September 4, 2012
It’s been quite a while since Henry T Ford turned out the first Model T Ford. Founded in 1903, the ‘motor car for the people’ was a revelation thanks to the assembly line production it pioneered. If Henry saw the Ford Focus of today he would no doubt be extremely proud of how his vision has flourished.
Henry’s Legacy
He would most likely be even more impressed to see that just several days ago the company he founded celebrated the production of their 350-millionth vehicle. It would be interesting to know how many car dealerships have stocked the vehicles as their best-seller over that time. The mass production that forms the core of the Ford empire has churned out their vehicles at a staggering rate, which has been staggered to such a skewed extent that 300 million of the vehicles were produced in only the last 60 years.
The Focus Point
The question on everybody’s lips was which model would hold this esteemed title. Ultimately the obvious choice was the Ford Focus. As the 2012 best selling passenger car in the world, the shining red model comes across as just another one of the 350 million Blue Oval branded cars that came before it. All manufacturers would’ve liked to have been the ones to claim this milestone, and car dealerships Durban to Johannesburg would be quietly upset it wasn’t them being able to display the car on their showroom floor.
Fun Facts
To put into perspective the sheer volume of production that Ford has seen over the last century and a bit, on the long-term aggregate the number of cars produced equals 1 vehicle every 10 seconds and if you were to balance all 350 million on top of each other in a Jenga-like fashion, you’d be able to reach the moon and back… twice. At least we can rest secure in the knowledge that there’s no chance of this recent Ford Focus production toppling the empire.
May 24, 2011
In the UK, a new set of car rules have recently been launched and the creators of the rules have stated that there is no one better than the car dealers themselves to teach new insurance laws to the drivers of their current motorcars. The Motor Insurers Bureau latest law now states that if a car is on the road, or even not currently in use it has to be insured. Even if a car can no longer operate, it has to have some level of insurance if it is on your property. If the vehicle has been registered for a statutory off road notification then the previous driver of the vehicle will not be subject to any fines.
Any motorist who does not abide by these rules will risk a £100 fine or even worse, their vehicle will be taken away from them. In South Africa, used car dealers in Johannesburg would work hand in hand with the departments of transportation to enforce these laws; in the UK, the Motor Insurers Bureau will work side-by-side with the department of motor vehicles in order to strictly enforce these new insurance laws.
The Motor Insurers Bureau realizes that there will be many current car owners who are unable to comprehend this complex law, which is why they are calling on used car dealers to become the authoritive voice and the drive behind their campaign. It will be their job to remind the customer that these laws are in place when they purchase a new or used vehicle. Thankfully, when it comes to brand new cars, the insurance law is slightly more lax. Only used cars will need to be registered with the department of vehicles – new cars come with their own set of insurance laws. Contact your local UK car dealer for further information.
January 25, 2010
Shopping around for a new car that is reliable, economical and that won’t break the bank? Then maybe 2010 is the year to sell that old car of yours and buy a brand new motor vehicle addition. As we all know, car sales were not been at their best last year, with 2009 seeing one of the lowest sales figures for car purchases in over six years. Even though these dismal results had everyone deciding that 2009 was not the year to buy a new or used car, 2010 seems considerably more positive on the motor vehicle sales front. As with the other industries that suffered during the economic recession, the motor industry felt the burn and like the others, hope to recover during the duration of this year. So if you are in the market for a new car then buying smart in 2010 will see you reap the rewards in your car purchase.
2009 was a rather dismal for the motor industry, but many do not know to what extent the industry suffered. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers, there was a 25.6% decrease in the motor industry during 2009 and this decrease significantly impacted the industry – in car rentals as well as sales. Car dealers tightened their belts during the recession but this was not the first time that the motor industry felt the pinch. 2003 was also not a good year for new and used car sales and the industry took a considerable amount of time to pull itself out of that slump.
Car sales results do not only depend on the amount of cars sold here in South Africa to South African consumers but are also according to the amount of cars that are exported to other parts of the world. There was a significant dip in car exportation as the amount of cars leaving the country lessened. But the good news is that we already began to see a positive change within the car exportation industry towards the end of 2009, where export deliveries rose by 50% from October onwards.
NAMSA as well as other motor industry associations believes that there will be a modest rise in car sales and they have predicted that this rise will be in the region of 7%. For many, this does not seem very significant after the 25% decrease but as we all know, the increase will take a few years in order to really make an impact and surpass that 25% dip. Also, as individuals begin to recover personally from the recession, less and less cars are being repossessed and this could possibly result in a shortage of second hand cars. This is why experts are suggesting that buying a new car might be more beneficial than purchasing a used vehicle in upcoming years.
Even though the growth of the motor industry in 2010 will be slow, it will remain steady. And even though our motor industry was hit hard, we were not as badly affected as other countries and we should take this into consideration when buying a car this year. All we can do it hope that they recovery will go well and that car sales will improve as the industry does.
November 27, 2009
If money was no object, and speed limits didn’t exist, what car would you buy? Would you go for the fastest car in the world or the most expensive car? Do your tastes run to the sleek and aerodynamic or do you prefer plush and luxurious? Often, the most expensive cars are the fastest; they would have to be considering all the science that goes into propelling them forward. We’ve put together a list of the fastest and most expensive cars in the world, the kind of cars you wouldn’t find at regular car dealers, read ‘em and dream.
The Bugatti Veryon is in the top 5 fastest and most expensive cars in the world. Price estimates differ but you can expect to pay between $1,4 million and $1,7 million (R10,48 million and R12,79 million) for the car which is named after Le Mans champion race driver, Pierre Veryon. The Veryon is the fastest accelerating production car in history, reaching 200kmh in 7.3 seconds and 300kmh in just 16.7 seconds. Its 987 horsepower W16 engine also makes it one of the most powerful cars in the world. Its two-tone colouring is perhaps not the best way to complement its style and grace but given everything else you get, do you really care?
Bugatti Veryon
The SSC Ultimate Aero is a truly gorgeous car and while it may only be the 5th most expensive car in the world, nothing can beat it for speed. In fact, the SSC Ultimate Aero holds the world speed record for a production car, clocking an impressive 411.9kmh (256mph) and it has a projected top speed of 434.5kmh (270mph). Again, nailing down the price is tricky, but many would consider the estimated $620,000 to $654,400 (R4.6 million and R4.89 million) well worth it to drive the world’s fastest car.
SSC Ultimate Aero
The McLaren F1 production car used to be the fastest car in the world, at least until the Bugatti Veryon came along. It also used to be among the most expensive cars in the world with a base price tag of $970,000 (R7.26 million), but as they are no longer in production, and thus as rare as hen’s teeth, you can expect to pay much more if you want to get your hands on one of these beauties. The McLaren’s top speed is around 386kmh (240mph) and can reach 100kmh in 3.2 seconds, 200kmh in 6.7 seconds and 300kmh in 30 seconds.
McLaren F1 Supercars
You absolutely cannot have a list of the top cars in the world and not include a Ferrari. The Ferrari Enzo has a top speed of 354kmh (220mph), which pales in comparison to some of the other fastest cars in the world, but what is unparalleled speed when you’re driving one of the most sought after cars ever produced.
Ferrari Enzo
Which brings us to the most important feature in favour of the Ferrari Enzo: rarity. Only 399 (some say 400) of the cars were ever made and it’s safe to say that with a price tag of between a mere $640,000 and $670,000 (R4.79 million and R5 million) they were all snapped up pretty quickly. Demand remains high, however, supply is very much limited, and so every time an Enzo is involved in a crash, the selling price of the remainder is pushed up. Currently, you can buy your way into the rarified company of Ferrari Enzo owners for a minimum of $1 million (R7.49 million), which places the Enzo in the top tier of most expensive cars in the world.
The more environmentally minded may want to consider splashing out on the Venturi Fetish, the world’s most expensive electric car. Only 25 are produced in Monaco each year, so the price tag is fairly hefty at $400,000 (R2.9 million). Being electric, it’s obviously not going to be one of the fastest cars around. It has a top speed of 170kmh but can reach 100kmh in 4.3 seconds, which isn’t too shabby and then she’ll give you 350km before she needs to be recharged.
Venturi Fetish
This list is by no means exhaustive, and many of you may wonder why we haven’t included some classics such as Jaguar, Lamborghini and Porsche. If you feel we’ve wronged some of the fastest cars in the world by excluding them from the list, you’re welcome to add them in the comments. And, if we’ve focused too much on speed and skimped on luxury for our list of the world’s most expensive cars, please let us know, we’d love to hear from you.
They grow up so fast, don’t they? Once your child has passed all of those different stages while under your care (puberty, angst, love), it’s naturally time to set them free. The bird must leave the nest, and what better way to do this than in a new car. Here are a few tips to help either you and your kid make that first purchase.