Lorraine Kelly Competition is Win-Win!

A chance competition entry in At Home With Lorraine Kelly, Lorraine Kelly’s online magazine, has won a lucky Nottingham-based motorist an iPod Touch and introduced him to his local Good Garage Scheme member garage.

Rachel Greasby, General Manager of the Good Garage Scheme presents prize to Chris Veevers at Professional Vehicle Servicing in Nottingham. (Left to right: Richard Craven, Rachel Greasby, Chris Veevers, Richard Conduit)

Chris Veevers isn’t the sort of person who regularly enters online competitions but upon seeing the prize, decided to give it a go. To his surprise, Chris was chosen over 8,000 entrants as the winner and was awarded with his prize at his local Good Garage Scheme member garage, Professional Vehicle Servicing in Nottingham.

“An iPod Touch is an expensive piece of equipment so it’s probably not something I would buy myself. Since winning one though, it has become a frequently used possession. I use it to surf the web at home and have downloaded quite a few apps. I also use it to access the Good Garage Scheme Facebook page and stay up to date with their most rated garages and driving tips.”

As well as winning an iPod Touch, the competition also served to familiarise Chris with the Good Garage Scheme. “I didn’t know much about the Good Garage Scheme before I entered this competition, but I know a lot more now and regularly visit their website. As a motorist, I find their driving tips very handy. I also like their member feedback system. It’s one thing listening to a garage telling you how great they are, but when you see the feedback from other customers you actually believe it for yourself. Since winning this competition I am definitely more familiar with the Good Garage Scheme and plan on using Professional Vehicle Servicing in the future.” 

Professional Vehicle Servcing, Nottingham

Anndi Sheppard, Marketing Manager for the Good Garage Scheme commented: “I am delighted that over 8,000 people have been introduced to the Good Garage Scheme through Lorraine Kelly’s popular magazine and that Mr Veevers now knows where he can take his car the next time he needs a service or repair.”

To find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member, visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode or town name. It’s like having a friend in the know!

Good Garage Scheme Teams with Lorraine Kelly

The Good Garage Scheme has once again appeared in the May issue of At Home With Lorraine Kelly within the Car Care section of the popular magazine.
 
Lorraine’s readers, like many, are concerned about caring for their cars and finding a garage they can trust to look after them.
 
For anyone looking to find a local trustworthy garage for a car service, MOT or repair, the Good Garage Scheme’s website is a great place to start.
 
Simply visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and type in your postcode or town name for a list of garages near you. Be assured that every garage listed performs services to a strict Code of Conduct and will always have your best interests at heart.
 
In the Driving Seat

The Good Garage Scheme not only allows motorists to make educated choices about where to take their car for a service, repair or MOT, it also offers advice for understanding and maintaining a vehicle between services. There is an easy step-by-step guide on the website on how to check your oil if you are unsure of what to do and handy fuel-saving tips.
 
For more useful advice and to find a garage you can trust, whether you’re at home or on the move, visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com  - It’s like having a friend in the know!

Top Ten Most Expensive Countries in which to buy petrol

A new report, from specialist commercial motor insurance broker Staveley Head, has revealed that there are SIX countries where it’s dearer to buy petrol than here in the UK.

However, as a percentage of monthly income expenditure on petrol, only four countries appear higher in the table than the UK. 

According to their study, fuel in the UK has an average price of 142.48p per litre for petrol and 147.88p per litre for diesel.

Staveley Head add that the planned increase in fuel duty in August will mean a leap from seventh in the world to fourth at current prices.

The full table

Country	Price per litre (£)	Percentage of monthly income spent on petrol* (%)
Norway	1.64	7.4
Turkey	1.62	34.2
Netherlands	1.48	10
Italy	1.46	15.5
Greece	1.45	25.4
Denmark	1.43	8.1
UK	1.42	10.3
Sweden	1.41	7.7
Eritrea	1.41	61.1
Belgium	1.4	8.7

*Monthly petrol costs are based on an individual owning a car that does 37.8 MPG, driving 12,000 miles a year.

How to make your fuel last longer

Have you sat in a queue to buy petrol this week? Are you thinking about a journey you may not be able to make in a couple of weeks time because you won't be able to fill up again?  

  

It now seems that a strike over the Easter weekend has been ruled out completely so we have a break from the fuel worries for the holiday weekend, but this is a timely reminder that most of us are reliant on fuel, despite the escalating prices now exceeding over 140p a litre.

Could you squeeze more miles out of your tank by becoming a more efficient motorist?

Potential saving on fuel over a year

According to the AA, taking steps to drive more efficiently can result in an average 10% saving, with some people saving more than 30% on their fuel costs. If you spend £50 on fuel a week, then that’s potentially a £2600 a year saving. 

First step to saving fuel
If you’re ready to save some money then the first thing to do is have a good look at your car. Is it running at peak efficiency?

Make sure it’s been serviced regularly as this is essential to maintaining engine efficiency. Also, check your tyre pressure is what the handbook recommends, as under-inflated tyres are more resistant, causing the car to use more fuel.

Your handbook probably also recommends changing the pressure for heavier loads, so always check you have the best tyre pressure possible.

Don’t carry unnecessary weight in the car and ditch the roof rack if you aren’t using it. Making the car heavier or more wind resistant means it needs more fuel to run.

Of course, some cars are more efficient than others and it’s worth bearing this in mind when you’re next in the market for a new or second-hand vehicle.

For more information about the best car to choose, visit DirectGov's useful link here.  

Drivers can get the most from their fuel by:

Avoiding unnecessary use of the brakes Speeding towards red lights and then braking, for example, is just a waste of fuel. Aim to accelerate and decelerate more slowly by reading the road ahead. You’ll save money and be a safer driver. 

Driving at the speed limit is most efficient The AA states that driving at 70mph uses as much as 9% more fuel than driving at 60mph.

Thinking ahead about using the air conditioning Air conditioning is the enemy of efficient driving, so if you’re just motoring around town then open a window instead. Use the air con on the motorway, where open windows increase the drag which is less efficient.

Other ways you can save fuel

• Plan journeys carefully in advance so the danger of getting lost is avoided.
• Switch off the engine when you’re stuck at a crossing or stationary in a traffic jam.
• Turn two trips into one by carefully planning your day's car journey 

• Keep an eye on your mileage and aim to reduce it week by week.

 

Visit your local Good Garage Scheme member who can advise you if your car is running most efficiently.

Unused Air Conditioning Systems Top the List for Driver Concerns

Seventy-three per cent of motorists think their unused air conditioning systems are the part of their cars that require the most "TLC" after a long winter.

The remarkable figure comes courtesy of a recent customer poll by the Good Garage Scheme, which asked over 3,300 motorists what parts of their cars they think require extra "TLC" after the cold winter months. Unused air conditioner came out on top as the motoring nation’s biggest concern; 62% more saying that they are worried about their cooling system rather than their engine. Tyres (6%), windscreen wipers (5%) and brakes (4%) also made the final list.
 
Poorly maintained air conditioning systems can amass harmful mould and bacteria through periods of disuse that has been linked by medical professionals to ill health, symptoms of influenza and even Legionnaires' disease – a potential killer!
 
Legionella bacteria are widespread in nature, mainly found in air conditioning and cooling systems which spread droplets of water over a wide area. Circulating water droplets in air-conditioning and cooling systems, cooling towers and evaporative condensers have been proven to cause such side effects as a high temperature, cough, muscle pains, headaches and in more extreme cases, pneumonia, diarrhoea and mental confusion.

 

Dr Sarah Jarvis, television GP and blogger at Patient.co.uk, said: "We all value our health, but in our busy lives it’s all too easy to forget that overlooking simple maintenance tasks can put our health at serious risk. Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal lung condition which can be spread through air conditioning systems, whose warm water provide an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria that cause it. These days, most cars are equipped with air conditioning systems – and they need proper maintenance to keep them safe. Look online at Patient.co.uk to find out more about Legionnaires' disease and how you can avoid it."
 
Anndi Sheppard, Marketing Manager for the Good Garage Scheme added: “The results of our latest poll show that a significant number of motorists are concerned about their air conditioning systems. Fortunately, there are thousands of Good Garage Scheme members able to offer a Spring Check and offer peace of mind going into the warmer months.”
 
To find a garage offering a Spring Check, visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/spring_check and enter your postcode or town name.
 

Fifty-two year old Hillman Minx donated to Coventry’s Transport Museum

A 1960 Hillman Minx, affectionately called “Betty” by the car owner’s family, which has been off the road for the last eighteen years has been donated to Coventry Transport Museum. An engine problem caused the end of its travels and the owner couldn’t bear to see the car scrapped or sold.

The car is thought to be one of just five left in existence, due to the Easidrive automatic gearbox system in it. It will begin being displayed “as found” but a restoration of the vehicle is planned for a later date.

Stephanie Brown, of Coventry Transport Museum, said: “We are delighted to have been able to save the car, because the Minx is a very significant car for Coventry. Considering the car’s age and the fact that it has been untouched in a garage since 1994, it’s in much better condition than you would expect.”

“It’s not suffering from the level of rust that we would usually see in such a vehicle, and the interior is particularly immaculate.

It’s got very nice red seats that are pretty much perfect. It’s like a time capsule in there.”

 

This will extend the museum’s collection of Minxes, which also has another of this owner’s previous cars, which was donated in 1991 - a 1967 Super Minx estate.
The Hillman Minx was a car produced by Rootes at its Ryton-on-Dunsmore plant for nearly forty years from the early 1930s to the end of the 1960s.

Keeping your car maintained is vital to ensure the longevity of your car’s life. For tips on maintaining some of your car’s parts, visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.u/maintainyourcar 

A star is born…Please help us name him

We are proud to introduce a new member of the Good Garage Scheme team.

He will be appearing in our brand new television marketing campaign due to start in March on SKY and DAVE TV.

We're looking for a name for our new star. Please help us give him a great name, and if your suggestion is chosen you could win a Free Tank of Fuel*.

If you wish to enter please send your suggestion, your name and a contact email address and telephone number to marketing@goodgaragescheme.co.uk.

All entries must be received by 31st March. Any received after this date will not be considered. *worth up to £70

In the event that the winning entry is suggested by more than one person, all entries with the same name will be placed in an envelope and one winner will be drawn.

For further information about the competition visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/chappie