You are here: Home / Archives for Harvey Lynch

Future classic cars

February 10, 2012 By Harvey Lynch

Today’s classic cars seem so far out of reach in terms of price and availability. What makes a car a classic and is there any way of being able to pick a future classic today?

The classic cars of today all have something in common – great style. The Ferrari, the Rolls Royce, the MG and the VW camper van are all beautiful cars in their own way. Obviously, different classics appeal to different kinds of people, but you can appreciate why some people love the VW split-screen camper even if it’s not your personal favourite.

It’s hard to see which of today’s new cars will be tomorrow’s classics. Part of it is to do with the materials used – a lot of today’s cars seem to look like they’re made of moulded plastic and not as if they will stand the test of time.

It may be that the classics of the future will be more about technological shifts than looks. It’s probable that all the new eco cars on our roads will soon be overtaken by further technological advances – today’s cutting edge hybrids and electric vehicles will take on the mantle of having antiquated technology when compared with the next big thing.

However, that’s not to say that the car manufacturers have given up on beautiful design. Honda’s latest concept offering at the Tokyo Motor show late last year showed us that design is still high on the agenda, when the company showcased the Honda EV-ster – an electric two-seater sports car that can reach 99 mph and has a range of 99 miles on a single charge. But although it looks futuristic now, will it stand the test of time – if it ever gets produced that is? And will that look appeal to classic car enthusiasts of the future – who knows?

If you think you’ve spotted a classic car of the future, and you can afford it, the best thing you can do is buy it, drive it, and love it. You may have a classic there, but if not, at least you’ve enjoyed owning and driving it.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , ,

Will the new Civic break the million mark?

January 31, 2012 By Harvey Lynch

Since it was first introduced to the UK 30 years ago, the Honda Civic has sold over 650,000 models in the country in an evolution that has seen eight generations of this most iconic of Honda vehicles come and go

This year sees the car’s ninth incarnation and it looks to be the best yet. Perhaps what makes it better still for UK motorists is that the Honda civic 2012 version is built right here at Honda’s Swindon plant.

Whether or not it will enable the most famous of all Honda’s car marques to break through the one million barrier in the UK remains to be seen, but if the performance, styling and sleek looks are anything to go by – perhaps it will.

The new Civic 2012 strikes the perfect balance between practicality, speed, performance and economy – and this is reflected in the cars new look which has been a little toned down from its predecessor following extensive customer consultation by the car company.

But the new car certainly takes heavily from its predecessor’s styling which worked so well – particularly with UK motorists.

It’s a little wider, lower and longer than the eight generation Civic, and has significant changes to its suspension, the engine range, the rear visibility (which was identified as a problem on the predecessor model and has been a little improved) and the introduction of new eco tech. This enables drivers to select an eased throttle response and gives more torque lower down; the Eco Assist, notifies drivers if they’re driving efficiently or not, and Honda’s stop-start system helps top up the mpg figures; as high as 67.3 mpg for the 2.2 diesel model – which also packs quite a punch.

The Civic is not a sports car, but it looks like one – and the bigger engined diesel version really behaves like one. Overall, the diesel looks to be the best choice as it’s very cheap to run with very low emissions.

A smaller diesel version will be introduced next year – maybe it will help push the Civic over the “one million sold” in the UK before long?

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

Hire an eco car

January 19, 2012 By Harvey Lynch

If you’re travelling somewhere on holiday or on business in the near future and you’ll need to hire a car – then why not make that hire car a Hybrid car – or maybe even an all-electric vehicle if you don’t need to travel too far?

Most of the world’s major hire car companies now hire out eco cars as a mater of course – and hiring one can be a really great way to try one out if you remain a little nervous about green car technology.

It’s particularly useful if you’re travelling on business. This is because you aren’t paying for the car yourself (!) but also because companies aren’t just making efforts to go green these days; more than that, they’re making every effort they possibly can to be seen to be moving in a carbon neural, environmentally friendly way.

So the hiring of eco cars by execs will very probably be warmly welcomed by most large corporations.

This is also an ideal way of doing an extended test drive on the electric or hybrid car you may be thinking of buying. Hiring a car for a few days is an entirely different matter to taking one a couple of times around the block from a new car showroom; so the hire is tantamount to a very long test drive. This is ideal because it has to be said that hybrids do drive slightly differently.

When the car is climbing a hill, for example, and you may be used to the feel of a car “digging in” to get there – well the feel in a hybrid is entirely different. The petrol or diesel engine just doesn’t feel half as strained thanks to the battery’s contribution. And in engine braking, when easing off the pedal going down hill, you can feel the difference again.

You may love it, you may not but either way, at least if you hire, it’s only a partial commitment.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

What people look for in a new car

January 9, 2012 By Harvey Lynch

A few years ago, although miles per gallon were important to people looking to buy a new car, those looking for a family wagon were equally concerned about the interior space and the room in the boot for luggage.  Of course, the car’s performance was also important. Today however, fuel economy has become the most important factor for many people because of the sharp increases in fuel prices.  It’s no good having a really fast car that you can’t afford to fill with fuel. And something that’s becoming increasingly important for many drivers is the impact that their choice of car has on the environment.

Of course, the better the fuel economy then the less impact there is on the environment, as using less fuel means that your car will produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions.  The two things go hand in hand to some extent.

However, although pretty much any new car offers better fuel economy than previous models, some cars can be even better for the environment. Choosing to drive cars that use alternative fuels can reduce the negative impact on the environment. Natural gas, for example, not only costs about a third less than petrol, it is also cleaner to drive.

Hybrids offer a good option eco-friendly driving option. Their fuel economy is good as the car is powered by two fuel sources – a small internal combustion engine that is assisted by an electric motor.  The electric motor is powered by a battery that is recharged continually while the car is in motion through a process called regenerative braking. Hybrid technology has been around in production cars since the late 1990s, when Honda and Toyota released the first hybrid cars.  Since then, the technology has got better and better, with the introduction of plug-in hybrids that can be charged at home and the use of stop-start technology which further increases fuel economy.

Although hybrids still have a premium attached to the sale tag compared to conventional models of the same cars, drivers can expect to make up the difference through savings in fuel costs and road tax costs.

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , ,

Inside the Honda Civic

January 3, 2012 By Harvey Lynch

Honda’s latest generation of one of its most popular cars goes on sale soon – the civic 2012 is the ninth generation and its chief difference from previous verions is the improvement in fuel efficiency.

Like all the other car manufacturers, the cabin is getting more high-tech with every generation. The new Civic interior has a bigger feel to it, with technology features like USB Audio Interface, Bluetooth handsfree, Bluetooth streaming audio and a colour LCD intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID). The Honda Sat Nav has voice recognition and FM Traffic.

For safety, the Civic has anti-lock braking and Vehicle Stability Assist™.  It has standard side curtain and driver and front seat passenger airbags. The body structure is designed to absorb front collision energy with its Advanced Compatibility Engineering ™.

Like its predecessor, the new Honda Civic’s dashboard is split into two levels, and while this may take a little time to get used to, it doesn’t hamper the functioning of the car at all. The main functions are clearly separated on the Civic’s dashboard and the top layer has a digital display which updates what else is happening on the dashboard – with information on audio and navigation, too.

Less pleasing for taller drivers is that the seat doesn’t really adjust downwards, so you can feel you’re sitting a little too high above the wheel, and the curve on the lower dash may feel a little close to your left knee. The bar brake light on the back window may affect visibility for some drivers looking in their rear view mirror.

On the plus side, there are Honda’s magic seats which fold completely flat in the back, or flip up vertically to fit in awkward loads, demonstrating Honda’s desire to produce a car that is stylish yet remains practical.

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

Paint your own car

December 14, 2011 By Harvey Lynch

If you have an old car you aren’t really bothered about achieving absolute perfection with, then painting it yourself is a great idea – and it can be a lot of fun.

When I went looking for a new hybrid car recently to join the green revolution, I decided not to trade my old Honda CR-V in for the new Insight as the numbers just didn’t make enough sense.

The bodywork on my old car was excellent for a 13 year-old vehicle, but the trade-in value was negligible, so I decided to have a bit of fun and paint it a London bus red. Here’s how I did it…

First, I removed all the trim that I could and stripped the old paint from the car using a chemical paint stripper having first dust-proofed my double garage. If you do this – be sure to wear protective goggles, overalls and to protect your hands. To be safe – read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them to the letter – regarding skin and eye protection and ventilation in particular.

Next, the hard part is the rubbing down. Endless wet and dry sandpapers in the finest grades do the trick. Your end result will only be as good as the effort you’re willing to put in at this stage

Fortunately, the Honda had excellent bodywork (they seem to last forever) so I had no filling whatsoever to do at this stage.

Next, mask off all the windows and any areas you don’t want the paint to go on. The more care you take here, the better – as small imperfections really look naff at the end of your job.

Now the fun part. You’ll need a good compressor and spray attachments. The better quality the gear, the better the job. The good news is that you can hire excellent tools for this job with relative ease.

Spray a lacquer or urethane primer and let it dry completely, keeping the whole area dust free. Apply at least four coats of grey primer, then one coat of red primer. Next, rub this layer down gently – looking out for any imperfections. Then apply a sealer and allow it to dry at least an hour (but no longer than four hours).

Now you’re ready for the colour coat. Spray evenly, building up in layers and avoiding drips etc. Hold the spray head around 9 inches from the surface and always keep it moving in even strokes. Try and avoid build-up of paint in any areas. Gradually build up the coats, then let it dry, remove the tape, and polish away!

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

Honda’s little classic – the S500

November 24, 2011 By Harvey Lynch

Honda’s early heritage lies in motorcycles. It was perhaps appropriate, then, that its first venture into the world of car productions was a tiny model – and one which relied heavily on Honda’s already developed motorcycling expertise.

The first ever Honda rolled off Honda’s production lines back in 1963. The little sports car followed the Honda T360 truck into production. The car was a slightly larger variant of the Honda S360 roadster which was developed for sale the previous year, but which never entered production.

The S500 used a high-tech engine developed from Honda’s motorbikes. The engine was a dual overhead cam straight-4 model, with four carburettors and a 9500 rpm limit. It was first produced with a 492cc engine and produced 44 horsepower at 8,000 rpm from its later, production displacement of 531cc. The S500 weighed just 1500 pounds, and could achieve a top speed of 80 mph.

A four speed transmission gear box, with synchromesh on the top three gears and rear-wheel drive, the S500 was akin to driving a souped-up go-kart. In short, it was a car way ahead of its time, thanks mainly to Honda’s motorcycling heritage.

The soft top sports car was available at the time for around $1,275. A mint condition model today would cost you many times that price!

Customers were offered a fiberglass hardtop as an optional extra. Just 1,363 Honda S500s were produced from October 1963 and September 1964, when the car made way for its bigger brother the larger engined Honda S600.

If only it had been more – or if only Honda would produce a version for today’s market; the S500 has legitimate claims to be the most beautiful small and affordable sports car ever made.

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

Old drivers can teach young drivers some new tricks

November 21, 2011 By Harvey Lynch

There are a few tricks to be learnt by younger drivers from the older generation when it comes to hypermiling.

By nature when young drivers get behind the wheel, they’re prone to press down their foot on the accelerator and get to their destination as fast as they possibly can. The older and wiser driver knows that this isn’t the safest option and beyond safety, there are other benefits, too.

As every hypermiler knows you have to take it slowly in order to save on the amount of fuel you use.  By saving fuel, you save money, and you also help the environment.  Burning fuel means that your car will produce higher levels of carbon dioxide and other emissions that aren’t great for air quality, regardless of whether your car is one of the low emission cars or not.

So, next time you get stuck behind a frustratingly slow, older driver, try not to lose patience.  Appreciate the fact that by driving at a steady, slower pace, they are driving in the most fuel efficient way possible.

There are also some other ways you can keep the fuel consumption down:

  1. Take the open road – avoid a route that has lots of traffic lights which means you’ll have less stopping and starting. This is key to driving more efficiently.
  2. If you’re going to be stuck in a queue for more than ten seconds, it’s worth turning the engine off – as restarting uses less fuel than leaving the engine running. Eco cars UK drivers own are more and more likely to come with stop-start technology, which means you won’t have to actually turn the key to cut off the engine.
  3. Drive at the optimum speed for fuel economy – although people have always thought of this being around 55mph, recent advice is that 40mph is even better.

 

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , ,

The world’s longest lasting car is a Volvo

October 25, 2011 By Harvey Lynch

A school science teacher from New York State holds a rather amazing driving world record. Irv Gordon treated himself to red Volvo P1800 in Huntington, New York in June, 1966.
Since then, he’s had no need to change his car as this one’s still going – despite an amazing 125 mile round trip to his job every day!
To date, the amazing Volvo and its careful owner have clocked up over 2.8 million miles. This is more miles than any other single car … ever!
Irv’s advice to the rest of us is to pick the right car in the first place and get it serviced properly and regularly. Always replace worn out parts and change the oil more often than the manufacturer’s recommendation.
It’s also important to drive a car sensibly if you want it to last. And in today’s environment of high oil and petrol prices and generally grim economic news; driving gently will also save you a small fortune in petrol – as well as on repair and replacement bills. Even today’s cars designed to achieve very high mpg figures, especially Honda cars such as the Honda Insight – or even electric vehicles – will still benefit from being treated well.
Irv also reckons you shouldn’t let anyone else drive your car!
When Irv’s famous red Volvo first went over the quarter of a million miles mark, he realised it was rather special and wrote to Volvo to tell the company about it. They were reasonably impressed. But when the car made a million miles, they were very impressed. In fact, they were so pleased with Irv’s free marketing that they gave the teacher the gift of a Volvo 780 coupe, which Irv used for family holidays until his kids grew up and left home.
In the 45 years since Irv bought the Volvo, it has needed the engine rebuilding on just two occasions. So make sure your next new car offers longevity by picking the right one in the first place, and looking after it for the next four or five decades!

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: ,

Petrol prices force journey cutbacks

October 5, 2011 By Harvey Lynch

Figures released by the UK driving body, The Automobile Association, show that British drivers have cut back on the amount of fuel they use by over 15% since the beginning of the current financial crisis.
Petrol sales in the UK were 1.7bn litres less over the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period three years earlier. The drop in sales has been linked to the record highs in petrol prices.  While people are feeling the pinch in all directions, the solution has quite simply been to cut down on the amount of fuel they use.
Whether they are achieving this through better timetabling to fit several trips into one, or by car-pooling to go to work or take the kids to school is unclear.  Certainly there has been a big rise in the number of bicycle commuters in recent years, with politicians like Prime Minister, David Cameron, and London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, leading by example.
There doesn’t seem to be any indication that petrol prices are going to come down again significantly, so drivers are now considering alternative fuel options more seriously.  Driving hybrid cars can offer quite a saving on running costs, as the hybrid dual power source of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor is far more fuel-efficient than a conventional diesel or petrol car.
In the UK, choosing to drive low emission cars like hybrids also entitles drivers to a big saving on annual road tax. And one positive outcome from the reduction in fuel use has been a reduction in the production of polluting exhaust fumes.
But many individual petrol stations have gone out of business, as they are undercut by the big supermarket chains which pull in customers with cheaper petrol prices.
People struggling to make ends meet may take some comfort from the fact that the fall in fuel sales has meant of a loss of £1 billion in fuel duty for the government between January and June this year.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts