Super Small Cars

Ka Tattoo

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:54:00 +0000

New Ford Ka

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:26:00 +0000

Mini Cooper S vs Fiat 500 Abarth vs Seat Ibiza Bocanegra

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:31:00 +0000

DS3 vs Mini

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:15:00 +0000

Citroen DS3

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:03:00 +0000

Meet Citroen DS3, the first of the DS range. This beauty, like others, can be personalized to fit your style.

The engine ranges from 1.4-1.6 with hp of 95-150.

Take a sneak peak of the interior.

Personalizable chrome or matt, quilted or fine leather

really cool

gracious space inside

Spacious boot

Britain's cheapest electric car sells out

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:50:00 +0000

UK Cars Yahoo!

The first affordable, mass-marketed electric car, the Nissan Leaf, has already sold out - before it has even appeared in showrooms.

The Japanese company has been overrun with orders for the Leaf since it introduced a refundable deposit scheme in the US and Japan. It has received 13,000 reservations for the Leaf in the States since last month and 6,000 reservations in Japan.

Chairman and CEO of the Nissan-Renault Alliance, Carlos Ghosn, noted that it was individual customers that placed the others rather than fleets.

Earlier this month, Nissan announced that the Leaf will cost £23,350 when it goes on sale in February 2011 in the UK. That will make it the most affordable all-electric car on the market, though the total cost incorporates a £5,000 grant from the Government.

Together, Nissan and Renault expect to build 500,000 electric cars from eight models by 2013. The companies also expect ten percent of their cars to be electric within a decade.

The Leaf will be produced at Nissan's factory in Sunderland.

Jack Carfrae

Five first cars for new drivers

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:53:00 +0000

From UK Cars Yahoo!

There's nothing better than passing your driving test. Well, actually there is: getting your first set of wheels.

Choosing the right first car can be a minefield of balancing the dream drive against running costs and the price of insurance. You want something stylish but your pockets say otherwise.

We have the solution with five fun and slick starter motors for the just-passed-the-test driver.

Every one we have chosen comes with a realistic price to pay and all should be in very good all-round condition for the cash with plenty of life left to entertain you.

Crucially, all are cheap to own and come with safety kit to keep you safe on your first foray into car ownership.

Car: Citroen C2
Year: 2004
Cost: £2,000

Citroen's C2 is so cheap to run it almost costs more to walk. There are plenty to choose from, but for first-time drivers the 1.1-litre petrol engine gives an easy introduction to driving on your own.

The five-speed manual gearbox is light, the engine nippy and the C2's compact size makes it easier to park than a bicycle. Problems are few, but check the rear brakes have not seized, especially if the car has been sat on a dealer's forecourt for a few weeks. Otherwise, the C2 is a fun-sized first car, though this also means rear seat space is limited for your mates.

Look for a 2004 1.1 LX with 65,000 miles for around £2,000 and you'll bag a great starter car that's also cheap to insure, service and fuel thanks to 48mpg economy.

Car: Fiat Panda
Year: 2004
Cost: £2,500

You may have expected us to plump for the Fiat Punto over the Panda, but there's method in this apparent madness. First off, the Panda is a hoot to drive thanks to its zesty character and agile handling, which makes it ideal in town, country or on open roads. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is easy on fuel and servicing, and in Dynamique trim comes with a reasonable level of kit.

For insurance, the Panda scores over the Punto as it's seen as a more sensible, safer bet, which means it's ideal for first-time drivers looking to keep costs at a realistic level. On top of this, the Panda has a stylish cabin, proven reliability record and its five-door layout makes it practical. Search out a 54-plate 1.2 Dynamique with 60,000 miles on the clock and start having fun.

Car: Ford Ka
Year: 2000
Cost: £1,000

We couldn't list our favourite first cars without mentioning the Ford Ka. It's the distillation of everything a new driver's formative set of wheels should be: funky to look at, great to drive and chip-cheap to own.

You can pick up Kas for less than £500 with an MOT, but we'd look at a 2000 model for around £1,000. For this kind of money, it will have 50,000 miles on the clock, careful owners and a fully stamped service book - there's no excuse for missing services when it costs so little to look after a Ka. When you bag one, it might also have air conditioning and a CD stereo, but it will definitely have a reliable 1.25-litre petrol engine that gives decent performance.

Car: MINI One
Year: 2002
Cost: £4,000

If you thought the stylish MINI was out of your budget, think again. Early 2002 models are now less than £4,000, though beware high mileage cars with a string of previous owners.

It's much better to look for a 2002 MINI One on an 02-plate with around 65,000 miles that has been cherished. There are plenty to pick from at £4,000 and they come in all sorts of colour combinations, so there's one out there to suit you. Plenty of driving instructors use the MINI to teach, so new drivers may well be already used to the MINI's nimble handling. The 1.6-litre petrol engine has just the right amount of oomph for town and motorway driving, yet still returns 43.5mpg average economy.

One other great thing about the MINI, aside from its enduring style, is that it holds its value tenaciously so it makes moving up the motoring ladder easier when the next step comes.

Car: Peugeot 206
Year: 2001
Cost: £1,500

The Peugeot 206 is bigger than the other cars here, but that doesn't mean it's pricier to buy or own. There's a huge choice, so take your time to find a cared-for example with around 45,000 miles on a Y-reg for £1,500.

We prefer the looks of the three-door, but the five-door is more practical. Any 1.4-litre LX model should come with air conditioning, electric windows and CD stereo. Make sure the central locking works properly, which is a common problem but cheap to cure. Otherwise, the only thing to be sure of is that the 206's driving position suits you as it's not ideal for all shapes and sizes. If it does, the supple suspension gives great comfort and responsive handling, while the cabin has reasonable space and a large boot. Fuel economy of 45mpg from the peppy 1.4-litre petrol engine is welcome and the 206 is easy on insurance, while servicing is low-cost too. Like the other cars here, the Peugeot 206 will hold its value and be easy to sell on when the time comes to change.

Alisdair Suttie

New Cheapest Car

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Sun, 09 May 2010 17:55:00 +0000

Yahoo! Cars

World's cheapest car gets cut-price rival

Chinese manufacturer Geely has unveiled a city car set to be cheaper than the Tata Nano - which could make it the world's cheapest car.

Known as the Geely IG, it has four seats and could cost as little as £1,500 when it goes on sale in China in 2012. The Tata Nano, which has yet to hit the UK but is expected in 2011, costs around £2,500.

Despite the small price tag, the tiny IG is unusually flamboyant - it has top hinged 'gullwing' style doors, just like the Mercedes SLS supercar. >>>>

Five of the best: Brilliant small cars for £5,000 | Yahoo! Cars UK

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:30:00 +0000

By Mark Nichol

Downsizing. Everybody's doing it. For some, bigger will always mean better, but those people are missing out on some of the best, most fun cars on the market. Don't get us wrong, we love big, powerful machines here at Yahoo! Cars, but we also love a well sorted, low-powered supermini. The following cars are perfect for this, because they're all great to drive.

Equally importantly, they're all good at the mundane stuff we need our cars for - like being practical, cheap to run and reasonable to insure. Here's what we would spend £5,000 on, if we had it.

Ford Fiesta

Renault Clio

Skoda Fabia

Fiat Panda

MINI

Go here for more >>>>

Safest car on the road

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:19:00 +0000

Cars of 2009 crash safety tested--http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/

Euro NCAP's crash testing offers a standardised way of looking at how safe today's cars are, with each measured for adult and child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and - as of 2009 - safety assist technology like ESP and traction control.

The 2009 test offers the most specific scoring system yet, with each car rated as a percentage for each four categories then awarded an overall star rating for ease of reference. Most new cars achieve a five-star rating overall now, but the individual category scores still vary greatly.

It's difficult to directly compare newer cars with those that were scored using the older system, but we've gone through the ratings and listed the best cars in ten classes, as well as giving you a notable alternative for each.

CITY CAR

Car: Toyota iQ

The iQ may be small of footprint, but it scores a massive 91% for adult occupant protection and a high 71% for child protection. Standard electronic stability control means its safety assist rating is good too.

Alternative: Smart ForTwo

A pre-2009 result, the Smart wasn't even tested for child protection due to its lack of rear seats. The four-star rating is ok (it has a strong 'passenger cell structure), but its pedestrian protection is quoted as 'predominantly poor'.

Click here to read more >>>>
all credits go to http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/

Citroen C2

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Models: C2 1.1i 61hp VT
14" steel wheels with 'Condor' wheel covers (set of four)
Body colour painted bumpers and side rubbing strips
Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
Variable power assisted steering
Front electric windows with 'one-touch' operation (driver's side) and anti-pinch
ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA)
Driver's airbag
Passenger's airbag with cut-off device
High frequency remote control central locking with deadlocks and dashboard mounted control
Transponder immobiliser
Rear split/folding seats
Rev counter
RDS stereo radio/MP3 compatible CD player with steering mounted controls

Fiat Punto Evo gets re-hatch

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Ah, the Fiat Punto: never quite what it pretends to be. Supposedly designed to look like a Maserati in hatchback form, the existing model was called the Grande Punto when it was anything but. And now the Italian automaker has launched an updated version and dropped the Grande tag for the vaunted name Evo... for a budget hatchback. Set aside the aspirational naming scheme, though, and what you have is a strong-selling vehicle that's put Fiat back on the map.

Read more

Smart Car lives up to its name

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:12:00 +0000

With just one Litre of fuel, Smart car can travel up to 14.61km winning the 1-Litre challenge sponsored by Shell. Not only design-wise but most importantly in fuel-efficiency, Smart car truly lives up to its name.

Click the image to watch the performance.

Reference: Yahoo! Cars

Nissan reveals next Micra

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:41:00 +0000

Nissan has released a pair of sketches showing its next-generation Micra. The popular supermini is due to be replaced next year and if the new car looks anything like the one in the early drawings it'll be a real winner in the head-turning stakes. The supermini, which Nissan insiders claim should be seen as a 'replacement rather than a successor', will no longer be the hatch of choice for patriotic British buyers though, as Nissan is moving the Micra's production from its Sunderland plant to one in India. The move will see an all-new mini-SUV being built at Nissan's highly-regarded UK factory.

Little else has been revealed about the sharp-looking supermini - except that it'll go on sale in Thailand early in 2010 and qualifies for 'green car' status there. When it reaches Europe later in the year we expect it to come with a simplified range of engines, be lighter than its predecessor and offer big improvements in economy and emissions. Official photographs are due to be revealed soon while its European debut will likely take place at the 2010 Geneva motor show in March - with sales starting shortly after.

Source: Yahoo! Cars

Top Ten Ways to Save Fuel

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:54:00 +0000

The price of petrol is constantly rising while wages remain stagnant. Sometimes I am forced to walk to save on petrol but there are times you really need to use your car. Here are some tips I found lately. I hope it helps in some way.

1. Maintain momentum
Your car uses most fuel getting away from a standstill The answer? Don't let it stop - keep it moving. Pull away slowly and anticipate the road ahead, keeping a good distance from the traffic in front. That way, you'll need to stop fewer times.

2. Change up earlier
Change up a gear as early as possible. The fewer revs the engine is doing at any given speed, the more miles it'll do to the gallon, so you'll save cash.

3. Shed weight
Don't lug around empty child seats or a boot full of tools. The lighter your car is, the less fuel it'll use.

4. Choose an eco route
The way you get to places makes a big difference to your fuel economy. Log on to www.viamichelin.co.uk for an easy way to plan economical routes. Also remember that a longer route might cut your fuel bills if there's less stop-start traffic.

5. Slash your speed
As long as you're in top gear, the slower you're going, the more miles per gallon you'll do. Cruise at 60mph rather than 90mph on the motorway and you'll use roughly 50% less fuel.

6. Stay in gear
Modern cars shut off the fuel injectors when you're coasting in gear. Staying in gear for as long as possible (rather than coasting with your foot on the clutch) will save you cash.

7. Switch off electronics
Switch off your air-conditioning and you could save up to 20% on fuel. Other electrics (such as headlights, stereos and sat-navs) also require extra energy from the engine.

8. Check your tyre pressures
Under-inflated tyres create excess drag. Pump yours up to the correct pressures and you'll use up to 25% less fuel.

9. Streamline your car
Remove your roof rack or roof box when not needed, and wind up windows whenever possible (open windows cause drag, too).

10. Stop-start in traffic
Some modern cars will automatically switch off the engine when you come to a halt. If yours doesn't (and you're stationary for more than a minute), do it yourself.

(Source: http://o.aolcdn.com/art/gat/motoring/23/1/top-ten-ways-to-save-fuel.html)

Toyota Floor Mats May be Deadly Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Are you driving Toyota or Lexus? Check that your floormat is installed properly. A Toyota car crashed in Southern California killing four people when the gas pedal got stuck under the mat. Click the image to watch the news.

Get Smart And Buy A Cheap Smart Car

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:56:00 +0000

Get Smart And Buy A Cheap Smart Car

by peter11

Smart cars are fast becoming more popular worldwide over the last 12 months. Originally considered a novelty, the smart car is on the rise as a modern fuel efficient and cheap motoring alternative.

Cheap smart cars are now an excellent way to avoid the high cost of motoring.

You may already be familiar with smart cars. A tiny four wheeled vehicle no more than about half the length of a normal car. The smart car has a distinctive shape and look and you may well have seen them in the street.

If not you'll recognize a smart car when you do see it. The most distinctive feature of the car, apart from the fact that the smart car is extremely short, is the steep windshield sloping down to the front of the car, with the front bumper, if you could call it that, right in front of the front wheels.

The original intention of the smart car was to be of use as a vehicle that avoided the parking headaches of larger cars by reason of the fact that it was so short it could park in parking spots so small that not much other than a motorcycle could park there. Not only that but it was also so small that it could park nose or tail in to the kerb without the other end of the car poking out into the traffic and causing a traffic hazard.

It was intended that two smart cars could park in a space which would normally be taken by one regular car, or even 3 smart cars could park in the space occupied by a large vehicle.

The smart car was the result of a joint venture between Daimler Benz the car manufacturer and Swatch the Swiss watch manufacturer. The smart cars were manufactured in a purpose built factory in France which as established in 1994 and so have been around for some time. It is said that almost 1 million smart cars have been sold in over 25 countries.

In early 2008 smart cars became available in the US, and people started to realize that a cheap smart car was a smart motoring purchase.

Smart cars are cheap compared to average vehicles, and have many advantages over many vehicles as well. And of course they also have disadvantages. They take only 2 people, and are extremely small so it isn't practical to spend a day shopping and expect to put your new television in the back of the car.

That being said there are some good reasons to buy a cheap smart car, particularly for city dwellers. As said they are cheap to buy and cheap to operate. They have a gasoline motor but because of the small size and weight of the car don't eat as much fuel as just about any other car. They are easy to park and easy to house even in the smallest garage. They have achieved surprisingly good results in safety crash tests.

For the canny buyer there are good reasons to buy a cheap smart car. There are small numbers of used smart cars on the market and a second hand smart car is a good way to maximize your savings from a purchase of a smart car. There are a number of places where you can pick up a bargain on a used smart car online if you know where to look.

So if the price of gas is becoming an issue for you and you'd like to keep driving but at a much reduced cost then consider a cheap smart car. It's a smart purchase and may well keep you on the road when others can no longer afford gas.

About the Author

For a website totally dedicated to Cheap Smart Cars visit Peter's Website Cheap Smart Cars and find out about Used Smart Cars.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

UK Car Scrappage Scheme

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Started last month, the UK car scrappage scheme has seen some car makers like Audi, BMW, Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen, and Volvo receiving more orders. I'm surprised Honda and Toyota didn't join them.

Anyway, some of these car makers are also adding more discounts on top of the one offered by the government.

It's a good way to get rid of old cars.

Citroen C2 1.1 and 1.4 engines

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:16:00 +0000

14" steel wheels with 'Condor' wheel covers (set of four)
Body colour painted bumpers and side rubbing strips
Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
Variable power assisted steering
Front electric windows with 'one-touch' operation (driver's side) and anti-pinch
ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA)
Driver's airbag
Passenger's airbag with cut-off device
High frequency remote control central locking with deadlocks and dashboard mounted control
Transponder immobiliser
Rear split/folding seats
Rev counter
RDS stereo radio/MP3 compatible CD player with steering mounted controls

Citroen C1: One of the most economical cars

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:33:00 +0000

Citroen C1 1.0i VTR
Up to 83 mpg
Lowest CO2 emission
14" 'Eole' wheel covers (set of four)
Variable power assisted steering
Height-adjustable steering wheel
Rear window wiper
ABS
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Cornering Stability Control (CSC)
Driver's airbag
Passenger's airbag with cut-off device
High-level third brake light
Transponder immobiliser
Full size spare wheel
RDS stereo radio/CD player
Auxiliary socket for MP3 player

There was an ad I saw a couple of weeks ago about this car saying that with its low fuel consumption you can drive around the world for less than a pound but I didn't get it quite well.

more info here

500 TenderTwo by Castagna

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Lovin Fiat 500 all the more with this version. Powered by electric, 500 TenderTwo has the speed of up to 80 mph running for about 80 miles between charging which takes up to 4 hours.

Great car for the beach. Its designer, Castagna, a Milan based company decided to get rid of its doors, rear hatch, and roof putting a cage-like look instead using teakwood and making it more like a yacht on the ground.

Nice My Car

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:44:00 +0000

Currently priced at around £10,000, 2-seater My Car is one of the few electric cars that is now on sale in London. But since not many charging points around the country, this car may not yet be as popular.

Read news and blogs about My Car

www.guardian.co.uk
Automotive blog

Flybo: Chinese super small electric car

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Said to be Smart clone, Flybo from Jinan arrived to the US sometime in 2007 but it was not advisable to use in winter because of lack of heating system. Apparently, the new ones have improved that bit.

Basing from this concept, India is also manufacturing their own version called Oreva and is alleged to be Tata Nano's competition for the cheapest car in the world.

Check out autobloggreen for more information and also nowpublic.com

Subaru Justy 1.0R

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Quoted from Subaru Press Release

"This superb supermini, which returns 64.2 mpg on the Extra Urban Cycle and qualifies for the £35 annual Road Fund Licence, looks set to prove that even in these financially testing times, it is possible to get a great value for money, sporty vehicle with rock-solid reliability, frugal fuel economy, low CO2 emissions and low road fund licence all in one desirable package.

The standard Justy 1.0 R is already extremely well equipped with air conditioning; ABS with EBD; driver, passenger, front side and curtain airbags; radio/CD player with AUX input; four electric windows and remote central-locking, and is priced at a remarkable £9,305. A further enhancement available on both the Justy 1.0 R and Justy 1.0 Twin Cam is a stylish alloy wheel package comprising 15" Monza R wheels with Toyo 185/55R15 tyres: just £600 (inc. VAT) for a set of 4 (plus fitting).

The new Justy 1.0 Twin Cam now offers even more, and offers a racy alternative for the younger, and the young-at-heart, motorist."

What car is this?

noreply@blogger.com (scribbler) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Does anyone know what car this is? Saw it on http://blog.redfin.com/
I wish somebody could tell me.