Is your car or motorcycle and scooter ready for the onslaught of winter? Here I talk through a few simple ways that you can ensure that whatever your transport is it is ready for potential arctic conditions. But also conditioning our minds to be prepared.

We take for granted that so long as our vehicle has a current MOT then all will be good more so if it was serviced at the same time that the MOT was renewed. I hear this so many times when someone is thinking of doing the bare minimum or they are considering exchanging the vehicle. One very recent experience was a car driver not having his engine oil changed for three years because of his low mileage and the workshop explaining there was no need! Bizarre but true.

So leading on from that, engine oil needs changing at the recommended intervals regardless of your actual mileage. It plays an important role of keeping the engine from overheating or seizing. It degenerates with age not just mileage. Do make sure you change the oil filter at the same time. Then keep any left over oil inside the boot as a top up if required.

If you live in an area of mountains and hills with a high chance of extreme weather then consider putting on winter tyres as they have a different structure specially devised for ice and snow conditions ensuring that your vehicle stays more stable in just such conditions.

Wiper blades need changing potentially every twelve months as smearing costs lives at worst and at best can write off your vehicle. Blades can be bought for under thirty pounds. Ensure that the washer bottle is topped up with not just water but washer fluid which can contain anti-freeze properties.

The battery is so much more than it was a decade ago, now controlling navigation colour screens, abs and every computer and control unit that your vehicle has as well as controlling all of your cars safety devices. By checking the charging rate and voltage will save you having to call out a breakdown company and paying them to replace it with one of their own usually expensive batteries. You may find buying a new battery from the main dealer to be as good as elsewhere, I buy batteries from them as any difference is usually small but you know that it will fit exactly and be of the right ampage and volt for your vehicle.

Some daily checks such as checking lights and fuel levels take minutes but will save you much more than getting a fine from the police or having to call a friend or a breakdown service to tow you to a fuel station.

Remember many garages will check some of these for FREE, use them or loose them as they need your visits like anyone else.

Finally make sure you are dressed correctly for the winter and that people know your route and estimated time to destination. Make sure you finally pair your mobile to the bluetooth in your vehicle or buy a kit and have it professionally installed. Please only use your phone if it is safe to do so and DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PHONE at all in answering whilst driving. That is an offence if you do so.

Keep in your boot a tow rope, jump leads some water and a warning triangle and a high visibility vest or coat for if you have to leave the vehicle at the roadside. After leaving the vehicle please do not stay with it move away from it at least 100 meters using your phone to arrange help. Renew your membership to a roadside recovery company.

The above are good tips, ignore them at your peril.

Buying from a dealer with apply online finance with part exchange online valuation and free uk delivery

David Bilsborough of Cheshire Cars in Crewe explains just how for over two decades the business has been and continues to push boundaries for customer experience. The business founded by David Bilsborough during 1996 has achieved a place in peoples minds when looking for a new car or wanting some good and accurate guidance or needing to book in a service and MOT, Cheshire Cars will be in their thoughts. Building this type of reputation takes time and needs consistent tweaking.

Cheshire Cars offer a very useful and unique bespoke service with car sourcing now available. Obviously having built up a name for excellence this new service fits in exactly with how we do business. Having been launched as a stand alone service you are engaging David himself to find you that exact vehicle of choice. After an initial meeting with David you simply relax and await updates and finally a delivery or collection date of your vehicle of choice. David has added this service without fees or any extra charges, you simply pay the agreed value which is discussed beforehand. 

Cheshire Cars have numerous five star customer reviews on Google, Facebook and Auto trader which we encourage you to read before getting in touch. 

David Bilsborough owner of Cheshire Cars has also another business which supplements the retail business of Cheshire Cars with quality vehicles for retail. www.webuyyourcar365.co.uk is aimed to win fairly good clean low mileage motor vehicles. Within the site is a valuation page in which owners can simply and easily fill in the details of their vehicle and send it over for David to value. David will value the vehicle based on age, mileage and specification after carefully studying the market. David accepts fair wear and tear as we work with some key partners to fully bring the vehicle into retail condition.

David can be contacted either by using the FREE to use web page with the site or by visiting at Quick Service Station Badger Avenue in Crewe CW1 3JG or by telephoning 01270 213811.

Here is the link to get your FREE Valuation https://form.jotformeu.com/63192276258361

How To Avoid Buying A Write Off

David Bilsborough founder and owner at Cheshire Cars based at Quick Service Station in Crewe Cheshire has been involved with vehicle retail all of his working career. Thirty one years during 2018 and likes nothing more than meeting and assisting clients to secure that vehicle of choice. David is keen on businesses that make the process clear and transparent. David along with six other motor-trade  professionals have started up the first ever association to represent the independent sector of the industry. Launched in November of 2017 the association aims to bring excellence to the consumer by engaging only the very best businesses from the independent sector. In short businesses that have and are continuing to place the consumer at the centre of their business model. Named The Independent Motor Dealers Association the consumer can expect a fantastic experience if the dealer that they are considering is a member of the association. All members will have needed to have read through then signed and returned a copy of the associations 'code of conduct' along with two references and their VAT registration plus website address. No application for membership will be fast tracked as the founder members are consistent in how the joining process needs to be. To read more about the association visit the link here http://www.theimda.co.uk

David was instrumental during 2015 working alongside the UK's largest used car classified platform 'Auto trader.' To ensure that all information relating to a vehicles past was being declared within the advert. Previously it was being left to the individual trader to do so. A marker within the advert now exists which the trader can not avoid as no vehicle can be accepted onto the platform without the inputting of the registration number. So providing the data at the DVLA is correct and up to date the vehicles past will flag up. During 2017 a change occurred to how the grading of insurance claims and classification of information would be communicated with the consumer. When a vehicle that you maybe interested in has a marker inside the advert you will need to be sure you fully understand the meaning of that marker. Below are the new classifications alongside a brief description of what each group of classifications means.

Marker with a A Refers to Scrap Only.

Marker with a B Refers to Break for parts.

Marker with a S Refers to structurally damaged but repairable.

Marker with a N Refers to not structurally damaged, repairable.

Looking at the first two classifications they should never be put back on the road as a complete vehicle. Avoid anyone trying to pass off a vehicle which have fallen into either of these two categories. The vehicles should never be put back onto the road. Marker S vehicles if  repaired by a professional to exacting standards will be able to be sold and used without doubt. The key to S classification is the type of repair and to what standard. Marker N is the least damaged and likely to be cosmetic, so a broken door lock and or ignition lock or stolen key. On an older vehicle not having a key can mean the insurer pays out and the vehicles will be classified as such. It is unlikely you will be in danger using this classification of vehicle.

Please remember that all the markers are telling you something all of which ends at this. That an insurance claim has been filed and paid out. You need to understand this point. The marker will be with the vehicle for all of its lifespan whilst registered with the DVLA. It can not be removed once the classification has been allocated. Unless and there is nearly always an 'unless' the classification was applied incorrectly. Its a long process to have the details inspected and rightly so in my opinion.

There is a requirement for traders and dealers to declare clearly the status of a vehicle and you will have a claim against the trader/dealer if they did not declare at the point of sale. However in reality you must always take all reasonable precautions such as carrying out a history check against the registration and chassis number plus the mileage of the actual vehicle. All good dealers/traders will have already completed just such a check. Ask to see the check.

The same does not apply to sales conducted by a private seller. We are seeing more vehicles being purchased by private people who then repair and put back on the road. There is currently no legal requirement for a private seller to declare the past history of the vehicle. This is catching plenty out because they do not carry out pre sale checks such as using a providence service like HPI before buying the vehicle. A costly mistake. 

Although Auto trader have included all private advertisers into the same as trade/dealer adverts. The vehicle will have a marker if required as having a past insurance claim. A positive step and one very much welcomed by all good and transparent sellers.

My next blog will cover mileage discrepancies and why it is so important to take all reasonable steps to avoid falling foul of such.   
 

Is Your Car Ready For Winter Driving

David Bilsborough writes about thinking "winter" and is my car ready?

The first few frosty mornings are with us and some of you may have already suffered with a flat battery and poor handling in the icy conditions? What can you do to prevent you and your car falling prey to the British winter time.

Falling temperatures and damp and icy road conditions usually finally kill that slow to start car. Batteries are being asked to perform more and more with all of a cars electrical components. On average a batteries life can be no more than 3 years at high service. Batteries are usually sealed and once they become slow to start a car, then not changing the battery will undoubtedly leave you open for the dreaded "flat battery" just when its freezing and its late at night.

Wiper blades. Cheap to keep on top of but so many cars that we see have very poor wiping of the windscreen through broken and worn out wiper blades. Smearing your windscreen is telling you to change the blades. Very easy and cheap to do, something you can do yourself at home on your drive.

Tyres. Pressures and condition. Again we see so many cars with incorrect pressures and badly worn tyres that it is truly amazingly bad. With a budget new tyre costing under £50 why wait until you can't stop the car due to a badly worn tyre? All of your cars tyre pressures are inside the cars handbook or if you haven't got one they are stuck on either inside a door or inside the fuel flap.

Brake Pads & Brake Discs. Again so easily missed yet very costly for your safety. Have these checked with your service insist on the workshop remove the wheels so they can exactly see their conditions. Brakes pads fitted around £75 or less with both for around £150. Why wouldn't you?

Lights. Check that all your cars lights are in good order and working. Weekly checks will be great but at least every month.

Cheshire Cars are offering a FREE WINTER HEALTH CHECK. Send David Bilsborough an email to book your FREE CHECK by cheshire.cars@btconnect.com.

 

All About Cheshire Cars

2015 Mercedes Benz E220 Diesel AMG Line Night Edition


Cheshire Cars are a used car retailer based at Quick Service Station in Crewe Cheshire.
David Bilsborough is the owner and  founder of the business which he formed in 1996.

As a well respected vehicle retailer offering exceptional customer experience Cheshire Cars are well worth talking with before you decide to buy or sell your vehicle. Cheshire Cars both buy and sell quality motor vehicles and will deliver and collect for Free inside the UK Mainland. With a 5 Star Review Rating on Facebook, Google and Auto trader you can be assured of fantastic service.

Cheshire Cars take retailing to an advance standard through not just the type of vehicle retailed but in the process to uphold the high standard of service. To achieve this each vehicle will spend two and a half days in our detailing area. This area is dedicated to solely cleaning the vehicle to as close to as it was new. Every car undergoes this trusted process regardless of age or value.

Cheshire Cars Offering Fantastic Products and Services.