Category Archives: motoring

women enjoy motoring as much as men but we have different needs

motoring

You can’t always trust so called experts Mr Cameron.

expert needed

In his final Question Time interview yesterday Prime Minister David Cameron told us to listen to the economic experts he listed, before we voted in the Referendum on Thursday.

For his expert scenario, he suggested that if an expert mechanic told us our car was dangerous we wouldn’t drive it.

Well, in an ideal world I’d agree with him, but he just happened to pick an unregulated industry where anyone can set up a garage and mechanics don’t have to be licensed to service or repair our cars. And, as a consequence, independent garage complaints are among the highest of all referred to Citizens Advice, other than to do with used car sales – another unregulated area of the motor industry.

So please Mr Cameron, don’t use that analogy again because too many mechanics aren’t experts at all. And you just might be adding to the safety risks too many motorists run already when they trust unscrupulous garage staff.

Which you’ve clearly not experienced yet, hence your Government not seeing the need for regulation in the automotive industry?

Far be it from me to suggest that perhaps the same might be true of so called economists ahead of Thursday’s referendum? Pretending to know what they are doing when they really haven’t a clue?
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But whatever happens in the Referendum, I’d like to compare notes with you about this afterwards. The poor state of the motor industry is a very serious matter for women drivers and genuinely good garages suffer such a poor and unjustified image as a consequence.

I’d welcome the opportunity to explain to you how mums like Samantha could so easily compromise their children’s motoring safety by not knowing how to check out a measurably good garage from lesser others. Not just garage but also used cars and tyre safety standards can all be higher but you’d have to see the full industry picture for ALL motorists, not just those that can afford to buy and run posh prestige car makes.

FOXY

Twitter: @FOXYtweets

motoring

Apparently Mini boys are more popular than Mini girls…

Great British Minis we love...
Great British Minis we love…

Over half of the world’s Minis are boys, with the most popular name being Marvin, according to the world’s first ever Mini Census.

The survey, carried out by the organisers of Mini World Live which takes place at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire this July, received responses from Mini owners all over the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malta and the USA.

The survey suggests that 51% of the world’s Mini population is male, 35% are female and 14% have yet to be sexed it seems.
Among the boy Minis, the most popular names are Marvin, Tommy (Cooper) and Jack, although there’s a developing trend towards the names Dave, Stuart and Bob, made famous by Minions – The Movie.

A Mini Mrs Mop we presume?
A Mini Mrs Mop we presume?
Girl Minis tend to follow a more alliterative tone, with Minnie (perhaps unsurprisingly), Mollie and Millie being the three most favoured names.

Some of the more unusual Mini names include Pingu (because he’s white with a black roof), Tetley (because he has more holes in him than a tea bag) and Mojo Jojo, after the evil monkey in The Powerpuff Girls.

Randomly, one imaginative correspondent has named her Mini ‘Leigh Halfpenny’ after the Welsh rugby international…because he’s smallish, gorgeous and powerful.

The survey also proves the diversity of the world’s Mini owners, from 17-year old Luke from Auckland in New Zealand plus male Mini called Sheldon (after Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory) to 80-year old John from Bangor in North Wales whose female Mini is Mavis, named after his late wife.

Commenting on the survey, Mini World Live event manager, Katherine Chappell, said: “Mini owners have a real sense of community, and their cars are just as much a part of that community as they are. Minis, both old and new, are the most celebrated and characterful cars in the world, and with Mini World Live we want to celebrate that character.”

Mini World Live caters for fans of both classic and modern Minis, including a concours competition, a huge retail village, club displays and on-track action. And there’ll be live music, refreshments and camping on offer to give this event a vibrant, festival feel.

A good fun motoring day out not to be missed we say!

motoring

A Professional Licence to Skills in the motor industry

dash

I wish I wasn’t surprised to read that “Car dashboard warning lights are beyond the grasp of 98% of British drivers” but I’m not.

It’s another reminder of the realities of life.

Car manuals that aren’t easy to navigate, read or understand. And instead of our asking professionals for advice here, many of us don’t do this, for fear of being sold things we don’t need.

Presumably they either Google for the warning light, simply drive on regardless, or find out what this means at MOT/car service time or when their car lets them down?

Heaven forbid it’s a safety-related warning light.

The perception of women drivers

Perceptions are very powerful influencers of behaviour. When it comes to the motor industry few women (and probably men too) perceive garages or car showrooms to be trustworthy or welcoming places to visit.

For example, last month I spoke at a WI event in Sussex about motoring matters in general, and tyre safety in particular.

Once again I heard that all too familiar intake of breath when I tell females that the UK motor industry isn’t regulated when it comes to car servicing, mechanical repairs and used car sales. Few realise or want to consider that anyone could be fixing their brakes, selling them tyres they don’t need or shiny cars that aren’t safe or reliable. Yet most women ‘perceive’ this to be true from the tales they share about bad garage, car and tyre sales experiences either they or their friends have had…

As I see it there is a clear parallel between the absence of minimum quality standards (as in industry regulation or compulsory licensing of all staff) and the subsequent level of complaints about shoddy garage services and used cars, leading to an unacceptable number of unsafe cars on our roads today.

So I then talk to women about ways to find out who the measurably better guys (and a very few gals) are and how to find them locally…

Motor industry regulation

“9 out of 10 motorists prefer to deal with an accredited professional” IMI-conducted/independent survey 2014

IMIPR

Thankfully MOT’s are regulated by the DVSA so we can be as sure as we reasonably can be that they are conducted to strict rules and regulations.

Of course when you visit franchised dealerships, you know that any garage service work has been carried out to car manufacturer standards. That’s not entirely true in all cases of course because many are expected to repair non franchised makes but aren’t trained here. That’s what the ATA (Automotive Training Accreditation) scheme is all about…

Sadly none of this training means that mistakes aren’t made, but if you aren’t happy at least you have a clear chain of complaint, taking you through the business and then involving the manufacturer during the new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process operated by Motor Codes.

But if you want to find an accredited professional in an independent garage, bodyshop, car showroom or fast fit repair centre in your area, you need to know where to look, as things stand. And that means looking for more than just membership of unfamiliar trade association names (unfamiliar for motorists that is) or testimonials about garages having friendly staff. Important yes, I think it’s more important to check that the workmanship is being done professionally as well.

So, this is how you can check who’s licensed as more professional than the rest. Oh that there were more individuals and businesses on the list.

Best practice motor industry schemes

FOXY is the only business to look for measurable signs of quality workmanship before awarding our FOXY Lady Approved status. Our minimum measurable quality standards include Chartered Trading Standards Code of Practice schemes (there are three competing service & repair schemes, one new car code and a warranty products scheme), Publicly Available Standards (PAS) for accident repairs alongside ISO and leading tyre auditing schemes.

But the problem with all industry self-regulation schemes like the CTSI ones is that the cowboys don’t have to join them, and clearly don’t. And the other criticism I have of them is that they don’t require staff to be licensed, which is a huge disappointment.

So the one standard that sits above them all, as I see it, is the industry’s Professional Register, operated by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). And which could so easily become the minimum industry standard aka regulation by any other name.

And in case you haven’t heard of it before, the IMI is THE professional association for all individuals working within it, whether in technical-related, management, customer facing, car sales and consultancy roles. The IMI Professional Register is therefore the only one where listed professionals have committed to ethical standards and undergo a process of accreditation akin to licensing.

Sadly not all IMI members are on the Register. Those that choose to, apply to go through a vetting process, commit to topping up their skills and knowledge through the collection of customary CPD (Continuous Professional Development) points and their registration is reviewed every three years.

But because this process isn’t compulsory, many individuals choose not to bother. But they would have to if their license to earn depended on it…

I think this is the direction this industry needs to be heading in. Especially now we’re driving electric cars and whatever the future brings…

How to search the IMI Professional Register

register

The IMI Professional Register allows motorists to search for the best local specialist, based on their car sales, garage services or accident repair needs at the time.

Rather than lumping all car services into the category of ‘garage’ it makes good sense to check who, nearest to our postcode, has gone that extra mile to be one of the very best choices in the following technical and mechanical categories.

1/ Accident/bodywork repairs
2/ Air conditioning
3/ Brakes
4/ Car servicing
5/ Diagnostics
6/ Digital/in car technology
7/ Electric cars
8/ Exhausts
9/ Mechanical repairs
10/ MOT’s
11/ Tyres
12/ Windscreen/glass work

There is also a section in the Register showing individuals that are licensed in Car Sales (we need more in this category please…) and there are specialists for Breakdown, HGV, Motorcycles & Electric vehicle services.

NB: Where you come across a Master Technician, he/she is one of the very best in their discipline.

Motor Industry Professional Pride

I am a Fellow of the IMI (FIMI) and proud to be on the IMI Register to demonstrate my superior experience and qualifications within the trade. I am listed as a motor industry marketing consultant (not a mechanic) by the way. This puts me on a par with others at the top of the marketing profession and I an required to top up my skills with CPD points to have this status renewed after three years. As I have to do to retain my Chartered Marketer status too.

So I cannot understand why other seemingly career-oriented individuals do not seem to share this pride or want to be seen at the pinnacle of their career? Maybe this is a question of cost and their time? Or could it be the knowledge that they might not look as good as others on paper? Well, isn’t that the point of the Register and future training? To show a willingness to improve standards and our individual professional competence?

More information

This is how to search the IMI Professional Register
a/ Decide which job you need an expert for.
b/ Enter your postcode.
c/ Compare your choices.

The IMI blog includes automotive tips to help you care for your vehicle and to give you confidence when visiting garages.

For details of all signs of measurable quality in UK garages.

FOXY

Join FOXY Lady Drivers Club to be sure of FOXY Lady Approved businesses and standards in future!

motoring

Car tax disc nostalgia or apathy?

creativetaxdiscs.co.ukDespite the abolition of car tax discs, a recent survey suggests that one in two motorists continue to display car tax discs. But is this simply a case of genuine nostalgia?

I’m not so sure. Might it not simply be down to inertia or apathy? The fact that the number of drivers paying out of court settlements to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has nearly doubled since, appears to confirm this theory.

If drivers don’t pay the penalty they’re taken to court and even this figure has risen by 29% since discs were abolished, according to Auto Express magazine. Most surprising of all, I thought, was that one in six motorists didn’t know the tax disc had been abolished? Clearly not Club members of course…

On the other hand, there seems to be some nostalgia and definite speculation among the velologist community (that’s car tax disc collectors to you and me). I loved reading about Jude Currie’s collection but I’m definitely suspicious of eBay claims that any individual tax discs might be worth as much as £1000.

From a business point of view I have always thought (but have yet to do this) that a FOXY-branded car disc holder would be a great place to remind motorists of their MOT and/or VED expiry dates. In the good old fashioned way – in writing on a familiar looking circular disc and a reminder of these time critical deadlines every time you sit in the car.

Then the passenger corner of my windscreen wouldn’t look so forlorn…

Car tax disc reminder tips

To remind us all where we’re at re car tax discs, and in case your tax reminder goes astray, I hope these tips will help.

1/ It’s not worth considering driving an untaxed vehicle because the fine could be as much as £1000. In some circumstances even more as it can be up to 5 times the cost of your car’s annual tax…)

2/ It’s quick and easy to tax your vehicle online using the 16 digit reference code from your vehicle tax renewal reminder (V11) or 11 digit reference number from your log book (V5C). If you know someone who isn’t online, why not offer to help them do this online when the time comes?

3/ If you (or a car dealer) sell a car, it’s up to the vehicle owner to tell the DVLA before handing over the keys to a new owner. The owner will then receive a refund of any full months’ unspent tax. Fiddly and time consuming, I agree.

4/ If you buy a car, it’s up to you to tax it before you drive it away. Much as you do with insurance. NB: Remember to allow more time than before for any car seller to tell the DVLA before you’ll be able to tax it in your name.

5/ If you hire a car or need to check if a car you drive is taxed (for any reason or concern) you can do so via the Vehicle Enquiry Service.

6/ If you move house and forget to tell the DVLA, or their reminder letter goes astray, it’s still your fault if you don’t pay your VED on time. We are all expected to know when our car tax expires and because the DVLA works with debt collection services, rest assured that all tax evaders will eventually be found…

In short, it makes compelling financial sense to set up diary reminders and an automatic Direct Debit Instruction to pay non-negotiable motoring essentials like your car tax. Then you can forget about this when you’re on holiday, working away from home perhaps or during other domestic or work-related distractions.

motoring

Who’s the mug? Jezza or the BBC?

mugslap400How ridiculous. The top news billing by Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 yesterday afternoon was all about whether Jezza was to be sacked or not. Relegating the German air disaster to second place.

Have we all gone completely mad?

As fond as I was of the Top Gear boys I’m not sorry their days are numbered. I can’t see anyone replacing Jezza in terms of bad behaviour and even if the BBC tries to, it won’t be the same or as good.

It’s over…

What will Jezza do instead?

Let’s not worry too much about big boy Jezza I say! Assuming this wasn’t a put up job, he will have a cunning plan B you can be sure. As I see it (and would do myself in the unlikely event of me EVER being in his situation, haha…) the BBC can’t stop him earning a living so he’s likely (and surely free?) to replicate the ‘Boys Behaving Badly’ formula elsewhere. For example, whilst the use of explosives in classrooms and kitchens will make entertaining and scientific adult TV (albeit potentially dangerous…), blowing up cars, caravans and whatever his latest ‘up yours’ wheeze, doesn’t necessarily make this a driving programme.

What the BBC will have created is the Jeremy Clarkson ‘Boy Behaving Badly’ brand and show which may or may not sit nicely on a Sunday evening on a TV screen near you.

An alternative to Top Gear?

Let’s not worry too much about the BBC either! They might even decide it’s politically correct time for a motoring programme for and about women?

I’m picturing a programme that includes amateur fast women racers strutting their stuff – there are many who can’t get the sponsorship money men do. Let them prove what they can do around a track, like Dunsfold perhaps, and then invite their male (amateur) equivalents to race them/see who wins in the end.

This could be run a la X-Factor; with regional aptitude/interview/speed trials – all filmed of course and more about the people than the cars.

By all means involve Jodie Kidd, Vicki Butler-Henderson and Nurburgring’s Sabine Schmitt in case a well known name with a motoring pedigree is needed to front this.

One thing is for sure, all the women would be MUCH better looking than Jeremy Clarkson.

We could then add in reviews of cars by and for women plus mystery visits to car showrooms & garages and so on…

Out of this will likely emerge a BIG female personality to win the hearts and souls of the TV watching public – the ones that couldn’t stand Jezza probably.

Why not give us girls a chance to do things our way, BBC, and confound those stereotypical male perceptions about our driving knowledge and ability once and for all?

FOXY