Rental car insurance mis-sold

Budget Rent-a-Car UK has been caught out selling the same car insurance policy twice after saying an initial policy was lacking in coverage, Auto Express has found.

East London resident Connor Mills purchased an insurance policy through online broker CarHire3000 and hired a Budget vehicle through the firm.

When Mr Mills went to collect his vehicle, he was told the policy did not cover him for repair time or accidents that were his fault.

He spent £37 for a Budget excess waiver on top of the £26 he had already paid CarHire3000, even though both featured identical terms and conditions.

It is essential that road users have appropriate car insurance, particularly when driving rental cars.

This is especially imperative in a foreign country where people may be driving the other side of the road or adhering to different rules, which may challenge motorists and could lead to more mistakes behind the wheel.

How to Buy a Classic Car

If you are considering the purchase of a classic car and don't know where to begin, perhaps these suggestions may serve as a guide.

1. Determine what you are looking for.
2. Do some basic research.
3. Ask the initial questions.
4. Test drive the car.
5. Get a professional inspection.
6. Do the paperwork.

Determine what you are looking for.

When shopping for a used/abused/adored/restored classic car you have choices ranging from cars that have to be hauled in a trailer because it's basically just a bunch of loosely connected parts to cars that you want to haul in a trailer to protect it's museum quality restoration. Your first level of decision making is to determine where in this spectrum you want start.

Questions to consider include:

• Do you want to do a major restoration?
• Are you interested in and capable of doing some mechanical work yourself?
• Do you want a car you can drive every day?
• Would you enjoy entering your car in competitions?
• Do you just want a great looking car to drive on weekends in good weather?
• Are you buying as an investment?

The answer to these questions determine how you measure the flaws you are certainly going to find.

Do some basic research.

If this is your first venture into this fantasy land, you obviously have more research to do than an experienced owner. A good investment of your time, even if you are not a first-timer, is to do some pricing research. The "beginner" should spend at least a little time reading about some of the characteristics and unusual maintenance requirements of the different models.

Pricing research can begin here looking at the Classic Car Classifieds can give you a very good idea of what is available and the general prices of the different makes and models. Another excellent source of information is "Miller's Collectors Cars Price Guide 2003/4".

There are many classic car clubs located throughout the world. Joining or visiting one of these clubs would give you the opportunity to talk with some car owners who will gladly share their experiences with you about the practical side of owning their Austin Healey. Ask questions such as how easy or difficult is it to find a good mechanic for repairs, do you need to use leaded gasoline, what would they be sure to look for if they were buying another Austin Healey. In a single evening at one of their meetings, you could learn things that would help prevent much grief later. A very good list of car clubs can be found at www.Classic-British-Cars.com.

Ask the initial questions.

When you locate a car you want to pursue, be prepared with a list of questions you want answered. Having an actual printed, in-your-hand list will help you remember the important issues and help prevent the conversation from wandering. Let me re-state a point to keep in mind when doing this initial investigation - you will find problems. Any car you look at will be 30 to 50 years old (or older). If it was in absolutely perfect condition, the price would be prohibitive unless you are prepared to pay for a museum quality car.

Keep in mind there are two basic types of questions: questions with factual answers and questions with opinion answers. Questions like "How long have you owned the car?" and "Have you had problems getting repair parts?" have easy, factual answers. Asking "How does it run?" or "How does it look?" is asking for their opinion. It is my opinion that asking the factual questions first are easier for the seller to answer and help lay the foundation for the opinion question. The answer to "Who does your drive-train and engine repairs?" not only gets you the name of a source of repairs, but also lets you know that repairs have been needed.

We have prepared a list of question on a "printer-friendly" page. Some buyers have found it helpful to cut and paste the list to a text editor or word processor so they can make changes and editions. To see our list Click Here.

If you think we have left out a valuable question, email Classic British Cars. We appreciate your help.

Test drive the car.

Now for the fun part! You have located a candidate, scheduled a test drive, and now you are ready to actually see and drive what is, quite possibly, going to be the fulfillment of your dream. A reality is that letting you (or me!) judge one of these classic cars is as dangerous as letting a nineteen-year-old with raging hormones select a mate for life. Before laying eyes on this beauty, we need to determine, as rationally as possible, what are going to be the minimum requirements for appearance and performance. Our next goal is make a clear assessment of the car. To aid in this process, we suggest that you go prepared with the proper tools and a checklist to insure that things are not over-looked in the passion of the moment. One extra benefit of being prepared is that the seller will realize you are a serious buyer who is likely to discover the car's weaknesses and perhaps will be more complete in describing the car's condition.

The first things you want to evaluate are the condition of the bodywork and appearance issues. In general, bodywork is more expensive than mechanical work. The biggest enemy of a classic car is rust. You need to look for rust with the same zeal as a detective covering a crime scene. We discuss this more on our checklist.

Next you need to confirm the mechanical condition. Keep in mind you are not looking for a car with absolutely no problems. You just want to know what needs to done immediately, what will need to done soon, and is this car capable of being maintained and available for your driving pleasure.

Lexus LF-LC Must be Made, Public Says

Caring about concept cars takes a lively sense of wonder and a little bit of short-sighted foolishness, at least in most cases.

These sleek, snazzy models appear long enough to tantalize the public and capture imaginations, only to disappear with the show just like a stage performer. What happens, then, when the crowd chants an encore, when they insatiably demand another taste? Sometimes nothing. On the other hand, the flattered performer may return to deliver.

The Lexus LF-LC concept that debuted in Detroit last January is one such performer. The world represents the crowd, who at this point are standing in their seats, chanting for more.

The LF-LC hybrid concept that garnered lavish praise and the EyesOn award for its striking design is proving to have lasting popularity. So much so that Lexus is taking notice.

“This is just a concept at this point, but judging from the fantastic reception it received at the recent Detroit auto show, people want us to build it.,” Yoshi Inaba, president and COO of Toyota Motor North America said.

For anyone who missed out on what was undeniably one of the most striking scenes in Detroit this year, the LF-LC hybrid concept car featured striking exterior styling with the opposing Lexus “L” grille that is already making its way into new models. The interior featured wild, organic, curvy designs that integrated new technology like speed-sensitive touch pads to lower and raise the windows.

It’s true that the car isn’t headed for production yet, but maybe Lexus can be coaxed if the crowd keeps chanting.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC concept

Honda Civic Hybrid

Looks like a Civic, drives like a Civic, but achieves better gas mileage than a regular Civic. In a nutshell, that's the Civic hybrid, one of the best cars for highway commuters according to Forbes Magazine, and the car with the best resale value according to Kelly Blue Books.

And quite soon, the Civic hybrid might be the only Civic available, a trend that could soon begin in Japan in 2012, although non-hybrid versions will remain in the US much longer.

Anyway, the 2012 Honda Civic hybrid offers a new rounder design, but overall the design will remain the same. Underneath the hood, however, things will look a little different.

First the 2012 Civic hybrid upgrades from a 1.3-liter engine to a 1.5-liter engine, providing more horsepower and torque. Second, and most important, the new Civic hybrid will switch from its current NiMH battery pack to lithium, increasing fuel economy by 1 mile on the highway, and 4 miles in city.

Additionally, the smaller and lighter battery should decrease the volume needed for the battery pack, opening up more space for cargo and passengers. Additionally, the new battery pack should resolve some nagging issues regarding the reliability of some Civic hybrid NiMH battery packs.

And while the 2012 Civic hybrid is a small car, it's one of the safest small cars available according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For now, however, Honda's second generation hybrid Civic offers improved city fuel economy, and an incredibly better body design with softer, sleeker design cues.

And, despite some complaints over mileage, particularly in city traffic, most Civic hybrid owners are very happy with the gas mileage of their hybrid Civics, although a recent battery software update for older Civic hybrids has decreased Civic hybrid fuel economy for many drivers. Fortunately, this is not an issue for new Honda Civic hybrids. For more, check out Civic hybrid testimonials.

Still, why the problems in the city? The first generation Civic hybrid, unlike the Prius hybrid, could not function on electric power only at low speeds. That; however, changed when the second generation Civic hybrid was launched.

While the Civic hybrid still cannot functional on electric power in the way that a Prius can, the Civic hybrid is still a winner for those interested in hybrid technology and fuel economy. Still, for those driving in harsh urban congestion, some might find the Civic hybrid's technology and a fuel economy less than expected.

Speaking of technology, the second generation hybrid Civic also increased its horsepower, which when combined with a continuous variable transmission, provides a smooth, yet powerful ride. Ultimately, the Civic hybrid significantly reduces fuel consumption without losing any performance.

While the first Civic hybrids offered a manual transmission in addition to the CVT version, only the continuously variable transmission version is available today.

Unlike the Prius, the current Civic hybrid isn't available in 20 different packages - yes, I'm exaggerating. Still.....

Starting at $23,195, the hybrid version of the Civic offers two basic packages - navigation or no navigation - a difference of about $1800.

Recently, I went Civic hybrid shopping, read more. The selection was good and Honda is willing to deal when it comes to the hybrid Civic.

The hybrid Civic went on sale in March 2002, marking the first time a mainstream vehicle had been converted to run on a hybrid powertrain in the U.S.

Recently, however, the Honda Insight hybrid has replaced the Civic hybrid as Honda's best selling hybrid.

The Civic hybrid is a nice car, and a much improved hybrid vehicle.

Still, when choosing a hybrid vehicle, your driving conditions should be an important consideration, at least if one of your primary concerns is fuel economy - which is probably why you are buying a hybrid in the first place, right? Thus, if you are a city driver that spends most of your daily commutes in stop-and-go traffic, then another hybrid, particularly the Prius, might be a better option.

If, however, you have a more mixed commute, or one where steady mileage is common, then the Civic hybrid might be your perfect hybrid.

For more on choosing the right hybrid vehicle, check out our Hybrid Buyers Guide.

America’s Favorite Car for $209

The Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in America for many years, for good reasons.

It’s a good solid car that enjoys great reliability and safety at a price that makes it an outstanding value. You get a lot of car for your money.

While there are other vehicles that may be sportier, more powerful, more luxurious, more stylish, or more utilitarian, few offer just the right balance of most of the things that automotive consumers are looking for in a new car.

Toyota has redesigned the Camry for 2012. The new seventh-generation model has a slicker, sportier look, more attractive profile, and improved handling — while adding new technology and safety features as standard equipment. And it’s economical to drive, getting up to 34 MPG on the highway.

Toyota is currently offering a special lease deal for February 2012 (until February 29) on the Camry SE style at only $209/month for 39 months, and $1999 down payment. At lease signing, you’ll owe the $1999 plus the first month’s payment, as well as any official fees.

This Toyota Camry lease offer is rated Excellent by LeaseGuide.com on a five-level scale of Poor/Average/Good/Excellent/Outstanding.

The sporty SE includes a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, heated exterior mirrors, unique interior and exterior styling treatments, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, sport seats and the Display Audio system. Standard safety features included are antilock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control, front- and rear-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and knee airbags for both driver and passenger.

Depending on the region of the United States in which you live, you may find slight variations on this Toyota Camry lease deal. In some areas, for example, the monthly payment is $219/month, for 36 months, with a $1950 down payment. It’s essentially the same deal with different details.

In summary, this is a great opportunity to get the most popular car in the nation for a very affordable monthly payment.