Earlier this year we covered how to stay safe when driving during the summer months. Well, it’s now the middle of September and the weather’s taken a turn for the worse. The days have been getting darker, the night’s longer, and things are set to get much colder, wetter and more miserable in the coming weeks.
So it’s probably about time we went through our top winter driving tips to help you stay safe on the roads in difficult conditions.

1. Plan your journeys

Pay attention to the local news and travel bulletins. That way you’ll be alerted to any disruptions before you encounter them on the road, giving you time to plan out an alternative and faster route.

And if the weather is particularly bad, it’s advised that you rearrange your plans to avoid driving if at all possible.

2. Stay seen, and see others

In winter it’s especially important to see what’s on the road, and to make sure that you yourself can be seen easily.

There’s a lot of mud, slush and snow around that can reduce your visibility though the front and rear windscreens, and the brightness of your headlights may also be reduced, which will limit how far you can see.

And if your windscreen is frozen over, you should avoid using hot water or using your wipers to clear it, as this could cause damage – arm yourself with a window scraper and a bottle of de-icer instead.

3. Check your tyres

With rain and snow on the roads you’ll have much less traction than normal, so it’s important to make sure that your tyres are kept in a good condition, with enough tread depth.

Tyre tread should be no less than 2mm for winter driving, with at least 3mm being the optimum treat depth.

Despite what a lot of motorists might tell you, reducing the pressure in your tyres won’t give you any more grip, and it can be dangerous.

4. Ensure a healthy car battery
Using your headlights, removing condensation and trying to stay warm mean that there’s a higher demand on your car’s battery when making trips in winters.
So try to avoid running these electrical systems for longer than needed, and preserve your battery’s life.

5. Drive smoothly

Driving on snow-covered roads or in icy conditions means that you need to change the way you drive. You don’t have the same kind of responsiveness as you do on dry roads, so you need to pay close attention to your speed – reduce it to increase your stopping ability and to reduce the changes of skidding.
You should also apply the brakes in good time and avoid using them harshly – especially on bends, where the centrifugal force can cause you to spin off the road.

6. Always be prepared for the worst

Always take your mobile phone with you, and make sure that you’ve got the essentials with you in your car at all times.
We’d recommend keeping a torch, blanket, jump leads, di-icer and a shovel to help you out of some sticky situations, and it’s also a good idea to let someone know that you’re travelling in difficult conditions. That way, if you happen to find yourself in trouble and don’t turn up when expected, there’s someone ready to get help to you as quickly as possible.
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Discovery Facelift

Land Rover’s ever popular and ever reliable practical off-roader, the Discovery, has been given a new lease of life.

The redesigned front bumper, updated headlights and new grille give the classic Disco design a subtle but effective shake up, further heightened by the brand new alloy wheel designs.

And those who prefer the sportier look will appreciate the optional Discovery ‘Black Design Pack’, which includes black alloys and extra black trim for a more sleek and stylish overall look.

But it’s not all about the revised exterior; there are some crucial new modifications made under the bonnet as well with an efficient new SDV6 engine.
The 3 litre diesel engine offers up 252bhp, and features a stop/start system which improves fuel economy and reduces CO2 emission to 213g/km from 230g/km.

Things going well for Audi

Less than 5 months after hiring Nick Ratcliffe as the new marketing director, Audi looks to be on the up and up in the UK.

The German car manufacturer is expected to break the UK sales record of 140,000 at the end of this year, making it the country’s leading prestige German brand.

Last year Audi closed just behind BMW’s total of 127,500 with 123,622 registered vehicles, but with a strong range of vehicles, and with more new models to come, the company are expected to surpass their native rivals.

‘Test Drive’ car theft

A young couple turn up at a car showroom, ask to take a desirable BMW convertible for a test drive and never return. Sounds like the plot of a B grade movie, doesn’t it?

But it’s actually happened, in Barrow In Furness, Cumbria.

The convertible – which is worth £19,000 – was reportedly stolen after the showroom allowed the couple (who’re said to be in their 30s) to take the car on an unaccompanied test drive.

The dealership has since released CCTV images in an effort to locate and bring back the missing car.

Hypermiling refers to a number of driving techniques that can be employed to improve your car’s fuel efficiency – and in the last few years, its popularity amongst Britain’s drivers has greatly increased.

So what are these money-saving driving techniques?

Let’s take a look at some of the easiest ways to boost your MPG.

1. Plan your route
It seems pretty obvious: the fewer miles you drive, the less petrol you use.

But picking the shortest route isn’t the best way to hypermile.

Since hypermiling is all about smooth driving, a slightly longer route that’s obstruction free will probably result in a much better MPG, so it’s important to plan your route very carefully.

2. Drive smoothly

If you push down hard on the accelerator, you send more fuel into the engine, the engine runs faster and your speed is increased.
But do you really need this speed injection?

Remember that hypermiling involves adopting a smooth driving approach, and accelerating gently (and quickly taking your foot off the accelerator when you see that you’re going to have to come to a stop) will use much less fuel.

3. Turn off the air-con

You’re probably already aware that having the air conditioning on can decrease your MPG – but did you know that it can increase your normal fuel consumption by up to 10%?

4. Get rid of excess weight

The heavier your car, the harder your car’s engine has to work to get you from A to B – and the harder it has to work, the worse your fuel consumption is going to be.

Take a look in the boot. Is there anything there you could get rid of to lighten the load?

5. Turn off the engine

If you find yourself stuck in traffic, or if you anticipate being help up at the lights for more than 10 or so seconds, consider turning off the engine entirely.
You might not be moving, but idling still consumes fuel.

6. Avoid driving

The ultimate hypermiling technique: not driving at all!
We all have our habits and our preferences, but the next time you think about turning the ignition, think about whether another mode of transport is available to you.

Could you walk instead? Or is cycling an option?

You’ll save money, and you might start feeling a little healthier too!

In the news this week…

Porsche pay Facebook tribute

Porsche have celebrated reaching 5 million Facebook followers by granting their fans the chance to collectively design a new Porsche 911.

Offering up a whole range of different spec options, the German car giant took the latest 991-series 911 Carrera 4S and let the fans decide what to put inside it, with the most popular options being chosen.

With Facebook-style metallic blue paintwork, the Porsche features a sporty white centre stripe running up the bonnet and sill guards emblazoned with the words ‘personally built by 5 million Porsche fans’.
So what did the fans pick?

Well, they opted for the Aerokit Cup for a lower front bumper and more pronounced fixed rear wing, and the white, sporty 20-inch Carrera S wheels. And underneath, the fan-built car features the Porsche Sport Chrono package and a sports exhaust.

Pretty powerful stuff.

It looks like Porsche are really following their social media closely. This marks the third occasion that Porsche have created a customised car to celebrate their online following.

In 2012, to mark their 2 million followers, they created a one-off Porche Cayman S which featured pictures of their Facebook fans, and in 2011 they ran a Thank You campaign, incorporating the names of their 1 million fans into the white and purple bodywork of a GT3 R Hybrid.

Teasers of Subari BRZ STI leaked

It’s been a long and quiet wait, but the Subaru BRZ STi has finally been confirmed after it was announced a few years earlier.

Well, sort of.

Subaru have released a few teaser images of the long-awaited performance car. Unfortunately, they really don’t give much away.

It looks like Subaru are keeping things close to their chest, and we’re still left guessing as to how the new STi model will differ from the original.

Talk about just what we’re to expect under the bonnet is still hotly debated.

Disappointingly, sources indicate that the STi won’t feature a turbocharged engine due to limited space, and it’ll instead achieve its increased 7,500rpm rev limit with exhaust and intake modifications – but as yet, we really can’t be too sure what Subaru are planning.

Still, it’s nice to know the STi hasn’t been forgotten about!

5 tips to prolong the life of your car

Here at Sell Your Problem Car ® we come across expensive-to-fix car problems all the time.

Some are caused by road accidents, and others because of unforeseen engine failure – but you’d probably be surprised at how many are caused by careless driving habits.

So let’s take a look at 5 simple driving and vehicle care tips to prolonging the life of your car. Keep your car in a better condition for longer and avoid any paying for unnecessary repairs.

1. Avoid speeding

If you have a new car, it’s important to be patient during the ‘break-in’ period. This tends to last for the first 1,000 miles or so, and you should go easy as your car adjusts to being on the road for the first time.

Decrease the chance of premature wear by accelerating lightly. Don’t exceed 3,000 rpm and try not to drive the car any faster than 55 to 60 miles an hour, which is the engine’s optimal cruising speed.

2. Stop riding the clutch

This is one of those driving habits that many people find themselves falling prey to – but most aren’t aware of the unnecessary wear and damage they’re causing to the clutch.

Holding the car with the clutch while you’re waiting in traffic, or resting your foot on the clutch and keeping it partially disengaged greatly increases the wear that the clutch receives, which in turn decreases the clutch’s lifespan – and a new clutch could cost several hundred pounds to replace.

So if you’re stood still, use the parking brake and switch to neutral.

3. Read the car’s manual

Your car’s manual actually contains a surprising amount of information about recommended maintenance scheduling and which products you should be using (i.e. which oils are recommended).

Ignore this advice at your own peril.

A quick flick through could save you some extremely costly problems down the line.

4. Maintain tyre pressure

Regularly checking your car’s tyre pressure is important – but it’s not something we do nearly enough.

Check to see the correct tyre air pressure (you’ll find your manufacturer’s recommended pressure on the sidewall of the tyre) and be careful not to adjust the wheel’s pressure by any more than 25% outside of the baseline.

A common misconception is that putting more air into the tyre will help to protect it against road impact. In fact, over-inflating you tyres can be worse than not having enough air pressure, since they’ll transfer more energy from an impact to the wheels, potentially damaging them.

5. Wash and wax your car

Rust damage can be extremely expensive to fix – and it can form and spread very quickly, so it pays to act fast.

Ideally, try clean your car every two weeks and wax every four to prevent any rust from developing. If it’s wet, and there’s lots of salt on the roads, you might want to think about washing it more often, since salt actually speeds up the rate of rusting.

And if you notice a small problem in the paintwork, don’t let it develop. Get it treated as soon as possible before things get too costly.

Crisis over F1 tyre safety

Severe tyre blowouts suffered by four drivers at last weekend’s Silverstone GP have left drivers and teams concerned over the safety of the sport.

Silverstone is known as a particularly demanding circuit that’s tough on tyres, but tyre failures are amongst some of the most lethal car failures for F1 drivers.

Lewis Hamilton has called for action to be taken after the tyre failures, which he’s described as ‘unacceptable’, and 13-time Grand Prix winner, David Coulthard, has taken a similar stance, calling the tyre failures ‘driver killers’.

Pirelli has issued a statement which attributes the failure of the tyres to the practices of the F1 teams themselves.

In order to better manage tyre wear and limit pit stops, teams have been removing worn tyres and later mounting them on the opposite side of the car.

This, Pirellis has said, is largely responsible for the blowouts, which only occurred on cars with tyres fitted on the opposite side.

Despite this, Pirelli will be making changes ahead of next week’s race at the Nurburgring, changing the internal belt – which is usually made from steel – to Kevlar.

The fear over the safety of the tyres occurs just two weeks after Pirelli and Mercedes sparked controversy for their mid-season tyre testing, after Red Bull and Ferrari racing teams brought the legality of the tyre development into question.

High demand for Ford Fiesta ST

It looks as though Ford have got things right with their new Ford Fiesta ST.

The waiting list for the sporty new hatchback currently stands at 3 months, after unexpected interest catches production off guard.

In fact, over half of Ford’s annual production of Fiesta STs was sold within just 3 months of the car’s official launch date.

Powered by an impressive 178bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol, with sporty and subtly-aggressive looks, it’s not so difficult to see why people are snapping them up.

But it’s not all about the aesthetics.

At £16,995, the Fiesta ST is also one of this year’s cheapest hatchbacks – that’s around £2,000 less than its main rival, the Renaultsport Clio 200, which went on sale back in June.

New world land speed record set

Driving an electric Le Mans prototype racer at an average speed of more than 200mph, Lord Paul Drayson has set a new land speed record for a ‘sub-1000kg electric car’.

, recorded a top speed of 204.285mph, smashing the previously held record of 175mph.

With a top speed of 204.185mph, the former Minister of Science, businessman and amateur racing driver smashed the previously-held record of 175mph.

“I’m delighted we’ve beaten the record tonight and can show the world electric vehicles can be fast and reliable,’ said Drayson, who you can see in action below…

Car engines are complicated pieces of engineering, so there could be a whole host of issues responsible for preventing your car from starting when you put the key in the ignition.

But some engine problems occur more frequently than others, so let’s take a look at the 7 most common causes of engine failure, and find out why your engine isn’t turning over.

1. Fuel pump failure

Fuel pumps are responsible for supplying the injectors with pressurised fuel which aids combustion, but their failure is one of the most common reasons for a non-starting engine.

Fuel pump failure can occur at any time, but running a car on less than ¼ of a tank of petrol for extended periods – or running out of fuel entirely – can cause premature damage.

2. Clogged fuel filter

Fuel filters can clog, so they should be replaced every 12,000 miles or so.

If you have a clogged or dirty fuel filter, the fuel may not be able to reach the engine, which prevents the engine from starting.

3. A problem with the timing belt

The timing belt (or cam belt) is the toothed rubber belt that connects the crankshaft to the camshaft. It controls the engine timing and makes sure that the valves and pistons don’t collide when the engine is in motion.

Over time, timing belts are prone to wear and can fail, causing the engine to operate out of sync. Owner’s manuals might disagree about how often a timing belt needs to be changed, but you should really check and replace one after covering somewhere in the region of 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

4. The battery’s dead

Car batteries are like any other kind of battery: they don’t last forever. They can fail and be drained of power if the cars lights or radio are left on while the car isn’t running, or if the car hasn’t been used for a while.

5. …or it’s corroded

Battery corrosion typically occurs when there are loose connections on the battery terminals, or when gases from inside the battery escape (whether though faulty or cracked battery caps or punctures in the battery itself).

Electrical resistance develops as the corrosion builds up, but by removing the negative and then positive terminals from the battery, the corrosion can be scrubbed away with a stiff brush.

6. Electrical problems

Even small fluctuations in voltage can cause damage to the engine’s computerised controls, and poor electrical connections could also be responsible for an engine failing to start, so they should be checked to make sure they’re not loose.

7. Distributor cap

Since the distributor cap carries voltage it can become worn, clogged and dirty, and prevent the engine from turning over.

Check your distributor cap for cracks, signs of fire damage or a build-up of dirt. It may need cleaning or replacing entirely.

José Froilán González dies, aged 90

Argentine Formula 1 driver, José Froilán González – the man behind Ferrari’s very first Formula 1 victory – has died this week, aged 90.

The son of a car dealer, González was born in Buenos Aires on October 5^th, 1922, and travelled to Europe in 1949 to begin his racing career for Maserati.

A year after his championship debut at the Monoco Grand Prix in 1950, González (pictured above) had switched allegiance to Ferrari and powered his 375 F1 to victory at Silverstone in 1951, crossing the finish line to the applause of over 50,000 spectators.

Current Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said, “Over all these years, he was always very attached to Ferrari and, as a driver and a man, he played an integral part in our history. His death means we have lost a true friend.”

BMW 4 Series Coupe

Details of BMW’s brand-new coupe have been announced.

The 2013 4 Series will be available in the UK from the 5^th October, with prices said to start at £31,575 – just over £3,000 more than the 3 Series it’s replacing.

While it doesn’t look much like the sleek 4 Series concept BMW unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year, a few of the features have remained, including the lower grille and the vents behind the front wheels.

But with a lower roofline and a slightly longer overall length, the 4 Series’ design seems more concerned with creating a sharper, more responsive driving experience than it is with drastic new aesthetics.

A new Lamborghini Gallardo?

It looks like Lamborghini are still in celebration mode. They promised that this year – the year of their 50^th anniversary – would be a big one, and so far they’ve not disappointed.

The Italian car makers have recently announced plans for a new two-seater Gallardo replacement.

The car, currently known by its internal codename, LP724, boasts an aggressive exterior and a slightly increased wheelbase, with power coming from a 5.2ltr V10 petrol engine.

The new Gallardo is expected to go on sale in the UK towards the end of next year.