Mar 22, 2017
The winter season can put a lot of strain on both the interior and the exterior of your vehicle – think muddy puddles and dirty feet!
After months of enduring the cold, being rained on, and navigating the dark mornings and evenings, we can finally see spring approaching. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to spruce up your car and get it in shape for the warmer months ahead.
With this in mind, at PetrolPrices.com we’ve pulled together a top five essentials list for spring cleaning the inside and outside of your car. These items will help you get it back into factory fresh condition, kickstarting your spring so you can hit the road in style.
1. One for those on the go
A Bluetooth transmitter is a modern day essential and if your car isn’t already equipped with one, it could be time to look at picking one up. It’s powered by your car’s cigarette lighter socket, and cleverly includes a USB port in the connector to provide charging power to your phone.
This particular variation comes with a plethora of features including hands-free calling mode.
In addition to this, one of the device’s main features is its ability to connect to your phone’s Bluetooth in order to play music from apps such as Spotify and Apple Music. This is particularly useful if you have an older car without such functionality built into the stereo system.
Positives:
- Great sound quality
- Good value for money
- Plenty of features
- Expandable storage
Negatives:
- May cause a distraction for some
2. One to get your wheels shining
Driving around in the great British weather will quickly leave your wheels caked in mud from the countryside, and grime from the cities. If you find your alloys are frequently dirty, then a professional grade wheel cleaner could be the way for you to blast away all the dirt and grime on your wheels.
This product from Wonder Wheels boasts great customer reviews. It’s excellent value for money, with many other comparable products costing more for less of cleaning product. The five litres of cleaner will be sure to last you through the whole spring season and beyond.
It is worth noting that this is a strong formula so it’s advisable to wear gloves during the application of the product.
Positives:
- Auto Express award winner
- Well reviewed on Amazon
- Includes cleaning brush
Negatives:
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3. One to keep your car looking fresh
You never know what life will throw at you as a modern day driver. When you’ve invested in a shiny new car you want to keep it looking in top condition at all times – and this waterless cleaning solution is the perfect product.
What really stand out about this is the ease of use. You simply spray the solution on a micro fibre cloth and you’re good to go. You don’t even need water. This means that you have a lot of flexibility in where and when you can clean your car
Using products like this helps maintain the resale value of your car too, as we mention in our Car Care Tips feature.
Positives:
- Easy to use
- Suitable for all types of body paintwork
- Great value for money
Negatives:
4. One to switch out your interior
If you’re unsatisfied with your car’s tired fabric car seats, then here’s a way to enjoy the benefits of leather – such as easy cleaning – for an affordable price. This set includes everything you need for a five-seat car with two front seat covers, one back seat bench cover, and five covers for headrests. Additionally, the seat covers are compatible with side airbags so safety isn’t compromised.
These are available in a conservative black colour, or in more sporty colour combinations to suit your individual tastes.
Positives:
- Great quality
- Range of colours
Negatives:
- Not truly universal – check for compatibility with your car (our link is for Ford vehicles)
- Not suitable for cars equipped with sports seats
5. One to protect your carpets
Getting mud on your shoes is next to unavoidable (especially for those of us with young children), but that doesn’t have to be an issue if you have good car mats to protect your carpets. These will keep your car looking and good and protect it from damage at the same time.
What’s really great about these particular mats is that they are easy to clean so when the inevitable does happen you can simply give them a wipe off and you’ll be good to go again.
This product from JVL also adjusts to fit any car size.
Positives:
- Slip resistant rear
- Long lasting
- Universal size
Negatives:
Mar 8, 2017
Last month saw the Birmingham NEC play host to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, where over 350 exhibitors showed off their wares. With over a million caravans and motorhomes in the UK, these events always attract thousands of interested visitors.
Recently, the Caravan Club re-branded after 110 years to become the Caravan and Motorhome Club. The club seems keen to do all it can to make caravanning even more accessible to the modern family, with up-to-date facilities and that all-important WiFi connection.
One consequence of Brexit and the current financial climate (particularly with regard to the value of Sterling) is that some families will find their money won’t stretch as far whilst abroad this year, further increasing the attraction of UK holidays in caravans and motorhomes.
With all of this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to produce a list of five great caravan and motorhome products to get you prepared for your next trip around the UK.
1. One for the dedicated caravan enthusiast
Anyone experienced in owning a caravan will know that there are plenty of times when you’ll want to move it without towing it with a vehicle. A caravan mover is the answer, and an essential purchase for any regular caravan user.
This caravan mover from Ego is state of the art and has been designed to save as much weight as possible. However, it doesn’t make any compromises when it comes to strength, longevity or simplicity. It’s also better value than many other similar options. Ground clearance is great, giving you flexibility at all the sites you visit.
We’ve collaborated with Autofix on a special discount for this product, you can access it via the links on this page.
Positives:
- Five year parts and labour guarantee
- Easy to use
- Weighs only 23kg
Negatives:
2. Extra space for the family
Those with smaller caravans can soon find things getting a little cramped, especially with the whole family on board. An awning is the obvious answer, but there are vast numbers to choose from.
This Trigano inflatable awning is a great solution for those seeking more space. The product has a raft of great reviews on Amazon and is a quick and easy way to add an extra room to a caravan.
The awning works using a simple air pump system. Compared to many others on the market it is simplicity itself to erect. Setup takes just minutes, meaning you can bypass the stress and get straight into enjoying your holiday as quickly as possible.
Positives:
- Quick to put up
- Lightweight
- Good value for money compared to others on the market
Negatives:
- Not available for all caravan specifications
3. One for true freedom and wild camping!
This portable generator gives you the freedom to go wherever you want on holiday, without being chained to campsite hook-ups!
This generator is a market leader and very well regarded in caravan circles. Practical Caravan, in particular, give it a glowing review.
The generator runs on petrol and benefits from low noise levels and a lack of the fumes that you may associate with a typical generator. Honda claims that this generator will allow you to run a microwave and several other household appliances simultaneously, giving you more than enough to power through a holiday.
Cost is one drawback with this product – it is more expensive than others on the market. However, in terms of generators, it seems the phrase “you get what you pay for” is very relevant.
Positives:
- Lightweight
- Five-year warranty
- High quality
- Market leader
Negatives:
- Requires an annual service
- Pricey
4. Keeping a stock of food
This Russell Hobbs freezer is great value for money and sure to help on hot summer days, or when you wish to carry plenty of supplies. If your motorhome or caravan doesn’t have a freezer of its own, there’s no need to go without. This could be a perfect alternative.
Features include a 32l capacity, the industry average for this type of product. The well-known brand is reassuring in terms of quality and longevity. The freezer has an A+ energy rating that means it won’t use up as much energy as others on the market – something very important if you’re using battery or generator power.
It’s worth noting that this freezer could also be great for extra space at home, and consequently seems like an even more worthwhile investment.
Positives:
- Reputable brand
- Great value for money
Negatives:
5. Time to relax
A sun chair is an essential caravan accessory for the warmer months, but you don’t want something that’s going to take up too much space in the caravan.
As well as being superb value for money, this particular lounger also has an adjustable head pillow feature, making it a lot more comfortable than others we’ve seen. If you’re worried about storage, as mentioned above, then that isn’t an issue here because the product folds up so it’s compact and easy to carry.
This particular product is available in single or double packs, with black and brown colour options both available.
Positives:
- Good quality
- Glowing reviews
- Comfortable
Negatives:
Mar 8, 2017
This week’s 2017 UK budget delivered very little news to grab the headlines, especially for motorists. As we heard on the BBC News straight after the budget, those used to seeing previous Chancellor George Osborne “pull rabbits out of hats” at these events saw “no rabbits” from Philip Hammond on this occasion.
So what news can we report for UK motorists?
Perhaps the biggest news was the distinct lack of news. We were surprised not to see anything announced that would directly affect drivers, particularly diesel drivers. However, there was no fuel duty increase, no official news of a scrappage scheme, and no changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) beyond those already announced (with the exception of the unsurprising fact that this tax on existing cars will rise with inflation). Anyone interested in the VED changes that take effect from April will find further information in this previous article.
Trouble ahead?
It’s not at all cynical to assume that the government is storing up some of the above changes for the autumn, when the UK will have its first full Autumn Budget, rather than an Autumn Statement, the last of which took place in 2016. It still seems likely that diesel drivers will be hit in some way when this takes place.
A hint that the government hasn’t forgotten about the need to tackle diesel use is tucked away in the detail of the written budget, where it states that the government will be investigating the use of “red diesel” in the coming months. This far cheaper diesel is identical but dyed red, and used by some vehicles working in construction and agricultural industries. This pending investigation suggests there’s a clampdown on the use of this cheaper fuel on the way, especially where these vehicles are used in urban areas.
Whatever happens, the country’s dreadful performance against pollution targets means that something will have to be done soon, so the silence on this issue in the budget should probably be treated more as a reprieve than as a case of “no news is good news.”
Road spending
Spending on the UK’s struggling road network was announced in the budget, confirming some promises made in last year’s Autumn Statement. According to The BBC, this includes a commitment to £90 Million of spending for the north, £230 Million for the Midlands, and £690 Million to be doled out by local councils to “tackle urban congestion.” Totalling just over £1 Billion, these commitments seem something of a drop in the ocean given the traffic levels our roads have to deal with on a daily basis.
Brexit
The one big thing that could change everything is the impact of the impending declaration of Article 50 and the commencement of Britain’s departure from the EU. While some pundits feel that this has been factored into financial forecasts, history has shown that it’s almost impossible to predict how the markets (and the general financial health of the country) will be impacted by political events. However much anyone tries to predict what may happen in the next six months, the only certainty in the current climate is uncertainty.
The next budget in the autumn will take place against a backdrop of major transition. That, coupled with the fact that this budget has been far from revolutionary, truly seems to indicate that the next one will be a big one.
Labour has described this budget as one of “utter complacency.” Do you agree? Share your views in the comments below.
IMAGE CREDIT: Pixabay (Public Domain).
Feb 22, 2017
For several years now, UK drivers have been broadly able to count on supermarkets to provide them with significant price savings on fuel. A succession of price wars, often linked to vouchers and loyalty schemes, have often (but not always) seen supermarkets offer fuel at the lowest prices around.
However, in a surprising development, it seems the supermarkets have decided to edge away from this price battle.
We’ve noticed this phenomenon at PetrolPrices.com over the past few weeks, when familiar searches on our apps have pointed us to brand-name petrol stations instead of the supermarkets we’ve become used to seeing (and using to fill up!)
It’s not only us who’ve noticed. The AA’s own Fuel Price Report has confirmed that the gap between supermarket and name-brand fuel pricing is narrowing significantly, a fact reported on by several news sources including The Daily Mail.
The AA’s report specifically highlights Jet forecourts, which in recent times have started to undercut Sainsbury’s petrol stations in some places.
Have supermarkets abandoned the price war?
This interesting development has caused us to wonder about possible reasons for the apparent strategy change from the supermarkets.
Potential reasons that spring to mind include:
- Supermarkets finding themselves with less flexibility to tweak their prices “on the fly” due to relatively stagnant exchange rates and oil prices.
- A concerted effort from other fuel retailers to narrow the pricing gap.
- A policy change dictated by customer behaviour. Essentially supermarkets often discount petrol to lure customers into their stores for other purchases. However, doing this is less compelling when consumers are economising and paying off Christmas debt in February, than when they’re filling trolleys with seasonal goods.
A report in The Sun suggests something along the lines of the third scenario, saying that the supermarkets seem to have decided to stage their price wars around the items on the supermarket shelves rather than the liquid in the petrol pumps.
What happens next?
Obviously the big hope is that this lull in supermarket activity is merely the calm before the storm of a petrol price war, but there’s not really anything beyond optimism that points to this being the case.
The Sun’s report quotes one retailer saying that fuel sales fell “off a cliff” last month – something not particularly surprising when comparing December with January. However, only time will tell how long people will tighten their belts for.
The one thing that is for certain is that finding cheap fuel is not as straightforward as heading for the nearest supermarket. It’s now quite possible that you’ll save money by heading to an independent forecourt or even one of the “big name” petrol stations instead. Make sure you use our free service before you next fill up.
Have you noticed local garages undercutting the supermarkets in your area? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Feb 15, 2017
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has suggested that the UK government introduce a diesel scrappage scheme in a bid to encourage drivers to give up polluting diesel vehicles for more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
It’s a possible move that’s been being discussed for some time, since it became clear that the UK was falling well short of meeting emissions targets. In London specifically, pollution has been at extremely high levels at various points this year, leading the authorities to go as far as advising citizens to avoid strenuous outdoor activity on certain days, especially if they suffer from breathing-related health issues.
According to a report in The Evening Standard, the proposed scrappage scheme would pay out up to £3,500 for each scrapped vehicle, at a total cost to the government of up to £500 Million. The headline figure would apply to van drivers, with up to £2000 offered to “low-income families” with vehicles that meet the (as yet precisely defined) criteria.
It’s important to note that, at this stage, this is merely a proposal for the government and not yet something under formal review. However, as soon as it became clear in recent months that extra taxes for diesel drivers (and perhaps even diesel bans in cities) were potentially on the cards, it was almost inevitable that such a suggestion would rise to the surface.
How will drivers react?
At PetrolPrices.com, we know for a fact that this proposal will be highly controversial. Past reports relating to the future of diesels and their drivers have resulted in huge numbers of member comments.
The reason this subject is so emotive is that previous governments actively encouraged people to choose a diesel vehicle. There were even tax breaks in place to act as incentives. The fact that the prevalent scientific research at the time has now been proved wrong provides little consolation to those who only did as they were advised.
On the face of it, it seems highly unlikely that this proposal would appease everyone, even if it were to become law. While some people with particularly old vehicles would be able to “cash in” and buy something slightly better, for many £2000 would be nothing more than a token gesture, after buying a far more expensive car that they would feel penalised for driving in the event of future tax increases.
How do you feel about this proposal? Let us know your views in the comments
