Prestige car owners turn to The Good Garage Scheme

Owners of high-end vehicle marques are increasingly turning to independent specialist garages for care and servicing, according to the UK-wide Good Garage Scheme.

Prestige marques BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar all make the top ten list of car manufacturer searches carried out by visitors to the Good Garage Scheme website, www.goodgaragescheme.com. Once again, popular vehicle model Ford tops the list, closely followed by BMW and Volkswagen in second and third place respectively.
The research aimed to highlight that motorists are looking to have their quality vehicles serviced by a specialist independent garage rather than taking it to a main dealer.  Over a recent three-month period, a total of 54 different marques were searched by over 2,900 motorists looking for a specialist independent garage.

The top 10 car manufacturers searched on the Good Garage Scheme website are:

1. Ford
2. BMW
3. Volkswagen
4. Vauxhall
5. Audi
6. Renault
7. Mercedes
8. Peugeot
9. Jaguar
10. Land Rover

 

Motorists visiting the website can find their nearest Good Garage Scheme member and refine their searches to identify those who have expertise in specific makes of vehicle.

Anndi Sheppard, Good Garage Scheme marketing manager, said: “Our research shows that a typical visitor to the Good Garage Scheme website will look for a local garage that services their particular make of car. Good Garage Scheme members specialise in custom model vehicles as well as servicing the more common marques. Our survey shows that motorists are recognising the specialist care and attention our members can dedicate to cars of all models.

“Our website provides motorists with the ideal tool to find their nearest independent garages quickly and efficiently. This is enhanced by being able to refine searches to find expertise in specific makes and models.”

To find a local Good Garage Scheme member to service your car, visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com. It's like having a friend in the know!

Are you prepared for a puncture?

Recent research conducted on behalf of Kwik Fit, has led to some startling discoveries.

A puncture to a car tyre while on the road could see as many as a quarter of a million vehicles stranded within the next year alone, as an estimated 26% of the UK's 8.8 million motorists suffer this fate annually.

This is borne out of some shocking statistics and motorist confusion:

•     3% have no provision at all for a flat tyre
•     4% are not sure they have a spare wheel
•     10% of those carrying a spare say they don’t have the necessary tools in their car to change it
•     36% have the tools but admit they don’t know how to use them
•     6% have neither the equipment nor knowledge to get a new wheel on

The Good Garage Scheme advises all motorists to check the conditions of their tyres regularly and visit a local member garage if they are in any doubt about their condition. 

Take the 20p tyre test:

•    Find a 20p coin. The “border” around the outside of the face on the head side of the coin is exactly 1.6 millimetres – which is the minimum legal requirement for the depth of tread on your tyres.

•    Place the 20p coin into the grooves of your tyre tread and if it covers the rim of the coin – your tyres are OK. Make sure you check all the way and look out for any areas which look more heavily worn.

If the grooves are worn, or slightly below the 20p rim – you should  have them checked at your Good Garage Scheme member garage for peace of mind. Any member garage would be happy to check the spare tyre as well.

To find your local Good Garage Scheme member garage, visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com

Wet Weather Driving Advice from the Good Garage Scheme

The BBC has issued warnings of more wet weather to come and with that the increased risk of localised flooding.

 

With this in mind, the Good Garage Scheme urges motorists to take extra care on the roads and would like to offer the following tips for safe driving in wet weather.

• Keep a safe distance from the vehicles ahead and be ready to brake earlier than normal.
• Avoid driving through flooded areas, but if you do need to drive through water, use first  gear and make sure your brakes are working well once you have come through.  If you are in any doubt, don’t drive any further.
• If you can’t tell how deep the water is ahead of you, find an alternative route.
• Aquaplaning is what occurs when a vehicle’s tyres come into contact with a layer of water instead of the surface of road, leaving a driver without control of the steering, acceleration or braking. To avoid the dangers of aquaplaning, slow down near water on the road and do not brake hard or turn the steering suddenly.
• Check your tyres before travelling and make sure your mobile phone is fully charged.

If you are in any doubt as to whether your tyres are up to the challenges of the wet weather, please contact your local Good Garage Scheme member at www.GoodGarageScheme.com. 

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.