Women 'More Concerned About Fuel Increases'

The results of a poll held in Australia have found that women drivers are more concerned about the costs of fuel than men.

Women, whose greater consideration for safe driving in many cases results in much lower car insurance premiums, also appear to be more considerate when it comes to the costs of petrol, according to the survey from NEWS.com.au and Coredata.

Some 86 per cent of women motorists said they were worried about the ever rising price of petrol, compared with a slightly lower 80 per cent of men.

Furthermore, 66 per cent of women surveyed said they were trying to economise on their overall petrol usage, while only 59 per cent of their male counterparts, who will generally pay higher car insurance premiums, said the same.

Almost half of women drivers revealed that they were looking to purchase a small car. Those shopping for female car insurance could benefit from such a move, as small cars generally have smaller car insurance premiums.

Contrastingly, under a third of men said they were considering buying a small car.

Petrol price worries are not unique to Australian women drivers - both male and female British drivers may have felt the strain on the pocket of rising fuel costs over the last few years.

And like in Australia, many men and women drivers in Britain may also be considering purchasing smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles to cut costs.

Buying a new car often provides a good opportunity to review car insurance policies and some providers specifically offer motor insurance for women, given their statistically better safety profiles.

A survey earlier this year from the car manufacturers ‘Chrysler Group’ found that men and women drivers felt differently about the standards of each other's driving, despite the fact they agreed on aspects of driving itself, such as evading objects and bad weather.

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Car Financing Tips To Know When You're Buying A Car

Car financing is a complicated subject. It seems that everyone has a different opinion on the best methods or strategies for financing such a large purchase should be. It can be hard to know how big a monthly payment is too big, how much of a down payment is too small, and where in between the sweet spot lies for most car buyers.

A common mistake when financing a car is to look at the size of the monthly payment instead of the actual cost of the car itself. It can be tempting to go for a car that has more luxury features or a bigger engine simply because it is offered with a monthly price that you can afford. This kind of payment focus can lead you to overspend your budget by a huge amount – sometimes five to ten thousand dollars more than you initially intended to pay.

Dealers tend to encourage monthly-payment oriented thinking because from their perspective, the longer you are making payments on your car, the more money they can make from administrative fees and interest. Instead of taking 3 years to pay off your car, you might now be looking at 5 years and close to double the amount of interest paid.
It’s also important to take a close look at the details of any payment plan that is offered to you to make sure that the terms, interest rate and period are competitive with that which you could get from your bank. Sitting down with a calculator and determining the real cost components of any monthly payment plan you have been offered will give you the real picture of exactly where your money is going.

Down payments are another gray area. There are those who recommend making the largest down payment that you can afford on your vehicle – typically around 20 percent, although some say as much as half – in order to avoid the interest costs associated with financing. However, an equally vocal contingent will warn buyers against making any cash down payment at all before a deal is inked. In some cases, if dealers walk away from the bargaining table they can take your down payment with them if a contract hasn't been signed. If you must make a down payment or deposit on a car to get priority at a dealership, try doing it with a credit card so you can get your money back if things turn sour.

With all of these warnings, caveats and traps to look out for, it can sometimes make it seem like car financing is a complete nightmare. That doesn't have to be the case. As long as a buyer is completely informed about what is happening with regards to their financing, and as long as the negotiation process, fees and interest rates are completely transparent and spelled out on paper, then there is no reason to fear financing this major purchase. Financing can help you manage your cash flow and keep you from tying up all of your resources in a single asset – making sure you will be prepared to deal with any unexpected financial issues that life may throw at you. No one wants to have to sell their car due to hardship, and with the right financing, it doesn't have to happen.

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Ford Focus Is 'Comfortable And Versatile'

The UK's best selling car at the moment; the Ford Focus, is a comfortable and versatile mode of transport, according to the manufacturers, who claim the latest model is longer and wider than before.

With a variety of body shapes available in several trim levels, the Ford Focus costs from £11,395 on-the-road for the three-door 1.4 Studio model, to £19,200 for the 1.6 16-valve TDCi Titanium estate with Durashift CVT transmission.

The most basic Studio model standard equipment including electrically operated front windows and central locking, while its low car insurance rating in group 4E will have been aided by the array of safety features in and around the vehicle.

These include features such as Ford's Intelligent Protection System, including driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags and front seatbelt pyrotechnic pre-tensioners, while standard anti-lock braking with electronic brake force distribution will help to avoid accidents happening in the first place due to drivers locking up.

Additionally, the ISOFIX seat mounts allow drivers with young families to secure child seats much more easily in the back of the car.

Indeed, Ford manufacturers describe the car as the safest in its class, citing its five star Euro NCAP rating factors that are crucial in deciding a particular vehicle's motor insurance grouping.

Drivers looking for Ford car insurance may also find the standard security features of interest, such as immobilsers and central locking, which can be operated remotely in the LX models and above.

The Ghia model, which includes various luxury features, is fitted with a Thatcham category one volume sensing alarm, to ward off burglars and keep car insurance claims to an absolute minimum.

Except for the range of high-performance Ford ST models, the maximum motor insurance grouping for any car in the Ford Focus range is 10E, which is generally for the Ghia and Titanium range models.

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Ford Focus Is 'Comfortable And Versatile'

The UK's best selling car at the moment; the Ford Focus, is a comfortable and versatile mode of transport, according to the manufacturers, who claim the latest model is longer and wider than before.

With a variety of body shapes available in several trim levels, the Ford Focus costs from £11,395 on-the-road for the three-door 1.4 Studio model, to £19,200 for the 1.6 16-valve TDCi Titanium estate with Durashift CVT transmission.

The most basic Studio model standard equipment including electrically operated front windows and central locking, while its low car insurance rating in group 4E will have been aided by the array of safety features in and around the vehicle.

These include features such as Ford's Intelligent Protection System, including driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags and front seatbelt pyrotechnic pre-tensioners, while standard anti-lock braking with electronic brake force distribution will help to avoid accidents happening in the first place due to drivers locking up.

Additionally, the ISOFIX seat mounts allow drivers with young families to secure child seats much more easily in the back of the car.

Indeed, Ford manufacturers describe the car as the safest in its class, citing its five star Euro NCAP rating factors that are crucial in deciding a particular vehicle's motor insurance grouping.

Drivers looking for Ford car insurance may also find the standard security features of interest, such as immobilsers and central locking, which can be operated remotely in the LX models and above.

The Ghia model, which includes various luxury features, is fitted with a Thatcham category one volume sensing alarm, to ward off burglars and keep car insurance claims to an absolute minimum.

Except for the range of high-performance Ford ST models, the maximum motor insurance grouping for any car in the Ford Focus range is 10E, which is generally for the Ghia and Titanium range models.

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