A recent survey has revealed that motorists find car parks one of the most stressful things about the festive season.  Find out where to get car parts to replace ones scratched from packed shopping malls.

Of 3,000 drivers surveyed, the biggest worry surrounding Christmas parking was being issued a penalty parking ticked for a late return, this scored 7.2 (where 10 was the most stressful).

The Autoquake research showed the next biggest irritation was other people’s bad parking scoring on average 6.7, with the difficulty of finding a free space scoring 6.5.

“Christmas shopping can be a test of patience,” said Dermot Halpin, Autoquake’s CEO.

“From heavy traffic, to full car parks, to the worry of picking up a penalty ticket if you’re a few minutes late getting back to the car, it’s a festive headache.”

Women were shown to find these situations more stressful with an average score of 7 for finding a free space compared to 5.7 for men.

Parking spaces that are too small caused a stress factor of 6.8 for women and 5.5 for men.

Reversing into a space for females was also quite hard as they scored it as 5.6 with only a 3.8 from men.

Where can I buy cheap car parts?

If you have had to fit into a tight space in an overcrowded car park over the festive period, or have had trouble reversing you may have had certain car parts damaged in the process.

Car parts such as body panels are the most common part of a car scratched or dented in car parks as eager shoppers open their doors too quickly, hitting the car next to them.

Wing mirrors that do not fold in are also usually the first to get scratched by pillars or from other cars’ wing mirrors jutting out.

For those who have trouble reversing into spaces the rear bumper may also need replacing if the distance was misjudged and the back wall hit.

For all these car parts, motorists can purchase them online at various stockists at a good price so they need not worry about digging into their Christmas budget to get their car back on form.

Government ministers have announced their plans to help nationalise ultra-low emission cars with grants of up to £5,000 on offer for nine new models.

The Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Business Minister Mark Prisk also announced five additional regions will be installing local charging points making it easier for electric car owners to recharge.

This move comes after the party successfully bid for a share of a £20 million fund.

If you already own an electric car or are considering buying a more environmentally friendly motor but are worried about the cost of upkeep and the availability of car parts, look at online stockists for an idea of price.

The first nine cars to be eligible for the eco-friendly grants are: Mitsubishi iMiEV, smart for two electric drive, Peugeot jON, Citroen CZero, Nissan Leaf, Tata Vista EV, Toyota Prius Plug-in, Vauxhall Ampera and Chevrolet Volt.  More are expected to be eligible next year.

“A few years ago, ultra-low emission cars with mass market appeal appeared just a pipe dream,” commented Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary.

“The British public has in the past shown it’s ready to embrace new technology and take practical steps to adopt a lifestyle kinder to the environment.”

From 1^st January 2011 motorists will be able to receive the new grant which could cut the cost of an eligible car by a quarter.

Green Car Parts Online

While electric cars are still in their infancy they are becoming a more popular form of transport as the country takes on board the need to cut carbon emissions.

This means that car parts will be coming down in price as competition continues to grow in this market.

Online stockists often offer discounts on electric car parts as they are able to hold a large supply and send them out to anywhere in the country instead of relying on local business.

Breakdowns during the cold snap have centred on frozen wipers and battery problems according to latest reports.

If your car struggled in the recent cold weather it may be an idea to change some car parts to ensure it does not breakdown unexpectedly when it may not be convenient to do so.

Battery issues have been the number one fault for call-outs according to the RAC since the start of the bad weather, with over 10,000 batteries fitted in the last two weeks.

Many people found themselves unable to start their cars and also had problems with frozen cooling systems.

“With a temporary end to the cold spell in sight, I would remind drivers to make sure their wipers are not frozen to the windscreen when they turn them on,” commented Alan Wilcock, RAC patrol ambassador of the year.

De-icing Car Parts Tips

Although the cold snap has eased, weather forecasters predict a white Christmas making it even more important motorists are aware of how to defrost vital car parts to commence their festive journeys.

The RAC reported that they had had many call-outs where motorists had blown a fuse or damaged the wiper motor by not releasing the wiper-blades.

To prevent this from happening to you, make sure you spray you wipers with de-icer spay or pour tepid water over them to prevent them from getting stuck.

Spare Car Battery Parts

If cost is a problem this close to Christmas try looking online for spare car batteries to replace your existing one, or any other car part you may require.

Most online stockists hold a variety of different make and model parts so motorists can simply order the part online or over the phone and the part is delivered straight to their front door.

Spare car parts should be a must-buy purchase in the run-up to Christmas if motorists are looking to protect their cars during winter driving.

The festive period is a busy time of year for car breakdown services such as the AA and RAC. Bad winter weather, lots of traffic and congestion mean that many cars simply give up on their drivers, leaving Christmas plans in ruins.

“Breaking down is bad at any time of the year,” says Gordon Morris, Managing Director of Age UK Enterprises.

 “However, as anticipation and excitement of festivities is upon us the event can be even more frustrating at Christmas time.

Family and friends are not always able to help and emergency services are not obliged to respond to break down call outs.”

Get The Best Car Parts

But if you plan your journey well in advance it is possible to minimize any potential disruption to your travel plans and general car and car part maintenance could save you a lot of wasted time and money in the long run.

Buying good quality spare car parts online – even if you do not need them right now – could be a good tip, so that if you do run into motoring problems you have spare car parts to replace damaged ones.

Buy spare car parts from a reputable online supplier of reliable used and new car parts if you want to save money, while also ensuring that you have the quality product you require, too.

Winter Driving Car Tips

Other good tips for motorists should include getting your battery checked before you set out on a long journey, check your tyre tread and pressures, check your brake and fog lights are working properly and Don’t forget to check your oil, water and antifreeze levels before setting off.

Follow these tips for winter driving to ensure that your child is positioned properly in their car seat when you hit the road.

A poll of 1,000 mums has shown that 76.3% of British parents put their children into car seats while they are wearing a thick coat or snowsuit.

According to the UK Department of Transport, 60 to 80% of all car seats are used incorrectly, with harness tension being the single biggest failing. Getting the correct harness tension is even more difficult in winter as it is hard to tell whether you have a good harness fit if a child is wearing a thick coat.

The survey conducted by baby company Morrck with parents of children aged four and under shows that bulky winter clothes can result in car seat harness straps being too loose to be effective.

Worryingly more than half (55.9%) are unaware that this can affect the harness tension, potentially placing their child in danger should they be involved in a road traffic accident.

The festive period is a busy time of year for car breakdown services such as the AA and RAC. Winter driving can be dangerous, too, which is why it is important for you and your family that your car is roadworthy and any faulty car parts replaced.

If you are driving a car that you know could do with some maintenance, but you are put off because of the high cost of garage servicing charges, you can save money by looking for car parts online.

Most car parts such as tyres, wheels, engines, suspension, and body panels can be purchased at discounted prices online, but some online stockists also offer interior parts such as foot mats, seat covers and car carpet, too.

Additionally, the stockists tend to have a bigger supply of car parts for varying makes or model vehicles making it more likely you will find the part you require.

For the fourth consecutive month the number of used cars sold has risen reflecting the tone of the nation seeking out bargains in the current economic downturn.

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association revealed used car finance increased seven percent by value and 11 percent by volume in October, compared with the same time last year.

This rise is believed to be due mainly to the Government’s scrappage scheme which led to a shortage of quality used cars and car parts.

Since this scheme and the 15 percent VAT rate ended, consumers have been forced to search the used car market to replace their motors.

“The continued revival of the used car market reflects a return to ‘traditional’ buying habits as buyers look to manage their budgets by seeking out affordable cars and finance,” said Paul Harrison, Motor Finance head.

New car sales dropped by 11 percent compared to October 2009 although the market had grown by 22 percent in the last twelve months.

The number of people buying private new cars on dealer finance exceeded 50 percent for the first time since July last year.

The business car finance sector remains volatile however the number of cars bought on finance fell by 11 percent in October compared to the same time last year.

Used Car Parts

The public sector spending cuts and the changes to the benefit bands will impact the majority of society renewing further the used car industry as people turn to cheaper options.

Owning a car is expensive enough without having to buy spare parts to replace ones which have become worn down due to the age of the car.

However, if you are unable to afford a new or used car you could try rejuvenating your current one by obtaining cheap car parts from an online stockist.

UK petrol prices have reached a record high with petrol stations charging 121.76p per litre and 125.73p per litre for diesel.  Find out how to save money on car parts to reduce your motoring costs.

At the beginning of the year petrol prices stood at, on average, 109.88p per litre for petrol and 11.52p per litre for diesel.

Petrol is now 11.88p per litre more expensive and diesel is 14.21p per litre more expensive than a year ago.

“It comes at a particularly bad time for drivers who have struggled with appalling winter weather and often see their fuel drain away while stuck in snow-bound traffic jams,” said Edmund King, AA president.

A 50 litre of petrol now costs an extra £5.94 than a year ago and £7.11 more for diesel, with the extra monthly cost of petrol for a two-car family amounting to about £25.23.

Motorists are set to struggle further with the increase in fuel duty and VAT to increase this price more in the New Year to 124p per litre for petrol.

Buy Cheap Car Parts

If your motoring finance is struggling to cope with the increasing cost of petrol, and buying car parts to replace damaged or worn ones is too much of a strain on the purse try looking online for cheaper alternatives.

The early winter snow has caused many British cars to take a significant strain to cope with those conditions, some have over-heated, tyres may require replacing on others, while windscreens and windows may also have become scratched.

If your car could do with a winter makeover to help it cope with the rest of the bad weather to come in the New Year you can acquire quality car parts from online stockists who can send you the part straight to your home.

An Aston Martin is the top dream car for most Brits but many make do with a Ford Focus instead new research reveals.

The survey by Post Office Car Insurance showed 14 percent would choose an Aston Martin if they could afford it, and this rises to 17 percent of men.

While many dream of owning one of these vehicles, the overall cost of not only buying it, but running and maintaining car parts is likely to be unaffordable.

The report looked at what people would opt for instead of their dream car and those who would ideally choose an Aston Martin would settle for a Ford Focus, while the Jaguar the second car of choice would see many people settle for a Volkswagen Golf instead.

The Mercedes SL was the nation’s third dream car with these people more likely to choose an affordable Vauxhall Astra, the Toyota Prius in fourth with the reality alternative the BMW Saloon and the Audi A8 in fifth with a Ford Fiesta the cheaper choice.

“Even in the current economic outlook the nation’s desire of making their dream car become a reality remains strong,” said Gerry Barrett, Post Office car insurance head.

“For those who do make this dream come true, they must remember there are more costs to running a car than just the initial price-tag.”

The high place of the Toyota Prius shows the importance of owning an environmentally friendly car for many, and this was especially true in the North East where one in ten would choose a green car.

Car Affordability

Younger drivers were found to be more optimistic about owning their dream car in their lifetime, with a third of the 18-34 year-old group said they would be able to purchase it one day, and 67 percent believe they will get it before the age of 40.

Those who live in London and the South East of England were the most confident regionally about affording their dream car, with 22 percent and 20 percent respectively.  This is compared to just nine percent in the East Midlands.

New research proves the name Chelsea Tractor is more accurate than previous thought as this area of London has the highest proportion of 4×4s anywhere in the UK.

Over 2.5 million motorists were surveyed across the UK and showed although there are many 4×4s in rural areas of Scotland – the majority were found in leafy urban areas in London and the Home Counties, according to Diamond.

Chelsea is at the top of the list with motorists only driving on city roads for shopping trips or the school run, this area accounted for 17.8 percent of the number of 4×4s vehicles in the UK.

This was followed by Kensington, London with 17.4 percent and Banchory, Aberdeenshire, 17.0 percent, while areas in Kent and Surrey also featured several times on the top ten list.

“You’d expect farmers to be among the most likely to drive a 4×4 but the variety of other jobs in the list emphasises how popular 4×4s have become away from what they were originally deigned for,” said Elwyn Gedrych, Diamond managing director.

“Many people see them as a status symbol, and some people perceive them to be safer for passengers.”

Haulage contractors are most likely to own this type of vehicle followed by bank directors in second place and in third are farmers.  Property developers, stockbrokers and publicans also featured in the top ten occupations of those who own a 4×4.

The research also showed men were more likely than women to own a 4×4, with the most popular the Range Rover followed by the Land Rover Freelander and Honda CRV.

4×4 Car Parts

If you own a 4×4 and require spare car parts try looking online as most online stockists hold a variety of different parts available for motorists immediately.

Most Range Rover, Land Rover and Honda 4×4 parts are available online and often at good prices.

Christmas shoppers are willing to drive up to 200 miles to track down the perfect gift a new survey shows.  Find out how to prevent car parts from overheating.

More than 22 percent are prepared to sit in traffic and drive this distance for Christmas presents and one in ten embark on a 100 mile round trip journey, according to used car website motors.co.uk.

Over half of the respondents admitted they have had to endure traffic queues for more than an hour to get into town, while 25 percent of shoppers have reportedly spent two hours or more in traffic jams.

A further five percent of motorists said they were prepared to travel up to 200 miles to track down a ‘Jetpack Buzz Lightyear’, ‘Lego City Airport’ or ‘Monopoly Revolution’ which are set to be this year’s ‘must have’ Christmas gifts.

“Christmas is one of the worst times of the year for traffic congestion and we wanted to find out how far drivers were willing to go for the perfect gift,” said Katie Wardle, marketing head at motors.co.uk.

“Motorists have come to accept traffic congestion as the norm during the festive period.”

The survey which questioned 1015 Christmas shoppers on their festive driving habits also showed one in three preferred doing their Christmas shopping on the high street, as opposed to out of town shopping centres.

How Traffic Can Damage Car Parts

When cars are stuck in heavy traffic they have the tendency to overheat, especially older cars which have not been designed with an electric cooling fan.

This automatically controls the temperature, and either the fan or the switch can fail.  If this happens get both these car parts checked.

If the temperature gauge starts to climb towards the red while you are stuck in traffic turn the heater on full blast – this takes excess heat from the engine and disposes it inside the car.

Once the car is moving again the airflow should fix this problem and reduce the temperature.