Vehicle Lease Blog

Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe Review

Filed under: Uncategorized — lloyd @ 12:42 pm

Leasebam is giving customers the chance to lease the latest £300,000 Rolls-Royce, the Drophead Coupe is one of the latest to hit the streets and it doesn’t disappoint.

As with all ‘Rollers’ this eludes class and luxury just from looking at it and hearing it thanks to its 6.0 litre engine. The vehicle which is handmade by the British company was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.

The cars platform is based on the 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom and was originally proposed as a concept car back in 2003 and sticks to the nautical gentleman’s theme that the company launched with its Ghost model.

Produced made to order in Chichester, West Sussex the Drophead combines cutting edge aluminium technology with handmade materials and fittings, the interior of this car will blow you away. Styled in what Rolls-Royce describe as an “avant-garde reinterpretation of the traditional English gentleman’s club.

The £307,000 price tag is enough to put of even the biggest of big spenders, even a footballer with a Rolls Royce is a rare sight. But if you really have to have the ‘Roller’, as lets be honest nobody will fail to be impressed then leasing maybe a better option for you. Obviously it’s still going to set you back a decent sized monthly payment but the thrill of owning this car should offset the mental worries of that.

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Skoda Octavia Review

Filed under: Uncategorized — lloyd @ 10:20 am

When Skoda brought out the Octavia back in 1996 many people described it as a hatch with the manners of a Golf as that is what it’s built from.

Gone is the reputation that surrounded Skoda for years and now the Octavia is on the cusps of being a luxury saloon car along with the likes of BMW and Lexus but at a fraction of the price, a brand new top spec Octavia will set you back around about £23,000.

The car is comfortable and will give you all the support you need for both long or short journeys and Skoda’s new found reliability has not been lost on this model. The storage space in the boot is perfect for a family day out or a Friday trip to the golf course, the Octavia is an ideal choice for business during the week and pleasure on the weekend.

The car is built on a VW 2.0 litre engine and you can tell, it’s almost as if the engine is confidently punching above its weight in this car, engine noise will not be a problem either as it is one of the quietest around. Even in last years torrid time for car manufacturers the 2009 Octavia still managed to shift well over 300,000 units, making it the highest selling Skoda by nearly 100,000.

The video below compares the Skoda to the Audi R8, which to be honest is a completely different car. Albeit a very good one its not really fair on the Skoda to be comparing the two. But the handling of the car in the wet conditions speaks for itself. The weight of the steering always makes you feel in control.

A great thing about the newer Skoda’s is that they come with a three year warranty for services, which before the recent announcements of lifetime warranties was unique and is still very impressive. The diesel option is notably economic and will give you good miles for your money.

Leasing is an excellent option for the Skoda Octavia and also the Audi R8 as it will allow you to avoid the sticker prices and give you some flexibility, especially if you are the type of person who likes to change their car every couple of year. Leasing also allows business users to claim back certain amounts from the government.

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The Impact Of The Budget On Leasing

Filed under: Uncategorized — lloyd @ 11:10 am

During the recent budget announcement Chancellor George Osbourne outlined a number of cost cutting measures and tax measures in a bid to pull Britain out this age of austerity.

Some of the announcements and implementations will directly affect people purchasing new cars and leasing as it will alter the type of finance agreement people enter into.

The standout impact will be the increase of VAT up to 20%, this could be a positive for car leasing as other restrictions being put in place will prevent people who buy vehicles from claiming back VAT on purchase prices.

The addition to the Writing Down Allowance will also play a big part in the leasing and purchasing business over the next few years. Previously vehicles with a C02 emission of less that 160g/km or less would receive a decrease of 20%, but under new regulations this is down to 18%.

The fuel duty will be kept at 1p but include an increase of 0.76p from January, by doing this the Government hope to stabilise fuel prices to prevent the yo-yoing prices we have had in previous years.

Mr Osbourne also confirmed other measures that will impact on the leasing industry including the new company car and van tax and increased Vehicle Exercise Duty (VED) charges based on weight and suspension type.

All of these measures will come into force in April 2011, Companies such as Leasebam will help you track down the car you need for the best price.

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Audi TT Coupe Review

Filed under: Audi Reviews — lloyd @ 10:23 am

The Audi TT is officially the most leased car in history, but why? Many people have criticised the vehicles reliability and its road life but it must be doing something to get this accolade.

A basic level model will set you back around about £25,000 from new but these cars don’t really hold their value so a second hand one in good condition shouldn’t set you back much more than £15,000.

Looking at the car you wouldn’t be mistaken in thinking that it’s a very tight coupe with not much room but once inside the space available is surprising and does well to drown out the sounds of the 3.2 litre V6.

The 3.2 also manages 0-60 in around 5.9 which isn’t bad for a coupe. A lot of people have the impression that the Audi TT is a sports car, it isn’t it is just a very aesthetically pleasing and small coupe.

As mentioned earlier a lot of people have criticised the reliability and quality of the TT but sadly this is a by effect of mass produced cars. Any faults that were in the original model in terms of quality appear to have been phased out by Audi and this latest model will be a reliable companion.

One the issues with this model is the shape, the sloping nature does make it difficult to park but you would be sacrificing a huge unique point if it wasn’t there.

Fuel consumption isn’t too bad with the TT either the 3.2 gets you around 27.2mpg which makes it a good choice for business users.

After looking at this car you can probably see why it’s a big one in the leasing industry with its good looks and solid brand behind it, it will give the impression you want to give.

As these cars don’t really hold their value leasing could be a good option it gives you flexibility and the option to claim back certain aspects if you are a business user. Take a look at Leasebam who will search all local dealers to find the best leasing deal for you, all without you having to leave you computer screen.

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North America Leases Electric Vehicles

Filed under: Fuel, Uncategorized, news — lloyd @ 9:59 am

Mark Forster

American President Barak Obama took the wheel of the brand new Chevy Volt this week sending out the message that electric cars are on their way.

Over here in the UK we have just been told that we will be getting the £5000 subsidy on the cost of the car but only on the first few thousand purchased. So the first manufacturers to release their offerings will benefit.

Ford and Toyota have just announced that they are going into the electric market but it is unlikely that their offerings will be available whilst the subsidy is still available. So what are the people who want to go electric but would rather wait to check out a more established range? How about leasing?

Leasing any vehicle electric or otherwise help in a lot of ways, first of all it takes the sting out of the sticker price.

Another bonus of leasing is it acts almost like a trial, you normally commit to a minimum term contract but if after this term you feel that the new technology is no good then you can just cut your ties.

One of the big reluctances people are going to have about laying down the £20,000 + for an electric vehicle, subsidised or otherwise is the fear that the technology will burn out or that oil prices fall leaving you no better off financially than a regular car.

The Americans have already had leasing deals announced and they don’t seem too bad. A deposit of $1,999 deposit and monthly payments of $349 on a three year contract is available on the Nissan Leaf. Which in UK terms is a deposit of around £1,200 and monthly payments of £220.

Making the overall payment over three years just under £10,00 compared to the vehicle cost of £25,000 (US Price converted) so leasing can be cheaper, obviously you will not receive the Government credit but with the platform in such an early stage would you want to lay down that amount of money? Especially on the Nissan Leaf which basically amounts to a city/commuter car.

Interested in Leasing a vehicle, currently no electric leasing is available in the UK but if you take into account these payments will be similar if not a cheaper on a regular £25,000 it will still work out cheaper. Business owners can also claim back certain features of the car through VAT and Tax claims.

Take a look at Leasebhttp://www.leasebam.co.uk/am who will search all dealers nationwide or close to you to find the best price.

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0 – 60 in Four Seconds. Not When Your Clamped

Filed under: news — lloyd @ 11:03 am

Two Luxury cars worth almost £1.2m were clamped out side the prestigious Harrods Store.

The cars, a Koenigsegg CCXR and Murcielago LP670-$ Supervoice were clamped after being illegally parked outside the London store.

Koenigsegg CCXR and a Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce clamped outside Harrods

Clamped: illegally parked

The Koenigsegg CCXR and a £350,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce were both clamped on the afternoon of 22 July. Both cars are rare the Koengsegg is one of only six in existence.

In commenting the Kensington and Chelsea Council said:

“The vehicles were in serious contravention of parking rules. Our priority is our residents. T0o keep space available for the, we must deter visitors from taking up residents bays and our experience is that clamping is simply the most effective deterrent.”

A spokes men for Harrods said that the responsibility for parking enforcement in front of the store, rested with the council.

The cars were released after the owners paid a £70 fine.

Source: BBC

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Jaguar X-Type 2011 Preview

Filed under: Uncategorized, news — mark @ 10:51 am

When Jaguar first released the X-Type it was their attempt to propel the brand into the mainstream, previous models had out priced people by a long way but the X-Type was aimed at the premium Mondeo customer. The customer who would by a top spec Mondeo had the disposable income for the X-Type or so Jaguar thought.

Coming in a range of options including the estate model, which is the only estate in the Jaguar range. The X-Type was first developed and produced in 2001 using a modified version of the Ford CD132, which incidentally was the same basis of the Ford Mondeo.

The first incarnation was released to the UK in 2008 with a projected sales target of 100,000 per year and it already had the reputation having won AutoWeek’s Editors Choice Award as the Most Significant Car at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show.

The car suffered at the hands of critics when it was first released, Top Gear described it as:

Imagine if Paul Smith started supplying £25 suits to Tesco? The label wouldn’t be enough to make it cool. And nor is the Jaguar badge here.”

But Jaguar promises the 2012 version will be an improvement in its bid to serve as a main competitor for the BMW 3-Series.

It will include a three litre V6 turbo diesel engine or you can opt for a hybrid version which includes a V6 diesel and a 47 HP electric motor which in turn will be integrated with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Whatever the outcome the Jaguar X-Type has a lot of ground to make up with reviewers but on the other side the public found it appealing, some even describing it as “something unique and a “superb, effortless cruiser with an affordable price tag.”

Interested in having an X-Type of your own, this executive saloon is perfect for the businessman who wants to impress his clients with the Jaguar tag but not break the bank. Take look at Leasebam who can look through local dealers to find the best leasing price for an X-Type.

X-Type Saloon

X-Type Estate

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Hiring A Car For Holidays

Filed under: Safety, news — mark @ 8:46 am

Many people who go on holiday either within the UK or abroad will look at leasing/hiring a car for the time they are on holiday, but a lot of people do not know the rules in other countries in regards to driving.

Rules are different throughout the European Union (EU) for example in France, Italy and Belgium the drink-drive limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100mg but in Norway it goes down to 20mg, In Germany it is illegal to drive with a sat nav that shows speed cameras, and interestingly in Spain you must always have a hi-vis reflective jacket within reach inside your vehicle at all times.

To help combat any mix-ups whilst abroad Skoda have teamed up with RAC to offer free EU travel advice. The guide is available from all Skoda dealers.

Interested in leasing a Skoda or any other vehicle, take a look at Leasebam who will search dealers nationwide to find the best deal for you.

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Nissan Finance Review

Filed under: Finance Page Reviews, Nissan Reviews — mark @ 10:24 am

Nissan offer the most finance options of any manufacturer I have looked at, from hire purchases to lease purchases and finance leases you have plenty of options to explore. They even have a section for finance offers.

The site navigation is very easy to use and the graphics very user friendly, a criticism is that the default text size is quite hard to read as it is very small and not dark enough to stand out from the white background.

Looking through the options available on the finance site there will be something for everyone, the one major feature that Nissan seem to lack on their finance site is a calculator or a flash program which will calculate how much your payments will be, based on deposit, term and mileage.

Despite this Nissan do seem very flexible with payments, as they offer a credit limit option. This is advertised as allowing you to still save money rather than tying it all up in car finance.

The site also doesn’t seem to allow you to search through models or view the car you are wanting whilst still on the finance pages, until you expand the window and the footer of the page lets you cycle through the vehicles. A good idea but not prominent or easily viewable.

Nissan are currently one of the front runners amongst electric car manufacturers and it will be interesting to see how they adapt their finance pages and options to suit this. At the moment you can still view Nissan’s electric car ‘The Leaf’ as part of the Nissan site which is something different from others, on Mitsubishi’s website for example the iMiEV has its own webpage which will navigate you away from the official site. Frustrating if you’re just having a browse.

One of the best options for getting a Nissan is to look at leasing, companies such as Leasebam can search all local dealers and find the best price without having your computer screen.

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Review: Smart ForTwo Cabriolet

Filed under: Smart Review — lloyd @ 9:48 am

The new Smart doesn’t look to different from the older version. In fact, you would hard pressed to tell the difference if you weren’t an expert. look closely though and you can see the difference.

Most of the difference are below the surface. The car itself is in fact a little larger. The length has grown to 195 mm and the width by 42mm meaning that the interior space is considerable improved. Don’t think that its ability to get into tight spaces has been compromise though, it can still do a u-turn in one go.

The handling has significantly improved on the latest release There is a new power steering system being roles out with this model. the new sharper responding direct system combined with the increased width leads to a greater response and feeling in handling.

Under the bonnet the car has a new punchier engine at all levels. Starting at a 61hp, then a 71hp unit and finishing of with a refined and turbo charged 84hp choice. All three variants come as a 999cc capacity. The latter engine choice leads to the car become more than just a city. It leads it credibility as a full road car, with the ability to perform over taking manoeuvres on the motorway and handle any inclines. Not only will it manage to do well in performance terms the car will do that and give almost 60 mpg.

There is still a remaining problem from the old car; The transmission. The older model had a seriously problem with gear changing; The shifts were jerky and unrefined. Although the manufacturer claims that its engineers have spent a great deal of time improving the smoothness of the shifts and there speed, the new cars up shifts are still the same and the semi automatic transmission is still a pain to use. Under hard acceleration the changes are almost ponderous and in full automatic the transmission is still to slow to react to the throttle. However it does not detract completely from the rest of the car.

The car has significantly improved on the older version. The slight increase in size has lent the car more cabin space and greater handling without losing the around town agility. With it being small and agile it plays dividends when coming to the fuel pump, but now its is a little easier on the motorways and longer journeys.

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