentley Continental Supersports biofuel• BMW Concept 5-series Gran Turismo• Bugatti Veyron Blue Centenaire• Chevrolet Spark• Citroen DS Inside concept• Dacia Duster concept• Ferrari 599XX and HGTE• Fiat 500C convertible• Ford Iosis Max concept• Honda Insight hybrid car• Hyundai ix-onic concept• Infiniti Essence concept• Jaguar XFR and XKR• Kia No.3 concept MPV • Lagonda Concept car• Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce• Lexus RX450h hybrid SUV• Maserati Granturismo S Automatic• Maybach 57 and 62 Zeppelin• Mazda 3 MPS• Mercedes E-class saloon and E-class Coupe• Mini John Cooper Works Convertible• Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air• Nissan Qazana• Opel Ampera• Peugeot 3008• Porsche 911 GT3 and Cayenne diesel• Renaultsport Megane 250 and new Scenic/ Grand Scenic and Renaultsport Clio 200• Rinspeed iChange and E2• Rolls-Royce EX200 concept• Saab 9-3X• Seat Exeo ST and Leon and Altea facelifts• Skoda Yeti and Octavia Greenline and Fabia Scout• Toyota Verso and Prius• VW Polo 12.10pm Nearly the endI'm flying back to Blighty at 2.00pm, so my time at Geneva is drawing to an end.