Vans, Cars and Leasing

Total Fleet Services have now also launched their new vehicle maintenance package website, which offer a full maintenance package with optional breakdown cover for all vehicles under 1 year old.

http://www.car-maintenance-package.co.uk

The package is able to cover your vehicle upto 5 years old, so if your vehicle is 6 months old it means you can get a contract to cover the vehicle for 4 and a half years. The maximum mileage covered by these maintenance packages are 150,000 miles.

Some example prices for these maintenance packages:

20,000 miles per year

More examples can be found at - http://www.car-maintenance-package.co.uk/maintenance-package.php

Total Fleet Services have now launched their new website which is dedicated to fleet management, the website explains the different services they provide and why you should use them over other fleet management company’s out there.

 http://www.total-fleet-management.com

Say ’allo ’allo to the new face of Peugeot! These official pictures of the 508 saloon and SW estate give a first glimpse of a classier and more restrained look for the brand – which is repeated on the forthcoming 309.

The 508 replaces the 407 and larger 607, and sits between the two in terms of size. That means it offers plenty of space, but a smaller footprint than the slow-selling executive model.

At the front is a narrower grille, as designers move away from the current gaping look. It’s part of a sleeker design for the nose, with a slim air intake under the grille and LED running lights below the tapering headlamps. The Peugeot name is spelled out below the Lion badge on a subtle lip linking bonnet with grille.

The car pictured is the top-spec GT, which gets large alloys and chrome detailing. This model is set to cost £24,000, as Peugeot matches prices of the 407; entry cars will be around £19,000.

Buyers will get a choice of a four-door or SW estate. Power is from the RCZ’s 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine or a 2.0-litre HDi diesel with up to 163bhp. Both can be mated to six-speed manual or conventional automatic boxes.

In addition, Peugeot will offer the 508 with its groundbreaking HYbrid4 powertrain. This links a 163bhp 2.0 litre HDi engine to a 37bhp electric motor to send 200bhp to all four wheels, and slash CO2 to below 100g/km.

The 508 is 10mm longer than the 407, giving extra rear legroom – key for the Chinese market, where buyers are often chauffeured. The 508 will be built there as well as in France, and is due to debut at October’s Paris Motor Show, before hitting dealers here in the spring.

New Volkswagen Polo GTI is an award winning sports coupe. On first appearances it does not resemble a sports car but upon further inspection it is definitely something that will haul. The car lives up to its German name in its construction and durability. This car has some unique features for a car of this size. For one thing it has a six speed transmission with a clutch on the floor or a tap clutch on the steering column. Either one allows the car to go from zero to sixty with relative ease and speed.

The comfort of the interior is surprising for a sporty coupe with wrap around seats. The cockpit surrounding makes it easy to reach for things in and around the dashboard. The steering column has a telescoping design for added comfort and convenience. Several features are alluring including the built in Navigation system, i-pod plug in, travel modes and awesome stereo system. It has numerous protective devices including dual front airbags, side airbags and steel constructed side doors for the safety of the driver and passengers.

Moving around the outside of the car one of the many surprising features is the dual exhaust pipes to give the car a sporty look. The front of the car has a honeycomb grill that wraps around increasing the look of a sports vehicle. The VW logo emblem on the trunk also doubles as the trunk release, this discourages would be thief’s and is great fun to tease others with.

The windows come tinted to provide maximum protection to the driver and passenger’s eyes and keep sun damage off the interior of the vehicle. The trim packages are optional and add an even sportier look to the vehicle.

As with all Volkswagen products this is a quality vehicle in both construction and reliability. Built to withstand all of life’s little bumps in the road this is an excellent little coupe that not only looks sporty but also will continue to be reliable. The average miles per gallon are 21 in town and 31 on the highway. There are numerous warranties and options available when purchasing or leasing a GTI coupe. With a sticker price beginning at just under 24,000 this vehicle is a great investment.

Financing options are as varied as the people who purchase one. There are straight out financing options with a VW buyers choice or the purchasers own financing. If that is not an attractive option there is the lease option or the first time buyer option or a potential client can chose to driver’s option. Each option has a specific value depending on the customer’s needs. If the customer wants to return the car every one to four years than this is a great option. It allows the buyer to lease the vehicle for a determined amount of time and then return the vehicle for a new one.

Buyer’s option is available in certain states and is perfect if you want to use the vehicle for a time and either return the car and walk away or buy it out right for the difference in the value of the car and the amount put in on the monthly payment plan. There are special programs available for the college student or a first time leaser depending on the credit score and amount of down payment needed.

With so many options to chose from and warranties available the Volkswagen POLO GTI is an incredible option for anyone looking for versatility and style, an impressive little coupe that handles with ease and comfort it is worth a closer look.

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services by John Eva
VW Car Leasing - VW Polo Leasing

Hybrid cars are getting to be more popular vehicle choice for a variety of reasons. They are innovative, efficient and are becoming more affordable for the consumer to purchase. These cars feature a small, fuel efficient engine which is combined with an electric motor that is used to assist the engine when accelerating. The electric motor has batteries that recharge while you are driving which helps with some of the efficiency in these vehicles. Due to the decreased fuel consumption, they are great in regards to helping the environment, as they are not putting out as many emissions and greenhouse gases.

A hybrid car gains some of its efficiency due to:

Regenerative Braking - The electric motor can be used to slow down the car. The motor acts as a generator which allows the batteries to charge while the car is slowing down and coming to a stop. This power is then used when the car goes to accelerate.

Periodic Engine Shut Off - When you are stopped in traffic, the engine will temporarily shut itself off to conserve energy. When you put it back into gear, it will turn itself back on to allow you to drive.

More Aerodynamic - As a result of the style of these vehicles, there is less drag on a hybrid car while you are driving. The tires have been made narrower and are stiffer, which also assists with the drag. Due to the decrease in drag, the vehicle does not need to use as much fuel.

Materials - The materials used in making hybrid cars are lighter which helps to increase the efficiency and fuel consumption in these vehicles.

Many manufactures are already in the process of developing or producing their own hybrid vehicle, but if they are not, they are getting ready to start developing one for a number of different reasons. One of the major reasons is due to greenhouse gases and emission controls in various parts of the world. There are a variety of places that have requirements as to how many emissions a vehicle can put out, and the more fuel that a vehicle uses, the more emissions it puts out. These then have to be removed from the atmosphere somehow, as the world is trying to decrease greenhouse gases which are a large source of global warming. If a company can produce a car that uses less fuel, such as a hybrid which operates on several different methods, they will have an easier time meeting the emission controls. As these vehicles use less fuel, consumers will be happier as they will cost less to run and keep operational.

When you decide that you want to get a hybrid vehicle, you have a variety of methods available to you for getting one. You can buy it outright, go through a leasing company or get a contract hire for your hybrid. There are definite benefits of each option, and you will want to look at these before deciding on how to finance or purchase your next vehicle. Depending on how you plan to use this vehicle, personal or business, it may be beneficial to discuss it with your accountant.

Hybrid cars are definitely a popular choice and more and more people are turning towards purchasing these types of vehicles due to the increased mileage and the decrease in emissions. These vehicles help people to save money due to the vehicle costing less at the time of purchase as well as the decrease in fuel consumption. As people purchase more of these cars, there will be more available with more choices to be made.

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services by John Eva
Hybrid Car Leasing

Police forces across the country are facing massive fuel cost overruns, leading to recruitment reductions and calls for the Government to provide emergency funding.

Hampshire Constabulary’s director of finance Michael Coombes said: “The constabulary is having to deal with steep increases in the price of fuel in recent months. This situation has placed a strain on the budget.”

Along with many other forces, Hampshire only budgeted for only a 5% rise in fuel costs this year, taking the amount it had set aside for fuel to £1.95 million.

“Assuming the cost of fuel rises to £1.50 per litre by the end of the summer, as some commentators suggest, we would be facing a shortfall of around £1 million,” said Mr Coombes

- Advertisement -
As a result, Hampshire police will recruit fewer student officers this year. “This is in light of various budget pressures of which the rising cost of fuel is one,” said Mr Coombes.

It is a similar story in Norfolk where the increase in fuel costs will affect a recruitment drive.

“Fuel costs have increased dramatically and we have to deal with that.

“This comes at a time when we are increasing staff numbers but those plans have to be subject to winds of change,” chief constable Ian McPherson told Norfolk Police Authority.

“We cannot legislate for decisions that are made in Saudi Arabia.”

Metropolitan police officers have been told buy fuel from the cheapest local petrol stations.

In addition, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has begun trialling electric Smart cars.

Four versions of the two-seater car, which can achieve the equivalent of around 300 miles per gallon, are being trialled.

The Home Office said no extra money will be made available as a result of rising fuel prices.

“Government funding for police authorities is increasing by 2.9% in 2008/9,” said a spokesman.

“It is for chief constables and police authorities to decide how best to use the resources available to them.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) seems to have its hands tied and can offer little in the way of help to police fleet managers.

Commenting on the inability of many police fleets to get extra funding, ACPO said: “It will then depend on how forces have developed their budgets as to what the immediate effect will be.

“Some forces will have been able to make provisions for rising fuel cost, others won’t and therefore it will vary from force to force what the exact impact will be.”

The National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) is working hard to limit the impact of fuel on their frontline operations.

“NAPFM is having to seriously consider a variety of options regarding the issues around both fuel cost and resilience with regard to industrial disputes, etc, and is working closely with its respective ACPO management as well as directors of finance and resource to establish a variety of initiatives that will assist in reducing fuel utilisation, whilst not affecting frontline policing and response capability,” said NAPFM spokesman John Bradley.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable said: “The emergency services have no choice as to which vehicles they use.

“It would not prejudice the Government’s overall financial position if some allowance were made to tide them over this difficult period.”

Fleets could face substantial charges and administration costs following confirmation that Manchester is set to become the second city in the UK to levy a congestion charge. The Government announced last week that it was awarding Manchester £1.5 billion to help pay for the congestion charge scheme, as well as deliver public transport improvements.

To try to alleviate fears, Manchester City Council will conduct a public consultation before going ahead with the scheme that could see motorists charged £5 to enter and leave the city at peak times from 2013.

But major concerns about the scheme are already being voiced. LeasePlan said the new congestion charge could “signal the beginning of a major headache for all UK firms running vehicle fleets”. Manchester, unlike London, will rely on electronic tags and beacon technology, which will be supported by automatic numberplate recognition cameras.

“The danger is that business drivers will have to register separately for each scheme,” said David Brennan, managing director of LeasePlan. “The lack of any central responsibility could hit companies hard, particularly those that have employees regularly travelling in or between the two cities.”

The problem could become worse as other cities develop their own congestion charges. Birmingham, Bristol, Bath and Cambridge are expected to announce plans shortly.

“The endorsement of the Manchester scheme is the biggest step so far towards a fragmented and regionalised congestion charging approach in the UK – a nightmare scenario for companies that run fleets of vehicles,” warned Mr Brennan. “As well as the added administration, many companies could see their fleet costs rocket as their drivers travel between different charging zones.”

Ian Middleton, managing director of Sandicliffe Motor Contracts, added: “The fleet market could find itself in a situation in years to come whereby a good proportion of company car drivers visiting cities across the UK could be running up some very significant bills.”

Several local companies have formed the Greater Manchester Momentum Group to oppose the charge.

Driving instructors do not have a particularly easy time of it. They get cursed – likely literally as well as figuratively – by frustrated teenagers who are doing well or not so well and getting frustrated with having not yet passed their driving test. They quite possibly get cursed at by people in their twenties, thirties, forties, and so on as well, because driving examinations are stressful for everyone involved. One thing driving instructors should not have to worry about, however, are their cars.

Total Fleet Services has been contracting and leasing vehicles for fourteen years. They have been building up an enviable reputation since 1994 and in that time, the business has evolved more and more. It has evolved so much that, now, they have a wide array of services including but not limited to driving instructor car hire, driving instructor car leasing, and contract hire.

Driving instructor car hire leasing and car hire are best suited for smaller driver’s education institutions, independent companies, or private instructors. With private driving instructors, for example, they may not want to put dual controls into their own cars, for whatever reason – it may be the family car, for instance, and not every family member may want to drive or ride in a car with extra parts and pedals. By taking advantage of Total Fleet Services’ driving instructor car hire, the instructor has a business car – perfectly suited to his or her business!

Actually, this option works well in certain other circumstances as well. For example, a person may need a driving instructor car, equipped with dual controls, for only a short time – a father might be teaching his child how to drive. It is certainly safer – and more practical – to do this in a car with the capabilities and safety features conducive to the situation than in one of the family cars. As well, not only has the father spared his own car from any potential damage, an accident is simply less likely to happen in a dual control car.

As being a private instructor is becoming more popularised, so too are small independently owned driver’s education businesses which employ more than one instructor. In these instances, driving instructor car leasing is ideal. More than one dual control car will be required, and if necessary, there are leasing and hire packages which allow drivers to swap for a new, different car every year.

For larger driving schools, contract hire is an excellent way to go about driving instructor car hire. Contract hire generally lasts from one to three years, which makes it perfect for businesses which need to provide vehicles for their employees over set terms with an easy renewal process. That is certainly the case with driving schools. Every driving instructor can be equipped with a dual control car. For that matter, this is not a bad idea for private driver’s education teachers either. Having the guarantee of the proper car for at least three years can be very advantageous.

Driving instructor car hires, leasing, and contract higher is also beneficial because within the cost per month of their leases, Total Fleet Services includes the cost of all automotive and mechanical repairs and maintenance. If a Total Fleet Services driving instructor car has to go into the shop for repairs, all that the renter must do is make sure to take the car to a main dealer which is local to him or her; and, once there, he or she must simply ask the dealer’s service department to call the Total Fleet Services company before any repairs take place. Excise duty is also included in the monthly leasing sum, as are breakdowns, home start, and recovery. Driving instructor cars are all equipped with He-man dual controls.

A report from the Ministry of Justice shows that speeding accounts for 40 per cent of all driving violations.

But it’s not traffic cops who caught these motorists breaking the rules – it’s speed traps. More than two million tickets were handed out in 2006, and a huge 95 per cent were snapped by fixed roadside cameras.

However, a clampdown in Suffolk suggests even more law-breaking motorists could have been collared using traditional methods. In a week-long initiative, police caught more than 1,500 speeding motorists with mobile cameras – while local Gatsos flashed only 364 times.

The Government report says that only one offence actually increased from 2005 to 2006. Careless driving was up by 26 per cent – a reflection of the crackdown on motorists using mobile phones since the ban was introduced in December 2003.

Fuel availability for motorists outside Scotland will not be affected by the potential shutdown at the Grangemouth refinery, assures the Petriol Retailers Association (PRA). The strike, which is planned for next Sunday and Monday (27, 28 April), seems more likely to go ahead following the breakdown of talks last night between the Unite union and Ineos, the owner of the Forth-based refinery.

“If the shutdown does occur, the effect on supply in Scotland will be limited due to the sheer volume of fuel already in the supply chain,” said Ray Holloway, PRA director.

“If motorists in Scotland buy their normal fuel requirement, any inconvenience ultimately caused by the industrial dispute at Grangemouth will be minimsed.

“It is still not certain that the refinery will close, and even if it does the fuels already in storage will remain available for distribution to forecourts across Scotland.

“It is bulk-buying of fuel that will ultimately be responsible for any shortages.

“Even if supplies are not interrupted, if motorists buy more than their normal requirements, they will be putting abnormal pressure on the road delivery services of the oil industry in Scotland.

“Forecourts do not have unlimited storage facilities. If they are prematurely drained of fuel stocks due to bulk buying this will lead to consumer inconvenience while they are refilled.

“Fuel suppliers have planned for these circumstances and by working with the Scottish and UK Governments will be able to ensure forecourt retailers requirements continue to be delivered by road tanker.”