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Budget 2014: Fuel Duty freeze, Classic Car VED & £200 million for potholes

No fuel tax increase, and 40 year rolling road tax exemption for cars. Most of the 2014 Budget headlines are about cuts in cost for beer and bingo and help for pension prisoners held to ransom by annuity regulations. But in amongst there’s some good news for motorists; nothing that will change your world, but welcome nonetheless.

MINI First introduced

MINI has a new budget model - The MINI First With all things Eco the flavour of the month, and with budgets stretched in households everywhere, a cheap, entry-level budget MINI is a tempting prospect. You still get the iconic shape, and you still get a very good chassis – which translates in to good handling and a decent ride – but you’re not paying a fortune for the fripperies. After all, there are MINIs that will set you back £25k (the MINI JCW Cabriolet), but the new MINI First is a very tempting £10,950.

2013 Ford Fiesta ST: Price from £16,995

The 2013 Ford Fiesta ST will cost from £16,995 when it arrives in Ford’s UK showrooms in March, with an extra £1,000 buying the Fiesta ST2. But now, with the Fiesta ST about to arrive as a three door in UK showrooms (the 5 door Fiesta ST will be sold in the US), Ford has come up with prices and specs for their hot Fiesta. The regular Fiesta ST will get some butch bumpers, a set of 17″ alloys, suspension lowered by 15mm, tinted glass, Recaro seats, DAB and AirCon, and if you want to spoil yourself you can opt for the Fiesta ST2 which adds in LED headlights, keyless start, part leather seats and climate.