Digging the dirt; Good news for Charles Hurst; Rooney’s car for sale; Pre-purchase problems
THANK you to so many for responding to my little rant here last week about how dangerous filthy cars can be when it comes to seeing and been seen.
Some people had serious examples to relate of what they’ve seen – cars absolutely caked in filth. Some were indignant that I should deign to preach – that it was fine for me with spanking new, gleaming test cars. Point taken.
I also suspect a couple knew me when I drove the dirtiest, dowdiest green/ brown/mud Ford Cortina ever on a road.
All I can say is. I am not preaching, I do remember, and I do know cars get dirty terribly quickly on side and rural roads. But we do have a duty to others.
Retailer Charles Hurst has expanded its Dublin presence with a new southside showroom at Goatstown Road, creating 10 jobs. There is a wide spread of premium makes and models (more than 2,000 vehicles in stock) including pre-owned Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, Porsches, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris and Maseratis.
The latest move follows the establishment of the company’s new multimillioneuro Audi showroom in Sandyford last year and its Usedirect Ireland business in 2015. We wish buyers and sellers all the best.
I see Wayne Rooney is selling his BMW i8. He’s hardly stuck for a few bob, is he? The hybrid sports car, in metallic ionic silver, is listed on Auto Trader. I know he doesn’t get around on the pitch as much as before, and his car didn’t chew up miles either. It has fewer than 8,000 miles on the clock.
The i8 has a top speed of 155mph and a 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds. BMW claims it can return 134mpg, which means, with all his millions, he’s only had to fill it up now and again. It’s listed for £64,995, and anyone interested in buying it is being invited to put in a ‘transfer offer’ – with a partexchange service advertised.
Worrying to hear Jaguar Land Rover will temporarily reduce production at its Halewood factory later this year as part of a response to weakening demand because of Brexit and tax increases on diesel cars.
Some people never learn. According to the latest AA insurance survey, nearly one in 12 motorists here has been “involved in a collision or experienced a near-miss” while under the influence of alcohol. The survey of more than 6,000 motorists found that 7.39pc had been involved in such a scenario where they, or another road user, had drink taken. What does it take to get these people to listen to a bit of sense?
Volkswagen’s electric ID hatchback will go into production in November of next year. The ID concept can, according to the carmaker, stretch to up to 600km with one charge.
A new survey shows that up to 50pc of used cars fail at least one major category during pre-purchase inspection. The online marketplace for car repair, ClickMechanic, trawled its pre-purchase inspection data to see what was most likely to be in need of repair.
Top of the list were electricals/controls, wheels and tyres (23pc “scoring poorly”). Exterior body issues (18pc) come next. The likes of suspension and brakes also gave cause for concern, with 12pc scoring poorly on the front suspension, brakes and steering, and 11pc for the rear suspension and brakes.