Advantages of Diesel Engines
Over the years, the prices of both gas and diesel have experienced some drastic changes.
Several years ago, the price of gas was around a dollar,now its almost four dollars a gallon.With the increasing number of vehicle increases around the world,so does the demand for gas.Demands from China,India and other developing countries further exacerbate the situation. Without gas,many of the world’s economy will be at a standstill.
Gas Supplies - Majority of the gas we get at local gas stations comes from overseas, primarily the Middle East. Therefore, we have to pay taxes and such on the gas we use, which pays for the gas as well as the shipping. If we got our gas from within the United States, one can’t help but wonder whether or not the prices would indeed be lower.
Diesel Supplies - On the other hand, diesel has always managed to keep a price lower than gas. This is because most of our diesel supply comes from within the United States, so the prices and supplies are more manageable. The only problem associated with diesel fuel is locating it, as many gas stations do not sell it.
What is Diesel Engine - Diesel engines use air compression to create combustion versus the fuel or air mixture that is required by gas engines. This attribute means that diesel engines don’t require spark plugs and therefore don’t need to be tuned up.
Diesel Engine Design - The designs of diesel engines striving to increase performance have made a lot of advancements in engine fuel delivery to the combustion chamber. The diesel engines of today are much quieter, smoother, and also more powerful. The quality of diesel fuel on the other hand has not advanced at the same rate as the improvements of engines.
If you’ve owned a diesel powered vehicle in the past or if you own one now, you no doubt appreciate the qualities this engine provides you with. More torque, better fuel economy, and easier maintenance are but a few of the attributes of owning diesel powered vehicles.
However, there are some motorists that still complain about the engine’s weak power, especially
when accelerating from a full stop. What you may not be aware of is the fact that a diesel engine can be tweaked to give more power without harming the fuel economy.
Benefits of Diesel Engines
1.Diesel fuel has a much high fuel density than gas,resulting in fuel economy increases of 20 - 30% over gasoline powered vehicles.
2. Diesel engines are also cheaper to maintain as they have less parts than that of a gasoline
powered engine.
3.The life span of a diesel engine is also much longer.
4.If you’re looking for torque, for pulling a boat or other equipment, then the diesel engine has the supreme advantage. Diesel engines are surely slower, especially when starting from a dead stop, although when you climb hills or go over bridges, the diesel engine is surely up to the task.
5.With trucks, diesel is normally the leader over gas engines in terms of performance and
miles per gallon. Diesel trucks will get more miles than gas trucks, and the price for diesel is a bit cheaper than gas these days. And with gas prices on the rise, diesel will continue to dominate for a long time to come.
When it comes to the choice between the two, diesel fuel is obviously cheaper to buy. Gas is
in supply more, which means that you can find it almost anywhere. If you own a gasoline
vehicle, you obviously don’t want to put diesel in it. If you own a diesel vehicle, then you
of course wouldn’t want to put gas in it either.
Paul Hata is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing equal access to education,health and jobs to all.Paul has over 10 years experience in managing a multi-million dollar advertising company.Paul can be reached at - TradePlanets.com
What to Keep in your Car
When you drive a car, chances are that not every single road trip that you ever take is going to end well. While most of them will go off without an incident, chances are that at some point in your life you are going to be stranded temporarily and when that moment comes, you need to make sure that there are a number of devices that you keep in your car to help you get through it. Here are some suggestions to get your started along the road to being prepared for anything that might come your way.
Blankets
Even in the warmest climates of the world there are cold nights. The tropical areas of the world in particular have people in them that are susceptible to cold weather and when your car breaks down, chances are that you might have to say in it overnight if you are in an area where emergency response time is lower than normal. During this period of staying outside in the cold weather, blankets can keep you warm and potentially save you from hypothermia.
Flashlight
At the same time that you are going to be in cold weather during the night, you might also find that you are on an area of road that is not well lit. There are many such roads in existence in the world today and the only way that you can fix the problem is to bring a flashlight with you. Flashlights are extremely inexpensive nowadays and can really help you out when you’re in a jam.
First Aid Kit
If you or someone you know is in the car during an accident, then there is a chance that the person might get injured. While most automobile accidents are minor and do not result in any injuries, having a first aid kit on hand to treat injuries that might arise is something that can mean the difference between life and death. It costs you practically nothing to keep a first aid kit handy, just in case.
Air Pump
One of the most common road problems in today’s world is a flat tire and an air pump can help you put air back into the tire. While an air pump can not fix a flat tire, it can at least temporarily put air back into it so that you can drive it to the closest repair station.
Membership Info for Auto Clubs
Emergency roadside assistance is one of the major benefits inherent to auto club membership, but if you really need it then you need to be able to prove that you are a member of that specific auto club. The best way to do this is to carry your membership information with you wherever you happen to go.
Method of Contact
You want to keep some sort of contact method in your car at all times. If you carry a cell phone, then that can be your method of contact. Alternatively, you can have a service installed in your car that allows you to communicate at the push of a button. Whatever method you use, having a way to contact someone if you are in a car accident is extremely important and should not be ignored.
Other Items
The above items that were mentioned constitute the things that you absolutely should have in your car in case anything does go wrong. However, other items such as recreational items are also a good idea depending on the people you normally ferry. Those items are however personal decisions as to whether you want them or not, while the items mentioned above are absolute must haves.
Providing Eastern Ontario auto club members with Ontario emergency roadside assistance, battery assist and auto repair services since 1903.
Is it Safe to Provide Personal Data When Getting an Auto Insurance Quote?
When acquiring an auto insurance quote online, many individuals are concerned about giving out their personal data. This fear exists because they do not want that data to be used for purposes other than that of an auto insurance quote. That is a reasonable fear in the day and age when some companies collect a person’s information with the intention of selling it to a third party. However, not all companies do such a malicious task, but some may feel that there is no need to have to provide their personal information for something as simple as an auto insurance quote.
The truth is, there is a reason behind the need for such information, but, as stated before, there is concern amongst individuals about their information staying private. That concern is not at all outlandish, but a self-respecting company that really wants business from those seeking quotes from them will gain the respect of their prospective customers if they keep their information private. By not sharing information builds trust and will give an individual reason to utilize the insurance services that that company has to offer. An auto insurance company is not going to gain new business by violating that trust.
Building that trust
The trust is built the moment the prospective customer begins typing their information into the form fields on the website. They keep this information private for both you, the customer, and for their own well-being. They are not going to jeopardize the cost-saving method of providing auto insurance quotes online by sharing information with third parties. They would literally be jeopardizing their entire system, which would not be good considering the online quote system is how many insurance companies are acquiring their customers today. If they do not have an online quote system, then they do not have a working system to acquire new customers. It is as simple as that.
There is also the fact that they may acquire new customers, but could lose the customers if those individuals find that their information has been sold to third parties. Again, any self-respecting company is not going to shoot themselves in the proverbial foot by doing such a thing. Their business comes from providing auto insurance policies and not selling your information.
So is it safe?
Yes, it is safe to provide your information. It is necessary to make sure who the quote is being provided to, especially if you become a customer. Credit score will not be affected and sign-up is not automatic. A social security number should not be requested since there is technically no need for it just for a quote. Quotes are safe and free. Quotes also do not obligate an individual to take the insurance. The company is simply providing the prospective customer with a tool to make the best informed decision possible regarding which auto insurance is the best to fit their individual needs. There are no ulterior motives happening when receiving a quote. It is just a company wishing to form new relationships with customers and provide services that can make the customer very happy.
In the end, the auto insurance company has provided their quote, the customer has made a decision, and the auto insurance company acquires a new customer. That is their goal in providing the useful auto insurance quote tool online. They are certainly going to benefit more by having a new customer than violating the trust of those who seek them out and selling their information to strangers. This is one way a business can cause serious damage to themselves, so why would they want to do that? The point is that they wouldn’t.
Offers complete home and car insurance in Canada. Get an accurate, no obligation quote online. We will help you select the best coverage for your needs.
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A Brief History Of The Mini
The mini was a very iconic car during the 60’s and early selling strongly up to the early 21st century (2000) when production was finally ceased. It was then replaced by the new Cooper. The Mini had many names during its long history, and it was marketed under Austin and Morris until it became its own company in 1969. The first car was produced in 1959 by the British Motor Company (BMC) its engines ranged from 850cc to 1275cc during its later years.
The original car was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis who wanted to give the mini a great deal of room for passengers and luggage. To save space the mini was designed with a front wheel drive layout leaving up to 75-80 percent of the cars chassis to be used for passengers and luggage; even though the chassis was very small car there was a lot of space thanks to this layout. The car was assembled in factories in Longbridge and Cowley as well as being built worldwide in many other countries such as Belgium, Australia and Spain due to its popularity with the global public.
The Mini was put into production because of the fuel shortage that took place in 1956. This meant that the UK had to introduce a program of petrol rationing. During its lifetime the car received three main updates from its original car (the Mark 1). They were the mark 2, the clubman and the mark 3. It also received modifications that changed the exterior of the car. They included variants such as pickups and vans.
There was also the Mini Cooper S that was hailed as a sportier or “racier” version of the original; these were extremely successful in rally events and won the Monte Carlo rally three times. This was mainly due to great handling and low weight, the Cooper S weighing just 617kg to 686kg. They were also quite successful in other forms of racing winning GTC 65 championship races. Many celebrities such as Niki Lauda and Steve McQueen famously owned Mini’s.
The new version was introduced in 2001 taking the mantle from the old model when production ceased. BMW had bought the rights to the company and started production of the new model. Due to the new ownership the Mini corporation changed its name to BMW Mini. Currently there is only one model in the range, with some variants such as the clubman and convertible. Also in 2008 the next generation of minis came out with new stylish and sleek looks that people wanted this was called the Mark 2.
The mini has been at the centre of some criticism with hardcore enthusiasts saying that the car does not follow the trend or principles the original car set. They complained that the car was too big and there was less room inside. BMW hit back saying that they had increased the safety and crash protection making the passengers inside less susceptible to injury in the result of a crash. They also stated that they incorporated new features such as air conditioning and emissions control that had to increase the size of the car.
The two main versions sold in the UK of the new version are the standard Cooper and Cooper S. The standard Cooper features a 1.6L engine that produces 120hp and has a 0-62 mph time of 9.1 seconds. The faster version the cooper S has a supercharged (and now turbocharged, mark 2) 1.6L engine that produces 175hp with a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds and has an impressive top speed of 140 mph. From its humble beginnings the mini has become a modern, stylish and above all popular car.
Motoring expert Thomas Pretty looks into the history of the Mini from sixties icon to modern day styling.
Finding Used Auto Parts Online Saves Time and Money
Used auto parts, also sometimes known as aftermarket parts (due to the fact that they were removed from the market beforehand), are auto parts that have been utilized for some purpose before. They might have been used to effect repairs on other auto parts, come new with the car or been removed as part of a general overhaul, but the point is that they have been used in some capacity before. This used status usually results in a decline in the price of an auto part, but at the same time what many people are finding is that a decline in quality is not always a given.
Frequently, it is possible to find used auto parts that give you a much better quality to cost ratio than the new version of the same part. In conventional terms, one of the reasons that people knew this fact and never took advantage of it was that finding aftermarket parts that fulfilled those requirements was extremely difficult. The average residence probably didn’t even know where the closest yard was and even if they did, searching through parts in order to find a good used product would take time and energy that most people probably did not have.
As with most things, however, the internet really came along and changed things in a big way. People now do not need to worry about finding used auto parts in physical yards because they can now go online in order to find the same aftermarket parts. There are many websites online that can help you in this search, allowing you to find the particular used auto parts that you are looking for through an online search and then heading to the yard to pick them up. The searching is made simple by the internet and because you only have to spend a few minutes in the yard picking the part up, the whole process is made easier and a lot more cost effective.
Ultimately, if you really want to save a lot of money through the use of used auto parts, then you really need to incorporate the online element into the overall search tactics that you use. Consider for a moment the two different options that are available to you when you are searching for aftermarket parts. The first option is the one listed above regarding searching on the internet and then going to the yard to pick up the part, while the second option is the conventional method of searching through yard parts until you find the used auto parts that you seek.
With the first option, you pay in time and money for the internet service that you use as well as the drive to the yard. With the second option, you pay for a drive to the yard in money and then you have to pay a much larger time commitment in order to find the part you are looking for. There are no search fields in a yard and many of them do not carry databases that they will readily let you look through. With the lack of a catalogue, searching through a yard really becomes hit or miss. If you do it online, you should be able to locate the aftermarket parts that you need within a few minutes of conducting the very first search.
Ultimately, the best way for you to find used auto parts is to search for those parts online. Almost every single way to measure the ease or difficulty of something indicates this. Searching for aftermarket parts online and then picking them up from the yard when found is simply the best way to go.
Auto Salvage company selling aftermarket parts including used tires and transmissions
Warranties on Hybrid Cars
Warranties are perpetually a blessing and a pain when it comes to any major appliance, and cars these days are no different. Thankfully, with these new hybrid cars running around, the warranties on hybrids are typically better than gas-powered vehicles, and one reason is that you are paying so much more for them upfront, as well as the fact that manufacturers have enough faith in the actual value of hybrid cars, especially in the long run. To be blunt, the manufacturers don’t honestly think that the car is going to need repairs during the warranty period, because the parts are meant to last. That doesn’t always happen, though, and it’s important to look at what exactly you’re in for.
1. What’s Actually Covered - Okay, so, let’s figure out what’s actually covered in your warranty. For most standard warranties on hybrids, the actual battery pack, as well as the hybrid’s parts are under warranty for 100,000 miles or 8 years, and if you’re lucky, as far as 150,000 miles or 10 years. That depends on the state where you buy the car and live in, but either way, this at least covers when parts go bad for no apparent reason, or something happens to fail in a bizarre way. Even manufacturer defects are covered. Many other hybrids also have an additional warranty which is standard, giving you much of the same warranty coverage like a conventional vehicle, which is about 3 years.
If you’re lucky, you might have the power train warranty, which takes care of items like the engine, seat belts, airbags, and even the front-wheel and rear-wheel drives, and tends to last around 5 years. The major thing to look out for is that most warranties assume you’ll at least travel 12,000 miles, and that is per year. If you don’t actually take advantage of that, you’ll lose money and will be wasting the money you spent on your warranty.
2. The Really Fine Print - Okay, so, here’s the tricky and sucky part. Not everything is covered on your warranty, and so you need to be sure you actually take good car of a hybrid vehicle. Otherwise, when you suddenly forget to find a mechanic in the area, then that snowballed into forgetting to chance the oil for an entire year, well, you’re probably out of luck.
3. Should I Keep Going - The last question is to figure out if you even really think it’ll be worth picking up a hybrid and then getting the warranty in the first place. Thankfully, when you buy a hybrid, the extended warranty is a blessing, especially if that battery pack you’re expecting to last forever happens to fail right at the 100,001 mark. The hard part is that the extended warranty may cover your battery problem, but look out at how expensive it could be up front. The dealer, the type of warranty, and even information about yourself may be incredibly important in trying to figure out which warranty to get.
Thankfully, many of the extended warranties are actually worth the money. Just make sure not to go with dealer-specific warranties, non-transferable warranties, non-refundable warranties and any program that says you need to pay them right upfront. Also, be sure that if you buy a warranty, it’ll allow you to go to a licensed mechanic in your area, as the last thing you want is to find out that you don’t have anywhere to repair it from.
A word to the wise, though: While a warranty is a great safety net, there is a lot of fine print on what doesn’t get covered by the warranty so make sure to read it all.
To learn more about hybrid cars visit hybridcarchat.com and check out the hybrid forums. You will receive the free guide to increasing your car’s fuel efficiency once you join.
Overview of Toyota Hybrid Cars
The Toyota Prius was the first hybrid to be prepared for mass marketing in 1997, and so when looking at hybrid cars, it’s always a good idea to look at those who did it first. Granted, while ever single manufacturer is trying to add a hybrid to their line-up, you’ll want to do the actual research yourself. While thinking about getting a Toyota, here is something to think about while you’re wondering about that last piece of Chicken:
1. Toyota Prius - Other than being the butt of Jeff Dunham jokes, this particular vehicle has a starting price of around $21,000 and happens to be one of the most widely known and acclaimed hybrids out in the market now. While the first models of the Prius had a few major kinks to iron out, the vehicle has succeeded and is now moving forward in recognition. The only problem is that the Prius may be able to seat 5, but it is an extremely tight space if not done correctly. The Prius is also incredibly light, so while it would be a great vehicle for driving, it has very little clout as helpful. The actual fuel tank’s capacity is around 11.9 gallons, which is fairly decent, and the actual car itself weighs almost three tons. As for actual miles per gallon ratings, the Prius is able to get a combined rating that is around 46 mpg. That makes this particular vehicle one of the top and most fuel-efficient hybrids on the market.
2. Toyota Camry - While the Camry is substantially cheaper than the Prius, starting at only $18,720, the vehicle has merit on its own. The car is only 200 pounds heavier than its typical counterpart and is also hardly able to fit the five people that are supposedly in the seating capacity. The mpg ratings for the vehicle are 33 mpg in the city and 34 mpg in the highway, better than many other hybrids on the road, especially the Toyota Highlander. The fuel tank also has an incredible capacity, and that certainly makes this car much easier to deal with. The drawbacks on this particular vehicle include a 4 foot reduction in storage space from the typical gas-powered Camry. As for the weight, the Camry is around 3,680 pounds, and that is only 200 lbs over the gas-powered Camry, which isn’t at all normal.
3. Toyota Highlander - So, the Highlander is an SUV hybrid by Toyota that starts at a jaw-dropping price of $27,300. The car can easily fit up to five people, and possibly more in the vehicle. The towing capacity is pretty hefty, and there is plenty of space to hold luggage, but it’s not nearly as strong as perhaps the conventional Highlander. The fuel tank is smaller than the conventional, and the fuel-efficiency is only 9 mpg over its conventional counterpart, which isn’t really as much as it nearly could be.
And now you’ve had a chance to look at the three major Toyota hybrids that are on the market as it is, but it’s always up to you, the consumer, to pick the best one for you.
To learn more about hybrid cars visit hybridcarchat.com and check out the hybrid car forums. You will receive the free guide to increasing your car’s fuel efficiency once you join.
Who Should Have Around the Clock Auto Club Roadside Assistance?
Almost anyone who drives knows what roadside assistance is. For those who don’t, it is assistance given to the driver in the case that he or she runs out of gas, blows a tire, breaks down, or is locked out of their car. The service will provide a specified amount of gas that should get the individual to the next gas station, will put on the spare tire if the tire blows, will provide towing for a specified distance if the car breaks down, and will provide locksmith service if the keys are locked in the car. In other words, having roadside assistance means it is difficult to get stranded when away from home.
The above scenarios certainly reveal how important it is that a person has roadside assistance. It is easy for someone to say that they never run out of gas, that they don’t believe their tire will go flat, or they never lock their keys in their car. There are even some individuals so claim that their car is a good car and will never break down. The truth is that these things happen to anyone and everyone. It isn’t a measure of intelligence or how careful an individual is. Everyone who drives has or will experience all of these things at one point and, in a world that is becoming increasingly dangerous, it is important to have roadside assistance that can cover you all through the day and all night long.
Who should have 24/7 roadside assistance
Those who frequently travel are the perfect candidates for around the clock roadside assistance. A roadside assistance service that doesn’t provide coverage 24 hours each day could definitely put an individual in a pickle. For example: A person is traveling after 9:00 p.m. and they have a tire blowout on the highway. They take out their cellular phone to call their roadside assistance service to find that their hours are between 9:00 a.m. ad 9:00 p.m.
This person is now stuck and their only choice is to pay someone a lot of money to come put on their spare or start walking. It is dangerous to wait for a good Samaritan to come along the way and volunteer to put on the spare tire. It is also too dangerous to walk. Had this person had a roadside assistance service that was an around the clock service, this would not be a problem.
Then there are those who travel frequently overnight. A service that is not around the clock isn’t going to benefit them at all. Actually, it would be pointless to have. If something happened in the middle of the night, they would have to call someone else who would charge them even more for overnight service or they would have to do something dangerous such as sleep in the car or start walking to find help or a hotel.
So when asking the question of who should have around the clock roadside assistance, it is fair to say that anyone who is need of roadside assistance should go for a service that will help them any time of the day or night. We cannot predict when we are going to be driving. A person may have to leave their home in the middle of the night and end up locking themselves out of their car.
It is easier and cheaper to receive locksmith assistance from the roadside assistance company than it is to call a locksmith in the middle of the night on your own and spend $30 or more dollars. Roadside assistance is more convenient and it is cheaper. There is also no question as to why an around the clock auto club roadside assistance is the way to go.
Auto club offering emergency road services to the areas of North and East Ontario. We also offer travel insurance.
Car Care Tips To Make Your Vehicle More Environmentally Friendly
These days, more and more people are getting concerned about the environment, and the harmful affects that their vehicle can pose. Unfortunately, not everyone can run out and buy a new hybrid or other environmentally friendly car. But, with proper maintenance of your vehicle, you too can have a car or truck that is much more friendly to the environment.
Having your vehicle properly maintained by a certified mechanic can go a long way in helping to ensure that your vehicle remains as environmentally friendly as possible. A certified mechanic can perform regular tune ups which will not only keep your vehicle running in tip top shape, but will also help to keep it at peak performance which can make it a more environmentally sound car.
A vehicle that is well tuned will use less gasoline and emit less toxic pollutions, which of course goes a long way in helping the environment. With gas prices being what they are these days, everyone is looking to get the most mileage they can from a tank of gas, and having your vehicle running at it’s optimum performance will help to increase your gas mileage. Additionally, when your vehicle is running properly, is reduces the amount of emissions that your vehicle puts out, which helps to reduce the level of harmful pollutants in the air.
While some people will try and save a few dollars by doing their own tune ups on their vehicles, it is certainly best to take your vehicle to a certified mechanic instead to have the work performed. A certified mechanic can better understand the workings of your vehicle, and may take care of tuning up certain things that the average person may miss when working on your car. With many of the modern advances that have been made in the automotive industry, there are many machines that a certified mechanic can hook your vehicle up to that will help to catch any problems your car may have that you would otherwise not know about.
Furthermore, a mechanic will have the means to properly discard of car parts and car fluids that can be harmful to the environment, that the average citizen does not have access to. Items such as engine parts and tires can be disposed of in the best possible way so that they may be recycled and not end up in a landfill. Fluids from your car such as anti-freeze or used motor oil can be disposed of to the correct facilities, so that they do not end up being dumped on the ground to pollute ground water or harm wildlife.
If you want to make your car more environmentally friendly, make an appointment with your local certified mechanic today to receive a full tune up on your car. This is the best option for ensuring that your car remains running at it’s peak performance, so that it poses less of a threat to the environment.
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A History Of Vauxhall Cars During The Twentieth Century
Vauxhall dealers have always had a range of cars on their forecourts that can be classified as budget vehicles. Unlike Mercedes and Bentley dealers, those affiliated to Vauxhall have chose to ignore the luxury car market and instead focus on the middling to low price range. With a heritage that has been built over the last one hundred and fifty years, and a car manufacturing history going back more than a century, Vauxhall have consistently aimed to put cheap cars on the forecourts of their dealers for all manner of customers.
The founder of Vauxhall Motors, Alex Wilson, originally started a company that manufactured engines and pumps. It was during the turn of the century that Mr Wilson decided to lend his hand and the efforts of his company to manufacturing cars for the general public. At this stage though there were not many dealers or forecourts, cars were distributed by other means until they became an affordable option for the masses.
Around twenty years forward from this inaugural production, Vauxhall made a deal with an American company that would change the way its dealers traded as well as the cars they had on their forecourts for generations. The car manufacturing giant of the USA, General Motors bought out Vauxhall, at the time gaining control over the British company for the princely sum of two and a half million dollars, the deal included ownership of everything, factories, development, dealers, the lot. Unfortunately for Vauxhall this meant that for years the cars that they would produce would be heavily influenced by the designs of their American owners. While this has changed in recent years, for much of the twentieth century Vauxhall were forced to produce cars that resembled their American cousins.
After the war period when Vauxhall factories manufactured the Churchill tank to help the war effort, Vauxhall entered into a rivalry with Ford that survives to this day to capture the budget car market. Part of this rivalry manifested itself during the late sixties and early seventies when the two Vauxhall models of the time, the Viva and Victor were set up to directly compete with the corresponding Ford models the Cortina and Corsair. Even though the Viva was extremely popular with dealers and customers the Cortina proved to be a far more popular car with the British motoring public. While the rivalry with Ford was well established, also during this period British Leyland proved to be considerably impressive in attracting custom in the UK.
Dealers affiliated to a variety of companies experienced a great time during the mid seventies. Vauxhall put forward the Chevette as their most affordable model, a small three door hatchback that was the beginning of the small family car trend. As well as the Chevette, the Cavalier was produced as a larger saloon car to capture the prestige market. However, Vauxhall were still chasing Ford who had a variety of models that were extremely popular. Of these models the sporty Capri captured the imagination of young professionals while the Cortina was still proving to be popular with the motoring fraternity.
The eighties were somewhat of a watershed for Vauxhall with some seminal models rolling onto the forecourts of dealers. The most important of these models was the Astra, another small family car that is still produced today although after undergoing some radical design changes. Despite the popularity of the Astra it was still trailing in terms of sales to Ford’s Escort, by far the most popular car in the UK during the late eighties and early nineties.
Today Vauxhall have built on past successes and are now regarded to be the most popular car manufacturer in the UK. With a variety of models ranging from small family cars, to large saloon and even MPVs they cover a number of markets. As the motoring industry becomes increasingly cutthroat however Vauxhall will have to research and develop new models at pace to ensure they stay ahead of the competition.
Motoring expert Thomas Pretty investigates the variety of cars that have graced the forecourts of Vauxhall dealers throughout the latter twentieth century.
