Nice New Citroen

Citroen are renowned as the first company outside the United States to start the mass production of cars. The company was formed in 1919 by Andre Citroen who was left an empty factory following the end of the First World War and the ending of war production. He turned to manufacturing motor cars, the first model being the Type A. Andre Citroen was a master of PR and used the Eiffel Tower to help advertise the new car.

In 1921 the Type C was launched at the Paris Motor Show and the first Citroen taxis were seen in the French capital. The previous year the company had launched the Autochenille, a half track vehicle useful for road building and agriculture, as well as for use by the military.

Following a tie up with the American-based engineer Edward G Budd, Citroen were able to introduce the first all-steel car body into the European market in 1928. But, despite this initiative, the French-based company was facing increased competition from vehicle manufacturers in both France and the rest of Europe. In the face of this competition the company maintained their standard body design and their low prices ensured a large volume of sales, though not enough to make a profit and by the early 1930s the company were actually losing money. In response Citroen revolutionised their design with the Traction Avant. It was launched in 1934, complete with unitary car body and independent front wheel suspension as well as front wheel drive.

The car, labelled the “Type 7″, could top 95 kilometres per hour, but a superior version,labelled “Type7S” was launched the same year. The 1303 cubic cm engine was replaced by a bigger 1529cc or 1911cc one with a top speed of 110kph. The model became known as the 11CV and remained in production, albeit with minor improvements, until 1957.

Another initiative was introduced by Citroen in 1933, a year before the launch of the Avant Traction. It was the Rosalie, a diesel powered car.

Despite being seen to be ambitious in its development of new vehicles, Citroen’s financial difficulties finally caught up with them. By December 1934 the company was declared bankrupt and taken over by its biggest creditor, Michelin.

Under Michelin the company enjoyed a new lease of life. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the 11CV Commerciale, with its long wheel base was put on the market. A new range of the Traction Avant, the 15/Six, with a top speed of 130 mph, was launched. Known as “La Reine de la Rue” – Queen of the Road – the 15/Six became a favourite of the Parisian underworld.

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Buying a new car can be fun and exciting, but it can also be very stressful. After all, it is a very big decision. If you are organized, armed with knowledge, and understand the game, youll find the experience a lot more enjoyable so here are some tips for buying a new car.

Start with the basics. Decide what type, size, and price range meets your needs; then move on to the details of the deal.

The invoice price is what the dealer paid for the car, not including any incentives from the vehicle manufacturer. The sticker price is the price the dealer wants you to pay for that car, including any optional packages that may be on that particular vehicle.

Find out the invoice cost of the car. This is the key to what type of deal you can get. Once you know what the dealer paid, you can better negotiate with the dealer. The dealer typically isnt going to give you this information, so youll have to play detective and round it up yourself.

You can easily get this information by spending less than 20 and calling the Consumer Reports New Car Price Service. Its a good investment because it usually results in about a 1,200 savings.

Now its time to get ready to bargain. Ask the salesperson to deal on their base markup over cost. Never bargain off the sticker price. Youve got the invoice price and thats what you bargain off of. What type of deal you can get depends a lot on supply and demand.

If the car you are looking at is in high demand, but there arent a lot of them available you could end up paying the full sticker price. On other models, you could land up paying just 500 over invoice and that would be a good deal!

Be wary of the for just a few game. Its a game of up-selling for services and items you often dont need undercoating, fabric protection, rust proofing, windshield etching, extra warranties, etc. Some of these services are nice; but most arent needed. Be careful because they can very quickly add a couple thousand pounds to your costs. So dont get caught up in the for just a few pounds more you can have

If you have a vehicle you are going to trade in, dont disclose this information to the salesperson until the price of the new car has been established and agreed upon. That way the price you are given for your trade is the true amount that is being offered rather than some inflated figure on paper. Then you can decide if you really want to trade your vehicle in. Often, selling privately is a better choice.

Keep your stress down by knowing what you want before you begin. When it comes time to get your financing in place know what size payment you are comfortable with and then work your terms to meet that payment size. Again, dont get caught in the up-sell game.

These tips for buying a new car will have you smiling and relaxed through the entire buying process.

As the children will soon be back to school parents will be getting ready to embark on the school run again.

This year there seems to be a particular abundance of family MPV’s that are practical, comfortable and stylish….so how do you decide which one to buy?

Here is a list of the top five family MPVs around:

1. Vauxhall Zafira – The Vauxhall Zafira has always been marketed as a family vehicle, this is backed-up by the fact that it has class-leading safety. Inside, the Zafira is extremely roomy which enables it to cope with the needs of an active family. According to reviews the Zafira is also one of the better MPVs to drive too, in fact some even go as far as saying it is fun to drive! In terms of its appearance the Zafira doesn’t look too exciting and is pretty much similar to other MPVs on the market.

2. Citroen C4 Picasso: The Citroen C4 Picasso is definitely one of the more attractive family cars – and stands out from the rest. Its panoramic windscreen is one feature that stands out in particular. This MPV is airy inside with ample space considering it is a 7-seater. It is also comfortable which makes it ideal for longer journeys. The C4 Picasso comes with both 5 and 7 seats meaning that you can choose one that best suits your lifestyle!

3. Renault Scenic: With smart looks the Renault Scenic is quite a sophisticated-looking MPV. The cabin is spacious and the boot is a decent size too. However, the Scenic isn’t the most exciting car to drive – not that you would expect to really enjoy driving a vehicle designed with families in mind, but it helps! Another plus point about this particular MPV is the level of quality inside the cabin…you may be surprised!

4. Ford S-Max: The Ford S-Max is kind of like the Ford Galaxy, yet it is far more sportier. It boasts a 2.5 turbo engine which makes it fun to drive and doesn’t make trading in your ‘fun’ car for a ‘practical’ car quite so bad. The S-Max is fairly cheap to buy and run which is good news for your wallet! But, like the Zafira, the styling on this car isn’t anything too special and wont really make you stand out from the crowd. So basically, the S-Max is a sportier Galaxy!

5. Toyota Verso: The Toyota Verso is like the Ford S-Max, but far more compact. The styling is more dynamic which makes it more pleasing to the eye. It is definitely one of the ‘less-boxy’ MPVs out there. The interior has been equipped with nice fabrics and attractive blue lighting. The seating plan is also flexible which means that the Verso is well-suited to deal with the needs of an active family. This particular MPV is reasonably priced, but I saw a used Toyota Verso in Swindon that was very, very affordable…making the Verso my choice!

Lucy Penn

The 1950s saw European car manufacturers turn out some of their most celebrated and memorable models, particularly from those car builders located in Germany, France and Italy.

The cars built in Germany of this period were a sign of the economic miracle the country was enjoying as it built itself up following the end of the Second World War.

Two companies which built classic European cars of the 1950s in Germany were Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen. Having launched the W186 and W189 at the beginning of the decade, Mercedes Benz went onto produce what has been described as the greatest car they ever built – the 300S.

Launched in 1952 this wonderful car was followed up by the limited edition 300SC, complete with fuel injection and also featured independent rear suspension. By the end of the 1950s Mercedes produced the ultimate in luxury models with the Fintail, which incorporated a crumple zone, disc brakes and air suspension.

Another German car manufacturer to survive the ravages of war and become part of the countries economic miracle was Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Type 1 or “Beetle” was destined to become hugely popular during the 1950s and well beyond. Production of the VW Beetle reached one million in 1955 and it was to be a top seller in the United States.

In France a classic European car of the 1950s was the Citroen 2CV. Sold mainly in France and within Europe the 2CV was by no means the most majestic of cars, but it was to become one of the most loved and iconic cars ever built by a French manufacturer.

High import taxes and the fact the 2CV, to some, looked ugly, meant the model never enjoyed big sales in the UK or United States. It took a futuristic style of Citroen – the DS designed by Flaminio Bertoni – for the French company to makes its name on the American market.

In Italy Lancia is a famous name for the production of classic cars during the 1950s. In 1950 Lancia launched the Aurelia, famed for its success in motor sport, at the Turin motor show. By 1953 Lancia had added the Appia to its range.

Lancia’s great Italian rivals were Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo were to start the 50s with the production of such classics as its 1900 Saloon, the company’s first assembly line model. Later models which were to become Alfa Romeo classics were the Giulietta, rolled out in 1954, and a year later the Berlina – four door saloon- and the Spider Cabriolet.

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