One of the most popular classic cars in the UK is the Vauxhall Cavalier which was first manufactured in 1975, It became a very popular fleet car and the three door hatch version looked quite sporty. However the real gem of that era was the Ford Cortina. The car was produced from 1962 until 1982, and there were a number of different generations and levels of performance. The Cortina GT was really quite sporty for its time, but there was nothing to touch the wonderful Lotus Cortina which was both a road car and on the track was raced by such talented drivers as the late great Jim Clark.

The Morris Minor is one of the cheapest classic cars to own and excellent examples of this iconic vehicle can be found for as little as £5,000. You need to be careful though that the front wheels don’t fall off as they had a notoriously weak stub axle. Pay a little more and you could get a classic Morgan convertible for around £10,000 or so and there are Porsche 911 models manufactured before 1973 for as little as £30,000 or so, though if you can afford a cool £100,000 you could buy a 1974 Lamborghini Countach Coupe.

You need to be a little careful when Insuring classic cars and it pays to use a classic car specialist insurer. The difficult bit is agreeing how much the car really is worth and it is advisable to obtain a valuation certificate from your insurance company so that they don’t quibble about value in the future.

When it comes to car insurance for young drivers, there are a number of well-known and reputable companies offering these types of policy – including Endsleigh. This company has an excellent record in providing this type of insurance, due to the fact that it started its existence providing insurance cover for students and they still make up a significant proportion of the company’s clients. Students are among those most likely to be seeking young car drivers insurance, but it can be hard to secure good premiums, due to many companies considering young people a bad risk. Thus it is especially important to have a good driving record if you want lower premiums. Other companies offering this type of insurance include companies specialising in it – such as Only Young Drivers and 4 Young Drivers.

Whichever company you decide to go for, the chances are you will have to pay more than you want due to the overall negative perception of young drivers. In terms of lowering your premiums, which can be steep for new drivers of any age, one of the best options is to consider buying a cheaper, downgraded vehicle, as this will likely be eligible for cheaper insurance premiums. This together with making sure that you have a good driving record is the best way to ensure that you do not have to pay over the odds.

Car data check: It is always worthwhile having a car data check carried out, especially when buying privately. If you are buying from a dealer than the dealer should have already done one, but you should ask to make sure. The check will find out if the car has been stolen, if it has been written off by an insurance company, if it has been scrapped, if there is any outstanding finance and other factors.

Car mileage check: It is not unknown for people to reset the indicated mileage of a car to make it appear that the car has covered fewer miles that it really has. You should consider whether the mileage indicated on the odometer is realistic considering the age of the car and the uses to which it has been put. Often you can get an indication from old MOT certificate and service history. If the pedal rubbers are very worn, or if they are brand new, you should be suspicious.

Car service history check: Examine the service history of the car and note the service intervals and mileages. Check that the service record book been stamped by the garage that carried out the servicing and look at any other receipts for work that has been carried out.

VIN check: Locate the VIN (vehicle identification number) of the car. This is generally stamped onto a plate which is riveted to the car body and located under the hood. Ensure that this corresponds to the VIN shown on the car registration document.

Seller check: Sometimes dealers will masquerade as private sellers in order to bypass their legal responsibilities. If you are buying privately always view the car at the seller’s home and never at yours or at an intermediate location. Ask the seller what he or she does for a living.

It comes in huge number of variations, with an engine size and spec list to suit all pockets. The engines start with the spritely 1.25 litre model which sells for around £9,415. The 1.4TDCI should be a popular choice due to its fuel efficient frugality and decent power. It enters the market at around £11,865. This seems a good price for a 1400cc diesel. The range peaks out with the 1.6TDCI Titanium Econetic engine, selling for around £16,165. The Fiesta probably represents best value with its more mid range specifications.

Looks wise the Fiesta appears to be the attractive small hatchback available. It has a bulky wedge shape with an angular nose. It is a private sort of engine compartment with tinted windows and high door panels as opposed to the greenhouse feel of some modern small cars. The handling is excellent due to a well designed chassis and the cars are all surprisingly slightly even with the lower range engines.

The interior is a real plus point. It is generally robust looking in design and dark in colour. It may not be the best quality but it appears on the surface to be an interior of high class hatchback.
The Econetic engines are some of the most economical on the road and thus you pay no road tax due to low emissions.

Small cars are increasing in popularity due to rising fuel costs and this is a near perfect small car.

Our first top Peugeot is the 207, for its outstanding reliability. Warranty Direct conducted a survey into the overall running cost of over 20,000 European cars; taking into account insurance, average mileage and cost of repair. The 207 leaped ahead of the crowd with only 6% (1 in 17) cars breaking down per year, meaning this is a car you can put your trust in. The facts are reflected in the sales figures, with recent publications claiming it to be the most popular Peugeot. Also noted for its quiet drive, practicality and being quite an environmentally friendly car, the Peugeot 207 definitely shines brightly besides its siblings.

Next is the Peugeot 406, a tremendously successful family car produced up until 2004. Winning ‘Car of the Year’ in both the UK and Ireland when released in 1996, it had huge sales success selling over 1.5 million units. It was also popular amongst touring car races across Europe and even won caravan towcar awards.
A recent addition to the Peugeot clan is the RCZ; winner of the ‘Coupe of the year’ and ‘Special Design of the Year’ in two of the UKs best-selling automobile magazines. Described by Peugeot as “striking, elegant and dynamic” this is a sophisticated car with a solid drive, making it a treat for anyone with a passion for petrol. Although this car isn’t all about speedy fun, as the RCZ is fitted with the latest in safety equipment.produced, and since then many more models have rolled onto our roads. It is difficult to pluck only three shiniest apples from the Peugeot tree, but here are the cars that stand out.

Our first top Peugeot is the 207, for its outstanding reliability. Warranty Direct conducted a survey into the overall running cost of over 20,000 European cars; taking into account insurance, average mileage and cost of repair. The 207 leaped ahead of the crowd with only 6% (1 in 17) cars breaking down per year, meaning this is a car you can put your trust in. The facts are reflected in the sales figures, with recent publications claiming it to be the most popular Peugeot. Also noted for its quiet drive, practicality and being quite an environmentally friendly car, the Peugeot 207 definitely shines brightly besides its siblings.

Next is the Peugeot 406, a tremendously successful family car produced up until 2004. Winning ‘Car of the Year’ in both the UK and Ireland when released in 1996, it had huge sales success selling over 1.5 million units. It was also popular amongst touring car races across Europe and even won caravan towcar awards.
A recent addition to the Peugeot clan is the RCZ; winner of the ‘Coupe of the year’ and ‘Special Design of the Year’ in two of the UKs best-selling automobile magazines. Described by Peugeot as “striking, elegant and dynamic” this is a sophisticated car with a solid drive, making it a treat for anyone with a passion for petrol. Although this car isn’t all about speedy fun, as the RCZ is fitted with the latest in safety equipment.

However if you address the situation sensibly and purchase a safe, low risk and reliable car then you will be much more likely to find cheaper car insurance as appose to paying extortionate rates to insure your vehicle.

Safer cars of course are always less to insure in comparison to top of the range sports cars with 6 litre engines, however there are other elements that affect the rate of car insurance. These include the area you live, for example is it a high-risk area? How old you are, how many years of experience you have behind the wheel, whether you have made any claims or have been the victim of a road traffic incident and how much you use the vehicle. If you just take it out on weekends to run a few errands then you will be classed as a low-risk driver, however if you take it out every day due to a long commute, then you should expect to pay a little bit more for your insurance quote.

Another way to ensure you receive cheap car insurance is to become a third party driver on your parents insurance for example. This way the insurance will be in the name of an experienced driver, yet you will still be insured to drive the vehicle at any time necessary.

BMW’s are classed as relatively safe vehicles and offer a state of the art car that isn’t as much to insure as a high-end sports car yet still offers that certain sense of luxury and class that is expected from the brand. You can find second hand BMW’s at www.motors.co.uk.

If you intend to buy a BMW but still wish to achieve cheap car insurance then opt for one with a lower engine size, such as a 1.6 litre engine, this way you will be classed as less of a risk on the roads.

The actual technology behind heated seats however isn’t so superior and works in the same way as that of an electric blanket. The heated seats use the same process as any product that uses electricity in order to heat the seat.

The heated seats are powered by a heating element, which appears in the form of a long strip of material that functions as a resistor. A resistor is able to resist the flow of electricity and when an electric current flows through it, the energy is turned into heat. This energy flows through the seat in the shape of heat, which in turn warms the drivers’ seat.

Having heated seats is great for the winter and getting into your car no longer requires several layers of clothing, instead the driver can cruise in comfort.

Turning on the heat is a very simple process and most vehicles will have a button or switch that activates the heat. This can often be altered in order to increase or lower the temperature.

The switch used to activate this heat is called a relay and works in the same way that the lights in the car do. A relay allows a small electric current to manage a much larger one and when this switch is activated, a small current flows through the coil, which in turn creates a magnetic field that pulls the switch closed.

The above procedure completes a circuit, which sends electricity from the battery to the seat cushion.

The longer the seat heater is activated the warmer the set becomes, this is why most seat heaters come complete with a thermostat, which works to send a signal to the relay if the seat becomes unbearably too hot!

The engine is not turbocharged, and the maximum output is 200 bhp, but the Type R has an excellent power to weight ratio that compensates for its relatively modest raw power. It is certainly a driver’s car, and your passengers will enjoy it too,

As the engine lacks a turbocharger, you need to work it in order to get the maximum out of it, which means you need to keep your revs quite high and do plenty of short shifting when you need high degrees of torque, but when you do you will be adequately rewarded. The 0 to 62 acceleration time is only 6.6 seconds, which is the fastest of all the cars considered to be hot hatches such as the Golf GTI and the Focus ST.

Although you do need to drive this car quite hard to gain optimum performance; with its low kerb weight, its excellent six speed gearbox, and the its blood curdling exhaust note as you approach the red marker on the rev counter, doing so really is a pleasure.

Being lower and having stiffer suspension than the standard civic means this car loves being thrown round bends. There is very little body roll and the steering is very precise. The only downside to all this is it can get a little painful on rough potholed surfaces, but that is a price that is worth paying. If comfort is more important to you then performance you might prefer the Golf GTI, though the bucket seats on the Type R will support you firmly as you power through the corners.

There is plenty of space for you, your passengers and the luggage. The rear seats fold flat and there is storage underneath too. There is a sporty feel to the aluminium pedals and everything is well put together.

If there is anything of a boy (or girl) racer in your blood, then we guarantee you will love the Honda Civic Type R.

As you might anticipate, there are a number of petrol and diesel options and you can choose from excellent economy to powerful punch with many intermediate options too. Altogether there are seven engines available. The entry level is a 1.4 litre ECOTEC which develops 98 bhp and at the other end of the spectrum there is the 2.0 litre Turbo Diesel (CDTi) which develops 157 bhp and powers the sports tourer from 0 to 62 mph in just 9 seconds and achieves a top speed of 133 mph. What is remarkable about this engine is that despite the performance it is still very economical and it can deliver 55.4 mpg. All engines are available with a five or six speed manual gearbox or alternatively you can choose a 6 speed automatic.

If you have ever driven any Astra then you will know that the handling of this car is good, and the sports tourer is no different. It night not be designed to power round tight bends, but you might be surprised by how well is does perform on windy country lanes, particularly if you choose the SRi model which has slightly lower and stiffer suspension.

Comfort levels are high and there is plenty of legroom. This is a great car for burning off hundreds of motorway miles and arriving at your journey’s end as refreshed as you were when you set off. This is helped by the fact that there is little engine or wind noise thanks to the sound insulation and aerodynamic styling.

Of course there is a large amount of space. With the seats folded down the loading space is flat and has a 1,550 litre capacity. The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is one of the leaders in its class.

Now any vehicle can be have the amenities that only top of the line cars had in the past. Heated car seats are easily installed with user friendly instructions and a set of ordinary tools that you just have laying around. It doesn’t take an electrical or mechanical engineer to install Innovative Massagers into the vehicle and better yet, these heated/massaging installations are individually controlled. Now if the passenger is still cold when you are nice and toasty warm, simply switch yours to a lower setting or off altogether. Let your passenger control his or her own temperature. These kits come in 6 massage motors for $95 per seat or 8 motors for $110 per seat installation. DIY-ers will have a field day with these and stay warm throughout the long, cold winter.