Contract hire and leasing news

SsangYong’s latest range of Kyron, Rexton and Rodius cars are now approved for sale under the Motability Scheme, bringing them within reach of thousands of people who use the scheme to obtain their new cars.

Paul Williams, managing director of SsangYong distributor Koelliker UK, said: “SsangYong has been approved on the scheme before but it really wasn’t given the focus it deserved. Our cars - particularly the Rodius - are potentially very attractive to Motability Scheme buyers, and our new pricing means that sensible deposit levels can be offered.

“Motability accounts for a significant slice of the total car market and our dealers want to support what is a worthwhile and very successful scheme.”

All SsangYong passenger cars are available through Motability, with the Kyron and Rodius ranges starting at £14, 995 and the Rexton at £19,995, with equipment levels that make you wonder if anything has been left out.

The Kyron is powered either by the technically advanced common rail 2.0 turbo diesel engine with 141 PS and 310 Nm of torque, or the newest SsangYong 2.7 litre, turbocharged common rail diesel. This gives 165 PS and a thumping 340 Nm of torque. Mercedes T-Tronic auto transmission is available and the Kyron comes with two or four wheel drive. Manual transmission Kyrons have the lowest CO2 levels in the class at 191 g/km.

All three SsangYong Rexton models have all wheel drive and the 2.7 litre common rail turbo diesel engine for big towing capacity and off-road capability. The Rexton squares up against the Mitsubishi Shogun, Landrover Discovery and Jeep Cherokee and whichever way you look at it, offers great value and performance with huge advantages over the competition.

For serious people carrying capacity, SsangYong’s Rodius models come in 2wd and all wheel drive - all with the 2.7 litre turbo diesel - and with automatic transmission as an option. A full seven-seater with ample luggage capacity, the Rodius is immensely practical with unrivalled space for the money. The three rear seats can also be removed to create an even greater space.

Motability is a registered charity that enables disabled people to use their government-funded mobility allowances to obtain a new car. Today, the scheme purchases over 5 per cent of all new cars, powered wheel chairs and scooters sold in the UK.

Full details of the Motability Scheme are on www.motability.co.uk. For information on the SsangYong range and your nearest dealer call 0845 456 4056 or visit www.ssangyonggb.co.uk.

• talkSPORT Radio takes on specially prepared Vivaro
• New ‘Fan in the Van’ slot part of three-year sponsorship details
• Broadcasting live every Saturday during the 2008/09 football season

Football fans across the country will have the opportunity to vent their views from the comfort of a British-built Vivaro Doublecab during the 2008-09 season, thanks to a tie-in between Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles and talkSPORT radio.

A specially-liveried Vivaro will be touring the UK during the football season, with talkSPORT’s presenters carrying out live interviews with fans on their way to matches to build up the atmosphere in the prelude to a big game.

‘Fan in the Van’ participants will be given the opportunity to air their opinions on their team’s performance throughout the season, and to predict the outcome of matches live on talkSPORT’s Saturday Match Day Live programme.

The Luton-built van was presented to talkSPORT by Vauxhall’s marketing director, Andy Gilson, and CV Brand manager, Steve Bryant, as part of a three-year sponsorship deal between Vauxhall and talkSPORT, which began last season.

Towards the end of the 2008-09 season, a Vivaro similar to the ‘Fan in the Van’ one will be given away as part of a talkSPORT listener competition.

talkSPORT’s Match Day Live programme is broadcast every Saturday during the football season, between 12.00pm and 5.00pm.

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Easy Car Contracts have the 2.4 LTD Jeep Patriot available now, to lease at the very special price of £145 per month inclusive of VAT with a £500 deposit.

Subject to availability.

Renault Koleos is the tenth Renault model to obtain the maximum score of five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests. This result confirms the outstanding efficiency of the vehicle’s passive and active safety equipment. Reflecting all Renault’s expertise in safety, Koleos is a versatile 4×4 crossover that brings occupants the same peace of mind in the city, on the open road and motorway, and off road, notably through its Alliance-developed four-wheel drive system, which boosts active safety by correcting any loss in grip, redistributing torque between the front and rear axles ahead of electronic stability control activation.

Renault Koleos car leasing prices

Renault’s approach for all its vehicles is based on real-life safety. The brand focuses on developing the most efficient technologies to “prevent, correct and protect”, as well as on raising the awareness of road users.

Koleos is the tenth Renault model to obtain the maximum five-star score in adult protection¹. Koleos is one of only four models out of 17 tested in the small off-road 4×4 category to achieve the maximum five-star EuroNCAP rating. Safety is a fundamental feature of all Renault vehicles. Renault Koleos was developed to have outstanding levels of both active and passive safety.

Koleos benefits from Renault’s long-standing work in real-life accident analysis. In terms of passive safety, its body structure features programmed crumple zones at the front and the back. The cabin was designed as a real survival cell for passengers in the event of an accident. Renault Koleos also boasts a comprehensive range of equipment for passenger protection, including six airbags (of which two are front airbags), seatbelts with force limiters in the front and rear side seats and pretensioners in the front seats, along with Isofix anchor points for attaching child seats in the outer rear seats. The headrests have a carefully worked ergonomic design that offers maximum protection against whiplash in the event of rear impact.

On the active safety front, Renault Koleos has a stiff chassis and, to assist drivers in emergency braking, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist (EBA) fitted as standard.

Koleos’ four-wheel drive system also makes a significant contribution to active safety by correcting any loss in grip. Developed by the Alliance and first featured on the New Nissan X-Trail, the system is used to immediately correct the slightest sign of understeer or oversteer by redistributing torque between the front and rear axles, even before the activation of electronic stability control (ESP).

Renault’s overarching, four-fold approach to safety
For its entire range, Renault’s approach is based on real-life accident analysis and safety to develop products that are adapted to on-road realities. The emphasis is placed on the most efficient technologies to prevent any risk of an accident, correct unexpected driving situations, and protect passengers in the event of impact. Over the years, Renault has established itself as a benchmark in automotive safety, as reflected in the results obtained in press rankings.

Renault’s EuroNCAP results: The only manufacturer to have obtained the five-star maximum 10 times.

Barkers Motor Group have over 40 years experience supplying & funding Citroen, Peugeot & Kia. They supply cars & commercials all over the UK with customer fleets ranging from 1 to 250 vehicles. Their dedicated team can advise on all acquisition methods for funding your next car or van, including business & personal contract hire, car leasing, personal contract purchase & hire purchase.

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The legendary Scorpion motorsport badge is back and anyone that knows their motorsport will be expecting the Grande Punto Abarth to be a car that really excites. Let’s get this straight from the off, this is not a Fiat, it is an Abarth. The Italian maker claims it wants the Abarth name to stay separate from the Fiat badge. The car starts at a price of £13,500, read on to see how it gets on…

Fiat Grande Punto lease prices

This Grande Punto Abarth is a cracker and it seems a snip as the price starts from £13,500. You can drive it as a normal car when on the motorway or when in town but take it out onto the open road and you’ll see why this car is an Abarth. It has precision steering and the Abarth is no slouch as the performance figures (above) show. Not only is the car quick but it’s also green for such a sporty car. With th 155bhp power plant it emits 162g/km of CO2 and Abarth claims that the car will return 40.9mpg. The Scorpion badge has returned with a bang.

Fiat Grande Punto Abarth full road test report

Marketing your commercial vehicles is just as important as highlighting the deals on your cars – and there’s nowhere better than on the internet

It might not get a second look from car customers, but we all know the commercial vehicle section of a franchised dealership is a vital revenue stream.

Often overlooked when it comes to marketing, van managers usually have to rely on repeat business from a loyal customer base.

There’s good anecdotal evidence that suggests during a house price slump – such as what we are experiencing at the moment – sales of vans rise. Why? Well, it’s because home owners aren’t selling and instead are spending their money on improvements. That in turn means builders and other tradesmen are enjoying boom times and are on the hunt for new wheels.

It’s important to make sure you grab a slice of this new business and that means getting your offers and stock noticed! Just as you’d promote your cars online you need to do the same with your vans, especially considering so many business decision makers research their prospective purchases using the internet.

And its worth noting, it’s just as important to have a major online presence for your commercial vehicle section as it is for you finance and retail business.

‘The key is to identify the best source of highly targeted quality leads,’ explained Really Good Domains chief Dave Timmis.

‘TheVanWebsite.co.uk attracts a massive 200,000 users every month all looking to buy, used or lease vans and light commercials.

‘There are two main sections on the site, one is for leasing, the other for vans for sale. All of the lease or finance offers are fed through from our sister site ContractHireAndLeasing.com and advertising your leasing offers on this site would be seen collectively by 700,000 users a month.

‘The third section of TheVanWebsite.co.uk is a comprehensive directory of more than 5,000 companies offering van-related products and services. If you add reasonable offers to these sites then you will get enquiries. If you add more offers then you’ll get more enquiries – it’s as simple as that,’ Timmis tells Car Dealer magazine.

However, it’s also important to use a site that rates highly in search rankings. How often do you click on a site on the second page of Google? Exactly. And that’s just how your customers use the search engine too. Using a site that’s already at the top to help promote your business makes sense.

‘TheVanWebsite.co.uk is positioned at the top of search engines for almost any phrase of any relevance,’ explained Timmis. ‘ For example, Google.co.uk (pages from the UK) we have the top results for all key search phrases such as vans for sale, Renault vans, Vauxhall Astravan, and many more similar terms.

‘What’s more, TheVanWebsite.co.uk has an obvious memorable name, enjoys loyal visitors, and is heavily marketed on our other very busy motoring websites like FleetDirectory.co.uk, VanLeasingSpecialOffers.co.uk, and ContractHireAndLeasing.com.’

But don’t just take Dave’s word for it – he’s got a lot of very happy customers too! We’ll leave you with one final thought – from someone, like you, looking to promote their commercial stock online. ‘Global Van Solutions has been advertising on TheVanWebsite.co.uk since June 2005 and I can comprehensively say it has been the single best advertising method we have come across,’ said a spokesperson for the firm. And praise doesn’t get much higher than that.

View the original article, Car Dealer magazine, Issue 5, page 33.

Visit www.TheVanWebsite.co.uk

Road safety champions, GEM Motoring Assist issue a reminder to British motorists this week, to look out for the warning signs of tiredness. The human body has developed a very efficient system of warning of impending tiredness and loss of concentration – long before you become drowsy and control of a vehicle is impaired, GEM tell us.

The first signs of the onset of getting tired or bored are that the rate at which we blink goes up. An increase in the normal blink rate of about 10 blinks (also known as nictating) per minute is a warning signal that it is time to find an appropriate place to pull over and take a rest from the stress of driving.

Chief Executive of GEM (formerly known as the Guild of Experienced Motorists), David Williams, said: “This is a wonderful reflex action by humans that we should all be aware of. It is a built-in early warning system that gives us the opportunity to head for the nearest motorway service area or other refuge from the road before our driving becomes erratic and potentially dangerous.

“It not only tells us that we are getting tired, but we are bored and liable to lose concentration.”

Blinking is an essential body function that helps spread tears across the eye and removes irritants. It stops the eye ball drying out, kills bacteria and carries oxygen and nutrients to the corneal cells.

A blink takes between 300 and 400 milliseconds and as a result humans lose about 23 minutes of visual information during a waking day. 

It is estimated that driver sleepiness is a factor in one fifth of road crashes resulting in around 300 deaths every year. The Highway Code recommends that drivers take at least a 15 minute break after every two hours of driving.

“Making sure we are alert and as fresh as possible – especially on long journeys such as returning from holiday – is a critical element of road safety,” said David. “People should become much more aware of their blink rate and heed the warning if it starts to rise.”

As a public service GEM Motoring Assist runs an informative web site at www.motoringassist.com that features notes and advice on road safety including medical matters and the impact of eyesight on driving.

Thieves are adding to the misery of sky-high motoring costs by stealing catalytic converters and fuel from parked cars – often causing expensive damage in the process, according to AA Insurance.

“We have noticed an increase in reports of catalytic converter thefts as well as thefts of fuel,” says Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance.

Catalytic converters, which contain precious metals, are each worth around £60 to thieves who send them for specialist processing overseas. The converter forms part of the exhaust system, so thieves either jack the car up or target vehicles with a high ground clearance such as 4×4s or trucks, in order to remove it. Several cars may be attacked at one time.

Similarly, AA Insurance is reporting claims where thieves have damaged cars while attempting to steal fuel, leaving owners facing not just the loss of a perhaps £100 worth of petrol or diesel but the cost of repairing fuel systems and car bodywork as well as the loss of their excess and possibly no claim bonus, if an insurance claim is made.

“This is a new crime causing resulting from high fuel and scrap metal values. It causes considerable inconvenience and expense for innocent motorists,” says Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance. “Thieves work quickly and carelessly, sometimes causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

“A catalytic converter costs between £600 and £1,500 to replace, including labour cost, quite apart from repair of damage to bodywork that could cost several hundred pounds more to repair.

The AA offers hints on reducing the risk of attack and guidance on what to do if your car has been damaged:

Protect your property
• Have your catalytic converter permanently marked so that it can be traced back to the car if it is removed; this will help police to prosecute thieves. Many car dealers offer a marking service.
• Consider fitting your car with a security device that is sensitive to movement of the vehicle. Such an alarm could also gain an insurance premium discount.**
• Try to park in well lit, secure and busy car parks: look for ‘Park Mark’ scheme members. It’s worth spending a little extra to benefit from car parks that have security such as staff or cctv.
• Neighbours should watch out for each other – if a car is ‘raided’ make others aware; the thief could be local. Report any unusual activity to Neighbourhood Watch, community support schemes and the police
• Keep your car in your garage, if you’ve got one: this can bring an insurance discount.
• Consider protecting your no-claim bonus when you renew your car insurance
If your car has been attacked
• If your catalytic converter has been stolen your car will make an incredibly loud noise when the engine is started. Don’t attempt to drive – the exhaust pipe may be left dragging on the ground which could cause further damage.
• If your car has been left for a long time, it’s always worth having a brief check around it, particularly looking to see if the bodywork or fuel cap has been tampered with. And if your fuel gauge registers empty (even though you may have recently filled up) there’s a risk that the car may splutter to a halt at an inconvenient or dangerous location.
• Report the theft to police.
• If you are a member, call the AA who will assist.