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January 23, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Three Mercedes-Benz Models for the Family

Everything changes once you start a family. Your lifestyle experiences a shift; even your goals and priorities have to adjust. But your dream car doesn’t have to change as well. You can still pine over a Mercedes-Benz. In fact, you can own a Mercedes-Benz! Here are three Mercedes-Benz models for you and your family.

GLA-CLass

The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class SUV is a compact yet roomy car that can fit a family of five. And it doesn’t cost as much as most other Mercedes-Benz models. With its average price, you get to enjoy a luxurious interior with an amazing entertainment system which, if you’ve been a parent for a while, you know is important when driving with kids. You need to keep them entertained if you don’t want them to start getting cranky! Its acceleration rate may not be as good as other Benz models, but that’s actually a good thing for a family car. After all, you want to drive as safely as you can with your kids in the backseat. Speaking of safety, the GLA SUV has an array of safety features including brake assist, daytime running lights, child safety locks, front and rear head air bags, traction control, and electronic stability control.

GLC-Class

With a strong engine and a cabin finished with luxurious materials, the GLC-Class SUV will always take your family on a fun, smooth ride. Like the GLA-Class, it has enough space in the back for kids and their car seats. The main selling point of the GLC-Class is its focus on convenience and comfort—two very important things that you need to look for in a family car. Its features include cruise control, auto-off headlights, interior cargo shade, heated mirrors, keyless entry, and mirror memory among others. The only downside to the GLC-Class is that it doesn’t have a lot of room in the trunk, so grocery shopping with the kids might be a problem if you like buying in bulk. Nonetheless, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class is a favourite among families.

GLE-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is bigger than the GLA and GLC models. But, like the two previous classes, it also has a powerful engine with a posh interior that’s the signature of Mercedes-Benz cars. It also has a roomy cargo, so bulk shopping won’t be a problem if that’s your thing. Like the GLA class, it has a great entertainment system that you and your kids can both enjoy. In addition, it also has the convenience and comfort of the GLC-Class, with its lengthy list of features that will make every drive feel effortless. Safety is also a priority of the GLE-Class, so you can be confident on the road while driving with your kids.

Mercedes-Benz doesn’t only cater to singles and bachelors; they’ve also come up with SUV models that are kid and family-friendly. So, if you’re looking for an affordable Mercedes-Benz family car, look no further. Mercedes-Benz Guilford has got you covered. Choose among second-hand models and find the one that best fits your requirements.

January 22, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to make the most out of your car

Buying your first car is an amazing feeling, you suddenly have a new lease of life and the freedom to travel wherever you like but it’s no secret that owning a car can be rather expensive, especially for young, new drivers. Insurance, tax and car maintenance are just some of the factors you need to consider when buying a car because the last thing you want is to find yourself strapped for cash over your new vehicle.

It’s very rare that you’ll make a profit on any car you buy. I

t’s been said that a car loses 10% of its value as soon as you drive it off the forecourt and as the miles on the clock increase, the price will slowly start to decrease. In order to try and maintain as much value as possible there are a few checks and services you should carry out on a regular basis to keep your car in good health.

MOT & Service

There are no ifs or but’s when it comes to putting your car through its annual MOT it has to be done, unless it’s under 3 years of age. During an MOT your vehicle will be inspected to make sure it’s roadworthy and to detect any possible problems that may arise. Reputable companies up and down the country such as Kwik Fit, employ fully trained inspectors who can carry out an MOT on your vehicle. It’s best to do some research and see which garage and price is best for you.

Any car should be serviced once a year as it helps maintain the condition of the vehicle and helps reduce the risk of a breakdown. If you’re worried about paying for a service then a number of companies offer a service plan where you can pay monthly and in some cases it works out cheaper. By marinating a full service history on your car it means that future buyers know the car is in good condition and you can consider that when naming your price.

Wear & tear

For a large number of us our car is our pride and joy and as much as we try and maintain a perfect appearance it’s inevitable that it will see the odd scratch and bit of wear and tear. When buying a new car you may want to consider having the body sprayed with an exterior protection, as this can help maintain the colour and prevent the car from ageing. Although it may not have been your fault, if you discover any damage to the exterior of your car then it’s worth having it repaired so any future buyers can ask to reduce the price because of the damage.

It’s an almost impossible task to keep your car in perfect condition but hopefully the points mentioned will help to maintain good health and appearance for your vehicle. By following the above steps and considering other similar factors, you will be able to ask for a generous price when it comes to selling the car.

January 15, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to Spot Problems with Your Car’s Exhaust

It isn’t really that difficult to stop your car from losing performance from a faulty exhaust, but the really difficult part is detecting that there is a problem in the first place. Nevertheless, experienced car owners and mechanics know that there are certain telltale signs which help to spot a problematic car exhaust and we are going to discuss them now.

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Losing Performance

A faulty exhaust may lead to a significant loss of fuel-efficiency and power. This is one of the most obvious signs, but by the time it’s apparent, the damage is usually pretty serious and that’s why it might be a good idea to keep a regular tab on your car’s performance to detect any otherwise unnoticeable decrease in power and acceleration or fuel consumption.

Excessively Loud Engine

If you have a Ford GT or a Corvette Z06, chances are that your neighbors are already pretty annoyed with the loud noise the car makes, but even then, a malfunctioning exhaust system will make that noise louder. Listen intently while giving your car a cold start or while accelerating to check whether the car is making more noise than what you are used to hearing. If it is, then there’s likely a problem with your exhaust.

Hissing or Tapping

Aside from the aforementioned louder engine noise, also listen carefully for a hissing or even a knocking/tapping sound. If you can hear something like that, you have an exhaust manifold gasket that’s not working right.

Hanging Exhaust Pipe

Most people usually know that it’s time to fix a pipe if it’s dragging on the road, but what they sometimes neglect is the need to address a hanging exhaust pipe. Even when the pipe is intact but hanging only slightly, it’s necessary that you repair it as soon as possible to avoid accidents on the road, should that pipe break off in the middle of a drive.

The Smell of Gasoline

The engine and the internal systems are supposed to smell like gas because that’s what the engine runs on, but when your car’s interiors start to smell like gasoline, you definitely have a problem unless gasoline was brought inside the car for some reason. The smell should intensify while you drive and this is a sure shot indication that the exhaust tubes are leaking and the fumes are making their way inside the car.

Burning Smell

An unexpected burning smell is never a good sign anywhere and this is no exception. If you can smell something burning near the engine bay, it is very likely that your gasket has failed and the heat of the exhaust fumes are burning up the plastic wiring in the engine. While smoke isn’t uncommon either, the smell alone should be a warning sign strong enough for you to get your exhaust checked as soon as possible.

Now that you know all the signs with which to spot a faulty exhaust, this at least should not pose any problem to you, provided you don’t end up ignoring them anyway of course!

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

5 Common Driving Hazards and How To Avoid Them

The population of the world is 7.3 billion and, of this, there are 1.2 billion drivers equating to 16.4 percent of the population. So, there are, without a doubt, a few circumstances which many us will happen upon during our driving lives. I’m going to outline the 5 most common and how to avoid, or deal with them.

Skidding.

Driving in the rain or post downpour and negotiating a bend which sends your car skidding on the wet surface and spinning out of control. Now what? We’ve all heard that expert advice of ‘turning into the skid’ but in the heat of the moment you panic, and things become blurry so remembering which way is into or away from the skid can be confusing. Therefore, new advice is to take your foot off the gas immediately, pick a focal point somewhere slightly further down the road and gently steer your vehicle towards that. The most important thing to remember is not to over-steer. Jolting the steering wheel left and right can cause the car to over-turn. Also, slamming the breaks on can cause more of a skid, so avoid this too.

Flat tyre.

Whether it’s been a slow puncture or a tyre blowout, everyone should be prepared to deal with this happening. Get into the habit of regularly checking your tyres before embarking on a journey for good practice. If it happens whilst driving, don’t panic. Slow down and pull over as soon as you can, safely and preferably on a level, firm surface where you’ll be able to use a jack if you know how to do so. If not, call your breakdown cover.

Driver fatigue.

Being tired behind the wheel increases your chances of crashing the car by a third. That feeling of dreaminess, restlessness, sore eyes and yawning are just some of the things to look out for. If you can, take a break, drink some water and get some fresh air. A decent night’s sleep the night before definitely helps too.

Being unprepared.

Plenty of fuel in the car, make sure you check engine oil, water and screen wash before journeys. Check the weather conditions before making trips, especially in the case of ice or snow. Ensure you have a breakdown kit in the boot, extra blankets, fuel can, torch

Distractions.

Having anything distracting in the car can always be quite hazardous. If travelling with children make sure you have games, entertainment, snacks and drinks to hand. Regular stops to break the boredom may be necessary too. Cell phones on silent or on hands-free mode is a no brainer, try not to try changing CDs or Sat nav destination whilst driving too.

And an extra tip, just for good measure; is to simply, be aware. As crazy as it sounds, you need to think about other drivers. Anticipate things that might occur and be aware of your surroundings. Pedestrians, wildlife, other road users just use your peripheral vision to be conscious that you are not alone on that road or journey.