"It is vital that motorists MOT their vehicle to ensure it is safe to drive" commented RMI director, Stuart James responding to recent findings published by The Kwik Fit Group. The findings indicated that a staggering "1million motorists are deliberately driving without an MOT."
It used to be said that cleanliness is next to godliness, yet these days it seems we’re more likely to kneel when washing the Mondeo than in fervent prayer. A study conducted by ICM Research for Kwik-Fit shows that some 6.2 million, or 19 per cent of British motorists, religiously clean and check their vehicle at least once a week. This compares with just 4.2 million Britons who, according to a Tearfund research report from 2007, attend church with such regularity. On a monthly basis the gap grows even wider; the ICM survey of 2,000 UK adults indicates almost three times as many people, or 21.5 million, attend to their vehicular ahead of their spiritual needs. And it may or may not be coincidence that the most popular time to attend to car care chores is between 10am and 11am on Sunday – a direct clash with many church services.
Two local businessmen have opened the latest HiQ franchise to be added to the network, which now numbers over 150 UK branches. Former car dealership bosses Keith Hancock and Matthew Stone opened the new centre on Stag Road as part of a new business venture to increase HiQ’s prominence in Kent, eastern Sussex and Surrey. The Tunbridge Wells centre offers full servicing in addition to the normal fast fit activities.
According to recent research by Kwik-Fit, millions of cars are heading out onto Britain’s winter roads without a “COAT.” This collection of letters stands for Check Oil and Tyres, and despite the onset of winter conditions, the fast-fit specialist reports that more than eight million motorists haven’t checked their vehicle’s oil and tyres in the last six months. Furthermore, some 13.6 million motorists haven’t checked their batteries, surprising really considering the high prevalence of battery failure in the colder months – Kwik-Fit predicts that as many as one in six drivers will break down this winter with a flat battery. A further 25 per cent of motorists, Kwik-Fit continues, have left their brakes unchecked.
Kwik-Fit expresses concern that almost a third of car owning students would rather blow their budget on a night out than fix a tyre. Admittedly, finances are often tight while studying, but the fast fit giant points out it’s not just necessities such as books, rent and food that are taking priority over car maintenance. Kwik-Fit reveals the shameful statistic that 32 per cent of car owning students confessed that they’d choose to blow their last £50 on a big night out rather than replace an illegal tyre – even if it meant driving home on it the next day.
British Formula One Drivers Championship leader, Jenson Button opened Bridgestone’s Driving Nation Roadshow in Birmingham on Thursday 30 July.
Car maintenance has once again become a priority in the minds of vehicle owners because cars are being kept longer as a result of current economic conditions. And consumers are also paying more attention to prices at auto repair shops. Anyone trying to save on quality when buying power transmission belts, however, must expect to incur high follow-up costs in the event of belt failure – a warning the sales staff at repair shops should give to their customers.
The qualities of a drive belt are not immediately evident just by looking at the product. “Only by the brand name will the fitter know for sure that he is using a quality product”, stresses Markus Pirsch, head of Marketing Service for the automotive aftermarket at the ContiTech Power Transmission Group. Drive belts made by ContiTech for the automotive aftermarket comply with OE standards, giving shop fitters the certainty and confidence that their customers will also benefit from the features of these products.
A new survey of UK drivers conducted by Bridgestone shows that the majority of drivers are four times as likely to cut the life of their tyres, increase their fuel consumption and see a leap in their CO2 emissions because they are ignorant of the Highway Code’s advice on the regularity of pressure checking. 50 per cent believed they should check their tyres every four weeks, with a further 21 per cent stating tyres should be checked fortnightly. In reality, the Highway Code specifies, “check weekly.”
Bridgestone asked more than 1,500 drivers from across the UK how often they should check their tyre pressure in order to stay safe, extend the life off the tyre and reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Fifty-nine per cent of men got the answer right, but in reality only a quarter check their pressure weekly. This compared to an awareness of 37 per cent among women but with only a fifth actually checking their tyres weekly.
In hot pursuit…..of careless vehicle maintenance. According to Kwik-Fit, millions of UK motorists are at risk of being a DIPSTIC. Mind you, when the fast fit giant says this it isn’t doling out the harmless insult made popular by Hazzard County sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane – it means each of these road users is potentially a Driver In Poor State To Inspect Cars. Strong words indeed, but Kwik-Fit has survey results to back its claim.
The organiser of Automechanika Moscow, held between March 4 and 6, 2008, has reported a successful show. During the three days 5,086 trade visitors attended the fair, and 139 exhibitors from at least 15 countries exhibited their products at the Expocentre in Moscow’s Krasnaya Presnya.
“The automotive parts and equipment industry and the car maintenance sector grow in size and importance every year,” said Eugen Alles, General Manager, Messe Frankfurt, Russia. “This situation is reflected in the high quality to be found at Automechanika Moscow. Three halls, a large number of visitors and wide representation from companies from all over the world set the pace for the whole of the coming year. We are keen to pre-serve the B2B character of the fair and work carefully on acquiring trade visitors. Our exhibitors get a real opportunity to develop and strengthen their business in the Russian market.”
First Stop dealership, TW Tyres recently hosted an afternoon for female drivers with practical advice on maintaining their vehicles and a specific focus on all-important tyre checks. Recent research has shown that up to 90 per cent of drivers do not know their correct tyre pressures and TW Tyres aimed to address this issue and offer practical help to local drivers. Carl Williams and Sally Smith from Bridgestone were on hand giving presentations and offering their expertise along with technical adviser Chris Scott and the TW Tyres team.
Following the event TW Tyres will undergo a major refurbishment in order to create a more appealing environment for customers. This reportedly comes as part of Bridgestone’s continued investment in the First Stop network.
Rugby FM also joined up with TW Tyres on the day by holding a phone-in clinic on car maintenance issues for all those who couldn’t make it.
Ipswich businesswoman, Ingrid Ward, has just celebrated an amazing 21 years as a director of the town’s Autofit garage, which she founded with husband Kevan. During this time, the couple – along with fellow director Dave Chapman – have watched the Britannia Road firm go from strength to strength, winning an army of loyal customers along the way.
“The past 21 years have flown by,” says Ingrid. “There have been some big changes and challenges here over the years, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” Autofit, which is a member of Bridgestone UK’s 200-strong network of independent First Stop tyre dealerships, was opened by Ingrid and Kevan, a former RAF officer, in 1986.
Top Technician finalist Roy Lumley I.ENG.MIMI of Technical Car Services, York, has been crowned ‘Top Technician 2006’. Roy beat hundreds of entrants to the winner’s title, trophy and £2,000 cash prize. Lumley was one of only three finalists invited to the Top Technician 2006 Awards Ceremony in Birmingham on 26 May. Stuart White of Complete Car Maintenance, Surrey and Jerry Carroll MIMI of Carroll’s Garage, Renfrewshire were joint runners up and each received £250.
Results from regional semi-finals have been collated Tyres & Accessories can now announce the names of the 12 technicians who will compete for the title Top Technician 2006. Four technicians will compete each day at the live final, held at the Automotive Trade Show (25-27 April, NEC, Birmingham) on the Top Technician stand, number 1531.
(Akron/Tire Review) The Royal Dutch/Shell Group said it has teamed up with Shanghai Automotive Group Co to launch a car maintenance service for motorists in China. The 50-50 joint venture, called Anji Jiffy Lube Automotive Services Co Ltd, will build a network of fast lube service outlets modeled on the Jiffy Lube chain in the US.
It will invest around $23 million for the project, which will initially involve 10 pilot outlets in Shanghai within the first year of operation. Anji Jiffy is targeting to open more than 600 branches by 2015 in China, which currently has around 23 million vehicles on the road. In terms of new car sales each year, China is now the third largest in the world, after the US and Japan.
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