Road safety sponsor needed…

June 27th, 2009

brakeaward09

I have just got back from the Midlands having included Thursday night at Brake, the road safety charity’s Fleet Safety Forum Awards for Excellence 2009.

We had submitted an application for the category of ‘Road Safety in the Community’ on account of our UK Car Fitness Checks programme for women drivers and because FOXY must surely incorporate one of the largest virtual UK fleets of female motorists (excluding the NHS I imagine…)

I was very impressed by the night and learned much I must say.

I sat next to someone who demonstrated the effect of a safer seatbelt to make sure motorists don’t slip out of their seat on accident impact or children fall sideways on booster seats.  Apparently the  practice of  ’submarining’ is common too where you can slip under the belt and with unthinkable consequences.  He told me of the many instances where his belt, www.cg-lock.co.uk  has saved lives - how remarkable.

And the video clips included a 14 year old Newcastle United FC fan who had been killed by a speeding motorist - his sister did a brilliant job of reminding us how devastating the loss of any life is to those left behind. Especially where most of these accidents are totally avoidable. We need to be reminded more often, prticularly young drivers and those who can influence them.

Coincidentally I was pleased to see that the Department of Transport  KSI (killed and seriously injured) stats this week were significantly down in 2008 so fewer families lives were wrecked in this way last year but there is still much to be done.

Anyway, enough of this doom and gloom about motoring - there was a surprising light at the end of the FOXY tunnel.

Despite being in the company of business giants like Citroen UK, Royal Mail, Ocado and some seriously well funded local councils, FOXY Lady Drivers Club was ‘Highly Commended’ alongside ConocoPhillps Ltd (Jet Service Stations) in the Road Safety in the Community Award. Thank you Brake for this recognition of our ‘imaginative’ efforts as reported.

Not bad for a small business like FOXY but where do we go now?

To do more, we need a sponsor to help us in this vital area; one that recognises that women are the family influencers and need to understand the consequences of running poorly maintained and irregularly serviced cars as well as how the choice of a bad garage, inadvertently, could mean them [and their family] driving cars that they think are safe but aren’t.

There is SO much more we could do here.

Any ideas?

FOXY Steph

“Recognition is the greatest motivator” - Gerard C Eakedale

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The law of unintended consequence (Part 2)

June 21st, 2009

Occasionally we get calls from garages and dealerships looking to sell a popular car to women drivers.

Last week we heard of a mint 2CV Charleston that was to be traded in under the scrappage scheme.

The dealer knew it was worth more than £2000 to the right home but couldn’t take the specialist risk himself.

From our experiences within FOXY Lady Drivers Club we know that good 2CVs sell from £1k upwards to women drivers and that a really good one with a new chassis will fetch more.

But the woman driver who was cashing it in had bought it on eBay and for less than £2k so she was getting a deal.

But a car with years of life left, and one that someone had clearly cherished and spent a fortune on previously, was to be scrapped. Alongside a good number of cared-for cars with years left, no doubt. Bribed to this end by our government and the UK motor industry…

In the end we begged the dealer to talk to the Citroen Car Club knowing they would do all they could to save it, but with a heavy heart because time was of the essence and the dealer was simply doing his job, selling a new car. I imagine it will have its CoD (certificate of destruction) by now. Very sad.

FOXY Steph

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Unintended scrappage consequence (Part 1)

June 21st, 2009

I am interested in the outcome of the industry scrappage scheme.

Generally I am in favour of anything that can help UK dealers maintain employment levels even if this means their selling cars that were produced overseas and benefiting overseas economies. The aftermarket industry after all is a future beneficiary that few people think of, worth c£6.5bn, so not to be sneezed at.

But I didn’t think that the motor insurance industry would be able to muscle in their, charging amendment fees to car insurance policies for women drivers, in addition to higher premiums in most cases.

So far, says the Telegraph, motorists who have bought a new car and taken part in the scrappage scheme have paid up to £697,000 in admin fees simply to have had their policy amended.

Fast forward to February 2010 when the scheme is likely to end and this figure is estimated to have reached near £6 million says uSwitch.com.

The highest reported fees range from £35 for a mid-term amendment to £75 for a new policy with the average creeping up from £19.40…

To add to car insurance information for women drivers…

FOXY Steph

“When one door closes, another door opens.” Alexander Graham Bell

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Free car checks for women drivers

June 21st, 2009

According to the Driving Standards Agency one in eight learner drivers, including female motorists, don’t know how to (or want to perhaps) carry out basic maintenance on their cars.

Comma Oils have picked up on this, to recommend that drivers, male and female, should pay more attention to simple vehicle checks such as inspecting oil levels.

I agree and know from my experience within FOXY Lady Driver Club just how expensive this engine neglect can be.

But my main concern, as always, is to do with the fact that many learner drivers cannot afford new or nearly new cars and, without appreciating the safety imperative, may choose to scrimp and save on maintenance including checking their tyres and getting their car serviced regularly, not realising that their car might be dangerous as a result.

And too few motorists, men and women drivers alike, check before buying a used car to see if it has been regularly maintained and serviced. They are more inclined to judge the car by its looks and price; often oblivious to the fact that a neglected car will let them down soon and expensively - it’s just a question of time.

More worryingly vehicle safety is rarely addressed by those who buy new cars either - many  drivers (not just women) treat their new car much as they do a household appliance. Enjoy it when it’s new and under warranty then sell it and get a new one. In the case of the car (and pre-recession of course…)  this used to be just before it comes of MOT age!

No wonder many cars fail their first MOT after such treatment.

All this (but the safety reason mainly), is why FOXY membership includes free car fitness checks so that busy women who appreciate all this but prefer to get the professionals to do this for them, can pop along to their nearest FOXY listed, female friendly garage to get this done for them.

And because they have signed the FOXY Promise, they can be trusted to look after the female motorist and not overcharge them.

Job done, car safe, engine taken care of, value preserved… sounds the foxy formula to me!

FOXY Steph

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How women drivers can save money on motoring bills

June 15th, 2009

Just for the record, this is what fuel prices are doing today.

Pence Per Gallon:
Diesel: 474p
Super Unleaded: 490p
Unleaded: 462p
Four Star: 474p
LPG: 234p

At these prices, and in a recession, we women drivers need to do all we can to reduce consumption levels.

To see how, have a look at some FOXY motoring tips to help you save money.

And here for moneysaving motoring offers for women drivers too.

FOXY Steph

“Why should women have to apply to the head of state for the right to drive a car? Their husbands or brothers should decide.”
Colonel Gaddafi - June 2009 (not quite at the cutting edge of feminism, says the Daily Telegraph…)

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Spot the pretty 09 number plate…

June 11th, 2009

It can’t just be Sussex where 09 new car registrations are few and far between.

We play a game called spot the new cars and it helps while away car journeys with young travellers in particular.

One of the 09 plates I spotted, close to the office, was an Alfa Romeo MiTo which is a new model. I liked it a lot.

And just in case you didn’t know where the name came from - it’s an amalgamation of two Northern cities in Italy - Milano and Torino.

Look out for it - I think it’s a very pretty car and one that women drivers will want to buy.

I MUST get round to test driving it soon then I’ll tell you more.

FOXY Steph

Find out more at http://tiny.cc/mito

I hope it loads quicker than it did for me tonight…

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Good luck to Kate and Yasmina

June 7th, 2009

I am a fan of The Apprentice, ‘Lord Sugar’ and Margaret Mountford.

I think that this time around there is more attention being paid to the fact that the finalists are female but wasn’t that the case when the Badger went head to head with Michelle who won but isn’t with Sir Alan now; having gone her own way after her apprenticeship.

So will corporate Kate impress more than restaurateur Yasmina who has had a taste of working for herself (and may struggle to be told what to do in a Sugar company culture, like Michelle perhaps)?

Just for the record my choice was Ben by a long chalk and I am sure he will shine in future; he needs a few business knocks and successes under his belt so he doesn’t feel the need to crow about Sandhurst so much. Didn’t he realise that this would get right up Alan Sugar’s nose!!

Modesty is such an endearing characteristic Ben; ask Margaret for a few tips here.

I look forward to the programme tonight and wish Margaret Mountford every success on getting her PhD ahead of a zimmer frame (her words in the Telegraph not mine..).

Looking for a successor to Margaret, Sir Alan? That’d be an ideal opportunity for a foxy lady like me  to follow in her calculated footsteps!

FOXY Steph

“A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t.”
Rhonda Hansome

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Hello…tomorrow’s customers are female

June 7th, 2009

Today’s research confirms that women are outperforming men in Higher Education, university places and heading into top professions in Law and Medicine.

Good luck to them and I hope they manage to fit in a love life and find time for a family whilst flying so high. We all need to be proficient jugglers too!

If nothing more, this is surely another wake up call for those industries, like the UK’s motor industry, where women are not as welcome as they should be made to feel.

Now that we know what cars they buy and (some of us know) what they want but what is the industry doing to make sure that women drivers of all ages get the services and quality standards they expect from female friendly garages and car dealerships, to reflect their changing profile, needs and budget.

Not just cash rich business executives buying the likes of new prestige cars such as Mercedes, Porsches or BMWs but budget conscious Mums and older single female motorists when it comes to women buying a new or used car or choosing the best garage for the likes of an MOT, car servicing or repairs.

Which motor businesses are marketing to women effectively in the UK?

I can’t think of one I’d give four let alone five stars yet but I’d be delighted to be put straight here.

FOXY Steph

“If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman. ”
Margaret Thatcher

By all means find out more about better motoring services for women at FOXY Lady Drivers Club and how to find female friendly UK garages, dealers and new car dealerships at FOXY Choice

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Vauxhall could be a British brand to be proud of

May 30th, 2009

If we can privatise banks why not Vauxhall Motors?

If we can subsidise new car sales, why not a British brand?

If we want to help the British economy out of recession, why not shore up British jobs?

If we want to help the car industry through these tough times why not encourage/incentivise motorists & fleet buyers to buy a new British car ahead of other makes that will benefit foreign owners?

I’d like to know why we can’t do this - surely this option has been on the table this time around?

After all, the only genuinely British car manufacturer is Morgan today and it doesn’t have the production capability or product range to cater for the volume needed whereas Vauxhall does and there are 5000 jobs at risk.

I think the time is right to back Britain NOW and shore up what could be a lucrative car manufacturer; rather than letting it leak overseas and leave us with a mainly service based economy for the future.

But now that the German government has chosen  Canadian Magna to take over Opel and Vauxhall (where were we I wonder…) we can expect to have ringside seats whilst they asset strip on our doorstep.

Ring any bells?

Go on Mandy - do something really important with a view to the future… stand up for British best interests here and allow British motorists to help the economy by buying a new British car in future.

Other countries seem to care more about this than GB does viz France, Germany and Italy.

Maybe it’s not too late to make a real difference to the British motor industry.  Vauxhall cars aren’t exciting but they are popular and they have the range and know how.

Call in some clever marketing brains to see how easy it would be to encourage the wannabe patriotics to actively support their country by buying British…

We want to feel proud to be British and to remember what that means in terms of hard work and ethics. Someone please give us hope for the future, not despair and give us our pride back.

FOXY Steph

“The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.”  Edmund Burke

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Female friendly garage choices for consumers

May 30th, 2009

I heard on the radio this am that Consumer Direct is back campaigning for regulation in the UK garage services industry.

It would appear that the latest car ’service and repair’ code has yet to hit the spot for independent garages. Out of an impressive c5000 subscribers since last August, some 4000 are thought to be franchised dealerships who were always to be the financial backbone of the scheme and were told to sign up by their manufacturer bosses - Ford, Mazda and Peugeot among others.

This imbalance is important because motorists need choices to suit their car, their motoring budget and where they live… and franchised dealerships are usually a good bit more expensive than independents.

Taken to its conclusion if the new Motor Code were to start to promote itself in a big way to consumers (which they certainly have the money to do) they could, in effect, create more complaints than ever because motorists will be paying higher rates to franchised dealers in areas where there is no choice of an independent garage. I’d complain if I felt I habe been encouraged to pay over the odds, unnecessarily.

However FOXY doesn’t take sides in this debate because it knows only too well that women drivers come in all shapes and sizes and usually know very well what they want…

But women who want low cost motoring bills to keep a cherished older family car (not a banger…) on the road want low cost garage bills otherwise they mightn’t bother getting their car serviced regularly.

Tell them that they need a Motor Code dealership to repair their car and they might think that they are to expect to pay extra for quality.

Whereas the real foxy choice, clearly available to all motorists, should be to identify one of the best local garages or dealerships in their area, based on measurable qualifications, an investment in quality and a commitment to customer service to suit their needs.

I agree with Consumer Direct that the motorist continues to fail to find her and his best local choices to date. It’s interesting that this organisation is a part of the Government’s BERR department and sits alongside the OFT which is supporting the industry’s Motor Code intentions (for automotive services and repairs).

I also suspect that few earlybird subscribers (such as car dealerships that well exceed the minimum motor code industry standards of honest and fair services, open and transparent pricing and work to be completed as agreed) spotted that they are to pay a hefty fee £’00s every two years or so to be inspected.

Assuming that the complaints Consumer Direct pick up on are  similar to the ones members of FOXY Lady Drivers Club tell us of, these will be about shoddy workmanship, overcharging and patronising customer service.Hence my belief that the female friendly FOXY Promise is a better benchmark of standards and that the garage services  industry is long overdue a female friendly image makeover.

Needless to say, it’ll be a real shame for the consumer if industry prices (already much higher than in France, for example) need to rise because of regulation fees, but this may be what is needed for UK motorists to get a fair deal and for older cars to be safer on our roads in future. And for the industry to identify and promote higher standards in future.

Bring it on guys.

FOXY Steph

“Four words sum up what lifted successful individuals above the crowd - a little bit more. They did what was expected, and a little bit more.”

A. Lou Vickery.

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