Most reliable cars UK
Depending on what TV Advert you see or what website you go on to, you will be told that “X” provides the most reliable cars UK. It only makes sense for a business to talk up its own credentials, right? However, no matter how many times you see some slogan like the old Volkswagen adverts used to provide, it’s hard to actually know if what you are being told by the company is fact or indeed fiction.
If you delve deeper into the world of car reliability, and the most reliable cars UK, you can find some pretty surprising facts that seem to tell a different story to the car markets.
According to Warranty Direct, a reputed warranty firm, some of the most reliable cars names like Volkswagen and BMW actually struggle big time and produce the least reliable vehicles on our roads. In fact, Audi come in at second bottom of this list with one failure in every twenty seven vehicles off the production line.
In terms of most reliable cars UK, BMW Mini’s came in third from the bottom, with one in forty cars suffering a problem. So, with some of the big hitters not actually providing anything like the service quality that you would expect and/or demand, who is actually a most reliable cars choice for your hard earned money?
Without any real doubts or surprises for some, it’s the Japanese brands that run away at the very top with the most reliable cars UK. While the German Mercedes-Benz range comes in at third, Honda are seeing mistakes with only one in every three hundred and forty four cars! Toyota were around one in every one hundred and seventy. These numbers are a staggering difference considering the huge variance in price for a typical Honda car to some of the more flash brands out there.
While Jaguar comes in at Fifth and Land Rover at Tenth, in the most reliable cars UK table, the British companies have a lot of work to do before they can catch up with the likes of Honda.
most reliable cars UK
So, in terms of the most reliable cars UK, next time you are at the car market you might want to look into getting one of the Japanese brands instead. They offer the perfect mix of power, speed and agility without any of the ridiculous problems that far too many drivers suffer from some of the “popular” brands. Ditch the popularity contest ideals, and make sure that you are buying a car that you can trust and feel suitable driving for the next few years at least.
Engine Reliability – Bottom 10 Least Reliable Manufacturers
| Manufacturer | Failure Rate | |
| 1 | MG Rover | 1 in 13 |
| 2 | Audi | 1 in 27 |
| 3 | MINI | 1 in 40 |
| 4 | Saab | 1 in 40 |
| 5 | Vauxhall | 1 in 41 |
| 6 | Peugeot | 1 in 44 |
| 7 | BMW | 1 in 45 |
| 8 | Renault | 1 in 46 |
| 9 | Volkswagen | 1 in 52 |
| 10 | Mitsubishi | 1 in 59 |
Engine Reliability – Top 10 Most Reliable Manufacturers
| Manufacturer | Failure Rate | |
| 1 | Honda | 1 in 344 |
| 2 | Toyota | 1 in 171 |
| 3 | Mercedes-Benz | 1 in 119 |
| 4 | Volvo | 1 in 111 |
| 5 | Jaguar | 1 in 103 |
| 6 | Lexus | 1 in 101 |
| 7 | Fiat | 1 in 85 |
| 8 | Ford | 1 in 80 |
| 9 | Nissan | 1 in 76 |
| 10 | Land Rover | 1 in 72 |
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless Mechanic,
Phil.
Is Texting While Driving Dangerous?
The other day I was reading this article in the Daily Mail
Now perhaps that incident was a one off situation, but I’m sure at one time or another we’ve’ve all been guilty of texting while driving, the question is how hazardous is it?
A recent study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M found that even voice-activated text-messaging while driving is dangerous. The study wanted to examine whether hands-free technology is actually safer than traditional texting while driving. The results were surprising.
Although you might expect voice-activated texting to be less distracting than traditional text messaging, the study found that the voice-activated texting while driving method was equally dangerous. According to study director Christine Yager both methods resulted in reaction times that were twice as slow, with eyes less focused on the road often than they should be.
The study used a tracker to detect when drivers on a closed course looked at the roadway, and measured how long it took each driver to complete the texting task set for them. On the course was a stoplight that changed periodically, used to measure reaction times. The drivers were tested on both approaches to texting while driving the traditional and voice-activated texting methods, and on both Android and iOS devices. The study result found that the voice-activated technology didn’t result in any increase in driver safety when compared to regular texting.
Texting while driving distracts drivers
Texting while driving
In the UK, using any hand-held phone or device has been banned behind the wheel since 2003. Getting caught doing so results in a hefty fine of 60 Euros and three penalty points on the driver’s license. In spite of this, nearly 21 percent of respondents to the RAC’s polls on the subject admitted to using their mobile while driving or when waiting at a traffic light. Another 11 percent openly admitted to taking a peek at email and social media or texting while driving while behind the wheel.
This has led to companies desperately trying to develop technologies that will allow drivers to stay connected and communicate while on the road. Both Android and Apple have created voice recognition software solutions to allow drivers to use their phones hands-free, which is legal in the UK and in most US states as well. Unfortunately, this new study based on texting while driving calls into question whether phone communication on the road is safe at all.
Governors Highway Safety Association director Jonathan Adkins says he’s not surprised by the study’s results. Hands-free communication still takes a driver’s attention away from the road, making it a dangerous distraction. According to Christine Yager, drivers in the study were familiar with texting while driving, but felt the need to look away from the road to ensure that the voice recorder was accurately typing their message. This suggests that the voice-activated software still needs some work before drivers feel comfortable enough to use it truly hands-free.
Driving Requires Your Full Attention
At times it may feel like you’re driving on “autopilot,” this feeling can be deceiving. Driving requires your full attention in order to be safe; talking on the phone, texting while driving, and even voice-activated texting all take your attention away from the task of driving safely. When you’re operating a vehicle, your attention should be solely dedicated toward the act of driving.
These recent texting while driving results mimic those conducted by Canadian researchers about the dangers of talking while driving. The bottom line is texting while driving simply pulls attention away from the road and can kill.
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless mechanic
Phil.
Top Ten Celebrity Cool Cars
Everyone loves looking at celebrities in their latest cool cars – they appear quite often on the front pages of our papers. It’s a rare occasion that we get a glimpse of what type of cool cars celebs drove before their fame made them rich. For some of course, they weren’t exactly slumming it (Justin Bieber comes to mind), but for others their first cool cars were pretty far removed from the extravagant sports cars they’re driving today.
Wayne Rooney’s Ford SportKa
Wayne Rooney may have plenty of extravagant cool cars in the garage now – most notably his gorgeous Aston Martin – but that hasn’t always been the case. When he was first breaking into football at Everton, Rooney was given a Ford SportKa to drive. While there isn’t anything wrong with this classic car, it’s difficult to imagine someone like Wazza driving the town in one.
Jay Kay’s BMW 1602
Jay Kay is well known today for his love of cool cars; in fact, he currently owns more than 50. With so many, you might imagine that he wouldn’t give his first car a second thought, but as it turns out he actually managed to buy back the BMW 1602. It seems even one of the richest men in the world isn’t immune from that first-car love – he plans on working to restore the vehicle.
Richard Hammond’s Toyota Corolla Liftback
Richard Hammond is well-known for having an affinity for cool cars. In fact, his very first car was a brilliant red Toyota Corolla Liftback 1600, with a custom painted Japanese flag on the roof and a bald eagle engraved on the window. Unfortunately, Hammond’s notorious driving style led to him having to write off the car shortly after getting it.
Rupert Grint’s Ice Cream Van
Cool cars
Perhaps this isn’t quite one of those cool cars, however every kid dreams of someday owning an ice cream van, filled with all of the delicious dessert they could ever want. As it turns out Rupert Grint actually went out and purchased one of these as his first car. Just imagine the looks on kids’ faces when they ran up to buy their afternoon treat and found Ron Weasley waiting for them! Seems like an odd choice given his wealth, but we have to give him credit for his out of the box thinking.
Justin Bieber’s Range Rover
Teen sensation Justin Bieber’s first car wasn’t exactly what we’d call a clunker; for his 16th birthday he was given a sparkling new Range Rover by Usher. It seems like Bieber’s celeb fans just can’t wait to shower him with their appreciation; though he later wrecked the Range Rover, he’s was also given other cool cars like a Lamborghini from P Diddy, and a Chrome Fisker Karma from Ellen Degeneres.
Johnny Depp’s Chevy Nova
Before he seen spotted in the coolest of cool cars, an before he was Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp spent some time down on his luck. His trusty Chevy Nova not only got him from place to place – it’s been reported that he was even forced to live in it for a while. Perhaps that’s where his drive and personal energy come from now (not to mention his rather unique fashion sense).
Danny Dyer’s Ford Fiesta
Today this actor is commonly seen in one of his cool cars (Mercedes or Porsche) zooming around London. Few would guess that this East End acting sensation’s first car was a simple Ford Fiesta, which he claims was the “worst ever car.” Perhaps that’s why he made sure the vehicle met its demise at the hands of a tree.
Brad Pitt’s 455 Buick Centurion
Years before he met Jennifer Anniston or Angelina Jolie, Brad was still working on polishing his heartthrob image. In fact, it’s hard not to wonder if either starlet would have taken much notice back when he was driving around in the 455 Buick Centurion previously driven by his parents. Good thing he gained his fame – it’s hard to imagine all of his kids trying to squeeze into that tiny 2-door.
John Lennon’s Ferrari 330 GT
John Lennon is another celeb that wasn’t exactly slumming it in the first of his cool cars. The singing sensation bought himself a gorgeous electric blue Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Coupe. This car is still around today – last year it’s current owner even announced he was putting it up for auction at Bonham’s auction house before suffering from a serious case of seller’s remorse and changing his mind just before it went on the block.
Cameron Diaz’s Volswagen Camper
Cameron Diaz has been seen in plenty of flashy cool cars – even doing an episode of Top Gear with Tom Cruise. She hasn’t always had the pleasure of driving such sporty vehicles, however. Her first car was a classic Volkswagen camper, not surprising with her love of surfing and classic style. After all, these classics were once cool.
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless mechanic,
Phil.