Prevent Misfuelling with FuelSure

Phil Cartwright, an inventor and RAC Patrol has invented an amazing device called the FuelSure which prevents misfuelling. It has never happedn to me myself but apparently more than 400 drivers every put petrol into their diesel vehicle by mistake. This translates into 150,000 misfuelling cases per year, 95 per cent are caused by drivers putting petrol into their diesel vehicles due to the wider diesel filler neck and narrower unleaded nozzle.

A very serious mistake indeed as it can cost between £300 upto £5000 to repair, not counting the environmental cost of disposal of this waste fuel, coupled with CO2 emissions generated by towing misfuelled vehicles.

FuelSure replaces the normal fuel cap and is easy to fit and can be used on over 80% of diesel cars and light commercial vehicles in the UK. The device costs £29.95 and is available from RAC Patrols and recovery specialists, as well as selected Halfords stores.

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BMW 5 series scores high in pedestrian safety

Euro NCAP today released the test results for three new cars: the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, BMW 5-series and the Mazda CX-7.

The BMW 5 series achieved a high 78% in pedestrian protection. The car has an active bonnet, so that when a pedestrian is struck, the bonnet is lifted from its position as a result, creating more space to absorb the energy that usually results in injury. The car also scored 100% in Safety Assist as the car has electronic stability control fitted as standard, seatbelt reminders in the front and rear, as well as a driver set speed limitation device.

One of the most common injuries in the event of a rear impact are whiplash injuries.

The BMW seat and head restraint was found to offer good protection. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is equipped with a reactive seat and head restraint offering good protection as well. However, the Mazda CX -7 was found to offer poor protection against whiplash.



For detailed ESC performance data on all cars tested in 2009 go to the Euro NCAP website www.euroncap.com. Besides English, the Euro NCAP website is now available in Dutch and French as well.

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The BMW Ultimate Drive Weekend

BMW organised an event they called the BMW Ultimate Drive Weekend from April 17 - 18th. You could go over to your nearest BMW dealer and see the newest models upclose and even test drive them. This would have been a wonderful opportunity but I blew it as I had something up and didn't go.

As part of this event, they also had a competition where a lucky winner would have the chance to use four different BMWs to use over a year - a new one every 3 months. I wonder who the lucky winner is.



Here is a clip of the BMW M3 GTS Testdrive

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The Mitsubishi ASX Challenge

Mitsubishi’s all-new crossover – the ASX (known as the Mitsubishi RVR in Japan) goes on sale in the UK from the 1st of July this year.

The RVR

To promote the launch, an online game, the Mitsubishi ASX Challenge has been launched as well. Go over to the site and play the game for a chance to win a brand new Mitsubishi ASX crossover.

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Vote for me on Blog Interviewer

If you like the posts on my blog, please vote for me on Blog Interviewer.

All you have to do is go to this link and then click on the blue "Vote now" button below the post title.

Thanks a lot if you have already voted.

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Ferrari in the city

Last weekend I was driving along this road near my house which has a speed limit of 50 mph. However, the speed was considerably slower due to traffic. Then suddenly out of no where I hear this roar and a red Ferrari suddenly passes me (I know they have Ferraris in other colours but I have never seen one on the roads). We stopped at a traffic light and then moved at a snails pace. We were only doing about 20 mph but the Ferrari was roaring away. In comparison my Volvo S40 was quiet as a cat.



Some years earlier I would have been really excited as the Ferrari was the dream car brand of my youth. Any Ferrari as long as it had the black prancing stallion on a yellow shield in the front. I guess my priorities in life has changed but they don't excite me any more and in fact I was thinking how ridiculous that such a powerful car was roaring away at 20 mph on city roads.

I was wondering whether I had become older but I noticed that the driver of the Ferrari was a balding guy in his late 40's or early 50. Maybe I will get excited again when I have my mid-life crisis.

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Tips for a Buying a Used Vauxhall Corsa

When the Vauxhall Corsa hit the British market in 1993 replacing the popular Nova, people who were looking for style, class and power bought it. However, the subsequent years that followed saw heightened competition from other car models and they had to improve on the previous model in 2000. Sales of the car are still high and up to date, the Vauxhall Corsa has the ability to hold attraction and deliver power on the wheel. If you are looking forward to buying a used Vauxhall Corsa , then there are certain things that you have to take into consideration to make an informed choice.

The first thing that you'll have to look for is the petrol engine mainly because they come in different versions and while there are those that run effectively, some are prone to producing unnecessary noise. Engine capacity of 1.4 would be suitable for any level of speed while those with 1.0 to 1.2 are weak and when driving at high speed susceptible to emitting noise. Some of the best used Vauxhall Corsa models include the SRi and the VXR which have a high capacity petrol engine.

The second thing that you have to check when buying a used Vauxhall Corsa is the petrol costs you are going to incur in the long run. While the 1.4 and above petrol engines are the best at ensuring that the car is powerful and not noisy, it’s the 1.3 petrol engines which use less diesel averaging to 63 mpg and fall in VED band B, on the other hand, others like the 1.0 to 1.2 use 50.4 and 45.6mpg and fall in the VED band C category. This is why you have to weigh your options carefully before buying a Vauxhall Corsa to establish if a specific model’s cons outweigh the pros or not.

You'll also have to consider the source you intend to buy the used Vauxhall Corsa from. While most people tend to settle for individual sellers, the truth is that if you are able to get franchised sellers, then the price will be cheaper. To ensure that you are not paying too much for your Corsa, check the model of the car. For instance, it is important to note that 5 door models are more expensive than 3 doors and this roughly amounts to £350.

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