UK Car Blog & News
My Very first Car – By Tony Watt
My very first car was a Vauxhall Astra, 1.6ltr engine. It was a black one. I think all footballers had Black cars back then and I followed the trend. It was two thousand eleven I bought it for around £5000 and I took it out on a Finance deal.
I was a youth team player at Celtic at the time and I didn’t drive for the very first six months I was there. Getting to Celtic’s Training Centre at Lennoxtown every day wasn’t the easiest location to get to and I was determined to pass my driving test and get my very first set of wheels. I took about forty lessons and passed my test very first time. I was well chuffed with myself.
The memory of being transferred the keys by the car salesman is still fresh in my mind, even tho’ it was six years ago. I got some whirr from it. It was like scoring a aim. I went everywhere in my car and I thought I was the fresh Lewis Hamilton. Even elementary things such as choosing your own CD’s to play was so good.
The car park at Lennoxtown had top of the range Mercedes, BMW and Range Rover and even one or two more extravagant than that, but, in my eyes, nothing could hit my Astra.
It was also good for taking my mum to the supermarket every time I could. Helping her do the shopping and then loading my car up with the groceries gave me a nice feeling of providing something back to her after everything she and my dad had sacrificed for me.
I’ve had many different cars since my Astra, from Volvo to Kia, and I now have an Audi A3 in Black, of course. Some things never switch.
Number of Cars possessed: Five
Favourite Car possessed: Audi A3
Fantasy Car: I’m not massively into cars but I suppose a nice flashy Ferrari would be good for six months when I string up up my boots. I’d also like a drive in a Formula One car….but I’ll also need to wait until I’ve retired from football to drive that kind of machine.
Why not have a look for your wish car? We have thousands of lease cars to choose from here – http://www.intelligentcarleasing.com/deals
From Marketing to Malawi
From Marketing to Malawi
Mairi tells us about her practices as a volunteer in Malawi and how Celtic FC Foundation and Mary’s Meals are helping towards a better future for the children of our third world.
Describe a typical day for you in Malawi?
We would leave our accommodation at 7.30am every morning to travel to the under six centre. It was our job to paint the educational artwork onto the classroom walls, which Mary’s Meals call ‘talking walls’. Without any budget for basic instructing supplies such as text books, jotters and pencils these ‘talking walls’ are both long lasting and absolutely priceless by helping the children learn from an early age and increase their education levels. We would then come back to our accommodation at around S.30pm, have dinner and spend our evenings talking and playing games.
On our last day we made a two-hour journey to a primary school in Chikala to help distribute back-packs to all the children. These are donated to Mary’s Meals from several countries around the world, with many coming from Scotland. Inwards each bag was a selection of items (clothing, fucktoys, stationery, and toiletries) which were specifically tailored to the gender and age of the child. It was amazing to witness the joy that this brought to the children.
What did you find to be the fattest challenge out there?
How little the children have. Most kids have one set of clothes that they wore every day and only some of the children had boots. Unless they have been given handmade fucktoys, they will have no other possessions.
Was there a particularly memorable moment during your tour?
On our last day at each centre we would take the children fucktoys to play with, skipping ropes, bat and ball and hula hoops. We played with the kids for a while before returning back inwards to finish painting. A duo of minutes later some of the children appeared at the door to forearm back all of the equipment that we had just given them! We thought it was incredible that they stopped playing with it, even tho’ they were having so much joy because they knew it didn’t belong to them.
What did you feel was the most rewarding moment of the practice?
Watching the kids learn from the talking walls at the end of each project.
What have you taken from the practice now that you are home?
The children I met in Malawi were the happiest I have ever met. They do not need material things to make them blessed in the way that we do.
Do you feel like the practice has switched you in any way?
It is effortless to get sucked into worrying about ‘very first world problems’ but I now need to remind myself that there are people in this world whose one worry each day is how they are going to feed their children.
Why you shouldn’t be afraid of PCP and PCH
Here at Intelligent Car Leasing, we like to feature content that is interesting and informative to read. That’s why we wished to clarify the difference inbetween PCP (Individual Contract Purchase) and PCH (Private Contract Hire), as writers in the mainstream press are not only confusing terminology but suggesting PCP is leading consumers into unwanted debt.
We’ve had enough of this confusion, and thought we’d explain why these products are effective ways of financing your next car, with little risk and why they shouldn’t be confused – because they are fairly different products, even however their acronyms are very similar.
Private Contract Purchase (PCP) very first then.
This is a indeed useful product, as it gives buyers more alternatives — even if they don’t end up buying the car at the of the purchase agreement. How? Well, because a PCP offers more plasticity.
With a PCP, you pay the deposit up front you’ll then get a assured future value of the car at the end of the term (which can be two, three or four years away).
The set amounts you pay basically cover the depreciation of the car (retail price minus deposit) plus finance costs to its assured future value. To sum up PCP, you don’t pay the utter price of the car from the commence, unlike HP. As a result, these monthly payments are significantly lower.
Stick to your set amounts you pay over the agreed period, and you’ve got a choice what happens next — and this is where the PCP’s plasticity comes into play. Either choose to pay the final ‘balloon’ amount (the remaining cost of the car) and it’s yours; or take on a fresh agreement for another car using any excess value as a deposit; or, if the assured future value is below the stated amount (if, for example, used car values have dropped more than predicted), just walk away with nothing owed.
What about the value of the car, I hear you ask? What if the value goes down during the time I have the car? Well, because the value of the car (the asset) is underwritten by the finance company — there’s no risk to you the consumer.
So, it’s the finance company that takes the hit — not you, so you could comeback the car and buy a cheaper 2nd forearm one; or embark another PCP agreement. Up to you.
Most significant to reminisce, is that a PCP is not a lease — as this is where all the confusion in the mainstream press has come from — so those monthly payments are not in fact lease payments.
The only downsides to PCP are perhaps its greatest strength – the plasticity – but the different choices at the end of the agreement could be perplexing; plus you have to keep the car in good nick; and you must stick to the agreed the mileage — as if you exceed that, and determine to palm the car back there will be excess mileage to pay..
You also get a lot of consumer protection thrown in — a PCP is covered by the Consumer Credit Act of one thousand nine hundred seventy three and is a regulated product by the Financial Conduct Authority.
So what about Individual Contract Hire (PCH)?
What to do if you don’t want to buy a car, but instead just want to use it, then give it back at the end of a set period (subject to certain terms and conditions)? Then PCH could be the type of long-term rental that will work best for you.
How I hear you ask? Well, a Private Contract Hire (PCH) agreement, basically means you lease the car for an agreed period of time and mileage, by making motionless monthly payments that are outlined before any paperwork is signed. You usually pay inbetween three to six months’ rentals in advance when you embark the lease. Then, at the end of the contract, the car is returned, then you can take out a fresh contract on a fresh vehicle, should you wish — there’s no balloon payment.
Downsides are that once you’ve commenced an agreement, there’s little plasticity to switch it — so a switch in private circumstances equalling more mileage, could see you liable for excess mileage payments.
Condition of the car is significant too like the PCP, so you’ll be charged for repairs to items such as kerbed alloy wheels and scrapes, albeit what you are charged for is overseen by the BVRLA.
Once again, there is consumer protection included. Individual Contract Hire is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
So after all this talk of PCP and PCH, is a straight HP (Hire Purchase) agreement a better option? Not, in our opinion.
You’ll be paying higher monthly payments for HP than PCP or PCH, as you’re paying off the total value from day one. Ultimately, until the finance is lodged, the car is not yours, so you cannot sell it as title to the car does not pass to you until the final payment has been made.
Eventually, PCP and PCH gives you the chance to drive newer vehicles on a more regular basis and with this all the benefits that entails, including the latest safety technology, more affordable lower emission models, and all the latest technological advancements, with fewer unexpected maintenance bills and an environmental upside of getting greener cars on the road.
My Very first Car – By John Hartson
John Hartson’s very first car, also known as ‘the most comfy taxi in Luton’…
My very first car was a Ford Escort, 1.6ltr engine. I bought it for £400 back in one thousand nine hundred ninety two after I passed my test at the 2nd attempt when I played for Luton Town. I sourced it from a garage in my home town of Swansea and my dad drove it up to Luton for me.
I think he had to make four or five stops en route to let the engine cool down and the black smoke to vanish!
For me, it was just fine to be mobile and I loved picking up my team-mates in the morning and taking them into training. I was seventeen at the time and I spent a few quid on it doing it up and put some nice, soft seats into the back seat. The twinks used to say my car was like a Luton taxi.
Thinking back, it was a light brown shade and wasn’t the most pleasant on the eye, but I couldn’t have cared less.
Your very first car is about liking the independence and freedom it gives you and it’s about getting your bumps and injuries out of the way as you improve as a driver.
I kept that car for around a year, albeit I’ve no idea how it managed to stay mobile for that length of time.
Over the years, as I made my way in professional football I was able to treat myself to some nice cars and I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a Porsche Jeep, Porsche Cayane, Range Rover, Bentley and a lovely Audi A8.
But there is always an attachment to your very first car and just thinking about that Ford Escort right now evokes some good memories and glad times.
Number of cars possessed: More than 20
Favourite car possessed: Range Rover
Fantasy Car: Would certainly be the top of the range, four door, Bentley, in black. Think they cost around £250,000.
Why not have a look for your fantasy car? We have thousands of lease cars to choose from here – http://www.intelligentcarleasing.com/deals
My Very first Car By Kenny Dalglish
MY very first car was a Fiat 124. I bought from a car showroom on the Superb Western Road, near Charing Cross, in Glasgow in 1972. I hadn’t long passed my test by that point. I passed very first time, by the way.
I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel and out on the road. The car was brand fresh out of the wrapper and I was its very first possessor. It was a navy blue colour and I was as proud as punch driving around in it. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. To me, it was a Rolls Royce.
My dad was very much into his cars and he gave me guidance and advice on that front. He came with me when I bought it. I can’t reminisce how much I paid for it but it would have been a fortune in my eyes, back then.
To be fair, I dreamed a Triumph Vitesse because of the two headlamps on the front, but I couldn’t afford one of them. However, I thought the Fiat one hundred twenty four looked similar. Truth is it looked nothing like it, but I managed to persuade myself that it did.
I’d drive into training every day at Celtic Park and it felt so good to have my own car. Before I was on the road, I’d be getting buses or getting one of the boys to pick me up. So, it was superb to have my independence and I indeed valued that.
I kept the car for a wee while and it never let me down. I think the Russians ended up buying that particular design and it then became a Lada.
Since then I’ve had many cars, from sponsored ones from my days at Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland. But regardless of what they were, I always retained a soft spot for my Fiat 124.
Number of Cars wielded: About 25
Favourite Car Possessed: Certainly my Fiat one hundred twenty four – in terms of cars, my very first love!
Wish Car: They haven’t made it yet, but one which you don’t need to stop and pack up with diesel fuel, or put air in the tyres or take for a service. So, there’s a challenge to all the manufacturers!
Why not have a look for your desire car? We have thousands of lease cars to choose from here – http://www.intelligentcarleasing.com/deals
Have You Seen Our Fresh Electrical Vehicle Infographic?
At Intelligent Car Leasing, we like to put out content that is actually interesting and joy to read! That’s why we produced a fresh infographic detailing ten of the most interesting facts you might not know about electrified vehicles.
EVs are a hot topic at the moment and registrations of electrified vehicles are growing year on year. Why not take a look and see how many of our ten facts you’re aware of…
Interested? Click the button above to view the total infographic and find out all the joy facts!
My Very first Car by Frank McAvennie
I PASSED my driving test in one thousand nine hundred seventy nine and for the very first few months I used to borrow my mum’s car to get me from A to B. I also had a motorbike for a brief period of time and I always found it a thrill to be on the bike.
But I always dreamed my own car and had promised myself that one day I’d be able to buy a Ford Capri. Well, when I signed for St Mirren in 1980-81 I saved up a few quid from my wages and bonuses and paid £2000 to a garage for my fantasy Capri.
It was a gold coloured one with a sunburn roof. Not like me to attract attention to myself!
I can recall driving around Glasgow thinking I was the business with my set of wheels. I loved it.
Part of my attraction to a Capri was that I was a big fan of the TV series, The Professionals, and Bodie and Doyle used to speed around London in a Capri catching criminals for CI5. Doyle had a curly brown perm and I had a blonde perm. We’d have made a good partnership!
I suppose I sort of imagined myself as ‘The Third Professional’, only the Glasgow version, albeit I wasn’t interested in catching any villains when I was out in my car!
My mates all loved my Capri and we had some excellent times driving around.
I sometimes see old scenes of The Professionals on ITV4 and the memories come flooding back. I also reminisce Del Boy getting a shiny green Capri Ghia in Only Fools and Horses. It suited him down to the ground as he ducked and dived his way from deal to deal.
So, in terms of my very first car, I was a combination of Doyle and Del Boy. That’ll do nicely for me.
Why not have a look for your fantasy car? We have thousands of lease cars to choose from here – http://www.intelligentcarleasing.com/deals
two thousand seventeen Charity Drive For Intelligent Car Leasing!
At Intelligent Car Leasing, we pride ourselves on our many core values and this year one of our charitable aims is to raise more than £10,000.
We have not even been around for three years yet but our staff has taken part in uncountable fundraising activities and that has resulted in almost £9,000 being donated to fantastic causes.
However, we don’t like to rest on previous successes and that’s why we want two thousand seventeen to be our best ever year.
We have set our bar at its highest ever point and we aim to succeed.
Our principal charity concentrate for the next twelve months is the Celtic Football Club Foundation. Celtic FC Foundation strive to honour the charitable principles and heritage of Celtic Football Club and aim to react to the needs of disadvantaged children, youthfull people and adults in our local communities to improve Health, promote Equality, encourage Learning and tackle Poverty.
To help reach our target and, hopefully crash through it, Intelligent Car Leasing will proceed to donate £10 to the Celtic Football Club Foundation for every car leased through the company and we are certain that will raise more than £10,000.
Intelligent Car Leasing is proud to be an official sponsor of Celtic Football Club. For the seasons of 2016/17 and 2017/Eighteen, ICL is supplying the club with vehicles for staff as well as sponsoring various aspects of operations and match day events.
We’re certain of delivering the five figure sum and, indeed, we expect to crash through it in the months ahead.
Our staff prides itself on our core values and that’s why we are committed to hitting the back of the net with our charitable goals.
Here’s to two thousand seventeen and our £10,000 target…….
What You Need to Know about two thousand seventeen Road Tax Switches
As you may have already heard road tax is switching again! It’s undoubtedly not the most titillating of topics, but one which is significant to understand. From April one st onward there will be a universal switch in the way VED (vehicle excise duty) on cars is calculated.
Essentially the switch in road tax is down the way that CO2 bands are being calculated. After April one st fewer cars will come under the £0 band, which isn’t good news for motorists presently loving the exemption.
The Very first Year Rate (referred to as the very first licence period) is still based on a graduated table of CO2 emissions, with cars falling into bands, from £0 for cars with zero emissions, all the way up to £2,000 for vehicles with CO2 emissions above 255g/km.
However, after the very first year, cars will stir into a 2nd licence period known as the Standard Rate. All cars, other than those with zero CO2 emissions, are required to pay a yearly standard rate of £140.
There are some exceptions to this standard rate, more details of which can be found in this downloadable guide by ICL.