GWA Cars and Finance
Going the extra mile...
New and used cars, finance and peace of mind.
T: 01243 510650 E: sales@gwacars.com
Let’s take a look at why it can benefit both driver and company to drive a low-emissions vehicle, as there are some changes that are now relevant. As we all know the budget for the year has recently taken place. Mr Osborne seems to have answered calls for greater ... Continue Reading »
We thought we would have a look to the future and have a quick glance at the top 5 all new models launched at the Geneva Motor Show 2013. All these cars are perfect for business use through leasing or contact hire. If you require any advice or ... Continue Reading »
This Sunday is the second Goodwood Breakfast Club meet of the year, which gives me the perfect excuse to have a look at some more supercars, following our recent GWA post on the new LaFerrari. The theme at Goodwood Motor Circuit on 7 April is Sushi Sunday, which ... Continue Reading »
The scrapping of the hike in fuel duty in the 2013 Budget is good news for small businesses and fleet managers. So, now could be a good time to make a purchase. There have been two big van award shows recently and GWA Cars & Finance has looked at ... Continue Reading »
We always like a good supercar at GWA Cars & Finance – they never fail to lift the spirits. So, we’re delighted to have the chance to take a look at the new Ferrari LaFerrari. If you have a spare £1.5 million you could put your name down for ... Continue Reading »
The 2013 Budget is around the corner, which means all eyes will be on the cost of motoring. One issue is increasingly expensive insurance premiums. So, to help combat this rising cost, GWA has some advice on the best cars for new and young drivers. Getting behind the wheel of ... Continue Reading »
The new 13 March plates are out (unlucky? The new DriveTime ezine says otherwise!) and it’s a popular time to buy a car. With tax changes and the 2013 Budget also due soon, it pays to have some expert advice when choosing one. So, we have news of ... Continue Reading »
The 2013 Geneva Motor Show takes place next week – it is one of the biggest auto shows in the world, so there is plenty to get excited about. After much debate in the GWA office, here are the cars that we’re most looking forward to getting a ... Continue Reading »
You’re ordering a new or used car from GWA – how do you choose what to buy? What should you be thinking about? Reliability is a big factor and, to help, we’ve looked at the most reliable cars of the last 15 years, courtesy of Warranty Direct. Not unexpectedly, Japanese ... Continue Reading »
GWA Brings you a Partner 1.6 HDI van from only £171.46 For full quotations and availability please contact GWA on 01243 510650 and speak to a member of our ... Continue Reading »
Everyone at GWA is enjoying the good news that UK new car registrations rose by 11.5% in January – the 11th successive month of growth. It’s a great way to start the year, but what cars are driving this increase in sales? In fifth place is the Nissan Qashqai ... Continue Reading »
Crossovers, hot hatches, compact SUVs … there is little talk about anything else. Or so it seems at the GWA office. So, Gary and I are doing our bit to redress the balance: first up, saloon cars. Here are some new ones that have caught our eye. When it comes ... Continue Reading »
Hot on the heels of the SME company car of the year awards come the gongs for the best business cars of the year, courtesy of Business Car magazine. Once again, it’s all a bit of a German affair. Gary and I have had a look. In reverse order, ... Continue Reading »
We started the year with our list of cars to look out for in 2013, but the Detroit Auto Show has us thinking about 2014 already. From among the American muscle, we have picked some GWA Cars & Finance favourites. We like to get behind British brilliance at ... Continue Reading »
2013 is hardly a few weeks old but we’ve already had the first big awards show – the Business Car Manager SME company cars of the year 2012. We think there are few better barometers of the best company cars for fleet managers. So, when you give Gary ... Continue Reading »
Happy new year from GWA Cars & Finance! Now that we’re all back in the office, it’s time to take a look at the year ahead and some of the cars that we’re most excited about seeing. It seems that Gary and I are nearly always talking about Skodas, ... Continue Reading »
The year is nearly up, so it must be time to look back and bask in all that has gone before us over the last 12 months. So, here are the GWA Cars & Finance cars and vans of the year. As ever, the motoring calendar wouldn’t look the same ... Continue Reading »
As we’ve said before, Gary and I don’t really do politics, but the Autumn Statement was an important one for drivers of both private and company cars. So GWA Cars & Finance has the lowdown on what it all means for you. The decision to can the January 3p ... Continue Reading »
We said the other week that Gary and I were GWA Vans & Finance as well as GWA Cars & Finance, and we meant it. To prove it, we have the lowdown on the best city and small vans of 2012. According to the good people at Trade ... Continue Reading »
Sometimes you need a company car with a bit of room, whether it’s for carrying people or kit across the county or the country. That’s why this week’s blog from Gary and me is about the best business estate cars of 2012. So, what is the best business estate car ... Continue Reading »
Proper preparation is our topic again this week. The cost of leasing a company car is due to rise markedly in 2013 thanks to tax changes, so if you put a finance lease plan in place now with Gary and me, you can make significant savings. Talking of ... Continue Reading »
GWA Cars & Finance: Gary and I are more than that. We’re GWA Vans & Finance, too – we just don’t mention it as much. But vans are the order of the day in this week’s post and we have news of the most reliable commercial vans ... Continue Reading »
It’s time to get your car ready for winter and if you read the latest GWA Cars & Finance DriveTime newsletter, you’ll see that Gary and I are all about the seven Ps: proper prior preparation prevents particularly poor performance! With this in mind, we have prepared some advice ... Continue Reading »
It may be too early for Christmas things but Gary and I are still in the mood for giving. We’ve already given you the best used cars and the best low-emission company cars of the year – this week, we have the latest instalment of our plain English guide ... Continue Reading »
You want to buy a second-hand car? You’re coming to see the Gary and me at GWA Cars & Finance so you know you’re getting the best deal. But which car should you choose? The research could take a while. Happily, What Car? magazine has done it ... Continue Reading »
We’ve looked at the most depreciation-proof cars, the best executive cars and the most reliable second-hand cars in recent months. This time, Gary and I have the best low-emission fleet cars according to the industry experts at Business Car magazine. So which low-emission fleet cars are ... Continue Reading »
What better way to celebrate 20 years of GWA Cars & Finance (yes, I know, Gary and I don’t look old enough) than with ten reasons from the BVRLA why you can trust us when you’re purchasing, leasing or renting a company car or van. This is ... Continue Reading »
Where are all the new compact SUVs? It wasn’t long ago that Gary and I were swamped with news of these new cars. Well, after something of a dry spell (in the GWA office at least), the Paris Motor Show has given us the Ford Ecosport SUV, ... Continue Reading »
What advice do Gary and I have for you this week? Double check your windscreen wipers? Pack a paddle? You can check our tips on driving safely in heavy rain, but we’ve got the latest instalment of our plain English guide to vehicle fleet management with help from ... Continue Reading »
New cars and supercars: Gary and I enjoy talking about (and driving!) them, but usually not at the same time. However, we’re delighted that Peugeot has given us the chance to combine two of our favourite topics with a trio of fantastic launches due next week at the ... Continue Reading »
With the Goodwood Revival and some pretty extraordinary cars in town, Gary and I thought we’d take the chance to look at some very special new launches from Range Rover and McLaren. These may not be pre-1966 but they look like a whole lot of fun. All eyes have ... Continue Reading »
It’s back to school (and work) time, so with everyone behind desks, big and small, again, Gary and I thought we’d continue our educational theme with the second part of the plain English guide to vehicle fleet management, which we’re compiling with help from Business Car magazine. This week, ... Continue Reading »
It can be a difficult choice: you’re getting in touch with Gary and me at GWA Cars & Finance about a company car, but which model should you choose? Well, the results from the 2012 CarBuyer of the Year awards should help. When the awards were announced, ... Continue Reading »
When Gary and I talk to our fleet management clients, our chats are littered with industry terms. Even for the experienced fleet manager, there is a lot to keep on top of. So, with the help of Business Car magazine, we’ve come up with a plain English guide ... Continue Reading »
News that BMW is planning a cleaner and more economical version of its BMW 1-series Efficient Dynamics range got Gary and me thinking about the most eco-friendly, cost-efficient company cars for bosses. Here’s what we found out. According to research by Business Car, when you come to Gary and ... Continue Reading »
Last week, Gary and I looked at the most reliable second-hand cars on the market, and since then a few people have mentioned that depreciation is another important factor when choosing a car. So, this time we’ve got the lowdown on the top depreciation proof cars in the ... Continue Reading »
The Olympic headlines at the moment are all about what makes the Chinese go so fast, so it seems apt that the subject of this week’s post from Gary and me at GWA Cars & Finance is Asian reliability, and in particular, the most reliable used cars ... Continue Reading »
The big yellow thing in the sky has finally made an appearance, which has given me the chance to talk about the soft tops available at GWA Cars & Finance, in particular our deal on the new Fiat 500 Convertible. But how does this popular city run-about rate ... Continue Reading »
We all know what diesel cars offer over petrol cars, whether you’re running one or a fleet. However, Gary and I have read about research this week that shows that new frugal engines are helping petrol cars to hold their value at a higher level. The findings of the ... Continue Reading »
Gary and I can’t get enough of city cars at the moment: from last week’s Skoda CitiGo, named Auto Express Car of the Year 2012, to two new launches this time around: the Vauxhall Adam and the Seat Mii Vibora Negra. While it is tempting to ... Continue Reading »
Gary and I like a good awards ceremony – GWA Cars & Finance has even been known to pick up the odd gong itself – and this week we’ve been pouring over the Auto Express 2012 New Car Awards. There were some interesting results but the manufacturer behind ... Continue Reading »
It’s the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, which means that Gary and I will be passing lots of spectacular cars on the local roads and that we can talk about some new supercars hitting the road soon. We’ve taken a look at the new McLaren MP4 12C ... Continue Reading »
As the weather improves (possibly) and the school holidays draw closer, more and more of us will be heading across the Channel for a well-deserved break (does this include us, Gary?). So, with this is mind, Gary and I thought we’d share some important news on new French driving ... Continue Reading »
While these special cars may prove increasingly popular (in Chichester at least) if the wet weather continues, Gary and I have news of the best selling cars in the UK so far in 2012. The top six places are dominated by three manufacturers... ...and the winner is Ford, whose ... Continue Reading »
Back in March, I discussed what the 2012 Budget meant for company car buyers and leasers and how the focus was growing on lower-emission cars. Unsurprisingly, new research shows that manufacturers are making more of these cars and new data is out showing which models are both quick ... Continue Reading »
As we approach the Diamond Jubilee weekend, Gary and I thought we should post something to celebrate the occasion. We’ve gone for an aristocratic blend of new British and German car news from Land Rover, Mercedes and BMW. With the bunting primed and ready to go, it seems apt to ... Continue Reading »
Two wheels might be the focus at the moment at GWA Cars & Finance as the Old Farts ride again in the name of the British Heart Foundation, but that doesn’t mean we are neglecting the four wheelers, and there are plenty of them on the forecourt ... Continue Reading »
It has been a while since I mentioned Wattsie in his lyrca but the time has come again. Following on from the mammoth Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride last year, the Old Farts are getting back into the stretchy stuff for the London to Brighton bike ... Continue Reading »
We’ve given you our tips on driving in icy conditions and driving in strong winds before, so in light of the recent spring weather (who knows what will be next!), Gary and I have put together some GWA Cars & Finance tips on driving in heavy rain ... Continue Reading »
Based on the recent weather, I should be recommending one of these to drive, but as it is, Gary and I are back on the trail of new compact SUVs. Not any old compact SUVs, but ones from the big boys: Bentley, Lamborghini and Range Rover. While the ... Continue Reading »
Now, Gary and I like to be international, albeit largely from the comfort of the GWA Cars & Finance offices in Chichester, and we’ve always got an eye on global affairs, especially when it involves an incredible BMW and amazing Audis, which were among the highlights of the recent ... Continue Reading »
A compact SUV topped the list of best cars to own that I looked at last week on the GWA Cars & Finance blog, but the Skoda model won’t be able to rest on its laurels with the arrival, at last, of the new Mazda CX-5. At the ... Continue Reading »
Gary and I like a list. Last week, we looked at the most economical secondhand cars to drive, and this week, we’ve got the best cars to own according to the AutoExpress Driver Power Survey 2012. Super sleek Audis, refined Range Rovers, fuel-efficient Fiats...you’ll be surprised. Or maybe you ... Continue Reading »
It has long been said (largely by us) that Gary and I are generous fellows and, as an Easter present, we want to save you some money (that could be spent on Easter eggs or petrol, if there’s any left!). How? By telling you about the most economical secondhand ... Continue Reading »
Compact SUVs are a popular subject on the GWA Cars & Finance blog and Gary and I looked at the new estate car from Jaguar the other week. So, this week, we’ve got some information on a trio of new cars that are set to spice up ... Continue Reading »
Gary and I are not big politicos but you can’t miss the Budget and the Chancellor’s red briefcase. Following the 2012 Budget, as far as company cars are concerned, I think green would have been a more appropriate colour for the famous case, with new measures meaning a greater ... Continue Reading »
Gary and I have always got a soft spot for a decent Jaguar and that’s why the manufacturer’s new take on an estate, the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, has caught our eye. It also had us casting around for other new estates and what we found was a very ... Continue Reading »
The beginning of March is a busy time for Gary and me at GWA Cars & Finance as the new 12 plates go on sale and the Geneva Motor Show takes place. That doesn’t mean we haven’t got time to share news that has caught our eye, ... Continue Reading »
A few weeks ago Gary and I told you how to save up to £8,000 on the price of a new van. Well, now we’ve got details of the vans that qualify for the new Plug-In Van Grant. The grant gets you 20% off the purchase price of ... Continue Reading »
At the end of last year, Gary and I wrapped up a nice present for everyone called “How to pay less tax on your company car”. We’re very nice, you see. Well, GWA Cars & Finance is a company that keeps on giving: this week we have more ... Continue Reading »
Another week, another compact SUV. Or two. Just a few weeks after Vauxhall somewhat surprisingly threw its hat into the ring with the Vauxhall Mokka, news of the Kia Track’ster has landed in the GWA Cars & Finance inbox. Also new is the Subaru XV, which marks something ... Continue Reading »
OK, it seems that the weatherman I was talking about last week was right – winter has arrived, which, firstly, allows me to point you towards these icy road driving tips and, secondly, to talk about a trio of cars that are built to take ice, snow and ... Continue Reading »
OK, the weatherman says it’s going to get really cold. I don’t know whether we’re going to get the snow we had last year in Chichester – some serious shovelling took place at the GWA Cars & Finance offices in Birdham – but it is likely to get icy. ... Continue Reading »
The GWA sages – that’s Gary and me! – are back in action this week. Following our tips on how to pay less tax on your company car and how to drive safely in strong winds, we’ve got news on how to save £8,000 on the price ... Continue Reading »
As a festive send off, I took a look at some cars past and future on the GWA blog and, this week, I’ve more time travelling of sorts – MG is back with a new hatchback. But it’s not the only new hatchback in town – Kia will ... Continue Reading »
Just like asking Gary if he wants a coffee, the answer to the question “is the UK compact SUV market going to be competitive in 2012?” is undoubtedly “yes”. Vauxhall is the latest manufacturer to throw its hat into this ring with its Vauxhall Mokka, while Audi has given ... Continue Reading »
Happy new year from GWA Cars & Finance! Everyone is back at their desks and, from what we’ve seen so far, raring to go. Talking of raring to go, 2012 has arrived on the back of some very strong winds, so Gary and I have put together some ... Continue Reading »
It’s the season of goodwill and Gary and I want to do our part. So, as we sign off the GWA blog for Christmas, we want to leave you with a healthy dose of automotive cheer. We thought we could tell you about the increases in new car finance ... Continue Reading »
As Christmas is fast approaching, Gary and I thought we’d focus on something old and something new in this week’s GWA blog. So, the new is the latest concept car from Skoda, the Skoda Vision D, and the old is the Top Gear car of the year for ... Continue Reading »
If advice on how to drive safely in the fog and to add £1,500 to the value of your car wasn’t enough, Gary and I, the GWA sages as we’re becoming known, have got some information on how to save money when buying a company car. So, how ... Continue Reading »
My last post was all about escaping to warmer climes, but I’m bringing us back to earth with a bump this week. Well, hopefully not with a bump – as we’ve been told to expect some proper winter weather, I want to share some GWA tips on driving ... Continue Reading »
With Wattsie away enjoying some sunshine, I thought I’d head off to somewhere warmer for this week’s GWA Cars & Finance blog. I’ve chosen Tokyo, as the city hosts its annual motor show in a few weeks time and local manufacturers are debuting a number of new cars. Mitsubishi has ... Continue Reading »
It might be all about the US at the moment in terms of motor shows – SEMA in Las Vegas has just been and gone and the Los Angeles Auto Show is next week – but when it comes to showy motors, right now Gary and I ... Continue Reading »
Last week I mentioned that the new Nissan Juke Visia would be good for getting around on the cooler autumn days and this got me thinking about what would be the ideal compact SUV or 4x4 for the coming winter months. According to The Telegraph, Honda ... Continue Reading »
It’s back to the compact SUVs this week. I’ve talked about the arrival of the new Audi Q3 and Citroën C4 Aircross in 2012 and what it means for the Range Rover Evoque and the Porsche Cayenne. Well, this crowd is set to get even cosier with the ... Continue Reading »
It’s all about me this week. Well, all about Mii, the Seat Mii I should say. Last week I mentioned that things are hotting up in the baby SUV arena, but there’s plenty of heat at the supermini end of the market as well. GWA Cars & Finance ... Continue Reading »
I mentioned the Land Rover DC 100 Defender Sport Concept the other week and how it was encroaching on Range Rover Evoque territory. Well, the “Baby Range” will have to face more competition in the form of new models from Citroën and Audi. Crossovers and baby SUVs are growing ... Continue Reading »
When the idea of raising the speed limit to 80mph was first reported, at a time when other countries in Europe were proposing to cut theirs, the general consensus in the GWA Cars & Finance office was that the government had a dose of motorway madness. Well, nobody ... Continue Reading »
Remember I mentioned that Steve McQueen’s 1970 Porsche 911S – a beautiful car that featured in his Le Mans film – was up for sale? Well, the hammer went down and a new world record was set. Someone parted with US$1.375 million for the keys to this slate-grey ... Continue Reading »
It has been a glamorous couple of weeks at GWA Cars & Finance. Obviously, Youngie and I have been around as usual, but we’ve also had the Revival take place up the road and the Frankfurt Motor Show was good. All of which gives me the opportunity to ... Continue Reading »
Seeing as it has been blowing a gale around the GWA Cars & Finance offices of late, I thought it would be apt to look at some cars that look like they could go like the wind. The Mercedes F125 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Concept car, hot from the Frankfurt ... Continue Reading »
So, our trip to the Southern Business Awards came with a noteworthy pat on the back but nothing shiny and new for the mantelpiece. However, Gary and I do have something shiny and new to mention – the new 61 plates, which are out now. We reached the last ... Continue Reading »
For some reason, after a weekend racking up countless miles in the car, fuel economy is on my mind. Electric cars obviously offer great savings, but I think it’s worth mentioning that there are plenty of fuel-efficient petrol cars out there. I did a little digging and came up ... Continue Reading »
Gary and I are doing a bit of time travel this week. Not quite the stuff of HG Wells, but we’re looking at something very brand new from Bentley in 2014 and celebrating Jaguar’s most iconic model from 1961: the E-Type. I’ve mentioned previously that Jaguar celebrated 50 years ... Continue Reading »
GWA Cars & Finance is going a bit Korean this week. No kimchi or hot dogs, but new car launches from Hyundai. The company is set to introduce the new Hyundai i30 and Hyundai Santa Fe and a new take on the i20. The Hyundai i30 will make its ... Continue Reading »
Over the last few weeks, I’ve blogged about old and new Porsches, electric BMWs and Lamborghini launches. This time I’m doing something a bit different – the theme is protection (bear with me), and I'm going to talk about a new insurance pack, the new VW Polo Bluemotion ... Continue Reading »
Now, Lamborghinis: Miura aside, they’ve never really got me going in the same way as Astons or Ferraris. That was until I saw the new Lamborghini Aventador on Top Gear. I could certainly drive one of those! But back in the real world, BMW have entered the world of ... Continue Reading »
I know I talked about Porsches at the Goodwood Festival of Speed only a few weeks ago, but I have to again after seeing some shots of the new Porsche 911 and reading about a very special Porsche once owned by Steve McQueen. More details are emerging of ... Continue Reading »
I mentioned a while ago on the GWA Cars & Finance blog that BMW is developing an autopilot system, well, I see Volkswagen is also getting in on the act. I’ve also got some details on the new VW Golf Cabriolet and the new VW Golf GTI. I read ... Continue Reading »
Now that Wattsie has dusted himself down after Le Tour des Old Farts (read the last post here), he’s back driving the desk again at GWA Cars & Finance HQ. Catching our eye this week has been a major electric car launch from Renault and a birthday ... Continue Reading »
I saw plenty of cars going very fast at the Festival of Speed, but my favourite was one that didn’t move an inch. Also moving fast (and coming to an end) was Le Tour des Old Farts: Wattsie crossed the finishing line bathed in Scottish sunshine. My highlight of the ... Continue Reading »
This week it’s all about the Festival of Speed in Chichester. Lord March’s petrolhead party kicks off on Thursday and I’m looking forward to getting up to Goodwood on Sunday. The weekend should also see another landmark occasion: the chequered flag at Le Tour des Old Farts! There are ... Continue Reading »
With the Goodwood Festival of Speed looming into view, I thought I should balance out the soon-to-be-upon-us deluge of supercars with some green car news. BMW and VW have both announced the introduction of greener models. BMW is launching what it calls the most efficient version of the 5-series, ... Continue Reading »
Now, I’ve always thought that the GWA Cars & Finance blog should be about four-wheeled pursuits, but just this once, I’m going to make an exception. Wattsie has decided to take to two wheels and embark on an epic ride from one end of the country to ... Continue Reading »
The march of the Jaguar E-Types is on again – they’ve been spotted in convoy in London on their way to the opening of the 2011 Motorexpo. The model is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the party includes something special at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which ... Continue Reading »
As the Honda Jazz popped up in last week’s post as one of the most reliable cars on the road today, I thought it would be appropriate if the GWA Cars & Finance blog had a look at the brand new Honda Jazz 1.3 Hybrid HX. The reviews ... Continue Reading »
According to Warranty Direct, the most reliable car on the road today is the Toyota Corolla. It won’t turn many heads, but at the same time it won’t cost you a fortune at the garage. Others at the top of the warranty company’s list are the Sukuzi Alto, ... Continue Reading »
When we buy or lease a car, what do we base our decision on? Well, for a lot of people, including me, how it looks plays a pretty important role. Yes, fuel economy, comfort, etc. are also vital to many, but nobody likes ugly. So, what are the most ... Continue Reading »
“Anything McLaren can do, we can do better” might have been the rallying cry at Jaguar Land Rover when they came up with the new Jaguar-Williams supercar. Whatever the reasoning, the Jaguar C-X75 will be put into production in the coming years. Of course, the Jaguar-Williams C-X75 won’t directly compete ... Continue Reading »
While everyone else it seemed was wrapped up in the outfits and celebs, I was checking out something else at the royal wedding: the cars. Will and Kate’s appearance in an Aston marked the end of a notable few weeks for British cars. The Rolls-Royces, the Jaguars and the Bentleys ... Continue Reading »
More news from Goodwood and Rolls-Royce this week: the Mini Inspired by Goodwood was given its world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show. This gold standard Mini was conceived at the Rolls-Royce site on the Goodwood Estate and is perhaps the most luxurious example of this marque that ... Continue Reading »
With Gary donning a pair of pink fluffy bunny ears for the latest edition of the GWA Cars & Finance newsletter (sign up using the email below), it seems fitting that this week’s news is about makeovers. Rolls Royce, Fiat and Skoda have all announced new looks. Let’s ... Continue Reading »
I was going to write about a recent poll conducted by Which? to find the top ten cars with the lowest running costs. The Renault Clio is on the list and this ties in nicely with the fact that GWA Cars & Finance is offering ... Continue Reading »
As promised in last week’s award-winning GWA Cars & Finance post, I’ve got a round-up of what the budget did for the motorist. Also, this week, I’ve got the latest on a government proposal that could turn public roads into weekend racetracks. The drop in fuel duty was ... Continue Reading »
I had planned to talk about the budget in this post, and maybe even the incredible feats of highway repair in Japan, but something else came up: GWA Cars & Finance has been crowned the Observer Series Motor Dealer of the Year for 2010. We picked up our ... Continue Reading »
Now here’s a curious story that has landed on the GWA Cars & Finance news desk: the government is considering raising the speed limit on motorways to 80mph in order to shorten journey times and give our economy a boost. To someone, somewhere in Whitehall this is presumably ... Continue Reading »
The glamour couldn’t last forever on the GWA Cars & Finance news desk. Over the last few weeks, I’ve talked about Aston Martins, Maseratis, Rolls Royces and more; this week the object of my attention is vans. Keep reading. It’s not often I feel sorry for the white ... Continue Reading »
There was lots of talk about the new Aston Martin Virage, the Maserati GranCarbio Sport and the Jaguar XKR-S in the run up to the Geneva Motor Show, but what the GWA Cars & Finance news desk and just about everyone else didn’t see coming ... Continue Reading »
I mentioned the Geneva Motor Show in my last post – Rolls Royce is unveiling their electric car there – and it all kicks off in the Swiss capital this week. So, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a quick rundown of ... Continue Reading »
A local news special from the GWA Cars & Finance blog this week! Rolls Royce, which is based just down the road at Goodwood, has announced that it is going electric. Another one-time bastion of British motoring going down this road is Jaguar, whose electric ... Continue Reading »
That doesn’t sound like an unreasonable GWA Cars & Finance wish list does it? OK, maybe I need to drop the new McLaren MP4-12C, but I think paying lower fuel duty and less car tax seems reasonable given the current economic climate. I don’t usually bare the GWA ... Continue Reading »
The GWA Cars & Finance news desk normally spends quite a bit of time discussing how good (and bad) cars look, but this week I want to talk about aesthetics of a different kind. Range Rover and Lexus have signed up Victoria Beckham and Kylie Minogue respectively. Victoria ... Continue Reading »
That’s according to motoring stalwarts Exchange & Mart. A recent survey showed that 30% of people want to trade in their vehicle for something greener, while another 30% are looking for something smaller in 2011. This makes sense as manufacturers are racing to get more and more hybrids and fuel-efficient ... Continue Reading »
What’s hot on the GWA news desk this week? Well, we’ve got an update on the Aston Martin Cygnet and the latest marketing for the 2011 Rapide. There’s also news of something very different from Ferrari. I talked about Aston Martin’s move into city-runaround territory in ... Continue Reading »
Well, the GWA Cars & Finance news desk may be stretching the truth a little bit with this headline, but it’s very important information nevertheless – information you should know regarding new insurance regulations and VAT recovery rates for company cars. The big news on the insurance front ... Continue Reading »
So, who’s got a million quid to spend on a garage? And by garage I mean somewhere to park your car. This one’s iconic and there’s plenty of room for your sports car collection, and you could even squeeze in the new Mercedes C Class. I’m assuming not too many ... Continue Reading »
Happy new year from the GWA Cars & Finance news desk! We may be starting 2011 talking about the VAT increase, but there is plenty to look forward to, not least some very interesting hybrids and a bevy of supercars. The first diesel-electric hybrid, the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4, ... Continue Reading »
Well, it turns out that the thaw was nothing more than a brief pause between blasts of winter. So, it seems apt to point you towards our winter driving tips that we posted the other week and to plug our snow- and ice-chomping 4x4s: a new ... Continue Reading »
Speed cameras are back in the news. It seems an age since I was reading about county councils in Oxford, Swindon, etc. shutting down the yellow boxes on the grounds of costs, but it seems that as many as one hundred deactivated cameras could be switched on again in ... Continue Reading »
Looking out across Birdham from the GWA Cars & Finance offices, it appears the snow has all but completely melted away. This is good. But it’s still pretty icy out there and it seems likely that we haven’t seen the last of the snow. So, here are ... Continue Reading »
More evidence that eco-friendlier cars are entering the mainstream this week from the GWA Cars & Finance news desk: Lexus is expecting big things from its new CT200h compact hybrid, while Skoda is due to introduce greener versions across its range. I’ve talked about high-performance hybrid ... Continue Reading »
How about this for a prediction: the petrol car will be almost extinct by 2020. That’s according to a survey of financial chiefs and company car drivers conducted by Lex Autolease. What will put our gasoline-guzzling motors on the endangered list? Hybrids, says the report. Now, I can see hybrids ... Continue Reading »
I have news of an exclusive offer from GWA Cars & Finance this week. Land Rover’s brand new Range Rover Evoque launches in the UK next year and we are able to get you on the VIP waiting list for one of these new ‘baby Ranges’. Just like ... Continue Reading »
I was at Goodwood Motor Circuit at the weekend for the penultimate Goodwood Breakfast Club meet of the year. A chilly affair this one, with the track straight acting as something of a (cold) wind tunnel, but it was well worth the visit, with lots of great ... Continue Reading »
This week’s blog has something of an eastern flavour, with news on massive investment in car manufacturing facilities in the Far East and the opening of a petrolhead’s dream theme park in the Middle East. Business is booming for General Motors and Volkswagen in China. The US giant has announced ... Continue Reading »
If you consider Aston Martin’s move into the supermini arena with its soon-to-be launched Cygnet somewhat curious (read our blog here), then I have more unusual stories from the GWA Cars & Finance news desk this week. The speed demons at Porsche have announced plans to ... Continue Reading »
Aston Martin has been in the news a lot this last week. The original James Bond Aston Martin DB5 is up for sale, while the British carmaker has unveiled its premium supermini for the city, the Aston Martin Cygnet. The Cygnet is Aston Martin’s luxury commuter car and is expected ... Continue Reading »
Electric cars: how do you make them attractive to the masses (besides by lowering the price)? Well, some innovative advertising will help and that’s exactly what Toyota has been up to. They’ve made this video to promote their Toyota Auris Hybrid. It has been a long time since ... Continue Reading »
It didn’t take us long but it seems the GWA Cars & Finance blog is setting the news agenda on its doorstep. In last week’s post I mentioned that a lack of parking spaces was a real problem in Chichester and what was one of the main ... Continue Reading »
More info on the development of mainstream electric cars from the GWA news desk this week. Peugeot has announced the launch of the world’s first diesel hybrid car – the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4. This crossover car will combine a 2.0 litre diesel engine and a 37hp electric motor. ... Continue Reading »
Another weekend, another event, but this time it was a really big one: the Goodwood Revival. The cars are always superb, not to mention the bikes, the planes – at the Aerodrome and doing the displays – and, of course, the outfits. Lots and lots of people always ... Continue Reading »
It was the Beaulieu International Autojumble at the weekend, which is an event I like popping to when I can. It’s not too far away from the GWA Cars & Finance offices and it’s always lots of fun – a real treasure trove. It has been ... Continue Reading »
The last week has been an interesting one at Ferrari. I found out on Sunday that the weekend marked a historic moment in the history of Ferrari Formula One cars, while a few days earlier the company was forced to recall its new 458 Italia model. 50 years ago this ... Continue Reading »
More news on the electric car front this week: Honda is set to debut a hybrid version of its Jazz at the Paris Motor Show. The new Jazz should be eligible for the government’s Plug-In Car Grant that I mentioned last time. The car will have ... Continue Reading »
Good news about electric cars and the like passed over the GWA Cars & Finance news desk this week. It remains to be seen when, or even if, low-carbon cars will enter the mainstream, but the announcement of government funding is certainly a much-needed step towards making ... Continue Reading »
I know being optimistic is not a very British thing to be sometimes, but a Sunday spent reading the papers and catching up with magazines has left me feeling positive about our car industry. According to one article that I read, van sales in the UK have grown by nearly ... Continue Reading »
What do you think of the fox? As an urban menace, upsetting dustbins, terrorising small children and screeching at a piercing volume in the middle of the night? (Just as two specimens were doing outside my bedroom window very early the other morning). Or, is it an animal under constant ... Continue Reading »
Where GWA Cars & Finance leads, national newspapers follow. The Sunday Times In Gear motoring supplement had a big article on the switching off of speed cameras by Oxfordshire County Council at the weekend. It’s nice to know that we’re blazing the trail for Murdoch et ... Continue Reading »
Decisions. You’re not going to please everyone with them. Just ask Oxfordshire County Council, which is proposing to turn off its speed cameras, or the DVLA, which has just introduced a restyled vehicle registration certificate (the V5C to you and me). Oxfordshire County Council is planning, ... Continue Reading »
Some interesting news landed on the GWA desk this week from the Department for Transport. According to a report commissioned by the department, contrary to popular belief, the load a van carries has remarkably little impact on its CO2 output. The controversial findings from the research ... Continue Reading »
Good news from the car industry this week and, really, good news for everyone: new car sales rose by 20% to 1.1 million in the first half of this year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). SMMT figures show a rise in company car ... Continue Reading »
Goodwood was the place to be at the weekend. This year’s Festival of Speed was a corker. 100 years of Alfa Romeo was the main theme and I spent plenty of time admiring some of these Italian classics – they looked awesome. New and old, there were lots ... Continue Reading »
I had a very interesting conversation last week. I was talking about business to a chap at a weekly networking event that I go to and he asked me, “Does GWA Cars & Finance do car leasing?” To say I was a little surprised to hear this is ... Continue Reading »
Welcome to the GWA blog! Yes, the Garys (Watts and Young) are grabbing the social media bull by its horns. We’ll be blogging about stuff we find of interest in the media, on the web and occasionally even in real life. It’ll be mostly car related, as you’d expect, but ... Continue Reading »
Welcome to our new website - which is our big news for this week! Why not watch our welcome video to find out more about us or read about the flexible plans and services ... Continue Reading »