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  • Ask What Car? ? live Q&A

     What Car? will host its latest live lunchtime Q&A session on Tuesday, August 10, between 1-2pm.

    Join us here on whatcar.com, where our experts will be on hand to answer any car buying questions you have.


    Whether you're looking for advice on buying a new or used car, or have some other motoring-related issue that you'd like to try and resolve, our team of experts will be on hand to help out.



    How will it work?
    Simply log on from 1pm, submit your question and we'll get through as many as we can.


    This week's experts
    Answering your questions will be the following What Car? team members:
    • Iain Reid: whatcar.com producer
    • Jim Holder: What Car? magazine editor
    • Peter Lawton: whatcar.com deputy editor
    • Matt Sanger: What Car? used car editor
    • Ivan Aistrop: What Car? road tester


    Depending on how many questions we get we might not be able to answer them all, and some issues might be too involved to clear up in the limited time we have available.

    Set the date
    Make sure you don't miss the opportunity to put your questions direct to the What Car? team by entering your e-mail address in the box on the right ? and you'll get a reminder sent direct to your inbox before the Q&A session starts.

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...



  • Petrol prices to soar

     Petrol prices will go up this month, and are set to soar next year, it was predicted today.

    Record-high forecast
    The Retail Motor Industry, which represents around two-thirds of the UK's petrol stations, said petrol prices could rocket to an all-time high of 125.9p-a-litre next year.

    The perfect storm for prices
    The planned increases in fuel duty in October and January, and the 2.5% VAT increase in January are to blame for the long-term increase in prices, while the rise in the cost of crude oil and fluctuating exchange rates could result in a 4p increase in fuel by September.

    Brian Madderson, RMI Chairman Petrol, said: 'A crude oil price increase will feed through the supply chain and could result in prices going up by as much as 4p-a-litre in the next three weeks.

    'We also need to remember that the new Government did not cancel Labour's Budget commitment to raising fuel duty by 1p-a-litre from October 1 and a further 0.76p from January 1, with both having VAT added.

    'Then we have the coalition's emergency Budget proposal to increase VAT to 20% from January 4, so the outlook remains extremely difficult for motorists and retailers alike. We could see new record pump prices within six months.'

    Beat the price rises
    Fuel prices might be on the up, but that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do to limit the effect on your wallet. Have a look at these money-saving features.

    Petrol or diesel
    Could you save money by switching your fuel from petrol to diesel ? or even vice-versa? Have a look at our petrol vs diesel calculator.
    Petrol or diesel calculator



    Green driving tips
    Cut your bills by following our green driving tips. Simple actions could save you a significant amount of cash.
    Green driving tips




    Get interactive with whatcar.com...



  • Top cop: 'Don't turn off speed cameras'

     The UK's top traffic policeman has told the Government that switching off speed cameras will lead to more people being killed on our roads.

    The Government has pledged to end funding for fixed speed cameras, and Oxfordshire council has confirmed it will switch off its 72 speed cameras to save money.

    Top cop warns of increased fatalities
    However, chief constable Mick Gianassi, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on roads policing, claims there will be a rise in fatal road accidents as councils axe speed cameras because they can't afford to operate them.

    'The evidence is that road safety camera partnerships have resulted in significant reductions in road casualties over the past decade,' said Gianassi. 'There are almost half the number of casualties that there were eight years ago.

    'There is clear evidence that the public accept speed cameras. We recognise that we have to save money, we recognise that road safety has to play a part of that, but these cuts are a particular threat to the sustainability of the system.

    'I am working with the Government to persuade them that action needs to be taken to protect the system and the future of our road safety'

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...




  • Skoda Roomster driven

     The recently refreshed Skoda Roomster is a bit like the motoring equivalent of a loft conversion.

    It?s just a little longer than the Fabia supermini it?s based on, but that elevated roofline and big side windows makes the cabin feel much bigger and airier.

    Whether there are two or three grown-ups in the back ? or two child seats ? there?s plenty of space for all and the Varioflex seat system makes the Roomster more versatile than most family cars: the seats can fold, tumble forward, slide back and forth or be taken out altogether. The middle seat can also be removed and then the two remaining seats pushed inwards for a bit more elbowroom. There?s plenty of space for odds and ends too, while the 450-litre boot will easily swallow the entire contents of the kids? toy cupboard.

    Not just for kids
    The grown ups will be happy, too. For starters, the interior now looks and feels better, with the dashboard in particular getting some nicer, soft-touch plastics.
    The new engine line-up includes three 1.2 petrol engines and two 1.6 diesels, so the Roomster is now cheaper to run than before. You can also add a DSG automatic gearbox to the most powerful petrol.

    We drove the 1.2 TSI 105 with the semi-automatic DSG ?box, and the 1.6 TDI 90 with manual change. Both have enough power to whizz the Roomster past slower cars or lorries, but the diesel is noisier than the petrol model and it vibrates a bit more, too. The DSG gearbox can be a bit slow to react, especially when you?re pulling away, and the manual ?box is a bit clunky, but you can easily live with either.

    It?s the same with refinement: there?s a rumble of road noise on rougher roads, and the door mirrors whip up a bit of wind noise, but you won?t need to raise your voice too much to be heard over it.

    What Car? says:
    Cheap, cheerful MPV that?s good family transport



  • Which celebs work for car makers?

     Victoria Beckham has landed a job at Land Rover working on the new Evoque and Everest-conquering climber Bonita Norris is the face of the Nissan Juke.

    Do you know which other celebrities have tied in with car manufacturers?

    Try our quiz to see how many real pairings you can spot and how many fictitious partnerships we've invented.


    How to play
    Just look at the pairings, below, decide if they're for real then click for the answer.



    DI Burnside (from The Bill) and Fiat


    Click here

    for the answer




    Craig Phillips (from Big Brother 1) and Mitsubishi


    Click here

    for the answer



    The England Cricket Team and Jaguar


    Click here

    for the answer



    Tom Cruise and Bugatti


    Click here

    for the answer



    Ricky Hatton and Subaru


    Click here

    for the answer



    Jodie Kidd and Maserati


    Click here

    for the answer



    Wayne Rooney and Mercedes-Benz


    Click here

    for the answer



    Justin Timberlake and Audi


    Click here

    for the answer



    Stephanie Twell and Citroen


    Click here

    for the answer



    Get interactive with whatcar.com...






  • What Car? video blog: Matt on matt

     What Car?'s Matt Sanger takes a practical look at the latest trend in car colours, matt black.































  • Drug driving kits by 2012

     Kits to test if drivers have been using drugs could be available to police forces by the end of the year.

    The kits, dubbed drugalysers, would mean officers no longer have to get a doctor's permission to take a blood test to gather evidence that could be used in court.

    Drugalysers within 'months'
    Road safety minister Mike Penning has revealed that drugalysers could be installed at every police station by 2012, but that the first test devices could be in use within months.

    'It is vital that the police have the tools they need to tackle those who drive while impaired by drugs,' said Penning.

    'This selfish minority show a flagrant disregard, not only for their own lives, but for the safety of others and we are determined to tackle this menace.

    'That is why we are taking urgent steps to make drug screening technology available as soon as possible.'

    Roadside test on the way
    The first versions of the kits are expected to be ready in September, and will initially be for use in police stations. The Government has put £300,000 towards designing a device that could be used at the roadside.

    Julie Townsend, campaigns director for road safety charity Brake, said: 'The introduction of drugalysers is long-overdue. However, we need to go further than just introducing testing kits in police stations.

    'In other countries, screening devices are used at the roadside to catch drug-drivers; we need to be moving urgently towards this type of screening in the UK. We also desperately need to close the loophole on drug-driving by making it an offence to drive with illegal drugs in your body, so police don't have to prove impairment.'

    Drink-drive figures fall
    Provisional statistics on accidents reported to the police involving drinking and driving in Britain in 2009, show that fatalities have fallen by 5% to 380, from 400 in 2008. It is the first time drink-drive fatalities have fallen below 400 a year.

    Seriously injured casualties fell by 9% from 1620 in 2008 to 1480 in 2009; slight casualties resulting from drink-drive accidents fell by 8% from 12,990 in 2008 to 11,990 in 2009.

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...




  • Tyre test on video

     Cheap rubber might be easy on your wallet, but is it really worth the saving? We tested a selection of budget tyres against three premium brands to find out.

    Pop in to your local tyre fitter and you?ll have the choice of dozens of brands. Some will be expensive ? up to £100 each, including fitting, for a basic Ford Focus or VW Golf ? while others seem a snip at half the price.

    There can?t be that much difference in performance, can there?

    We pitted three premium tyres against three budget alternatives in a series of braking tests, and the results were shocking.

    In the wet, the budget tyres took an average of 14 metres ? the length of an articulated lorry ? longer than the premium tyres to pull up from 70mph.

    Watch the video
    See our video of the test, then click below to read the full feature explaining why buying budget tyres could cost you dear?


















    Read the full feature here ? Tyre test - why budget tyres could kill




  • Best and worst? family cars

     Family cars lead tough lives ? they need to cope with the kids and eat up the miles of the weekly commute.

    With demands such as these, you'll need to know which cars are up to job ? and those that can't take the heat of family life.

    The best of the best
    Mazda 6


    Our favourite family car is the Mazda 6. It?s fun to drive, well-priced and well-equipped.

    There?s plenty of room inside the 6 and the simple seat-folding mechanism is an extra bonus, which off-sets the fact that some of the interior might not look as snappy and appealing as the exterior.

    While it might not be the quietest contender, as an all-round package it?s still a top performer and highly dependable.

    What Car? pick of the Mazda 6 range - 2.2D 163 TS



    The best of the rest
    Ford Mondeo


    Next up is one of the best-known names in motoring ? the Ford Mondeo. You might dismiss it as too obvious a choice, but you?d be missing out if you did.

    Superb handling ability is matched by a composed, quiet ride that makes the Ford a true all-rounder.

    It?s also a big car, so you won?t want for space inside, and build quality is durable.

    What Car? pick of the Ford Mondeo range - 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec



    Skoda Superb


    A car with this name certainly has a lot to live up to, and the Skoda doesn?t disappoint.

    The sumptuous materials, plentiful equipment and impressive build quality might make you think you?re in an executive car, but the prices won?t.

    Get in the back and you could be in a luxury car ? there?s an amazing amount of legroom ? while the boot is huge. There also the bonus of a clever, combined hatch/bootlid.

    What Car? pick of the Skoda Superb range - 1.4 TSI S



    Volkswagen Passat


    The Passat is an incredibly comfortable mile-muncher, so if you spend a lot of time on the motorway, it could be ideal.

    There?s not as much room as in the Skoda Superb, but the Passat certainly isn?t pokey, and it's well-equipped, too.

    It?s not a bad-looking car from the outside, although some of the plastics in the cabin feel a bit on the cheap side.

    What Car? pick of the Volkswagen Passat range - 2.0 TDI CR 140 S



    Toyota Avensis


    You won?t buy an Avensis to look flash, but beauty is only skin deep, and the Toyota?s talents go way beyond that.

    Reliability is king, while all of the materials in the cabin are top-notch and the controls operate smoothly.

    It?s easy to drive, comfortable to travel in, and now comes with the peace-of-mind of a five-year warranty.

    What Car? pick of the Toyota Avensis range - 2.0 D-4D TR Nav



    The not-so-hot
    There are no one-star family cars, but the Kia Magentis is the only car to get just two stars. The replacement for the Magentis arrives at the Paris motor show at the end of September and will go on sale in the UK early in 2011.

    It should continue to offer lots of equipment and space for the money, but hopefully it will also take a stride forward in terms of the driving experience and quality.

    Renault?s three-star Laguna is next. It certainly looks pretty stylish and is well-equipped, but the ride is harsh and the resale values could make you wince.

    The Vauxhall Insignia is stylish and comes loaded with creature comforts, safety equipment and cutting-edge features, but refinement is just okay, while the steering doesn?t make for a fun time at the wheel. However, the Insignia now comes with a free lifetime warranty (for the first owner ? the second will have to pay).

    The B-Class from Mercedes-Benz has lots of space and can cruise nicely on the motorway. It?s expensive, though, and, again, the way it drives won?t light your fire.

    Our final three-star family car is the Peugeot 407, which is about to be replaced by a car that will closely follow the ?5? concept seen at this year's Geneva motor show. We?re keen to see if Peugeot has improved the poor ride and seat comfort of the outgoing model.

    Get interactive with whatcar.com...




What Car? News Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:19:00 GMT

Driving Lessons Hull - Driving Lessons Hull
...t turned 17, had received my provisional licence through the post and was desperate to get behind the wheel. Hand on heart I can honestly say that learning to drive was a real joy and my driving inst...
Visit Driving Lessons Hull...

Parking Services - Parking Services
...ngry when people park in their car park yet fail to visit the store. This means spaces are lost for genuine shoppers and people are parking for free whilst abusing a privilege. Stores are clamping d...
Visit Parking Services...

Motorhome Hire - Motorhome Hire
...stion we found ourselves asking at the moment. Dare we risk booking a holiday abroad and take the chance that some Icelandic ash cloud won`t spoil the adventure, or do we look at something a little c...
Visit Motorhome Hire...

Airport Transfer London - Airport Transfer London
... like the longest flight in the world you are so relieved to see the driver who is standing in arrivals with a board that has your name upon it. Thankfully you had the presence of mind to ring ahead ...
Visit Airport Transfer London...

Window Tints London - Window Tints London
...wing craze within the UK to tint the windows of your car. This concept isn`t new, I can remember window tinting film being available many moons ago and anyone who has tried to fit this product in the...
Visit Window Tints London...

Scrap Cars - Scrap Cars
...d to be. You bought the car second-hand almost 10 years ago and she has served you proudly in this time. Each year you have managed to get it through the MOT but this time things are different. A lo...
Visit Scrap Cars...

Parking Sensor No Drill - Parking Sensor No Drill
... no drill to have fitted in my car and am at present deciding which particular one to buy. I was told about a parking sensor no drill by a friend of mine who had one fitted in her car and was extreme...
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Motorcycle Tyres - Motorcycle Tyres
...orcycle Tyres are unique to have contact patches which hold the ground tightly. Most of the Motorcycle Tyres are pneumatic in nature, i.e. full of air; however in some special cases where the tyre is ...
Visit Motorcycle Tyres...

Motorhome Rental - Motorhome Rental
...aying within the confines of the UK. You`ll be taking some time to explore the South West region and will be savouring the delights that Devon and Cornwall have to offer. To give you the maximum amou...
Visit Motorhome Rental...

Intensive Driving Courses - Intensive Driving Courses
...t arm to take an intensive driving course when I was 17. The simple fact was, I just didn`t have the money to pay for one of the intensive driving courses at the time and I had to take weekly lessons...
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Mercedes Servicing Essex - Mercedes Servicing Essex
...oking for second hand cars will shy away from the vehicles that don`t have comprehensive service histories with them. A neglected Mercedes that hasn`t been serviced regularly could cause big headache...
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Boiler System - Boiler System
...urised system. With a boiler system there is no need for water storage tanks or hot water cylinders. Many brands of boiler system use bi-thermal technology to provide efficient and reliable heating ...
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Car Tinting London - Car Tinting London
...riving around with their windows tinted today, or at least, more with their rear windows tinted. I can remember a time when you bought film to tint your own windows but the end results never looked q...
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Ecu Remapping - Ecu Remapping
...own as the `Engine Control Unit`- (ECU), which is in all cars. The most common reason people go for ECU Remapping in their car is because all car manufacturers set a default value to all that`s set wi...
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Vehicle Tracking Systems - Vehicle Tracking Systems
...anage their vehicles on a tight budget as it is. Monitoring company vehicles used to be a difficult process and drivers would be pretty much left to their own devices. Plenty of trust was placed on ...
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Mobile Mechanic Croydon - Mobile Mechanic Croydon
...uple weather will be having a dire effect on a number of cars in the UK. Batteries are the main culprits because they often fail as soon as winter approaches. Cars can leave their owners in the lurc...
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Parking Sensors Fitted - Parking Sensors Fitted
...h you are a confident driver you acknowledge that parking just isn`t your forte. You struggle trying to reverse into supermarket car parks, and if you have to parallel-park on a road, this puts the fe...
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Rally Driving - Rally Driving
...dened by the untimely death of both Richard Burns and Colin McRae. Both of these exceptionally talented World Champions were cut down in the prime of their life. They were, and still are, role model...
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Bridgestone Motorbike Tyres - Bridgestone Motorbike Tyres
...931. The company was founded by a Japanese gentleman Mr. Shojiro Ishibashi who has used the English translation of his surname to name his company Bridgestone. From the very first day of its journey B...
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Mobile Car Valeting - Mobile Car Valeting
...vice for those who do not have enough time to keep up their cars. Your vehicle should be valeted regularly, at least to prevent the onset of rust and corrosion. No one should neglect the servicing of...
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Intensive Driving Courses - Intensive Driving Courses
...e to rely on public transport anymore? How many times have you missed your bus or waited for a train that ended up being cancelled? In the past you have toyed with the idea of learning how to drive ...
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Car Sales Sheffield - Car Sales Sheffield
...ty or economical; what type of car do you prefer? It all depends on your individual circumstances of course as to the type of car that you might desire. There`s no point in buying a two-seat sports ...
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Mobile Car Valeters - Mobile Car Valeters
...e to keep the car clean and in a pollution free state. Any car should be valeted on a regular interval, not just to prevent the onset of rust and corrosion but also for the best performance of the car...
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Heathrow Airport Taxis - Heathrow Airport Taxis
...business? Rather sensibly you place your transportation needs in the very capable hands of a private hire company who provides Heathrow airport taxisto a broad range of clients. Smartly presented dr...
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Energy Performance Certificates Birmingham - Energy Performance Certificates Birmingham
... housing industry as EPCS. They are an essential part of the HIPS and are the main part of them. HIPS are name given to, Home information Packs and they have been in effect in Britain since the 1 Augu...
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Parking Control - Parking Control
...be a problem on certain sites. Large supermarket car parks and retail sites often provide hundreds of spaces for the use of shoppers. However, not all of the vehicles that are parked within the car ...
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Cars Salvage - Cars Salvage
...pped of their useful parts before being disposed of in the correct manner. Owners that have MOT failures on their hands can ring cars salvage teams who will come and collect the cars for free. In so...
Visit Cars Salvage...

Motorcycle Helmets - Motorcycle Helmets
...than ever in motorcycle accessories and online bike accessory stores make the shopping process simple. You could be looking for a new set of leathers or be seeking new tyres to stick on your Triumph....
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Van Hire Southend - Van Hire Southend
...isn`t going to be large enough when you move out of your terrace at the end of the month. A larger vehicle will be needed that can carry your furniture and furnishings in complete comfort to the new ...
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Mobile Mechanic London - Mobile Mechanic London
...future to have it serviced when work of this nature can be completed outside of your home? You don`t have to be hindered when you need your oil and filters changing because a mobile mechanic london c...
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Used Cars Sheffield - Used Cars Sheffield
...failed her MOT for the final time. This time it`s terminal and the only place you`ll be driving your old fiesta is to the local breakers yard. A slightly newer vehicle is the order of the day and yo...
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Motorcycle Covers - Motorcycle Covers
...bike is brilliant as you can weave in and out of the traffic during rush hour and leave the other commuters far behind. The only problem arises when you get to work and you have to leave your bike ou...
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Minibus Hire Essex - Minibus Hire Essex
...uting this bank holiday and a couple of vehicles might be required to ferry the chosen few to the location that you have in mind. It could be a family picnic in a National Park that you have in mind ...
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Crash Course Driving - Crash Course Driving
...turn 17 and you only have 3 more months to go. The thing is; you are desperate to pass your test as soon as you can and because of this you are thinking of booking lessons through a crash course driv...
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Dent Removals Swindon - Dent Removals Swindon
... some point. Regular trips to the supermarket often proved to be my undoing as car park dents seemed to appear all of the time. Today it`s not too bad, as I have a two year old daughter, so I try to...
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Driving Lessons Beverley - Driving Lessons Beverley
...literally terrifying but not so much if you choose the right instructor for you and it really has to be someone who you really trust and get along with, that is where driving lessons Beverley can come...
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Alloy Wheel Repairs Gloucester - Alloy Wheel Repairs Gloucester
...lude, on which I had fitted an expensive set of alloy wheels. I used to nurse those alloys every time that I parked up because I didn`t want to kerb them on the pavement. It would have been an expen...
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Combination Boiler - Combination Boiler
...odern form of gas boiler which activates on demand usually within a pressurised system. With a combination boiler there is no need for water storage tanks or hot water cylinders. Many brands of comb...
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Mobile Ecu Remapping - Mobile Ecu Remapping
...ce Chips or chip tuning? This popular question arises when we hear the words mobile ecu remapping. Performance chips are electronic gadgets or chips which are used to get much better mileage from the ...
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Driving Lessons Caerphilly - Driving Lessons Caerphilly
... ensure that you have sufficient driving knowledge to be able to safely control a car whilst out in traffic. Some people get family members to teach them how to drive whilst others book lessons throug...
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Energy Performance Certificates - Energy Performance Certificates
... you any idea what your weekly energy consumption is and would have any idea in which areas it might be wasted? The chances are you don`t and you are not on your own in this area because plenty of ot...
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Car Servicing Essex - Car Servicing Essex
... it serviced your warranty will be void. New legislation means that you can take your car to a local garage and your warranty will still be intact. As long as genuine replacement parts are used then...
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Vehicle Tracking - Vehicle Tracking
...er vans are at any given time? Sure, you can ring individual drivers and they`ll tell you which customer they are heading to next but wouldn`t it be marvelous to be able to track each one individuall...
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Givi Luggage - Givi Luggage
... a beautiful piece of machinery and you like nothing more than to take it out on the road to open it up where you can. Free weekends are pleasurable times as you can up-sticks and head off for pastur...
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Intensive Driving Course - Intensive Driving Course
...ouldn`t take weekly lessons. Don`t get me wrong, my instructor was brilliant and he got me through my test at the first time of asking but the whole process took about 6 months in total. I was ready ...
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Driving School Cardiff - Driving School Cardiff
...hand car for your 18th birthday and having just turned 17 you now have a full year ahead of you to pass both your theory and practical driving tests. Your very first driving lesson will take place ne...
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Lamborghini Driving Experience - Lamborghini Driving Experience
... buy for someone`s special day and/or celebration? Or perhaps you are sick and very tired of buying the same mundane presents you have bought in previous years? If the answer is yes, then look no furt...
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Scorpion Motorcycle Exhausts - Scorpion Motorcycle Exhausts
... from the controlled combustion chamber of the engine or stove. Scorpion Motorcycle ExhaustsInside the motorcycle engine the reaction chamber burns the fuel which is made up of very big molecules of h...
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