A FERRARI SPECIALE 

FOR SPECIAL EMOTIONS

A Ferrari Speciale for special emotions.

It’s called the 458 Speciale:

it’s Ferrari’s new sportscar, the fruits of the innovation and extreme technological research that have gone into a car as outstanding as the 458 Italia.

The aerodynamic efficiency (an E index of 1.5), a more powerful aspirated V8 engine (605 cv) and the highest power density (135 cv/l) in the history of Ferrari road cars, an extraordinary weight/power ratio (2.13 kg/cv), electronic control of the slip angle (SSC): these are some – but not all – of the characteristics that make this car truly Speciale and that are destined to become standard for the Ferraris of the future. 

The aptness of the car’s name is easily shown by its performance figures: accelerating from 0-100km/h in 3s (or 9.1s for 0-200km/h) and a best lap time round Fiorano of 1m 23.5s.

The new 8-cylinder mid-engine berlinetta, which will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 10, was designed with the target of raising performance and driving emotion to the highest levels, while still guaranteeing ease of control in every situation.

http://458speciale.ferrari.com/en#

BMW M6 vs. Mercedes CLS 55 AMG

A healthy competition between two prominent motors of equal greatness can increase popularity, sales, as well as motivating each side to bring their A-game.

With so much potential available and presented, it’s no wonder why these super-cars have claimed an outstanding reputation for their illustrious specs and by popular demand, get pitted against each other.

                                                                              Make: Mercedes

Model: CLS 55 AMG

Engine: 5.5 litre V-8 24v (469 bhp)

Gearbox: Sequential 5-speed Auto

Tires: 255/40/18 Front  -  285/35/18 Rear

Fuel Consumption: economy 17.3 mpg - Sport 9.8mpg

0-60 (mph): 5.1 seconds

Top Speed: 155 mph

Price New: £47,605.00

Make: BMW
Model: M6 SMG

Engine: 5 litre V-10 S85 40v (500 bhp)

Gearbox: Sequential 7-speed auto

Tires: 255/40/19 Front  -  285/35/19 Rear

Fuel Consumption: economy 15.9 mpg - Sport 8.4mpg

0-60 (mph): 4.4 seconds

Top Speed: 207 mph

Price New: £94,155.00

The Mercedes CLS 55 AMG Gives off an aggressive stance with its front lights and grill, and a graceful arch of its roof line tapering towards a pinched rear making an amazing profile. Looking at this car from any angle it’s completely stunning, so much so that Mercedes are having trouble building them quick enough to sell, with orders brimming from eager buyers. There is a real depth to its beauty, as well as being more than an accomplished drive too. 

The BMW M6 on the other hand gives off a slightly sportier vibe and although being the more engaging car, the price tag alone will decide for a lot of buyers. Not to say the CLS doesn't engage, but it seems to communicate its specialness in more everyday circumstances. The M6 definitely takes time to explore its vast reserves of performance, but do that and your doing silly speeds.

The 5-litre V-10 has a very eager response, pulling from low to beyond 7000 rpm and still sound as utterly mad as it does, while the Carbon fiber roof gives it a better center of gravity while shaving off a few pounds.

The car looks damn good though, with nicely chiseled flanks and a contemporary yet elegant look as to give up a pure driving experience.

With the M6’s share of flaming surfaces, the nostrils of a race car, and a trunk lid that reminds you of an aircraft carrier’s launch pad, and The CLS's wow effect crossbreed of a coupe and a sedan, beefed up with aerodynamic add-on's for an AMG means both cars look terrific.

On a winding mountain road, it’s too easy to dismiss the CLS compared with the precise and M6, almost as if the tyres dislike the road wobbling a little when you push it round corners. On the same note though get it on the straight and the car will light a fire behind you, suspension tight, pushing terrifying speeds.

Its when you take the Traction Control of that the entertainment scale tips in favor of the CLS, with mad drift angles, mid corner smoke signals, and tyre screams that are vocal enough to be heard overseas. The good thing about it is that you don’t have to corner at cannonball speeds to activate this fun factor action either. 

The BMW again emerges as a sharper driving instrument, the stability control permitting a higher degree of slip and slide even with the traction control switch off, the steering being sensitive enough to avoid any real drama.

Both cars are gifted playthings, but the M6 is a little more talented while at the same time being more challenging, needing extra space because the front wheels like to go wide before the rear end lets go.

Overall both cars excel in different aspects and to choose between the two would be ludicrous. Even when comparing fun factors it differs depending on what you are looking for. Whatever car you choose will be a great investment, and money well spent.

Hoddesdon Car show 2013

Hoddesdon Car Show 2013

This year sees the event's 19th year in the town centre and a record number of vehicles were on display ranging from early 1900s up to present day classics.   Live music from a local band complemented the event.  This year the event was sponsored by Ducati who were onsite to book motorcycle demo rides on the day.

Mini Cooper Review

The Mini Cooper has plenty of style and is great fun to drive. No other small car holds its value as well as the Mini, either.

Comparing the Mini with other small cars, it looks pretty expensive. However, few Hatchbacks are this good to drive or this stylish, and few are as well sought after, which results in a strong resale values.

The Mini Cooper/Cooper S comes with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, with the petrol developing 121bhp, and the diesel 110bhp. With its low running costs, and low insurance, it comes in as 8^th best Hot Hatchback of 2013 according to Carbuyer’s poll. (See here http://bit.ly/GPCarsMR1 )

Acceleration is sharp while giving good flexibility, which complements the direct, go where you want responsiveness and making the drive even more fun.

Economy-wise it can come with stop-and-start technology, minimizing emission’s output with an average of 37 MPG approx.

More comes as standard in the Cooper, including alloy wheels chrome trim, and there's an enormous list of colour's, trim variations, and wheels.

Mini has always caught the imagination of the public, mostly with the way their cars look, only to be perfectly matched by the way they drive. The way it reacts to driver input is a real treat made even more fun by the improved power and torque.

Some may be put off by the car’s focused and hard core nature.

That said, it’s certainly one of the best cars in its class, and is worth considering if you want a relatively inexpensive performance car that you can use on a daily basis.

Choosing a car

Have you ever wanted to own a car?

Imagine driving down the road on a sunny day with the windows down, breezy and comfortable with a great view.

Well before you head down to a nearby beach you need to buy a car, and here we will give you some great tips on what you need to know about choosing a car that suits you.

Buying a car is a big deal, and a daunting task. Whether it's a first time purchase or not it’s probably the second biggest purchase you will ever make.

The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to buy a new car or a used car. There are pros and cons for both but in general customers who buy used cars are just as happy as those who buy a new car.

Have a think about what you need the car for -

Most drivers love performance which means practicality doesn’t always get a say in the matter, but if you really want the perfect car for you then take the time to sit down and think about what really benefits you. You can choose from a wide range of coupe’s/convertibles, hatchbacks, SUV/crossovers, and minivans.

Have a think about;-

·         Size and space you need

Think about who you’ll have in the car, as well as the kind of boot space you will be using.

·         How much power you will require

Is a big engine always better? Are you looking for a little run around for urban streets, or maybe you need to pull a caravan across the country.

·         The amount of money your willing to invest

 When setting your budget you should consider the cost of a new car as well as the on-going costs, such as fuel and maintenance, as well as road tax.

·         MPG (economy)

Finding out a cars MPG can save you a lot of money in the long run, as well as limit your stops on a long journey.

·         Comfort and practicality

If the car is for everyday use you may want something comfortable and relaxing to drive, with plenty of comfort-improving extras like air conditioning and a good stereo.

Here you can find out facts and figures on the car you want to buy!!

bit.ly/GPCarsNumberFacts  

Once you find the car that fulfils your every need, an emotional connection may well form whether you like it or not. When you have a good idea of what kind of car best fits your needs and budget, you can begin your research on used cars.

Take this quick quiz on what car suits you now !!

http://bit.ly/GPCarsQuiz

The supercars of London Vs the supercars of GP Cars

We found these great pictures of supercars taken in our lovely capital on Top Gears website. And we couldn’t help but do a little comparison with GP Cars forecourt. Enjoy !!!

Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin DB7

Ferrari F430

Ferrari 360 Spider

Ferrari F40

Porsche 911 Sport Classic

Porsche 911 Carrera 4s

E46 M3 Convertible Buying Guide

E46 M3 Convertible Buying Guide

Hi, here we have the must have buying guide for the BMW E46 M3 Convertible 2001-2007, things to look for that I cannot find anywhere on the net!
Where to start,

Service history 

Make sure that all stamps are genuine, phone the garages in the book and ask them to confirm that the service was carried out and that the mileage was correct, ***BEWARE*** all E46 M3's require a running 

in check/service @ 1,200 miles, if it doesn't have this walk away!!!!! Or seriously haggle with the person selling the car. (most engines do a 1,000 miles before they even go into the car now a days, these engine go straight into the car without even being started, so they have not been run in, BMW fill these engines with a special grade oil when new, if it wasn't changed at 1,200 miles but only changed at the first service at 11,000 to 12,000 miles the wear on the engine will be the same as an engine that has done 35-40,000 miles!!!!!). BMW offer a telephone service where you can ring them and they will tell you what specification the car had when it was new and all the dealer visits it has had! The number is 09062 090001 it is a premium rate number and is quite frustrating when you don’t get through the first time but remember, that this call might cost you ten quid but you want to buy a nice car with proper history! 

Other Checks

Always HPI or Experian check a car before you purchase!!!!!
DVLA offer a service where you can check the cars MOT history here is the link
http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-History-Request.jsp

To carry out this check you will need:
                                                        * Cars Registration number
                                                        * MOT test number (top left hand side of the mot)
                                                                                     OR
                                                        * The Document Reference number from the front of logbook.

When you are calling the seller ask them for this information.
This is a free service operated by the DVLA!!!!!
This will tell you what miles the vehicle had when it was MOT'd and when it had those miles on it! Match these with the service history to see whether the vehicle has ever had a "mileage correction" or been clocked!!!

This check will also tell you what the vehicle has failed on in the past, so when you go to see the vehicle you know what to look out for!!!!! I have personally brought Approx 70 of these cars this year. I have been to look at somewhere between 120 and 130 of them and I can assure you that nice examples of them are very few and far between!!!!!

General Car

These cars in SMG or manual are amazing, I myself can convert even the toughest of manual drivers to buy an SMG version as they are by far the better choice to go for.  I myself am a manual driver through and through, but there is no way on this earth that you can change gear quicker in manual than SMG and they are the same gear box, just the SMG pump is bolted to the back of it! When you’re looking to purchase the SMG model select a gear when driving, switch the gearbox to the fastest changing setting, when you change gear the gear number will flash once, any more than that and that is a sign that the clutch is on its way out!!!(expect a £600 bill) the same as a manual!!!!) most SMG faults are curried by changing the SMG relay (salmon Pink) under the bonnet close to the back of the bulk head!(£6.50+vat, from the main agent) Ok so on the rare occasion that the SMG pump does fail it can be costly expect £1,300 bill from main agent!!!! But this is rare on a car that has been well looked after!!!!!(I Have never had one go)

Open the boot and lift up the carpet, they were never lacquered inside! If the boot is shiny then chances are it has had some rear end paint work carried out, personally I would walk away or haggle like mad, if it has been done to a professional standard!!!!!

Also with the boot open where the hinges are for the boot you will see a small spot weld check that they are there!!! If not the car has had major body work (i.e. rear wings!), again walk away.

Most cars of this age have had some sort of paint work to them mainly superficial, this is to be expect. However if you know what you are looking for then you can spot it a mile off! Go to the front of the car 

bend down and look down the side of it, if it is rippled down the side near to the rear wings just in front of the wheel arch chances are it has had a small repair!!!!! But I should think major!

Wheels and Tyres

Go for one that has the 19" upgraded diamond cut wheels (just thinking of resale value) most of them if unmarked have been refurbished, some people just have them repainted as opposed to be diamond cut, however that is not a major issue, contact "Spit and Polish" who will quote you happy and re-cut them for you!!! Expect the tyre pressure monitor to pop up from time to time as they are a pain  to get to the correct pressures! For help on resetting them contact me on 07921 856527

Inside the Car

SATNAV Harmon Kardon sound upgrade Heated seats and 19"s with bluetooth or phone prep, only because they sell better than the low option cars!
If you have or are thinking of buying one, check the stereo as they tend to only play through 1 or 2 speakers, if it does this then you will need to replace the cars BM54 unit which you can buy new from a dealer at a cost of £600, so it’s worth checking the fader and balance on the unit to make sure that there is music from all speakers.



Bewarned

Don’t be surprised to find that most and I do mean most of these cars have had 6+ owners!!!!!

If you are worried or just need some general advise on buying one of these cars please do not hesitate to contact me by email: stupatch@gmail.com phone: 07921 856527

Last thing to remember is, you have spent a long time trying to find this car..................enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


Stuart Patch
GP Cars
Sales Executive & Buyer