November 2016

The best hybrid cars for company car tax

Is the Toyota Yaris a good car?

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Described by OSV’s very own Will Titterington, the Toyota Yaris is a ‘cheap and cheerful small car that is practical, reliable, and cute to look at’, and he’s hard to please.

So, our very own loves the Toyota Yaris, but is it really as good as he says it is?

We take a look at whether the Toyota Yaris is a good car, and whether it’s right for you. Let’s start with reliability because let’s be honest, you don’t want to spend money on a car only to spend double that on repairs…

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The Autumn Statement and the Automotive Industry

BVRLA reacts To 2016 autumn statement

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The trade body for the vehicle rental and leasing industry has responded to the government’s Autumn Statement. Full details are below: The BVRLA has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to introduce a new, more granulated range of company car tax bandings for ultra-low emission cars from April 2020, but is concerned that the timing of the changes will lead to a drop-off in demand for these vehicles in the intervening period. The changes will see 15 new bandings introduced, of which 11 will be for ULEVS. From 2020…

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The Autumn Statement and the Automotive Industry

The autumn statement and the automotive industry

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The Autumn Statement was announced this week, and it’s safe to say a lot has changed since the Spring Budget. Therefore, there are some pretty big changes, particularly to the automotive industry. So, how is it going to affect the motor industry? And, how does this have an impact on you? We take a look at what the Autumn Statement means for the Automotive industry, and what this means for you. Introduced in 1976, the Autumn Statement is the second big economic speech made by the Government every year. This Statement was particularly anticipated as this is the first economic Statement since the EU Referendum and as Theresa May as Prime Minister…

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A Brief History of Mercedes-Benz

A brief history of Mercedes-Benz: From the W15 to the Smart car

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Alternately referred to as Benz, Mercedes or Merc, Mercedes-Benz is about as much of a household name as is possible within the automotive industry. The mere mention of Mercedes conjures far more than just cars. Such brand recognition and identity – arguably associated as much with reliability as it is with luxury – is not easily earned. However, as the world’s oldest continuously manufactured marque, Mercedes has had a lot of time to establish its reputation. We take a look at the rich history of Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes’ beginnings stretch back to 1886 and the invention of the internal combustion vehicle. This occurred in two separate, independent locations in Southwestern Germany only 60 miles apart. Karl Benz produced a petrol-powered car (a 3-wheeler) and Gottlieb Daimler, together with Wilhelm Maybach, produced a petrol-powered converted stagecoach. Both parties were unaware of each other’s work…

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The best hybrid cars for company car tax

Review of the Lexus IS Saloon: Features / Price / Comparison

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The Lexus IS Saloon is aimed at any of you who want something a bit different in a sector dominated by the powerhouse German brands who, let’s face it, can be overly predicable. It’s strikingly designed, cheap to run and well worth a closer inspection.

To convince you to take the plunge on this and not a Mercedes, an Audi or a BMW, the IS has to have something going for it other than being different, though, right? Maybe.

But maybe not.

Audi, Mercedes and BMW saloons have a lot in common, with very few features that set them apart from one another. The IS, however, is ready to offer you something bolder. As such, it’s dropped all diesel’s from its engine range in an act of heresy that already tells you this is a bold car for a bold buyer.

OSV finds out more with our Lexus IS Saloon review …

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Can I Prepay my Lease Contract?

Can I prepay my lease contract?

4 Comments / Learning Centre, Leasing Guide /

We’ve been in the business a long time here at OSV, and we have been asked a number of questions throughout our 20 year history.

And, one of the questions we get asked every now and then is ‘can I prepay my car lease?’
In this article we cover what prepaying involves, whether you can prepay, and what to do if you can’t. Prepay essentially means to pay before a certain date.

In the context of leasing, this could mean one of two things;

· Paying at the start of the month
· Paying your lease contract all in one go at the start…

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why choose car finance

How is the price of a Finance Lease calculated?

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When it comes to business leasing, it’s important to know exactly what you are paying for. Transparency is key when it comes to pricing, and we know that.

That’s why we’re going to talk about how the price of finance lease is calculated and what affects the price. A finance lease is strictly for businesses, and is a slightly different form of leasing. You make monthly payments on a vehicle and when the contract ends, you have a few options.

You can continue to run the vehicle. This is done by paying a one off ‘peppercorn rental’ which is usually one monthly payment. This allows you to keep the car for another year. At the end of that year you can either pay the balloon payment or pay another peppercorn rental…

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how is the price of a contract hire calculated

How is Contract Hire price calculated?

2 Comments / Learning Centre, Leasing Guide /

When it comes to leasing, there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to pricing. There are many different things that affect lease price and it’s important that you know how lease prices are calculated before you decide which deal is right for you.

In this article, we’re going to tackle how the price of contract hire is calculated, and what affects lease price.Contract hire is one of the most popular lease agreements, and is perfect for businesses. There is a contract hire for private individuals, imaginatively named personal contract hire.
A price of a business contract hire is determined on..

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History of MG

A brief history of MG: From the MG 18/80 to the MG3

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One of the most iconic British sports car marques, MG is probably best known throughout the world for their small, speedy models, especially the two-seater convertible Midget range. What was once the MG Car Company Limited is now extending its life as MG Motor, part of the Nanjing Automobile Group, China’s oldest car maker. OSV takes a look at the interesting history of MG. MG’s history as an independent company is a bit murky, but its foundation can be traced back to the mid-1920s and Morris Motors. Around this time (exact dates are disputed), an Oxford Morris dealership producing its own cars, which bore both the MG (for “Morris Garages”) and Morris badges…

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Tim Barnes Leaning on a BMW 740Ld xDrive

A Massive Review of the BMW 740Ld xDrive: Features / Price / Comparison

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BMW’s backbone has always been its saloons. The compact 3-series is a huge seller, as is the middle-management hero 5-series, but the 7-series is another level, and represents the pinnacle of BMW. It’s now in its sixth generation, and has been a bit of a star previously, having featured in a Bond film and the famous ‘Transporter’ series of films. This new BMW 740Ld xDrive we’re testing packs a powerful diesel engine under the bonnet and combines this with extensive tech as well as the ‘xDrive’ all-wheel drive system for winter weather security. It’s also the longer version, giving occupants in the back extra leg room to go with their luxury surroundings. With rivals providing such stiff competition in the luxury car market, can BMW’s fresh super-saloon go toe-to-toe with the best of them? Let’s find out…

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Mercedes C250 Polar White front view

Why the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is better than the Lexus IS

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Upon its launch, the Mercedes-Benz C Class Saloon was poised to rival the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series and has achieved its aim pretty spectacularly. The C-Class has received rave reviews across the board but there was one outlier it might not have been expecting to compete with. The new Lexus IS was originally designed to rival the BMW, but quickly became a serious competitor against the C-Class.

However, while it has given the C-Class a run for its money, it has failed to knock it off the top spot. I explain why exactly I think the Mercedes-Benz C Class Saloon is better than the Lexus IS. The C-Class was awarded a 5 star rating by the Euro NACP, reaffirming Mercedes’ reputation as some of the safest cars on our roads. Scoring 92% for adult occupation protection, 84% for child occupant protection and 77% for pedestrian safety…

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The most ridiculous optional extras you shouldn’t buy for your new car

The most ridiculous optional extras you shouldn’t buy for your new car

2 Comments / Learning Centre, On the Road /

Optional extras are always something to think about when you get a new car. Privacy glass, reversing cameras, park assist, the list of optional extras is endless. Most of the time, these optional extras are super convenient and will make your driving experience easier/safer/more enjoyable.

But there are some optional extras that are completely ridiculous. So here are our most ridiculous optional extras you probably won’t want to buy for your car.

Disclaimer: Some of these choices are for cars that are upwards of 150k as a minimum. It’s safe to say 99% of the people who are reading this right now are unlikely to be purchasing one of those cars, but that doesn’t mean we can’t laugh at those rich people that will be for this stuff. Prices are correct at the time of writing…

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Five reasons why the Nissan Qashqai is better than the Kia Sportage

Five reasons the Nissan Qashqai is better than the Kia Sportage

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The Nissan Qashqai was one of the first cars to popularise the ‘crossover’ genre. The genre, along with the Qashqai, has since become a huge success.

It wasn’t long before the Qashqai had rivals, and strong ones at that. One of its main competitors is the Kia Sportage, the car that put the South Korean brand back on the map. While the Sportage and the Qashqai have both stolen the hearts of many, including ours, there can only be one winner. And, for me, it’s the Qashqai.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why I think the Nissan Qashqai is better than the Kia Sportage. When I found out that the Qashqai had scored highly (or low) on its CO2 emissions, I knew we were onto a winner. The two-wheel-drive 1.5 litre diesel holds the lowest CO2 rating at just 99g/km…

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Ford S-Max Vignale MPV

Ford S-Max Vignale Review: Features / Price / Comparison

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Ford are marketing the Vignale as more of a desirable sub-model than just another trim line, but has the Ford S-Max Vignale MPV got enough to convince you that it’s worth the extra premium?

The biggest problem this large family car faces is that Ford are marketing it as a luxurious product. Problem one is that this means it will be competing for your cash with the likes of Mercedes and BMW, while problem two is that it has to be luxurious. And a luxurious family Ford sounds a bit like an oxymoron.

Scepticism aside, the Vignale gives you access to a posh dealer experience, as well as some sophisticated – and even luxurious add-ons – as well as classier styling. OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our Ford S-Max Vignale review…

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A red kia pride parked beside a lake

A brief history of Kia: From bicycle parts to the Sportage

4 Comments / Brand History, Learning Centre /

The Kia Motors Corporation is the number two car manufacturer in South Korea, second only to long-time competitor Hyundai. Hyundai, by the way, owns 32.8% of Kia. The name Kia is derived from the Korean and Chinese word “ki”, meaning to rise or come out and “a” for Asia. This is because since 1944, Kia Motors has been steadily rising out of Asia. OSV take a look at the history of the Korean marque. The firm began as a simple producer of handmade tubing and bicycle parts. By 1951, Kia had moved on to making complete bicycles and was manufacturing motorcycles by 1957…

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Lexus GS 450 White on the beach

A brief history of Lexus: From the energy crisis to hybrid ambitions

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According to Steve Coogan’s comic creation, Alan Partridge, Lexus (his plural usage being “Lexi”) is the “Japanese Mercedes”. While Lexus did indeed set out to compete in the US market against European luxury car brands such as Mercedes and BMW, its goal was not to imitate. Right from the start it was obvious that Lexus intended to carve out its own niche as its design clearly stated: This was no upmarket Toyota model, but something entirely new. OSV takes a look at the interesting history of Lexus. Japanese cars first made inroads into the US market during the energy crisis of the 1970s. Fuel efficiency and small price tags had obvious appeal to cash-strapped American consumers. But, for those with champagne taste, “practical” subcompacts held no such charms. Fast-forward to the late 1980s and things were about to change big.

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picture of winter tyres in the snow

Looking after your car this winter: FAQs

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You may think your car will protect you through the trials and tribulations of icy roads and foggy windows, but you need to make sure it’s prepared with the right tools. In this article, I’ll give you some tips and tricks you can use to get the most out of your car this winter and make sure you’re safe out on the roads. Extreme cold, which we’re unlikely to get in the UK, can seriously affect your vehicle. It pulls voltage from your battery, thickens your oil and brake/transmission fluids and reduces your tire pressure (up to one psi for every 10C drop!)

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BMW X5 M 4x4 review

Review of the BMW X5 M 4×4: Features / Price / Comparison

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The brand new BMW X5M is a muscular proposition. In every way imaginable, it’s an astonishing engineering achievement. Straight-line acceleration is outstanding, the handling is sharp as a whip, and the rather pumped-up styling befits the cars’ character.

If indeed you like your cars big, quick and brash, this one has plenty to offer. It is a tad on the expensive side, and will cost more than the X5 40d M Sport, but it’s a large 4×4 that fares well against its rivals in its class. OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our BMW X5 4×4 review. The car is powered by an almighty twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine that can rocket you from rest to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds. This makes it one of the fastest cars in this market. It maxes out at 155mph, which is fairly standard of an 4×4 such as this, but if you could remove the electronic limiter, it’s almost scary to think how fast this X5M could actually go.

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car leasing for dummies

Car Leasing for Dummies

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You’re thinking about getting a new car, and maybe you’ve seen the term ‘leasing’ thrown about.

What is leasing? How does it differ from buying? Why do some people think it’s amazing and others think it’s the worst idea ever?
Leasing may seem complicated at first, and it can be pretty daunting trying to get your head around it. However, it’s really not as complex as it seems.
In this article, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about leasing so by the time you finish reading, you’ll be an expert.First things first, how is leasing a car different to buying one?
Leasing is essentially where you rent a car for a certain period of time. But, it’s different to daily/weekly rental, which you would do through the likes of Hertz, for example. When you lease you have the car for around 2-5 years. You pay a series of monthly payments for that period of time. When the time is up, you hand the car back…

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Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet review

Review of the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet: Features / Price / Comparison

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The new open-top Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet gives the 911 class a different dimension. A magical convertible that gives you a chance to match the warmth of the sun caressing your face with the the thrill of driving, it’s got all the equipment to be a runaway success.

The equipment in question starts with a “questionable” turbocharged 3.0-litre engine. While the idea of a turbocharged 911 might have some critics biting hard on their biros, the engine here suits the car’s character to a tee. The edge it has over its rivals is that it’s more efficient, which means you can spend a bit more time on the open road and less time at the filling stations.

Open-air thrills are, of course, provided by the convertible roof, while the car’s usability means that it’s also a solid everyday choice. OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet review.

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