Ford

WVL's month-long Test Drive Event

#TestDriveYourBestDrive 2016 – the Results are in!

#TestDriveYourBestDrive 2016 – the Results are in! https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/TDYBD-results-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

The start of September marks the end of our month-long test drive event – from the early days of #SmallCarWeek through to the grand scale of #7SeaterWeek – our forecourt has been what feels like an Olympic-scale arena for this first-of-a-kind showcase of motoring might!  Now a time for reflection on proceedings, did Windsor Vehicle Leasing also strike gold? It’s a firm ‘YES’ as far as we’re concerned.

Firstly, we’re extremely grateful to all the manufacturers who have provided vehicles for the event – Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mahindra, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo. The collaboration has been much appreciated and the key-for-key swaps worked seamlessly. It showed the strength of our relationships and the confidence all the manufacturers have in their brands. No-one is afraid to stand comparison with anyone else. There seemed to be a consensus that what we were doing was a great idea, with more than one manufacturer pointing out that they couldn’t understand why no-one had come up with this concept before.

We would also like to thank the customers, existing and potential, who made the effort to come along and do the test drives. Hopefully they found the unique opportunity to compare brands and technologies worthwhile. In some instances, it was enough for visitors to sit in the cars; get that feeling which no amount of online research can replace.

WVL Test Drive event Small Car Week

WVL Test Drive Event, week 2 - Family Saloon Week

We’re aware that WVL may not necessarily see the direct benefits of this unique event, though it can only be a positive that we had so many visitors and enquiries. It was our intention to shake the tree during the traditionally quiet month of August and if the fruit fell elsewhere, then the industry was still the winner. It’s a bonus that we have quoted for and won business as a result.

The event was publicised through the local press and via social media across our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts where each individual car’s arrival was posted online. If some of the puns which accompanied the postings were excruciating, please allow for wordplay fatigue by Week 4! Nevertheless, good old footfall played a key part in us getting as many bookings as we did. Our position on Clarence Road usually guarantees interest from passing customers and there’s nothing like a line of new, gleaming cars to catch people’s attention.

WVL Test Drive Event, week 3 - SUV Week

WVL Test Drive Event, week 4 - 7-Seater Week

There’s no doubt, weeks three and four – the SUV and 7-seater weeks – provoked huge interest, as well as testing our forecourt organisation and parking skills. However, all four weeks, including small cars and family saloons, provided excellent opportunities, both for customers and the staff of WVL to familiarise themselves with the very latest models and technology, meaning Windsor Vehicle Leasing can continue to provide the most comprehensive and tailored customer experience.

There seemed to be a consensus that what we were doing was a great idea, with more than one manufacturer pointing out that they couldn’t understand why no-one had come up with this concept before.

It’s fair to say, the vehicles supplied showed that nowadays, there’s not really such a thing as a bad car. Probably the area of greatest change and progress is the on-board technology. Time in a vehicle is important. It would be easy to become a nervous wreck without exposure to and proficiency in the safety systems, including lane control, collision alerts and integrated braking systems. Even knowing how to start a car these days can be an adventure, though it’s always simple enough once you know! Interestingly, no-one seemed inclined to try the self-parking modes! Seems we still like control!

Of course the selection of vehicles not only gave many of our visitors the opportunity to have a fresh look at classic models, but also a first close-up look at relatively new technologies such as hybrids and electric cars.

For us at WVL, there was the bonus of a visit from a sporting icon. As you may have seen in our posts on the day, West Indian legend Gordon Greenidge, one of the finest opening batsmen of all time, took the opportunity to come by. Just for a while, the gleaming cars were outshone and talk of the off-drive replaced the test drive!

It is our firm intention to repeat this event in the future. Of course, others may try to do so in the meantime… but we’ll always know we were first!

If you’ve spotted something in the line-ups above, or would like a quote on a particular vehicle, please get in touch. Our Configurator allows you to spec-up a vehicle to your exact requirements, though we’d be happy to offer advice and suggestions if you’re at all unsure. Either way, try our online Quote Form, email us at [email protected], LiveChat with one of our leasing experts using the tab at the bottom of the screen, or simply call us on 01753 851 561, and let’s talk leasing!

We now offer Personal Contract Purchase!

We now offer Personal Contract Purchase! https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pcp-featured-2.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Looking for a non-business vehicle for a partner or family member? WVL now offer Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) – the smarter way to finance your personal motoring!

Key benefits:

low deposit

fixed monthly payments

option to purchase!

pcp-blog-disc-top
pcp-blog-focus

How it works

PCP is the ideal way to drive whilst keeping all your options open. Select your vehicle, pay an initial deposit followed by 35 fixed monthly payments, then, at the end of the agreement period, you can choose either to:

  1. Retain the vehicle:
    pay the optional final ‘balloon’ payment to own the vehicle;
  2. Return the vehicle, or
  3. Replace:
    part-exchange the vehicle, where equity is available, against a new model.

PCP is a personal finance option, and is not available to business users.

Vehicles in stock now – including: BMW, Citroen, Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Volvo and the Fiat 500!

Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 115 Titanium Navigation 5d

Registered 2014 (64)
Engine size 1,560cc
Fuel Diesel
Transmission Manual
Start mileage 5,800
Body type Hatchback
Colour Deep impact blue
Trim Black cloth
Availability In stock
Representative Example:
Monthly payment £218.65
Customer deposit £2,000
# Monthly payments 35
OTR cash price £14,495
Amount of credit £12,495
Interest charges £2,382.55
Total payable £16,877.55
Contract mileage p/a 10,000 miles
Excess mileage chg 9p / mile
Optional final payment £7,225
Fixed interest rate per year 7.00%
Representative APR 8.3%
Click for full details
pcp-blog-quote

Switch On to Driving Electric

Switch On to Driving Electric https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Electric-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

If leasing’s the budget-savvy way to drive, then ‘leasing electric’ is surely the ultimate win-win. Want to drive a high value, top-tech, greener than green vehicle for an affordable monthly fee… and with impossibly low running costs? Then leasing electric is the smartest way to drive!

Electric Vehicles

Back in the mid-2000s forward-thinking motorists (and fans of Logan’s Run and The Jetsons) firmly believed the industry was on the brink of an electric car revolution – that by 2010 every household would be refuelling their cars from a plug socket; petrol and diesel would be a reserve of the Classic car and our combined eco-drive would collectively be saving the planet from being greenhouse-gassed. The shift, however, didn’t come and electric vehicles (EVs) remained in their infancy.

But as more and more manufacturers have joined the EV race, the pace of development has picked up with many of the major car manufacturers investing millions of pounds into the development of electric/hybrid vehicles: BMW with their ‘game changing’ i3; Toyota with the ever-popular Prius; even McLaren with their hybrid hyper car the P1. Mainstream models rightly vie for today’s car-buyers’ attentions as taxes, fuel costs and eco-awareness continue to rise. The time is right, and this new technology is clearly here to stay.

Sales data reflects this upward trend: although there are only 13,000 electric vehicles on the UK roads, sales in Europe more than doubled in 2013 compared to 2012.

graph

Whilst gaining pace, the switchover to electric won’t happen overnight, not least due to lack of vehicle choice, but also because the change from petrol/diesel to electric is a mindset shift too, with anxieties over charging, recharging and range in particular. Let’s have a look at these in more detail and see if we can help switch you on to considering an EV for your next car!

Charging ahead

Charging an electric vehicle is much simpler than you think: every vehicle comes with a charging cable that can be plugged into a domestic plug socket. Of course, whilst most home sockets are suitable for EV charging, it’s worth checking with a qualified electrician to ensure that your wiring is up to the required standards. Once confirmed, plug in, recharge and drive!

For a range of approximately 100 miles, it will require around 6–8 hours’ AC charge in the UK, costing just a couple of pounds.

Manufacturers also offer higher power home charge units (around £1,000) which significantly reduce the recharge time, generally from 0 to 100% in 4 hours, some restoring 80% charge in just 30 minutes.

home-charging

 

Charging on the go

Since the UK Government made £30 million available to provide vehicle recharging points around the UK, infrastructure is already being put in place with eight ‘Plugged In Places’ so far securing the investment: East of England, Greater Manchester; London, Midlands; Milton Keynes; North East; Northern Ireland; and Scotland. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in city centre car parks such as this one we recently spotted in Manchester, will soon become a common site:

charging-station

 
There is also an increasing number of public DC fast-charge points such as Tesla’s ‘Supercharger’ and others for the e-Golf and BMW i3 providing 80% charge in just 30 mins – perfect for a coffee break on your road trip.

rcn-logoAlready supported by BMW, Nissan, VW and Renault and co-funded by the EU, the Rapid Charge Network across the UK and Ireland, so far provides recharging coverage for 1,100km of major roads. It’s growing fast: many service stations such as Welcome Break have had them installed already, and they’re being rolled out across IKEA, Waitrose and various other locations to give rapid recharges whilst drivers take a break or shop.

That said, since 85% of motorists charge either at home or at work, and given the range-per-charge (see below), these stations are not seen as a necessity for day-to-day driving or work commutes since an overnight charge should provide more than ample range for a typical day. Recharging on-the-go will only be needed when on longer journeys, and that’s no different to petrol/diesel; so for most of our motoring, charging up looks to be a far more convenient way to drive.

The technology really is there to give these new vehicles a natural place in our über-connected modern world. And of course, there are apps too – from monitoring your EV’s charge remotely via smartphone, to also helping you navigate to the nearest recharge station when your battery’s running low. EVs are now showing us the way forward.

charging-app

 

Current Trend

We’re catching on. The British market showed a rapid growth of EV sales this year, likely driven by the introduction of several new models.

  • Registrations of all-electric cars were up 132.9% year-on-year (and plug-in hybrid registrations were 261.4% up from a year earlier)
  • Jan – July: 3,058 plug-in electric cars were registered in the UK
  • …with the Nissan Leaf the most popular, selling 2,029 units, and a total of 5175 since its introduction in March 2011 – affirming its position as the UK’s top-selling plug-in electric car.

leaf

New EVs in 2014

There have been some superb EVs launched to the market this year – here are our favourites:

e-up

VW e-up!

Price: £19,270
Range: 93 miles

leaf

Nissan Leaf Acenta

Price: £23,490
Range: 124 miles

i3

BMW i3

Price: £25,670
Range: 80–100 miles

e-golf

VW e-Golf

Price: £25,845
Range: 118 miles

e-focus

Ford Focus Electric

Price: £28,580
Range: 100 miles

tesla

Tesla
Model S

Price: £49,900
Range: 240 miles

The Plug-in Car Grant program reduces the up-front cost of eligible cars by providing a 25% grant towards the cost of new plug-in cars, capped at £5,000. Both private and business fleet buyers across the UK are eligible for this grant.

The Tesla is arguably the most highly acclaimed EV of 2014 with the top spec model boasting a range of 312 miles, but the performance and luxury comes at a price at just under £50,000. The initial outlay for an EV is no doubt deterring many drivers with the majority of our list costing between £20,000 – £30,000 after grant, though prices will surely fall as manufacturing costs decrease over time.

tesla-costs

But factoring the cost per mile in terms of electricity (around 2–4p), zero road tax, zero Congestion Charge, great Benefit In Kind for business drivers, plus no more spark plugs, oil changes, timing belts, oil filters, smog checks etc… financial benefits will come as you drive. Don’t forget safety benefits too, with no fuel tanks to rupture or flammable spills in the event of an accident.

Lease your EV and have the best of both worlds!

Whilst the initial outlay does reflect manufacturers’ investment in new technologies and designs for these futuristic cars, there’s no disputing they’re more expensive than their fossil-fuel stablemates. So don’t buy one… lease one! Leasing enables you to drive an EV affordably since payments are based on the vehicle’s depreciation over the contract period, not the purchase price.

Contact us at WVL and ask about leasing an Electric Vehicle – it’s about more than just going green… with drastically reduced running costs, there’s never been a smarter, more budget-friendly way to drive! Call us to discuss options, prices and benefits on 01753 851561.

 

Staff Profile: Martin Callaway, Operations Manager

Staff Profile: Martin Callaway, Operations Manager https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/martin-c-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Track Record

As with most things in life the best place to start is at the beginning, so let me take you back 37 years to my first time at the company. Having carried out just 4 days of work experience at AA Clark, through charm, skill and a little bit of luck, I was offered the role as an apprentice in 1977. Working on the petrol forecourt, there was never a dull moment, perhaps best demonstrated by being given the responsibility of filling up the Queen’s Rolls Royce’s on several occasions!

During my time as an apprentice I was able to learn all aspects of the motor trade: parts department, service department and workshop. I remember the first car I worked alone on was a PDi inspection on a Vauxhall Viva BBL 70T sold to a Mrs. Cartwright. To my delight the car was still going the last time I saw it in 2010!

It wasn’t just Mrs. Cartwright and the Queen’s cars that I dealt with during my time as an apprentice, with Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and many old generals who used to live at Windsor Castle also among the customers whose cars I helped repair. Not bad for a teenager!

In 1979 I moved to the service department as a junior receptionist before being promoted to Assistant to the Service Manager in 1984. Throughout the years I went on to become Service Manager at Merry’s in Egham, Maintenance Controller at WVL before taking up my current role as Operations Manager in 2006.

Cars are my real passion in life and I’ll give anything vehicle related a go. Ever the perfectionist, you’ll often see me putting the finishing touches to cars before they are moved to our retail site.

Despite being 37 years older (or ‘more experienced’ as I like to say) than I was when I first landed on AA Clark’s doorstep, the Chairman still insists on calling me BOY or Fozzie Bear. Terms of endearment, I hope!

Extra Curricular…

I’ve always lived in Maidenhead and try to embrace the local community. With a keen interest in football I like to watch the local non-league football team (Maidenhead United) play as often as possible. When I’m not watching football I like to play golf at Maidenhead Golf Club as an Artisan member. From time to time I like to dabble in a bit of DIY and gardening work as well as taking trips out on my mountain bike and visiting the local art centre to watch the local theatre groups.

If I find myself with some spare time at the weekends, my wife and I like to visit local National Trust properties/locations, of which there is a surprisingly large number in the area.

Recently, I have been attempting to relive my youth by watching some of my favourite bands of yesteryear including Madness, Squeeze and Eagles. Next up is the Henley Rewind Festival that I’ll be attending later this year.

Favourite Rides

My favourite owned car was my MK 3 Ford Cortina GXL. Bronze in colour, with 16” Wolf race alloy wheels, red painted brake callipers and brake drums, 4 front spot lights, bucket seats, radio cassette with graphic equaliser it was one of the best looking cars in town and, after I tinkered with the twin webber carburettor, was also one of the fastest. A lovely anecdote arose when a policeman stopped me for speeding only to have him comment on how good looking the car was and thereon wave at me whenever he saw me out and about in town.

Unfortunately with my future wife only being 5ft tall she couldn’t see over the steering wheel and, as she had to drive the car to work every day, I had a tough choice to make: her or the car. In the end she won by a short head mainly because I knew she wouldn’t get rusty with age (but with similar running costs). And so with a tear in my eye I had to send my baby to a new home.

CortinaImage © REX FEATURES

Unashamedly, watching re-runs of ‘Life on Mars‘ brings back fond memories of the Cortina. I still miss that car so if you see a Bronze MK 3 Cortina NLF 388K on your travels please let me know!

Unfortunately, due to time constraints (as well as the Mrs nagging me) I wasn’t able to have a good look round the recent Ford owners club meet that I stumbled across in Somerset. Alas, I know when the next one is so I’ll be going to that one on my own, and maybe…

Beyond my own collection I don’t have a favourite car, but I’ve shortlisted some of the cars I’ve enjoyed here, by type:

Small car – Audi A1 / BMW 120d, typical German engineering, top quality.

Mid/Small range – Honda Civic* 5Dr 1.6 I-dtec Se-t. Very good car, comfortable, very good MPG, and low CO₂ and running costs.

Mid Range – Audi 2.0TDi A4 S-Line… almost perfection.

Luxury – Any Jaguar XF will do. It’s impossible to look out of place anywhere.

4×4 – Range Rover Sport. It makes me feel important.

Dream Car – Any Aston Martin as long as someone else pays for the fuel & insurance… and tells the wife!

Connect with Martin in the Maintenance & Bodyshop team by phone on 01753 801914, by email [email protected] and join his network on LinkedIn too.