With VAT hikes looming and fuel costs at an all time high, one of the best ways to cut the cost of motoring is to look online for cheap car parts.

Drivers are optimistic about the impact the recent government cuts will have on their motoring habits, research by Manheim Auctions showed.

While 62 percent of drivers thought this way, a huge 72 percent were also seriously considering exchanging their car for a more environmentally friendly alternative.

These cars offer cheaper road tax, lower carbon emissions and reduced premiums on car insurance policies while also meaning the driver does not have to refuel as often so saving on petrol costs.

“Ensuring your next car is fuel efficient will save you money in the long run, especially with the benefits of lower road tax and cheaper insurance,” said Craig Mailey, Manheim Auctions’ marketing director.

Cheap Car Parts Online

While many people are taking motoring costs in their stride, those who do not have the funds to replace their car with an economically friendly version should look online for cheap car parts to repair their current car.

If a car part is worn out or damaged it often puts more pressure on other parts of the vehicle which could mean they will also need replacing sooner.

For example, if your engine is lacking brake fluid this could put more pressure on the brake pads making them wear out quicker, and a damaged engine or faulty gears could mean you are using more petrol than you would normally.

Replacing car parts may seem like a huge expense but it is worthwhile doing it sooner rather than later to prevent the damage becoming unfixable or causing costs to increase the more work it may then require.

Spare tyres, engines, exhausts and suspension parts can all be order online at discounted prices.

Driving too fast can cause wear and tear to your car. Research shows Porsche, Maserati and SAAB drivers are more likely to obtain speeding tickets.  Find out where to buy replacement car parts for these vehicles.

Motorists who own high performance cars are more likely be caught speeding and those who drive a Porsche, Maserati and SAAB are the most prone to speedy driving nature.

These drivers are twice as likely to hold a speeding conviction than those who drive either a Proton, Daewoo or Rover.

How does speeding damage my car?

Speeding over the limit, or accelerating too quickly can put a huge strain on car parts which are not intended to be pushed to these extremes all of the time.

Tyres can become worn out more quickly especially if more severe braking is needed to slow the car down suddenly.

This in turn puts more strain on the brakes and can cause brake pads to become worn down more quickly, which if not replaced could hinder your braking ability which is even more dangerous if you are driving at high speeds.

Driving speedily uses a lot more fuel so the exhaust is working overtime to accommodate this, the car could easily become over heated from this too.

If you need to replace Porsche, Maseratis or SAAB parts due to speeding look online for good prices on quality car parts.

A speeding conviction was shown to add 27 percent to car insurance premiums and if a driver gets two in a row they could be liable for an addition fine, confused.com found.

Drivers between the ages of 31-35 were the most likely to speed over the limit, while singletons were shown to be more careful than those in a relationship as 10.6 percent had received a speeding fine compared to 16.7 percent.

June saw 50 percent more speeding convictions than December.

Mazda UK has launched a new online tool to enable customers to create their perfect virtual Mazda vehicle, picking and choosing relevant car parts in the process.

The Car Configurator includes a financial calculator so customers can quickly look at the finance options available to ensure a car can be created within their budget.

The exterior car parts can be selected depending on body colour preference, wheel design and accessories all of which are updated on the car on screen as they are picked.

The resulting image can then be viewed at a 180 degree rotation or in two outdoor locations while the interior can be seen as a large image.

Building Your Own Car

Building your own car, either from scratch or by doing up a used or damaged one takes a lot of time and if you are not careful, a lot of money.

It is important that when you are looking to do car maintenance or improvements to your vehicle that you work out how much your budget is going to be. Before you start it is worth investigating how much the car parts you may need cost, and how easily they can be obtained.

Online stockists are a good place to start as they often have a large supply of parts suitable for varying types of vehicle.

Popular car parts that most mechanics will want to test and replace if they are found to be faulty on a used car include body panels, tyres, engine parts and engines, glass screens, windscreen wipers, gearboxes, exhausts and electrical parts.

Overspending on car parts will leave you out of pocket, so it is always worthwhile to check out the price of specific car parts online, conduct comparisons and ensure that before you order that specific car parts are available to fit your budget.

247 Spares is one of the largest online suppliers of car parts in the UK, stocking quality car parts suitable for any make or model car.

More car buyers are relying on new and used car finance to buy cars, new figures show, despite a 19 percent fall in the total number of private new car sales in September.

The figures from the Finance & Leasing Association have shown that new cars sold on finance to consumers were up by five percent annually and used cars by six percent in September.

The percentage of new cars sold to consumers on dealer finance over the last year rose from 47.5 percent in August to 49.6 percent in September.

“The rise in the use of motor finances is great news for dealers, coming as it does in such an uncertain and volatile economic climate,” said Paul Harrison, head of motor finance.

A Pulse analysis for British Car Auctions (BCA) however showed that the average used car value fell by £146 in October, which the company puts down to continuing economic uncertainty affecting consumer confidence, especially when it comes to bigger transactions such as cars.

Volumes of used car sales were down by five percent in October compared to September and while demand levels continue to be high the value of second hand cars is set to remain relatively stable in the coming months, according the BCA.

The value of an average used car in October was £5,792, which is £1,000 more than it was two years ago.

Car Parts for Used Motors

Keeping repair costs to a minimum is vital if you have borrowed money to purchase a car recently, so investigate prices before you start so you can work out a budget. You could benefit from purchasing discount car parts online.

247 Spares is the largest online stockist of car parts, selling everything your motor may require from tyres, engine coils, gearboxes, steering wheels and exhausts.

Car theft continues to threaten unbeknown motorists, as new research highlights increased cases of vehicle theft occurred last spring. Find the best value car parts online now.

TRACKER, stolen vehicle tracking and recovery specialists, showed in the second quarter – April – July, 2010 – 83 percent of cars recovered were stolen using the owner’s keys – a three percent increase from the first quarter.

Motorists should watch out for other forms of theft where only certain car parts are stolen such as tyres or wing mirrors.

The figures show nearly £3.4 million worth of cars were stolen and then recovered during this period.

The highest value vehicle stolen this year was a Rolls-Royce Phantom worth over £165,000, however a Ford Focus worth £5,000 and a Mazda worth £3,500 were also recovered highlighting the need for everyone to protect their car.

Replacing Stolen Car Parts

If you have had car parts stolen from your vehicle, such as the tyres or other external parts, you can replace them by buying low cost car parts online for less.

Spare car parts can be acquired at discount prices, ordered online or over the phone and then delivered to your front door.

“As always, we want to remind motorists, that thieves don’t just target prestige brands, especially in the current economic climate,” said Stephen Doran, TRACKER’s managing director.

“Consumers are looking for used car bargains and thieves will shift their targets to suit demand.”

The top three car models most frequently stolen and then recovered were the BMW X5 followed by the Mercedes Benz CLK and the Mercedes Benz SL.

The top 10 regions across the UK where cars were stolen from were:

1              Greater London and London

2              Greater Manchester and Manchester

3              West Midlands

4              Northampton

5              Birmingham

6              Essex

7              Slough

8              Chelmsford

9              Chester

10           Wolverhampton

As new research reveals that suspension is the top car part likely to need replacing due to wear and tear, find out how to maintain your car and how to find the best deals on replacement suspension parts.

According to Warranty Direct, one in three cars that aged 3-7 years are under warranty and need replacement suspension car parts.

Good suspension is one of the single most important factors for ensuring your car is good to drive, as poor suspension and the increased friction it places on your vehicle can cause extra problems for other parts on your car, too.

Car Suspension Explained

The suspension you have for your vehicle will depend on your vehicle type, model, manufacturer and age.

There are many different types of front and rear suspension, so it is useful to consult your vehicle handbook or manual for detailed information. Just some of the suspension types include: twin I Beam suspension, Transverse Leaf-Spring, Trailing-arm Suspension and Coil Spring Suspension.

The average cost of getting a mechanic to fix a car now stands at £190 an hour, so learning to do basic car maintenance yourself could be a money-saver.

Buy Suspension Car Parts Online

Whatever type of suspension you are looking for, be it wheel bearings, wishbones or ball joints, we stock spare parts and sell all quality car parts at discounted prices.

Many people need to replace part of a car’s suspension when they buy a used or second-hand car. In fact, new figures show that more people are choosing second hand cars over new models at the moment because they are more affordable – if bought wisely.

If you do buy a second hand car, be sure to check the suspension before you buy and keep a lookout for faults which could significantly affect the value of the car.

The Highways Agency is advising road users in the North West, South West and South East to check weather conditions before they travel as strong winds are forecast.

Gusts of wind are predicted to reach speeds of up to 80 mph towards the weekend (Saturday 13^th November) and drivers of high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes are in particular more at risk of being blown over.

Drivers are advised to plan their journey before they depart to prevent an accident or car parts becoming damaged as rain and spray reduces visibility.

Car Parts for Damaged Cars

Bad weather conditions are a high source of concern for drivers as rain and wind reduces visibility, cold temperatures and ice can affect stopping distances, and short days mean people have to drive to and from work in the dark.

To reduce your chances of being involved in an accident check your car before you depart for signs of damage or wear and tear which could compromise your driving.

Ensure your oil level is sufficient, you have windscreen wash, and the tread on your tyres is deep and they are fully inflated.

These checks, as well as monitoring the general feel and drive of the car such as braking, should be done regularly.

Even if your car is in good driving condition sometimes accidents happen and if they do and you require spare car parts to replace damaged ones, you can obtain them quickly and easily from 247 Spares.

As the largest online stockist of car parts, 247 Spares supplies parts suitable for every make and model car currently on Britain’s roads.

All the parts are being sold at discounted prices and they can be ordered online or over the phone for your convenience and then delivered straight to your front door.

Whether it is new winter tyres you require, engine parts or a whole new engine, we stock everything through to body panels, windscreens and even interior accessories.

The average commute time for drivers in the UK stands at 47 minutes and 48 seconds per day, a 10 year low according to new results.

The Labour Force Survey enabled the TUC to calculate that in total £339 million of working time is spent on travelling to and from work.

Driving during peak times puts a huge strain on your vehicle and also your fuel budget meaning many vehicles can suffer from over-heating requiring motorists to have to change worn out car parts more often.

Replacing Worn out Car Parts

If your car is often pushed to its limit and requires new car engine parts or tyres, it is possible to buy them and other car parts at discounted prices for less online.

Many people are also opting for environmentally friendly alternatives to the classic petrol or diesel fuelled car, with many spare engine parts for these can also be found on 247 Spares, the largest online stockist of car parts in the UK.

Between 2006 and 2009, the number of people working from home increased by 291,000, which the TUC attributes to the fall in commuter times.

“After years of increasing journey times, it’s great to see that the number of hours spent commuting to work is finally falling,” said Brendan Barber, a TUC general secretary.

Work Wise research calculated that if an average commuter driving an average car covered the average commute distance, the car would produce almost one tonne of CO2 annually.

If this figure was multiplied by the 25 million who commute in the UK every day this works out to be the equivalent of almost 50 billion one litre water bottles of CO2 emitted every day.

“Policies such as staggering work journeys, home working, and encouraging cycling and walking, are enabling staff to get to work in a better way and in the process saving time and money,” added Phil Flaxton, Work Wise UK’s chief executive.

The average price of a second hand car fell by £146 in October, a new report shows. Looking to buy a second hand car? Follow these tips for buying a used car and relevant car parts.

The fall in second hand car prices, revealed by BCA’s latest Pulse analysis, is thought to be due to continuing economic uncertainty.

The average used car value fell to £5,792 in October, from £5,938 in September.

“October has heralded the typical slowing in demand that the market usually experiences in the run-up to the Christmas period,” said Tony Gannon, BCA’s communications director.

“Used cars continue to be the battleground for dealer profitability and this will remain the case while new car retail sales continue to be slow.”

The fleet & Lease sector saw the largest falls of £292, down by 3.8 percent, with nearly-new values losing £95.  However, part-exchange values fell by only £5 over the month – highlighting the continued demand for budget cars.

The values recorded remain ahead of figures in October two years ago by £1,000.

Tips for Buying a Used Car

The second-hand car market in the UK is very strong. However, car buyers should be on the lookout for faults which could significantly add to the price of the car for repair work.

Make a vigilant assessment of the car you are considering, and look out for signs of rust.  Some cars will have had a cheap lick of paint to cover the rust so it may not always be obvious.

Take a look at any dents in the body panels of the car you want to buy, too, as these may need  replacing; look for inconsistencies in the paint work and for in-conspicuous ones.

Lastly, check the car for any leaks inside the vehicle as this will also give you an indication of the quality of the car.

Millions of rush hour drivers are being warned they are already facing winter conditions on their commute, even though the weather may seem mild.

An analysis by Kwik Fit showed it is at temperatures below 7°C that drivers should watch out for when driving. It is at this temperature when summer tyres deteriorate resulting in longer braking distances.

This winter marker has already been reached this autumn at UK peak driving times of between 8.00-9.00am on 23 out of the last 25 days, making it vitally important to change or check car parts for safe winter driving.

“When checking the weather forecast, maximum daytime temperatures can lull motorists into a false sense of security,” said Ian Fraser, Kwik Fit’s chief executive.

“Most drivers will find they are driving in conditions below 7°C for far longer than they imagine.”

Below this temperature winter tyres will enable a car to stop 4.8 metres shorter than summer tyres on wet roads, and when roads become icy this stopping distance extends to 11 metres.

Despite the maximum daytime temperature remaining above 15°C in some parts of the UK, 69 out of 76 Met Office stations have recorded morning rush hour temperatures as low as 3°C.

Prepare Your Car for Winter Driving

Winter tyres look similar to summer tyres but have a special rubber compound and tread pattern which gives drivers better grip on roads and shorter braking distances below 7°C.

In addition to changing tyres it is also advised motorists check other car parts which may be more vital during winter conditions or more likely to run out.

This includes checking oil levels and windscreen washer fluid, as well as replacing cracked windscreens and any leaks which may require replacing whole body panels.

At 247 Spares we stock both summer and winter tyres and most of the other necessary winter car parts suitable for virtually every model car.