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Monthly Archives: February 2011

BCAIt seems 4×4 pick-ups have seen a significant increase in value in recent weeks.

According to BCA General Manager – Commercial Vehicles, Duncan Ward, “Well-specified 4x4s are in demand and examples with leather, satellite navigation, chrome trim, alloy wheels, metallic paint and popular extras like searchlight bars are making exceptional money. Buyers are not so concerned about the age and mileage, providing vehicles are in good, clean condition.  Presentation remains important, however, and damaged examples need to be sensibly valued to generate interest.”

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New Tiguan_01Take a look at this first picture of the revised Tiguan compact 4×4 ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. With a new front end, it’s hoped the new Tiguan will continue the success this model has achieved globally where it has become one of the most popular Volkswagens.

Since its launchback in 2007, 572,000 Tiguans have been delivered worldwide with high numbers sold in Europe. Expect the new Tiguan to be available to order in early summer in this country.

Ford4x4Ford is celebrating following the company’s best profit for eleven years. The £4.1 billion profit is more than twice the 2009 earnings and due in no small part to demand for Ford’s pick-ups in the States. With 4x4s becoming more fuel efficient and lower petrol prices in the US, Americans have returned to these vehicles in large numbers.

However, Ford’s results are not all down to good sales in the States as the company actually made money in all regions of the world including Europe where the company hasn’t faired so well in recent years.

Ford was the only major US carmaker not to not take a government bail-out, and the company’s promising results are good news for the car industry.

 

PeakDistrictWhile reading through the latest forum posts on a 4×4 website one particular discussion caught my eye. It was a request for off-roaders to give their views for BBC FOUR observational documentary series about the National Parks. The BBC series will be asking “who are the National Parks for?” and will include a look at the differences in opinion between off-roaders and ramblers/local community in the Peak District.

 

Many local communities fear that off-road motoring is literally wearing away parts of the Peak District, and other Parks, with ancient trails being ruined and top soil stripped away, which makes areas impassable for horses and a struggle for hikers to climb. I should point out at this point that it is not just 4x4s that are being blamed for problems in National Parks but motorcycles too.

 

It will be interesting to watch the programme when it airs to see the damage that this off-roading is causing and to find out who is guilty of not caring for our environment. To say that all off-roaders recklessly use our National Parks without a thought for the damage they might be doing is clearly not true, but if a small group of thoughtless drivers are giving other 4×4 users and motorcyclists a bad name we want to know who they are.

winterHot on heels of the news that 4x4s were proving popular again following this winter’s icy conditions, comes comes a survey showing that there’s been a massive increase in the numbers of drivers who have prepared and equipped their vehicles for winter. Two years ago just 25 per cent of us carried more than the basics of de-icer and ice scrapers compared with three-quarters today.

However, if you haven’t yet equipped your car for winter don’t leave it for another year as in the UK it isn’t unusual for severe cold weather to arrive in February. So, stock up on the winter essentials including a torch, blankets, high energy foods, water and tow ropes.

You can download a copy of GEM’s ‘Guide to Winter Driving’ leaflet at www.motoringassist.com Alternatively you can call GEM directly on 01342 825676 for a hard copy.

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