Car News

Car Supermarkets – A New Take

Most of us associate the car supermarket with used cars. Car supermarkets do deal predominantly in used vehicles, but can also be the ideal place to pick up brand new vehicles at bargain prices. Should you decide to shop for a brand new car at a car supermarket, there are a few things to bear in mind.

Car supermarkets cut costs by operating in more basic surroundings than car dealerships, yet quality of service is not compromised.

Car supermarkets can be very busy places, especially at weekends. A weekday visit is preferable, as you will avoid excessive queuing and sales assistants will have more time to devote to you as an individual.

Brand new cars stocked by car supermarkets are usually pre-registered. While pre-registration means that you will technically be the second owner of the vehicle, it will not affect you in practice and is an easy route to making huge savings.

Mainstream manufacturers’ vehicles make up the vast majority of car supermarket stock. It is the place to go if you have your sights set on a Renault, Peugeot or Ford; however, if you are looking for a Porsche or a Lamborghini, you are likely to be disappointed.

Car prices are usually fixed. If haggling is not for you, then a car supermarket is the ideal outlet from which to make your purchase. The no-frills approach means you will know exactly where you stand and is definitely a fair trade-off for the significant savings you stand to make.


Getting a Used Car Deal

When shopping for used cars, it can be overwhelming trying to get the right vehicle and the best deal.  There are some simple ways to ensure that the used car the buyer gets is a great deal.

The first step in this is to come into the deal prepared.  The buyer should have a price range firmly in mind when shopping used cars for sale.  With a price range, the buyer can bargain effectively.  They can also arrange financing before making a move on the car they want. 

It is then important for the buyer to stick to this budget while they search for the car they want.  The buyer, with a budget in mind, can look for cars that suit that budget and research and discover the used car that will work for them.

With a budget and a target car, the buyer is in a better position to get a deal from a seller.  Of course, things such as a test drive will be important, but having a budget and goal will give the buyer strong guidelines.


Shopping for Cars

In the same way that the average consumer visits their local food retailer to buy food and other domestic products, the car user can visit their online car supermarket to compare the largest selection of new and used cars.

Car supermarkets can come in all shapes and sizes and can be researched to help the driver make the best choice about their new car. Some car supermarkets offer an ‘approved used car’ scheme, whereby the second hand car will have had to undergo various tests and checks and will be guaranteed by the dealer for 12 months.

There are over 100 car supermarkets across the UK offering a huge range of new and used motor vehicles and they currently account for 7% of all cars sold in the country. Online searches will highlight the most local of these firms and also help with facts and figures about the cars on offer.

Most car supermarkets will offer a test drive for the customer also, and their prices are recognised as being competitive. One of the reasons that these outlets are said to be cheaper than the main dealerships is mainly due to their ‘no frills’ approach.


The History of the Car Supermarket

The car supermarket, also known as the multi-make car dealer, is a growing trend in the used car industry, but it is not as recent a development as many people assume. The first car supermarket was Fords of Winsford, opened by Vernon Ford in 1959. This more or less coincided with the invention of the motorway, as motorway junctions were and still are, considered prime sites for car supermarkets. Fords of Winsford is still going to this day, located on a 14-acre site conveniently near Junction 18 of the M6.

The idea of the car supermarket was surprisingly slow to take off, given the obvious advantages of having a car dealership that was willing to offer all makes and models, instead of being tied to a single manufacturer. By the end of the 1980s, there were still only a handful of car supermarkets dotted around the country, primarily in the North of England.

Starting in the early 1990s, all that changed and their numbers began to increase. Nowadays, there are dozens of car supermarkets across the country, some with multiple sites. Today, these companies account for some 7% of all used car sales in Britain. They offer a huge variety of cars, sometimes as many as 4,000, all at fixed prices. Most car supermarkets have a ‘no haggling” policy, so the price you see on the sticker is the price you pay. The surroundings tend to be functional rather than comfortable, but they aim to give the same standards of service as a smaller car dealer. ‘Car-Supermarkets’ provides a comprehensive directory of UK car supermarkets and with over 100 to choose from, there is sure to be one near you.


Car Insurance – the basics

The Road Traffic Act of 1988 sets out the minimum level of insurance cover you must have before you are allowed to drive a car on the public highway. There are three levels of car insurance cover; comprehensive, ‘third party fire and theft’ and, the minimum level, ‘third party only’.

Fortunately, there are a great many companies offering car insurance in the United Kingdom. Some of these insurers act through insurance brokers, whose job is to offer advice about choosing car insurance that suits your individual situation. Of course, you can easily find your own car insurer by looking in the Yellow Pages or on the internet.

Car insurance premiums are based on the likelihood of the car driver making a claim, which means you will be asked to provide a good deal of information when applying. Amongst other items, you will need to give details about your car, what it will be used for, who will be driving it and whether they have any penalty points on their licence.

You will then be given a quote and, if you find it acceptable, you will receive the relevant documents, including the car insurance certificate, policy and schedule. When the documents arrive, it is very important that you check the details and, if there are mistakes, make sure they are corrected.

Your car insurance premiums will be reduced if you do not have to make a claim during the year. This could save you as much as 75 per cent on car insurance if you do not make a claim for several years. If you do make a claim you will lose your no-claims bonus, but it may be possible to protect it in return for an additional premium.

If you agree to contribute a given amount towards any claim you make, the cost of your car insurance premium will be reduced. This contribution is known as the ’policy excess’. The more excess you agree to pay, the less your car insurance premium will cost. If any of the named drivers have little experience of driving, the insurer will impose an excess on any claim made on their behalf.


Carcraft Car Finance

Carcraft Car Finance offer a 30 second online finance application to help people who are purchasing used cars. The company provides a fast response on used car finance, which enables the prospective purchaser find and buy a car as quickly as possible.

Subject to status, once your application has been approved, the company have 11 centres in all parts of the UK, which enables you to choose from thousands of cars to suit your specific requirements.

Carcraft Car Finance offer a number of flexible payment options to suit all budgets and their friendly used car finance experts work with specialist lenders who are there solely to give you the best advice and package possible.   

All Carcraft used cars come with a one year guarantee, one year free servicing and one year RAC Roadside Assistance. Before any car is sold to the customer a 120-point pre-delivery inspection, with full valet, is carried out. In addition, all vehicles are HPI checked and there is a seven-day exchange policy.


Luxury Vehicles

Car owners who wish to drive around in style have numerous models to choose from that will allow them to live out their dreams. These vehicles are advertised on a variety of car sales websites in the UK or they may be found by going to specialist dealerships. Such outlets offer classy offerings from the likes of BMW, Bentley, Porsche and Rolls Royce. 

When considering the purchase of cars that cost considerably more than the average, buyers will inevitably want to take a good look at the car before buying it, which is always a good idea, whatever vehicle is being considered. Quite frequently, private sellers pretend to be car people, when really they know very little about the model they have and so try to sell for a price that is not representative. For example, every BMW model is available in a range of specifications, the basic version being considerably cheaper than the top of the range one.    

With their car finance in place, purchasers can find a wide range of luxury vehicles in the UK. There are many ways to go about finding the ideal model; all the buyer has to do is look. 


Maximising Fuel Efficiency

With the price of fuel still high compared to last year, many are discussing the topic of fuel efficiency. Is it better to drive slower or faster? Should my tyres be inflated fully? This article will answer these frequently asked questions. 

Studies show that due to the aerodynamics of a car, drag is increased at higher levels, which decreases fuel efficiency. Slower speed therefore means less drag, which will save fuel. You can reduce fuel consumption by 20% if you slow down from 70 mph to 60 mph when safe to do so.

For comparison, if you drive 10 mph faster over a 30-mile commute, you’ll only shave four minutes off the total driving time. It must be noted that the savings don’t extend exponentially, so driving very slowly on the motorway is still endangering yourself and others for no real benefit.

Another tip is to ensure tyres are fully inflated and to remove the roof rack. The roof rack again creates drag, which costs fuel, and can be easily dealt with.

It doesn’t cost anything to drive more fuel efficiently, and can save money in the long run.


New Car Safety

When you are deciding whether to buy a new car, it is important to consider several factors; the size, fuel efficiency and running costs of the car are all important. However, the safety of the car you are buying is essential, and it is important to know the safety features that could save your life if you were to be involved in an accident.

Primary safety features describe the main features that have been designed to help you avoid a collision. These include brakes and lights as well as electronic stability systems.  Secondary features include features that are activated if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident, such as airbags, seat belts, headrests and the general design of the framework itself.

It is important that you take care to ensure that both primary and secondary features are in good working order after you buy your car, and that you carry out regular maintenance on your vehicle. If you notice any unusual noises, have trouble starting the car, or notice anything that needs to be repaired, make sure that you take the vehicle to a garage for repairs as soon as possible.


Buying a Car from a Dealership

When buying a car, whether new, second hand or part exchanged, it might be wise to go to a dealership, especially if your knowledge of cars is minimal. Although car dealerships often get a bad rep, most dealerships value their customers and provide an honest service. They understand that word of mouth travels fast, so making extra money with underhand tactics is not worth their while in the long run.

Buying a car from a dealership is the easiest and most convenient way to get yourself on the road. Though other methods such as magazines like Auto Trader, online car supermarkets or from buying a friend or relative may be cheaper, when buying a car at a dealership, all the extras like finance and insurance can be taken care of there and then.

The sales staff are trained to help you leave the lot with the car of your dreams; even if you are not 100% sure what that is yourself. They will advise you on style and interior design, and on more practical things such as fuel efficiency and reliability.

One you have picked out the car you wish to buy, a business manager will then help you get the financing and insurance you need to drive the car away the same day.


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