Travelling with Dogs in the Car

dogs in a car

There’s a saying in show business that you should never work with children or animals. It’s because they both require special attention, and nowhere is that truer that in the back of your car. Children need entertainment and breaks whilst your dogs may need similar attention, there are definite differences. How can you best maximise your dog’s comfort, keeping it calm and undisruptive on a car journey?

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How Not to Devalue your Car

devalue cars

When you sell on your new or second-hand car, you’ll want to achieve the best price possible. A well looked after car, both in terms of the exterior and the engine is obviously more desirable to a buyer, and will hence attract a better price. However there are many factors that can devalue a vehicle, from a messy interior to a brakes that’ve been pushed too hard. What are the ideal ways to take care of your car to achieve the optimal sell on price?

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Signs Your Fuel Pump is Failing

fuel pump

The purpose of your fuel pump is fairly self-explanatory. The part pumps fuel from the tank into the engine, so if it’s not working correctly this can be problematic. It should run for thousands of miles, but like all parts after time it becomes increasingly prone to failure. To avoid being stranded 200 miles from home, watch out for the following problems:

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Removing Tree Sap from Your Car

car under a tree getting covered in sap

As the heat rises in the air and the harvest becomes full, sap is often extruded from the trees around your home and on the roads. Whilst parking under a tree is a great way to protect your vehicle from the heat, it may leave it prone to drops of sap landing on the paintwork. Although this won’t cause immediate damage, if left unattended it can dry like cement on your vehicle.

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The Best Methods to Help You Spot a Clocked Car

speedo clock in a car

In days gone by sellers would rip off car buyers by winding back the mechanical odometer using a number of techniques. This is a process that’s more commonly known as clocking. In the past it would often leave tell-tale marks like screwdriver scratches on the dash or the numbers in the meter not quite lining up.

With the event of digital and electronic odometers, you might think that this practice has all but ended, but actually clocking is on the rise, and now with the range of electronic systems that can be used to alter mileage – it’s more prevalent than ever.

What can you do to make sure that you’re not a victim of this deceitful selling practice?

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The Best Cars for Dog Lovers

dog with head out of a car

We’re a nation of pet lovers and dogs need a lot of attention. The bigger the pooch, the more exercise and days out it requires for good health and vitality. Walks in the county and on the beach are great, but you’ll need a sturdy and spacious vehicle to get you there.

Whilst we’ve looked at how to keep dogs safe in your car during the heat of the summer, what about the best vehicles for keeping them comfortable on the road? In this article we explore the top cars that offer for a smooth ride on long journeys with robust interiors so you and Rover can arrive in style, where-ever you’re going.

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The 5 Types of Passenger You’d Rather Not Have in Your Car

types of car passenger

Legendary punk minstrel Lou Reed sang “I am a passenger” in his now iconic road melody. You’d probably rather travel with this crazed old musician than some of the characters on our list. With our oversubscribed roads now sagging under the weight of traffic, cycle lanes and completely redundant lights, the last thing you need in your car is another negative factor. Unfortunately sometimes you have to grin and bear these 5 types of passenger, who are not always the biggest pleasure to have in your car…

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The Top Ten Executive Saloon Cars – For Under £5,000

executive saloon for under £5,000

Executive motoring always means space, comfort and drivability wrapped up in a classy and stylish package. Great for long journeys and making a good impression on clients because you’ve arrived refreshed and relaxed. And then these vehicles also perform in the weekend and evening when you have to fill them with the kids and shopping.

You might think that a saloon car with all of that for under 5 grand is a big ask, but here’s what our experts found:

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10 Signs That Your Catalytic Convertor is Failing

catalytic convertor

Catalytic convertors are an essential car component that works to reduce the amount of harmful emissions that come out of your car’s engine. This metal canister operates as a fixed part of the exhaust system and uses a chemical catalyst to remove pollution from the engine’s exhaust gasses making them dramatically less harmful.

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How to Avoid Buying a Flood Damaged Vehicle

flood damaged vehicle

Some areas in the UK are prone to drastic flooding. We’re not talking about a big puddle here, but rather rivers breaking and metre high waters that hang around for days. Expose a car to this kind of wetness and it’s going to get in every single space and cause some serious damage.

It’s not enough to simply give the car a good airing or replace the carpets and upholstery. There’s a real need to look beyond cosmetic damage as flood water can impact the performance of the brakes, starter motors, catalytic converters as well as running havoc with the electrics.

Flood damaged cars are dangerous. It’s that simple. However, unscrupulous sellers will try to cover up problems caused by flood waters – so here’s how to make sure you don’t get lumbered with a compromised vehicle that’s been previously submerged.

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