Used Volkswagens

A Volkswagen represents an excellent option for a used car due to the manufacturers exacting standards when it comes to build quality and VW’s industry leading reliability.  There are a huge number of Volkswagens on Britain’s roads so the used car market has a rolling stock of quality used vehicles.  

Many people may imagine buying a used Volkswagen in terms of wandering around a used car dealership fending off pushy salesmen.  This is an option, but searching online can save a lot of labour and hassle.  Every four minutes a car is sold on E-bay and sites such as Motors.co.uk offer a vast choice of vehicles that your average used car forecourt would struggle to match.

Buying a used Volkswagen online could seem rather risky but this isn’t necessarily the case with the right precautions.  If you find a car on E-bay which is stationed locally, you’re welcome to arrange a viewing with the seller.  Likewise, on Motors.co.uk, most people will limit their search to a 30 mile radius, meaning they can pick up the vehicle with minimal fuss and they won’t waste time on disappointed viewings. 

The buyer should exercise due caution with any online auction as the bids you make are legally binding when accepted. 

Volkswagen has a huge range of desirable cars and the number of Polos, Golfs, Sciroccos, Beetles and Foxes available should be extensive enough for you to find a fairly exacting match.

Volkswagen was formed in 1937 and VW Group owns industry giants such as Audi, Seat and Bentley.  It’s had more than its fair share of iconic vehicles, including the Beetle and the VW Camper Van but it is now defined by its modern offerings which have attained a lofty status of their own.  The Golf and the Polo have been topping the charts since the 70s. 

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Ones to Watch: Geneva Motorshow 2012

The 82^nd Geneva Motorshow is just around the corner and this year, as ever, it looks like the world’s car manufacturers will be bringing some impressive new models and innovations.  MINI, Nissan, Ssanyong and Rinspeed have already shown us peeks of their concept cars and there have been images released of new small cars from Peugeot, Skoda and General Motors.  The article below rounds up the expected offerings from the major car companies around the world when they roll into Geneva on the 8^th of March 2012. 

Maserati – Gran Turismo Sport

Rinspeed – Dock and Go Concept

Ferrari  - California

BMW – 6 Series Grand Coupe + 4 new M performance vehicles

MINI – Clubvan Concept

Mitsubishi – New Outlander (Lineup of 13 new models)

Chevrolet – Cruze Station Wagon

Cadillac – ATS Compact Sedan

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BMW i8 Concept Car

After successful initial testing of the vehicle concept, the decision for a series production vehicle was quickly made. The BMW i8 Concept is the next step in the evolution of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. The result: The most progressive and innovative sports car of its time. Its innovative plug-in hybrid concept combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept – fitted over its front axle – with a high-performance three-cylinder combustion engine producing 164 kW/220 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear. Working in tandem, they allow the two drive systems to display their respective talents to the full, delivering the performance of a sports car but the fuel consumption of a small car.

Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds combined with fuel consumption of under three litres per 100 kilometres (approx. 94 mpg) are figures currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance. Thanks to the eDrive technology with its large lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a domestic power supply, the BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 35 kilometres (approx. 20 miles) on electric power alone. Added to which, the 2+2 seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality.

The LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i8 Concept has been carefully adapted to enhance the vehicle's sports car character, and therefore to deliver unbeatable performance and excellent driving dynamics. The motor in the front axle module and combustion engine at the rear are connected by an "energy tunnel", which houses the high-voltage battery. This gives the car a low centre of gravity – and the dynamic benefits that come with it. The positioning of the electric motor and engine over their respective axles and the space-saving and well-balanced packaging of all components result in an optimum 50/50 weight distribution.

The sporting character continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the BMW i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable.The design of the BMW i8 Concept is as special as the car's overall concept embodying the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic allure. Its sweeping lines and flat silhouette lend the vehicle a strikingly dynamic appearance even when standing still. A large, transparent glasshouse lends the exterior an extraordinary feeling of lightness and highlights the exceptional efficiency of this vehicle concept. Short front and rear overhangs round off the sporting overall impression.As with the BMW i3 Concept, layering again serves as the central design element of the interior and exterior. The individual vehicle components are also clearly visible from the outside, the black and transparent Life module clearly setting itself apart from the silver-coloured body components around it. This layering approach lends the BMW i8 Concept an extremely technical and cutting-edge appeal.

View Gallery The BMW i8 Concept's Exterior

Dynamic side view.

Taut surfaces and precise edges form an extremely sculptural and organic surface structure. The precise lines along its flanks and BMW i "stream flow" also give the BMW i8 Concept a strong sense of powering forward even when it is standing still. The BMW i8 Concept's doors swing upwards like wings to provide an undeniably emotional and sporting allure. Below the doors, the silver-coloured layer moulds the car's flanks into a powerful wedge shape, opening out from the door sills towards the rear. A blue flourish accentuates the dynamic presence of the sills. Together, the bonnet and door sill sculpting emphasise the BMW i8 Concept's forward-surging stance, and their smooth lines imbue the car with a touch of lightness.

Striking front end.

The BMW i8 Concept also shows its dynamic sports car persona when viewed from the front. A number of different levels interact with one another in the design of the front end, while the expressive surface treatment exudes dynamic verve and advertises the car's sporting potential. The full-LED headlights of the BMW i8 Concept are designed as two U-shaped configurations.

A black, semi-transparent "V" rises out of the bonnet just behind the kidney grille, opening out towards the windscreen and guiding the eye to the electric motor below. The "V" also offers the first glimpse of the CFRP module and extends back towards the rear like a black band to provide a visual connection between the different sections of the car.

Sporty rear end.

Similarly to the front end, the rear of the car is also very low, horizontal and sculptural in design. The silver-coloured side sections form a striking vertical frame around the rear of the car, with a precise line extending out to the sides enjoying particular prominence. In its centre the silver-coloured and blue-framed rear diffuser is a wider and lower interpretation of the version on the BMW i3 Concept, adding a distinct sporting flavour to its relationship with its stablemate.

At the rear, the car's exceptional sporting credentials are also expressed in width-accentuating lines, three-dimensional air outlets and "floating" tail lights with air through-flow. The tail lights, which also have a distinct horizontal design, are integrated into the upper layer of the rear and share the signature U-shape of the BMW i light concept.

Purpose-built interior.
The transparent surfaces in the doors and roof give the exterior and interior design of the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of merging into one another. The colour concept and underlying structure of the BMW i8 Concept interior closely mimic those of the BMW i3 Concept. Here again, the Porcelain White support structure, black technical level and comfort section with Mocha Brown leather are split into three different layers. The arrangement of the air vents, control panels and displays also betrays the car's family ties to its BMW i3 Concept sibling. Overall, however, these features have a more sporting character and are geared much more clearly towards the driver. Indeed, a level of driver focus beyond that of any BMW Group vehicle before it allows the BMW i8 Concept to immerse the driver fully in the unique experience behind the wheel. Driver-relevant functions such as the gearshift lever, start-stop button and parking brake are arranged around the driver on the centre console and the graphics are strongly geared towards the driving seat as well. The three-dimensional displays are extremely clear and flash up the relevant information for the driving situation at hand. At the same time, occupants in the BMW i8 Concept sit in a highly integrated position low down in the car and are separated by the battery running lengthways through the interior. This longitudinal bisection of the cabin underlines the sporting and forward-looking character of the BMW i8 Concept interior.

Optimum information.
The freestanding information display in the dash is joined by an equally large display taking the role of the instrument cluster. Designing the central instruments in this way enables driver-relevant information to be conveyed in a three-dimensional and high-resolution format. In keeping with BMW i style, the displays are premium, modern and purist. Depending on the driving mode, the two drive systems are depicted by a pair of ellipses, which supply information on their operation at any given time. Other information – such as the available range and fuel level – can be found here, too.

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Car Review: Mazda 3

Car Reviews: Mazda 3 (2009)

OVERALL RATING - 4/5
PRICE RANGE - £11,000 to £19,000
STYLE - HATCHBACK

The Mazda 3 was released earlier this year with prices ranging from £11,000 to £19,000 and an engine range of 1349 - 2261. It is a hatchback saloon style car with fuel options of either diesel or petrol and falls into insurance group 3 - 17 (UK only). It is looking to be a close rival to its popular competitors in the same class; the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf.

The top range model is the Mazda 3 MPS 2.3 Turbo with Aero-Kit, it has a 2261 cc front wheel drive petrol engine and CO2 emissions of 231 grams per kilometer. It develops power of 260ps at 5500 RPM (revolutions per minute) and torque of 280 pounds per foot (lb/ft) at 3000 RPM. This model comes with a decent six speed manual gearbox and weighs a total of 1483 kg.

For £19,000 as standard you get; power-steering, full airbags, alarm, seat-belt pre-tensioners, central locking, alloy wheels, electric windows and mirrors, RDS radio, CD player, split/fold rear seats, climate control and electric sunroofs. You can also have a radio cassette, satellite navigation and reversing sensor fitted by a dealer, or leather seats and metallic paints for an extra cost.

The performance of the car is pretty good for a hatchback and for the price-range. The top speed of the top end model is 155 mph, it can accelerate from 0 - 62 mph in 6.1 seconds. It averages 29.1 miles per gallon on a combined cycle, with a fuel tank capacity of 55 litres (12 imperial gallons) which means an average of around 360 miles on a full tank of fuel.

As a Mazda it is naturally a reliable little car and not a bad performer, its affordable to run, well built and well finished (especially the interior) and very good for its price range.

Three engine sizes are available on the 3: 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0 liters, the two liter is my favourite of the three, the smaller engined cars have firmer handling making the drive at slower speeds slightly uncomfortable, thehydraulic steering of the 1.6 is more receptive and responsive than the electro-hydraulic 2.0 however, which needs to be made a little more sensitive.

The 3 is one of the roomiest and spacious cars in its class, easily seating four large adults, it has big doors for ease of access for the front and back, although it is a little tight on the shoulders in the back with three adults but fine for short-midlength journeys. It is also very welcoming for a driver, everything is easily adjustable; seats, steering wheel height and seat height.

The build quality of the car is very good, not as appealing in the interior the Vauxhall Astra or Volkswagen Golf, but everything seems well made and sturdy and Mazda's reliability record is very good, coming very high in WhatCar and JD Power customer satisfaction surveys very consistently. It has a four star NCAP safety rating, you get the full airbag setup as standard, anti lock brakes and electronic brake distribution is also standard and all models above the TS2 have stability and traction control systems. Alarms and deadlocks are standard on all models.

Overall the Mazda 3 is a very good little car, with good features for its price range. The main criticism is the rides firmness, especially at lower speeds, but i don't find this a problem personally, very well made and reliable, try a test drive today and see what you think!

Other cars in this range you may wish to consider: Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, Ford Focus.

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Car Reviews: Ford Focus 2009

The brand new model of the ever popular Ford Focus

OVERALL RATING - 3.5/5
PRICE RANGE - 16,00 - 17,500 for Coupe
STYLE - COUPE OR SEDAN
BEST PLUS - GREAT FUEL ECONOMY
BIGGEST FLAW - ROOM/COMFORT

The new Focus come in ywo body styles, Coupe and Sedan both with 2.0L engines. The Coupe version comes in two models, the SE and the SES. Both of these models come with a 2.0 Liter 16-valve duratec engine and 5 speed manual gearbox as standard, with option upgrades of a 2 liter 16 valve engine PZEV or 4 speed automatic transmition. On the SES alone you can also have a sports modified exhaust or a 4.2 final drive ratio (automatic transmition) and comes as standard with 17 inch premium alluminium wheels as opposed the the standard 16 inch alloys on other models.

Ford Focus Coupe - 2009

2-door coupe and 4-door sedan. S, SE, SES, and new-for-2009 SEL trim levels are available. S and SEL are sedan only; the S coupe has been dropped. The only engine produces 140 hp in sedans and 143 hp in coupes. Not bad performance for the cars class but not the best.

This is the greenest Ford in the range, making 35 miles per gallon, and with a 13.5 gallon petrol tank, gives an approximate maximum journey of around 450 miles without refill.

In the Coupe standard features include: Cloth front bucket seats, 60/40 split-fold rear seatbacks: (1) both seat backs up for full 3-passenger seating; (2) 60-section seat back lowered for extra cargo and 1 passenger; (3) 40-section seat back lowered for extra cargo and 2 passengers; (4) both seat backs lowered for full cargo capacity, CFC free Air conditioning, AM/FM Radio with single CD player and MP3 capabilities, audio input jack, speed sensitive volume control, SIRIUS Satalite radio with free 6 month subscription, Powered & heated outer mirrors, remote keyless entry system with 2 fobs, ambient interior lighting, halogen headlamps, two twelve volt sockets for in-car appliances, floor mats, fog lamps and rear spoiler lid! and suprisingly more!

Ford Focus Sedan - 2009

On the SES you also get; Auto-dimming interior mirrors, Cruise control, Tilt steering wheel with audio controls, voice activated entertainment and communication systems and an optional powered moonroof! For more details see here.

Overall the new Ford Focus is a good option for a mid range family car but it would be worth considering other models in the range, it is quite pricey for performance which is topped by other in the range try checking out some of the other cars below...

Other cars in this range you may wish to consider: Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, Maxda 3.

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Car Reviews

The page collects together all of the popular Car Reviews on Motorsport Zone into one place.

FORD FOCUS REVIEW - CLICK HERE

MAZDA 3 REVIEW - CLICK HERE

BMW i8 REVIEW - CLICK HERE

Car Reviews on Motorsport Zone are Sponsored by: Irwin Mitchell

If you have been in a car accident, and you want to find out more about how to make whiplash compensation claims, then visit www.irwinmitchell.com, who will be able to guide you through the next steps.

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