ROCK’ AND ROLL
cinch are the used-car experts who also saved Rockingham race circuit – and a great way to beat new car waiting lists
Tired of waiting for a new car? In a quiet corner of Northamptonshire, a large swathe of cinch's 7,000-plus cars are being readied for delivery to drivers' homes in as little as 72 hours. It's a simple, risk-free process thanks to cinch's 14-day money-back guarantee..
Shopping via an online car supermarket may not immediately appear the enthusiast's choice, but there's plenty for the petrolhead to love about cinch's approach — not least the fact it's rejuvenated and refurbished Rockingham Motor Speedway, among Britain's fastest circuits and one which prematurely stopped hosting races and trackdays in 2018.The circuit has therefore survived, and its surroundings are now helping host Britain's largest selection of cars available to buy entirely online. Where racecars once prepared for battle on the amous banking, your next car might be going through its thorough checks ready for the glamorous photoshoot that'll see it hosted on the cinch website...
You can see three very eclectic examples of cinch's typical stock taking on that very banking here. With most of its cars under five years old, it's fair to say the cars are reflective of what the British buying public wants, meaning around a quarter are SUVs. Perhaps one of the most convincing small crossovers of recent years - a TopGear.com Award winner, no less - is the Volvo XC40. A car that places family values at its core, it's an easy recommendation if you want something safe yet stylish to transport the kids around in. And yet you might be surprised by just how deftly it handles the tight twists of the Rockingham infield, the manual gearbox of this affordable T3 spec adding an extra dash of Involvement. More than half of the XC4Os currently in stock on cinch are electrified, though; here's a smart and sensible SUV that offers petrol, diesel, hybrid and fully electric options, meaning there's one to suit every family and hopefully most budgets.
cinch isn't all about sensible A-to-B transport, however. Should you feel desperate for some evidence us car-loving folk can be catered for by this kind of car buying, the naturally aspirated 4.7-litre engine of a Maserati ran Turismo is ready to shout it loudly. While the thought of a pre-owned Italian sports car might serve up a few nervous sweats, rest assured this particular example looks — and crucially smells — as good as new. As evocative as its exterior looks, the interior is where your heart rate will truly begin to spike, the long metallic gearshift paddles and suave blue
instruments proving something special lies at your fingertips. It's not only an able partner around Rockingham, but a truly intoxicating one, the bark of its all-time-great engine echoing around the banking as it pierces the cold wintry air. The idea of ordering something this exotic online, and receiving it your doorstep mere days later? It's impossibly exciting.
Yet there's a car that strikes a fine balance between today's circuit-mates. The vibrant red paint of this BMW i3S is just the cherry on top of its utter charm. Few cars have achieved such cult status in recent decades, BMW's first major foray into fully electric cars being a practical hatchback that puts supercar technology into daily use. Glimpsing the weave of its carbon shell would liven up any journey, as would the spritely performance of its instantly available 182bhp and the smooth, hushed tones with which it's delivered. Weighing just 1.3 tons and driving its rear wheels alone, it's a dark horse around the track. Life-changing though the delivery of a Maserati would be, there's arguably even more appeal in the unmistakable shape of BMW's plug-in pioneer being disgorged from one of cinch's eye-catching transporters and onto your driveway. There can be few more fun ways to beat the waiting list for a brand-new EV.