Happy Christmas from the Good Garage Scheme

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year from everybody at the Good Garage Scheme.

Good Garage Scheme - The cost of motoring for used cars

Overall, used cars cost 22.87p per mile to run, in contrast with 18.49p per mile for new cars.
This is based on the costs of running cars aged between three and six years old with 36,000 miles on the clock.
The annual running cost for a used car is £2,744. This is £525, or 24% higher than for new vehicles.
Why the difference in running costs between new and used?
Used cars are much more expensive to maintain, a massive £421 (115%) higher than new cars, with normal driving wear and tear and lapsed warranties on parts pushing up the annual costs of running a used car. Crucially, the majority of used vehicles require a significant investment in new tyres during the three to six year period in their lives, in line with manufacturer recommendations. This can equate to as much as 40% of annual maintenance costs.
Owners of used vehicles also pay an average of £29 (25%) more in road tax than owners of the same model new, due to improvements in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in recent years. These improvements equate to a £13 saving in fuel costs for new cars.


With thanks to our Source of information, RAC Cost of Motoring Index 2009
http://www.goodgaragescheme.com/

Good Garage Scheme Asks - Are You Road Safe?

So you think that you may be a bit of an expert on road safety? Here's one way to find out.

Why not take this quiz of multiple choice questions, and see how you get on? Just click on the answer in the Quiz that you think is the correct one.


Road Safety Quiz

Good Garage Scheme - What to do if you've put the wrong fuel in your car

Misfuelling
You're not alone. It's estimated that at least 150,000 drivers put the wrong fuel in their car each year – one every three and a half minutes!
And the scale of the problem has been getting bigger too, especially over the last five years with growth in diesel car sales – modern diesels are so quiet it's easy to forget you're driving one, particularly if it's a second family car or hire car.
If you've put the wrong fuel in your car, don't turn on the ignition or start the engine as this will circulate the contaminated fuel and increase the risk of damage.

Petrol in Diesel
Do not turn on the ignition or start the car.
If the car's still under warranty you should check with the franchised dealer regarding their advice and correct remedial action – running with even a small amount of petrol in the tank might invalidate the warranty while some manufacturers advise that seals and filters should be renewed even if the engine has not been run.
Generally a small amount of incorrect fuel should not damage the engine as long as you have not started the car and top up fully with diesel fuel.
If you've added more than 10% (5 litres in a 50 litre tank) petrol – Drain the tank and refill with diesel.

Diesel in Petrol
Do not turn on the ignition or start the car.
This is much less common because the standard diesel nozzle at fuel stations is larger than the fuel filler neck on modern petrol cars – you have to be pretty determined and patient to misfuel with diesel as a result.
If the car's still under warranty you should check with the franchised dealer regarding their advice and correct remedial action.
Generally a small amount of incorrect fuel should not damage the engine as long as you have not started the car top up fully with petrol.
If you've added more than 10% (5 litres in a 50 litre tank) diesel – the car shouldn't be run and the tank should be drained.
AA Fuel Assist
In November 2007 the AA launched Fuel Assist, a specialist roadside service that drains, flushes and replenishes vehicle fuel systems on the spot, saving the customer both time, money and inconvenience.
AA Fuel Assist is available to the general public as well as to AA Members and will attend any vehicle providing the Fuel Assist van has enough capacity in its tanks.
The service not only retrieves the contaminated fuel but ensures that it is recycled through a waste management company with the end product being used to power cement kilns and furnaces for example.

Bookings and enquiries number for AA Fuel Assist is 0870 240 3985 (opening hours 7.30am till 7pm)
Dedicated, trained technicians – who only do fuel drains, not general breakdowns – arrive within an hour, on average.
http://www.theaa.com/fuel-assist/index.html