56 | MARCH 2022
Motoring
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
Is E10 fuel costing motorists more to fill a tank ? How to preserve fuel for longer
AVOID DEPRECIATION COSTS : BUY OR LEASE ?
Latest statistics show sales of brand new vehicles in the UK remain below pre-pandemic levels , with cash strapped motorists seeking more affordable alternatives .
Amid the cost of living crisis , the experts at Leasecar . uk and its sister site LeaseElectriccar . co . uk give the run-down about why leasing a vehicle could be a better option than buying a second hand vehicle , if purchasing a new vehicle is out of your budget range .
Sales of new vehicles in the UK remain restricted by low consumer confidence and limited supply caused in part by a global shortage of computer chips .
And there are numerous benefits which could help financially hard-pressed motorists if they opt to lease their next vehicle .
A spokesman said : “ Leasing a vehicle provides motorists with a lot of financial benefits - both short and long-term , which mean it could be a viable option for many households where every penny is under scrutiny at the moment .
“ As the cost of living crisis continues , it is well worth people exploring further to see if leasing a vehicle could be right for them at this time .”
Here are some of the key advantages of leasing a vehicle according to the experts :
Affordability : Drivers who want a new vehicle but can ’ t afford to purchase a new vehicle could benefit from leasing a vehicle . It means they could still drive away with a brand new vehicle under leasing terms which might otherwise be out of their price range .
Monthly outgoings : Depending on the type , model and age of vehicle , it is highly likely leasing a vehicle will result in lower monthly payments than a traditional vehicle purchase , which helps when you are on a tight monthly budget .
Maintenance : The costs of maintenance are likely lower than when you own a vehicle which is of great appeal when trying to avoid unforeseen costs at the garage for urgent and sudden vehicle repairs that you have not accounted for .
Depreciation : People say that as soon as you drive a new vehicle off a garage forecourt , it instantly depreciates in value . Leasing a vehicle takes away the worry of depreciation .
Flexibility : After your chosen lease period , you might be able to exchange the vehicle you have driven for a brand new lease vehicle , to enjoy the benefits of a new vehicle again .
Depending on the terms and conditions of the contract signed , a lease vehicle can also have benefits in terms of type and amount of initial rental that is needed to secure one , as opposed to what might be needed when purchasing a brand new vehicle .
E10 petrol contains up to 10 % renewable ethanol , utilising less fossil fuels than E5 petrol . However , since the new petrol came into use , some drivers have reported issues related to fuel efficiency , with some complaining they are having to work their engines much harder to achieve the same speeds as was possible with E5 petrol .
A spokesperson for LeaseCar . uk said : “ Many motorists have discovered challenges with new E10 petrol , concerning increased engine wear and tear and fuel consumption .
“ Because of this , we want to urge motorists to understand the best ways to conserve fuel usage in their vehicles in order to see positive results in how they are using their petrol .”
Look after your tyres
Driving with flat tyres can significantly reduce their life expectancy and can contribute to excess fuel consumption . All motorists should check their tyres around once a month , no matter how old the vehicle , tyre pressure information can often be found on the inside of the driver side door or in the car ’ s manual .
Try not to lose momentum
Keeping a vehicle moving at the right speed is essential to preserving fuel . Motorists who are slowing down and losing momentum before quickly speeding up again are using more fuel than is necessary . The best advice is to drive as smoothly as possible , depending on the road ahead and traffic conditions .
Remove excess weight
Any additions such as roof racks and boxes should be removed when not in use as they can also create a greater drag force , especially at higher speeds . The same effect can be had with weight inside the car , unnecessary items in your boot or back seat will decrease the amount of miles you can get per gallon .
Don ’ t drive in neutral
It is a common misconception that motorists don ’ t expend any petrol or diesel when putting their car into neutral whilst travelling down a hill . However , this is often false as many drivers fail to gauge the right gear to go back into , which in turn burns more fuel . Attempts to put the car back into drive can be particularly risky in automatic vehicles as the engine will not have gone through the natural progression of gears . Doing this places a lot of stress on the engine and uses up more fuel than staying in gear .
Avoid idling
Not only is remaining idle for too long a punishable offence , but it also wastes a considerable amount of fuel . Many modern cars are installed with a ‘ stop start ’ feature which can keep from leaving the engine running . Motorists driving cars without this feature should ensure they are always turning their engine off when sitting idle .