AutoCar Banging on about Bangernomics

Tough financial times have prompted Autocar’s Used Car Expert James Ruppert to reveal the secrets of Bangernomics; showing savvy car buyers the contrasts of buying a new car with the supreme good sense of buying a well-used one. At a stroke, depreciation no longer becomes an issue, running costs are slashed and there are no finance charges.

Mercedes-Benz 190E can be picked up in UK from around 395 pounds.

The full Bangernomics guide is published in Autocar Wednesday 15^th 2013, detailing Autocar’s pick of the best city cars, people carriers, family cars, luxury saloons as well as performance cars. The feature also highlights common issues and faults to bear in mind when considering a competitively priced used car.

“Bangernomics makes you feel good about owning a car. In fact, you will have a warm green glow from recycling a used car, prolonging its life and hopefully seeing a slightly larger balance in your bank account. Not only is Bangernomics easy, it is mostly fun. You learn some skills, waste less money and have a new topic of dinner party conversation,” commented James Ruppert, Autocar’s used car expert.

Used cars have never been cheaper. In the last few years the fall in new car prices, cheap finance and a culture of increasingly rapid automotive obsolescence has meant that cars past their fifth birthday have decreased in value. There are numerous BMWs, Mercedes and Audis available at very competitive prices. Savvy buyers could pick up a BMW 5-series from £595, a Mercedes from £395 and an iconic Volkswagen Golf from £495. Prices are an UK estimate, but should be helpful elsewhere too.

BANGERNOMICS BEST BUYS
Volkswagen Golf Mark 2 from £495
Mercedes 190E from £395
BMW 5-series from £595
Saab 900 from £450
Nissan Micra from £299

HOW TO BUY THE BANGERNOMICS WAY
TEN TOP TIPS ON HOW TO FIND A CHEAP USED CAR THAT WILL DELIVER MANY HAPPY MILES OF CHEAP MOTORING

STEP ONE: GET BANGERNOMICS SENSES
Use your eyes, ears and nose to check the car’s vital signs. Does the engine sound ropey? Can you smell oil?

STEP TWO: CONDITION IS KEY
There is no excuse for buying an un-roadworthy heap. How does the bodywork look?

STEP THREE: UNDER THE BONNET
Take a look and take a mate or vehicle expert with you to get a valuable second opinion on the car.

STEP FOUR: AROUND THE BODY
Check that the doors, windows, bonnet and boot open and close, and don’t be afraid to walk away if the car looks rust riddled.

STEP FIVE: TYRES
Check they have a legal depth of tread, even wear across the tyre and no serious blemishes or damage.

STEP SIX: PAPERWORK
The registration document is an absolute must. An MOT and receipts for services and repairs work are important too. Obtain a data check to make sure it isn't stolen, on finance or a write-off.

STEP SEVEN: START THE ENGINE
Check it starts cleanly and that there is no billowing smoke from the exhaust.

STEP EIGHT: PLAY WITH BUTTONS
Prod and press all the knobs, dials and handles to make sure they work properly.

STEP NINE: TEST DRIVE
Engage the gears and pull sharply away. You don’t want to hear crashes, bangs, screeches or whines or feel a saggy suspension.

STEP TEN: AFTER THE DRIVE
Look under the bonnet with the engine running – check for leaks, smoke or strange noises.

MAKE YOUR BANGER LAST LONGER

It takes just a few minutes’ checking, cleaning and fussing every week to make a big difference. After just a few weeks you and your car will notice the difference. It will run better, last longer and be cheaper to run.

Check and change your oil regularly. Oil is the lifeblood of your car, providing vital lubrication, so look at the dipstick before every journey and make sure it nudges the ‘max’ mark. Also change the oil often, especially if you only cover short journeys, at least every six months.

Check other levels too, such as brake fluid and water. You will soon notice if there are sudden drops and a garage can identify any problem, put it right and stop major damage.

Look to see if there are any fluid leaks from hoses, or loose belts. Also if you hear any strange noises, get them investigated before a minor fault becomes a major expense. Of course, regular servicing is a must and so is bodywork hygiene. Cleaning keeps corrosion at bay and also means you inspect every area of the car carefully.

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Nissan and Playstation starting the biggest ever GT Academy programme

Nissan and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have revealed that the innovative GT Academy competition will return for a fifth season. GT Academy 2013 will be the biggest yet, with more countries than ever before participating and the online gaming element of the competition set to be run in July on a demo of the hotly-anticipated Gran Turismo 6 game exclusively on PlayStation 3.

Since its inception in 2008, the highly acclaimed virtual-to-reality competition has attracted over two million entries, with gamers and motor sport fans battling it out on Gran Turismo for the chance to become real Nissan racing drivers. Six former winners of the competition, which now runs in Europe, the USA, Germany, Russia, and the Middle East and South Africa, are now Nismo Athletes competing in top-level motor sport on behalf of Nissan.

GT Academy Race Camp 2012

Nissan's Director of Global Motorsport, Darren Cox, revealed the plans for GT Academy 2013 today. Speaking at the famous Silverstone Circuit, during an event at which the latest version of the famous Gran Turismo game was announced, he said: "Every year of GT Academy has provided excitement and firsts, and 2013 will be no exception. The selection process and Driver Development Programme are now so robust that we are turning out some genuinely fast racing drivers. At its core GT Academy remains a highly-accessible route into professional motor racing for people who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Unearthing genuine driving talent from the world of gaming is a real example of digital age performance and the innovation for which Nissan is famous. We are predicting that more people than ever will enter the competition this year on the stunning new GT6 demo."

Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital, explained: "GT Academy is a fitting platform for the Gran Turismo community to preview GT6 for the first time, as we aim to bring the worlds of virtual and reality closer than ever. We are very proud of this partnership with Nissan, and we have aimed to make a very appealing and accessible competition featuring a range of their cars. The challenges, even at this early stage of the competition, are designed to improve people's race craft before they even make it to driving real cars. We have also incorporated the Silverstone circuit for the first time in Gran Turismo. This should ensure that competitors will arrive at Race Camp better prepared than ever."

With the online qualification rounds offering a sneak preview of GT6, and the Nismo athletes blazing a trail in motorsport - including Lucas Ordoñez (2008 winner) and Jann Mardenborough (2011 winner) racing at the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours for Nissan - the entry levels for this year's motorsport talent-spotting contest are expected to reach an all-time high.

The format of GT Academy sees the fastest PlayStation gamers from each country join winners from a number of live events to compete in their respective National Finals. The action will then make the transition from the virtual world to real Nissan sports cars when the winners of each National competition are invited to take part in the intense international final at Silverstone Circuit, now the established home of the GT Academy Race Camp.

The winners of each of the GT Academy competitions will then be put through an incredibly intensive and thorough Driver Development Programme, rated among the best in the world, in order to qualify for the ultimate competition prize - a full season racing a Nissan GT-R GT3 Nismo in a top-level championship.

Details of how to enter GT Academy 2013 can be found on various platforms including: , http://eu.gran-turismo.com and www.twitter.com/GTAcademy / www.facebook.com/GTAcademy

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TOP 20 Endangered Family Cars

These Vauxhalls belonged to my father and older brother in early 80s. Today they are almost extinct. Yellow one is probably Victor and the blue one on the right is Viva. My bike is on the middle.

The 1980s may have enjoyed a fashion and pop revival but cars from that decade are some of the most endangered cars on British roads today. New research into the top British family cars by consumer motoring champion HonestJohn.co.uk reveals that many of UK's once-popular family cars are on the verge of disappearing completely.

The Austin Metro is typical. It was once a common sight on British roads and enjoyed celebrity status as Princess Diana's car when she married Charles in July 1981. It was also the driving school car of choice for BSM, and everyone knew someone who had one – and now, there's a mere 823 taxed or SORN'd Austin Metros, from an original production run of 1.5 million between 1981-1991.

The once-derided Austin Allegro has suffered the largest decline of all, with just 291 remaining in the UK (taxed and SORN) at the end of 2011, from a total production run of 640,000 between 1973 and 1982.

The Ford Cortina is another model on the list that may raise a few eyebrows – after all it was Britain's best-selling car between 1973 and 1980. Many people will know the Cortina, because once upon a time, it was the darling of a million sales reps – but it most recently had its moment of fame as the star of 2006-'07 TV drama, Life on Mars. Just 5,411 remain registered in the UK, from more than four million built. Other endangered former street furniture classics include the Ford Sierra and Rover SD1.

All the top 20 cars on the Most Endangered List have a survival rate of less than 1%. At the other end of the scale, some classic cars had impressive survival rates such as the Lotus Elan, which is the UK’s most popular classic car with 38 per cent of its pre-1995 models (3,361) still surviving today with an astonishing 24% (2,151) still on the road.

–This list of endangered cars is fascinating – pretty much all of them littered the UK roads as recently as 10 years ago and now you’ll be lucky to spot them at a classic car meeting. The low survival rate for these models is shocking. 1980s cars are particularly vulnerable – because their passage into popular classic status is yet to happen and their disappearance has been hastened by needless scrappage and artificially low market values in recent years, commented Keith Adams, Editor of Honest John Classics.

The ‘Top 20 Endangered Cars’ research by Honestjohn.co.uk involved examining DVLA records of classic cars (those cars registered between 1950 and 1995) to find out how many were still registered today (both on the road and SORN) compared to the amount originally built. The results are published at classics.honestjohn.co.uk– a newly launched site that contains a wealth of research and information about classic cars.

Top 20 fastest disappearing family cars in UK by model

1.	Austin Allegro	0.05% remaining
2.	Austin Montego	0.05% remaining
3.	Austin Princess	0.05% remaining
4.	Hillman Avenger	0.06% remaining
5.	Vauxhall Viva	0.07% remaining
6.	Morris Marina	0.08% remaining
7.	Austin Maxi	0.08% remaining
8.	Morris Ital	0.1% remaining
9.	Rover SD1	0.1% remaining
10.	Vauxhall VX-Series	0.1% remaining
11.	Austin Metro	0.1% remaining
12.	Ford Cortina	0.1% remaining
13.	MG 1100|MG 1300	0.1% remaining
14.	Austin Maestro	0.2% remaining
15.	Vauxhall Chevette	0.2% remaining
16.	Austin Ambassador	0.2% remaining
17.	Hillman Imp	0.2% remaining
18.	Rover 200	0.3% remaining
19.	Triumph Acclaim	0.4% remaining
20.	Ford Sierra	0.4% remaining

Top 10 classic survivors in UK by model

1.	Lotus Elan	38% remaining
2.	Triumph Stag	25% remaining
3.	Reliant Scimitar and SS1	21% remaining
4.	Aston Martin V8	21% remaining
5.	Lotus Europa	20% remaining
6.	Aston Martin DB5	19% remaining
7.	Aston Martin DB6	18% remaining
8.	Daimler SP250 Dart	17% remaining
9.	Aston Martin DBS	15% remaining
10.	Triumph TRS	13% remaining

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Bilstein-liveried Aston Martin to Nürburgring 24 Hours

Aston Martin Racing will return to the Nordschleife next weekend (17-20 May) when it races its stunning Bilstein-liveried V12 Vantage GT3 in one of the most challenging and demanding endurance races in the world, the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours (N24).

Aston Martin’s relationship with the Nordschleife is deep-rooted; it won the Nürburgring 1,000 km race in 1957, ’58 and ’59 and, as well as entering the 24-hour endurance race since 2006, the manufacturer has regularly taken part in the circuit’s own series, VLN. Further, many of its current sports cars have been developed and signed off on the legendary track.

This year, Aston Martin’s centenary, marks the brand’s most ambitious assault on the 25.9 km circuit to date. Aston Martin Racing is entering a V12 Vantage GT3 as it embarks on its most dedicated attempt yet to challenge for an N24 win.

Earlier this year, Aston Martin announced a racing partnership with leading damping and suspension specialist Bilstein, appointing it as primary technical partner for N24. The new agreement builds on the existing long-term relationship between the two companies – Bilstein dampers are fitted as standard to all Aston Martin road cars – and sees the companies working as a team on the N24 race programme and the iconic Bilstein branding applied to the V12 Vantage GT3.

Taking time out from the FIA World Endurance Championship – which the team is currently leading in both the GTE Pro and GTE am classes – Aston Martin Racing’s works drivers Darren Turner (GB), Stefan Mücke (D), Allan Simonsen (DN) and Pedro Lamy (PT) will drive the Bilstein-sponsored car in the race that starts on Sunday 19 May. 

The V12 Vantage GT3 was launched at the end of 2011 following an extensive design and development programme. Its success was proven when the car scored its first race win within weeks of the 2012 season starting. It has since gone on to win numerous races around the world.

The Vantage GT3 has a modified version of Aston Martin’s production 6.0-litre V12 engine. The dry-sumped engine is capable of producing in excess of 600 bhp with 700 Nm of torque, but is restricted by race regulations to approximately 550 bhp.

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Sebastian Loeb to Race RallycrossRX

Sebastien Loeb will contest the FIA European Rallycross Championship for the first time when he drives in the Rallycross of France at Loheac on August 31-September 1.

Loeb will drive a Citroen DS3 Supercar in the event which forms round seven of the nine-event championship. The 39-year-old, nine-time World Rally Champion has added the RallycrossRX outing to his calendar in a year in which he has embarked on a diverse range of events including rounds of the World Rally Championship, the FIA GT Championship and Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

The Frenchman has previously driven a rallycross car in competition only once; using a Citroen DS3 Supercar to win an X Games gold medal in Los Angeles last July.

–2013 is definitely a year full of challenges. I received an invitation from the organiser Patrick Germain, and I decided to answer positively, said Loeb. "Apart from the X Games, I have no experience in Rallycross so I will probably have to fight hard against fast specialists in a very high level championship.

–I enjoyed my experience at the X Games last year and I expect something similar. Loheac is the temple of Rallycross.  This is a well-known event with always a very big crowd. In a sportive side, this is also a very tough race.

–I couldn’t let this opportunity to participate at least once in my career pass, especially because it is with a Citroën DS3. I am looking forward to go to Loheac, meet the fans and race there.

Rallycross Loheac, 30km south of Rennes in Brittany, is widely accepted as being the best attended rallycross event in world. Regularly attracting more than 30,000 spectators it has been a cornerstone of the French championship for many years and, this year, is included in the FIA European Rallycross Championship for the first time since 2001.

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Mazda MX-5 going for the Guinness World Record

Mazda’s MX-5, the best-selling roadster of all time, is shooting for another Guinness World Record on 15 June 2013 in Lelystad, the Netherlands. The event, organised by Mazda is called IMAX-5 2013, and the goal is to shatter the existing record for the “largest parade of Mazda cars” – 459 Mazda MX-5s – set in Essen, Germany in 2010.

IMAX-5 2013, hopes to attract as many as 800 MX-5s to the RDW Test Centrum in Lelystad to join the procession, which starts at 4:30pm and will follow a 15km route through the fascinating Dutch polder landscape near Lelystad.

With total sales approaching 1 million cars, the Mazda MX-5 has put smiles on a lot of people’s faces over its 24-year history. It has also given rise to many celebrations along the way, when the 500,000^th, 700,000^th and 900,000^th unit rolled off the assembly line, for example, and on the MX-5’s 20^th birthday. And there’s no end in sight.

All interested MX-5 owners are invited to register for IMAX-5 2013 online at www.imax-5.nl. 

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The OX – the world’s first ‘flat-pack’ truck

Although 10% of the world’s population lives in Africa, there has never been a vehicle specifically designed and manufactured in volume to meet the rigours of the continent. That situation is about to change with the development of the OX, a highly unconventional ‘flat-pack’ all-terrain light truck that could benefit  people living in remote villages and townships across Africa and other parts of the developing world.

Designed and built in Britain, the OX is unlike any other vehicle and has no competitor – whether from a concept, performance or pricing point of view. It is the result of the Global Vehicle Trust’s (GVT) ambition to help people in the developing world by providing cost-effective mobility for communities to undertake crucial daily tasks, such as collect drinking water and transporting grain, fertilizer or building materials.

Simple and fast to build

Simplicity is the guiding principle behind every aspect of the OX, and notably it is the world’s first flat-pack vehicle.  Most panels are interchangeable from one side to the other, while the fewest possible components are used to give it a fast build-up time.  It takes three people approximately 5.4 hours to create the flat pack in the UK prior to shipping.  It then takes three people 11.5 hours to assemble the vehicle from flat pack at its destination and no special skills or equipment are required.

The revolutionary nature of the OX programme extends beyond the vehicle itself and uniquely, OX is capable of being flat-packed within itself.  That means there is no requirement for an expensive box or individual pallets for transportation, ensuring freight costs can be kept to a minimum.  Six OX vehicles, including engines and transmissions, fit into a standard 40ft hi-cube container.  In addition, assembly labour is transferred to the importing country, where local professional companies will be found to assemble and maintain the finished vehicles.

Robust and cost-effective

OX can drive through 75 cm depth of water and has a very wide track to ensure excellent stability on badly rutted roads.  Maximum payload is 2.0 tonnes (twice the capacity of most current pick-ups) and following EU size guidelines, OX can seat up to 13 people or carry eight 44 gallon drums or three Euro pallets.  It has a simple power take-off capable of pumping water, sawing wood or running a generator.

Designed to be at home on the roughest terrain, the OX has a high ground clearance and short front and rear overhangs to tackle the steepest inclines.  Independent suspension, front and rear, allows easy transit over rough ground, while the uncluttered underside ensures that sand, mud and other hostile surfaces do not obstruct progress.

With an overall length similar to an average family car, the OX weighs just 1.5 tonnes.  It has front-wheel drive and is powered by a robust 2.2 litre diesel engine with a manual transmission.  Unladen, 73% of the OX’s weight is over the front axle and when fully loaded 53% is still over that axle.  This contributes to excellent traction in both conditions.

The driving force behind GVT and the OX is Sir Torquil Norman, founder of the Norman Trust which raised more than £30 million to transform the Roundhouse in Camden Town into a media skills training centre and one of London’s most popular venues.

– My inspiration for the OX goes back to the ‘Africar’ project of the 1980s.  OX became a dream three years ago and is now a realistic ambition with a working prototype that has already completed its initial testing programme, says Sir Torquil Norman.

– Our sole objective at GVT is to help people in the developing world.  As part of an aid programme, the OX could provide an essential element of infrastructure to enable the local population to raise the community’s standard of living and to assert its independence by gaining control of its transportation needs and costs.  The OX could also be an enormous help in transporting medicines, doctors, patients and other materials in emergencies and at times of natural disaster.

Driving the next stage of development

– We have spent around £1 million bringing the OX to the working prototype stage and we need a further £3 million to take the project through to a production-ready status, said Sir Torquil. – This is why we are now ‘going public’ to highlight the need for investment and support in order to progress the project to completion.

– Our priority now is to raise the funding to complete the testing and take the project to fruition.  Our aim is that the OX will be purchased by charities, aid organisations and development programmes, rather than private individuals.  My dream is to one day see an OX in every village in Africa, concludes Sir Torquil.

Although initially planned and designed for developing countries, there has subsequently been a realization that there is likely to be demand for fully-assembled vehicles in some European markets.  It is anticipated that OX will appeal to farmers, estate owners and others due to its huge carrying capacity and ability to traverse rough terrain.  Any profits generated by selling fully-assembled vehicles in Europe will be ploughed back into the Global Vehicle Trust charity to fund future developments of the OX.

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