Used Vans Blog

Yes, as the title suggests, the Mazda 2 is a cute sports car, which under normal circumstances wouldn’t be possible. However, this is definitely a case of where a quick and nimble unit is also a small and compact little terrier! It looks good, drives even better and is very much a unique vehicle in terms of how it operates and the features that it possesses. The new and used Mazda 2 is also a practical and dynamic unit that highlights once again just how good the Mazda brand of cars really is. This Japanese manufacturer certainly knows how to design a good automobile and, like with all Mazda cars, it provides the fun element of driving. From the outside the Mazda 2 looks like a sports car, but as noted above, it is very much in a different light given that the overall structure of the unit is quite small. Light in weight and with excellent handling abilities, this is a Mazda car that really does have it all including low Co2 emissions that also make it an economically friendly machine. But there are so many other reasons for wanting to own this vehicle such as the number of storage areas located strategically around the vehicle, 60 / 40 rear split seats, incredible comfort throughout, good head and leg room, MP£ connectivity and gadgets such as rain sensing wipers, electric folding mirrors and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm. And if that wasn’t enough to convince potential buyers that they should buy this vehicle, the fact that it has first class safety ratings may well be enough to sway your vote!

Now this is one vehicle that really does stand out from a crowd and is probably the envy of many manufacturers assigned with the task of constructing a competitor. Put it this way, I for one, would not envy anyone who must try and better this beast! As for the equipment used, the Mercedes-Benz AMG range includes 18 inch alloy wheels with a high sheen finish that is accompanied by the AMG body style. There is also an AMG sports exhaust system with sports suspension and an electro hydraulic roof. Other features include chrome rimmed fog lamps, Bi-Xenon head lamps and the Mercedes-Benz automatic boot release, which has become quite the popular feature. So that’s the exterior discussed, what about the interior? Well this is equally as impressive and includes features such as air con, stainless steel sill panels, AMG sports seats, heated seats, and AMG Nappa leather; it really is an all round vehicle that is unlike any other used Mercedes of the past. But with all nice things in life, this is a car that does come at a price, which will currently set you back near on £54,000. A small price to pay to those that can afford it but probably out of reach for most regular car buyers. Then again, you definitely get what you pay for with this Mercedes-Benz and the SLK 55 AMG is a car that will certainly make the history books as being one of the best Mercedes0Benz cars ever made.

Maserati cars have the reputation for being high performance sports cars of the utmost prestige. One particular model that stands out from the range of cars is the Quattroporte, which has now become quite the flagship vehicle for the company. To better things even further Maserati have now introduced the Sport GT S version, which is Maserati’s most powerful saloon ever made. The exterior of the car is one of the main talking points as this is where the true sports element is visible. However, whilst this is indeed a sports car, by no means does it take away from the elegant and prestige elements of the vehicle. Too often is there a sports upgrade undertaken on a popular model, which then loses some of its executive appeal as a result of the changes being too drastic. This is certainly not the case with the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S as it offers a valid and relevant combination of both the sports and prestige areas. Sports styling is also clearly visible from the inside of the vehicle within the interior, which provides the car with its own unique character. Various new materials have been used such as TitanTex, which is fibre fabric that is coated in aluminium. To those buyers that want to make their car that little bit more unique, there are also a number of personalisation options available for the car, which will mean that it will be like no other new or used Maserati of past or present.

Chevrolet is one car manufacturer that seems to have the knack of being able to produce innovative designs that really do work. The Spark is just one example of many that provides a compact and nimble vehicle that manages to provide a lot of space that can cater for a number of passengers. A five door unit, the new and used Chevrolet Spark really is a well equipped car that provides everything needed from a city vehicle. Indeed the Spark is very much a city car and is just ideal for running local errands such as picking the kids up from school or doing the weekly shop. Inside the car there are a number of features that enable the driver to become at one with their environment. Things such as height adjustable drivers’ seat, 60 / 40 split folding rear seats, tilting steering column, air conditioning and electronic climate control are just some of the features that make the Chevrolet Spark such an enjoyable vehicle to drive. As for the engines well the standard version is a 1.0 litre with the maximum size being 1.2 litres. Of course we can therefore establish that, like with many of the smaller new and used Chevrolet cars in the range, the Spark is certainly not a motorway or long distance choice. Instead it is a small and practical vehicle that is perfect for the family and ideally used when in and around town. So if you are in the market for something like this then why not consider the Chevrolet Spark as your possible next vehicle?

When the X5 was first introduced it became an instant hit with the general public because it was something different and unique from BMW. After all, they were hardly leaders in the new and used BMW 4x4 market sector and so this introduction was a welcomed addition to the range, which has now gone on to become a vehicle that will almost certainly go down in the history books. The X3 followed but due to the similarities between the two, it wasn’t awarded with as much popularity. BMW needed to do something and needed to go back to the drawing board to conjure up a new design that would gain the same sort of recognition that the X5 did upon its initial release. The answer was of course the BMW X6, which definitely sent ripples through the industry due to its eccentric and indifferent design. Bold, robust and at the same time beautiful would be the best ways to describe the X6 and it very clearly marks an improvement on the X5. The most distinct area of the vehicle must be the rear, which has been raised and tilted in a way that makes it rather unique and interesting. From the side the X6 looks like a stretched and lowered X5, which therefore gives it just enough of an identity to be recognised as a 4x4 BMW. The front looks rather similar as well although there are some modifications that have been made to make the vehicle more unique. Currently only available in one model version, the BMW 6 looks like it may well be one for the future and, if initial interest is anything to go by, will follow the X5 into the history books.

Every car manufacturer has a past but very few could match the heritage and historic timeline of Bentley. It all began in the year 1919 and has continued right up until today. Bentley themselves describe the Bentley story as being as “passionate as the dedication that’s required to build a car as elegant as the Arnage”, which is very much a fitting and accurate statement. So going back to 1919 it began when a young car enthusiast, who was also an aspiring engineer, constructed an internal combustion engine that was combined with a vision of producing the very best in automotive design and construction. The idea was to think big and deliver. What first started on the motorcycle circuit soon transformed to four wheels and the birth of the now used Bentley cars came into being. And as they say; the rest is now history. Most recently this British manufacturer has risen to the forefront of the industry in terms of prestige and many describe new and used Bentley cars as being more of an art than a car manufacturer. The Bentley Arnage and Azure models are among some of the most recognised but it is the Continental GT that must be the most popular. The Brooklands should also be given a mention as this is yet another Bentley model that has been an impressive addition. And therein lies some of the focal points of Bentley’s history and it is quite easy to see why they have grown to the heights of today and why they are widely regarded as the most prestige car manufacturer in the world.

When Audi first introduced the A5 it provided a new direction in design for the company; a cross between an A3 and an A4 was how some described it. During the initial stages of its release the market reacted with admiration for what was undoubtedly yet another worthy contender for car of the year (from Audi). After all they had been building new and used Audi cars for many years and many of these had qualified as nominations for such awards. And therefore the Audi A5 went on to become a prominent figure in the market (and it still is). However, Audi has not managed to achieve their stature of today without good reason and one of their main advantages is that they have the ability to release new models at the relevant times and therefore reap the rewards. And this is exactly what they did with the Audi A5 Cabriolet, which was released earlier this year to a willing and receiving market. In comparison to the Coupe version, there really are only very subtle changes but it is these changes that have been the main contributors to how popular the car has now become. Compared to the used Audi A5 Coupe, the Cabriolet seems to offer a totally different dimension even though it is nearly identical. The simple fact is that the roof is different – but to compare both units side by side would result in totally different views. My personal favourite would be the Cabriolet because it just offers that something a little different and is very much an innovative approach from Audi.

The name of Aston Martin is a special one as it is a brand of cars that has ultimately been at the very top for many years. And it is thanks to cars such as the used Aston Martin DB5 and DB6, as well as the more recent DB7, DB9 and Vanquish etc, that the name of AM has become so popular. Car critics and enthusiasts alike will all admit that this is a truly outstanding company that epitomised the art of British car engineering and manufacture. Having featured in numerous Hollywood blockbuster movies and been the vehicle of choice for our very own James Bond, Aston Martin has become a globally recognised brand that is very much at the top of the tree when it comes to providing sporty cars that deliver an all round outstanding performance. In terms of their current position in the industry, Aston Martin are very much right up there with the very best. However, given the nature and the price of their units, they by no means mass produce. You could say that they promote to a very niche market and so naturally there is only ever going to be a certain amount of custom that will be targeted. This in itself provides a true insight into just how successful the brand really is in that they do not need gimmicky marketing campaigns or require the need to advertise “special offers” and “deal of the week” promotions etc; because quite simply, Aston Martin is a truly unique brand that is very much ahead of the game.

In my opinion, the majority of the newer Ferrari cars look as though they are prototypes; simply because of how visually stunning and beautiful they look from the outside. The older used Ferrari units, not so, but it is definitely the case with the new style vehicle. However, Ferrari do actually have an official section of their business where they build prototype cars and one of the more recent offerings is the Ferrari 599XX model. Based on the 500 GTB Fiorano, the 599XX is a gorgeous vehicle that can do no wrong. A the title above suggests, please let it be true and release this exceptional piece of steel and carbon fibre into the mix! Characterised by Ferrari’s 'high performance dynamic concept', the 599xx is reported to deliver the ultimate in overall sports car performance and really does push Ferrari’s engineering abilities to the absolute limit. With the incorporation of the Ferrari ‘Actiflow’ system, the 599XX is able to increase its down force, which means 280 kg of down force can be attained at 200 km/h (figures taken directly from the Ferrari Website). As for the exterior, which is very much the pinnacle from a viewing point of view, materials such as carbon fibre have been used (a favourite among sports and racing cars because of its light weight) and this has worked in combination with aluminium. As with all new or used Ferrari cars of this magnitude, the 599XX offers the best in sports car tyres that have been used to deliver the best cornering abilities available. One can only hope that Ferrari decide to release the 599XX into the public domain, but with production costs seemingly increasing in price as time goes by, I won’t be getting too excited just yet.

Officially described as having “more multimedia choices than your home”, the new Dodge 2010 Grand Caravan is a vehicle very much out there on its own in terms of style. In fact, you could go as far as saying that the new Grand Caravan looks like the official mode of transport used in the A-Team. With its big and bold black outer casing, the only thing that is does not have is the famous red hazard lines displayed on the side of the vehicle. Had this been the case, then I for one would have expected B.A. Baracus to be in the driving seat! Very much a mini-van, this Dodge is unique in its approach to style and stands out like a sore thumb. Critics seem to love it and Internet reviewers seem to be very much in love with what is a seemingly impressive vehicle. Improvements have definitely been made and things have certainly moved on from the used Dodge vans of the past and it seems that the year 2010 has forced designers to come up with something worthy of the future. Ample space, a friendly interior and a host of safety features are all included within the Grand Caravan and Dodge have paid special attention to this particular area. The one downside of the vehicle is its price, which critics say is slightly too high and there are reports that the standard version disappoints in terms of engine power. Of course, this Dodge is still very much a new addition to the range of new and used Dodge cars, which means that there may well be a few teething problems to begin with. I would say that a more realistic review can be assigned once it gets out into the open market and more and more people get a feel of what the positives and negatives may be. Until then, official road tests and opinions from a small number of current owners is the only information available.