It’s Official: Confusing Parking Signs are Costing Us Money

What Canvey Carriage Company have long suspected, was confirmed by a survey which revealed that one in five motorists had cars ticketed, clamped or towed, due to ‘confusing’ parking signs.

At Canvey Carriage Company Provides Used Cars You Can Actually Afford

If you want the right used car for your circumstances, you need to come to the Canvey Carriage Company. Based in Canvey, Essex, we supply first rate used cars, at prices you can actually afford.

As a used car provider we understand how important it is to motorists up and down the country, to keep the costs of driving down; money doesn’t grow on trees after all. That’s why when we heard this latest news, we just knew we had to let you know.

Yes, UK Parking Signs Are Confusing

A poll by car insurers Churchill, revealed that one in five UK motorists have had their vehicle ticketed, clamped or towed, due to ‘confusing’ parking signs. Furthermore, the survey revealed that some drivers admitted to trying to avoid areas altogether, where the signs are particularly prevalent.

Specifically, out of 2,001 people surveyed, four in ten said that they found parking signs in their area confusing, a third used that as justification for avoiding parking in their local town/city centre, more than a quarter claimed that areas surrounding their homes had multiple contrasting restrictions and a third suggested that they believed that signs in their areas don’t clearly indicate the specific area the parking signs refer to.

Yes, Confusing Parking Signs Are Costing Drivers Money

So OK, there’s a problem with parking signs. Is it costing UK drivers money? Yes! The poll further revealed that one in five motorists have received a parking fine in the last two years; a fifth of the country’s driving population!

Steve Barrett, Head of Churchill Car Insurance commented on the polls results, saying that “‘it’s the driver’s responsibility to check which parking restrictions are in operation in a particular area.” He went on to argue though that “when there are multiple restrictions in operation on a single street, it can result in motorists being confused and unintentionally parking illegally, incurring fines that could have been avoided.”

There we are, confusing parking signs really are costing drivers’ money and at Canvey Carriage Company, we suggest that if you want to avoid falling into the next statistic, you do your research! 

Canvey Carriage Company Is Excited: Tesla To Give Up Its Patents!

CEO Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will give away its patents in order to aid the development of the wider electric car industry. Why does this excite Canvey Carriage Company so much?

Canvey Carriage Company: First Rate Used Car Provider

Canvey Carriage Company is a first rate used car provider based in Canvey, Essex. We stock a wide variety of second hand cars at a price that won’t break your bank balance.

We really do get every type of car on the Canvey lot, and increasingly we’ve seen consumer interest in electric cars rise, as more and more people decide that they want to live a green lifestyle. That’s why this news excites us so much.

Tesla: Premier Electric Car Provider

Tesla is an electric car provider that primarily trades in the US. Despite the fact that Tesla vehicles, such as the Tesla S Model, are often released this side of the pond far later than they are stateside, people in the UK want Tesla cars.

That’s because they are arguably the most effective electric cars on the market. Take the S Model Sedan, often touted as the company’s most popular car, as an example. It has an impressive range of 265 miles per charge. However, even stateside it’ll cost you around $100,000 a pop, meaning only 35,000 units are set to be produced this year. It looks like Tesla want to widen their scope, driving down the cost of their vehicles to $35,000 a go.

Tesla Will Not Initiate Patent Lawsuits

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk spoke out on his decision to achieve this aim, and boost the wider electric car industry by releasing Tesla’s patents. Wired reported Musk saying: "Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology." 

Thanks to Elon Musk and Tesla, the sky’s now the limit for the electric car industry and that’s why we’re so excited. It means as people embrace the technology, we’ll end up seeing more electric cars on the Canvey lot, providing you with a greater range of cars to choose from; we always like to give our customers what they want!

UK Car Industry Enjoys Longest Growth Since 1959!

Believe it or not the British car industry has recently been undergoing its longest period of growth since 1959. At Canvey Carriage Company we’ve found that figures indicates this growth really shows us why people are buying cars right now.

As one of country’s top used car providers, Canvey Carriage Company has seen how many people struggled to buy cars at the height of the Recession; they didn’t have the money and lenders weren’t giving out loans so freely. These new figures show though that this really has changed, indicating a golden age for the drivers of Britain.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers

News sources including The Guardian have released figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which show that the number of used cars registered in this country rose 7.7%, last month, to hit 194,032. This means that over a million new cars have been registered in 2014 so far.

It’s a record. The strongest May increase in a decade, it in fact has smashed through records that were set in May 1959. Furthermore it continues the longest period of growth (27 months) in the new car market analysts have ever seen.

The Effects of the Economic Recovery

So why now? What is it about this climate that is spurring on such a rapid period of growth? Chief Executive at SMMT Mike Hawes commented on the trend, saying: "The new car market has now grown in every month since March 2012 – the longest period of growth on record and a reflection of the UK's ever-improving economic conditions."

Furthermore SMMT found that the economic recovery is facilitating cheaper finance deals, which are essential for giving you access to the direct capital you need to buy a new car. Growing consumer confidence spurred on by the recovery and PPI pay outs have also been given as reasons why people are buying cars now more than ever.

Canvey Carriage Company on What a Cheap Finance Package Can Do For You

Here at the Canvey Carriage Company we’ve seen first-hand how the cheaper finance packages made possible by the economic recovery are inspiring people to buy cars. They make it easier. That’s why if you’re thinking of getting your first car, but not sure if you’re able to afford it, these figures prove that now is the time, as cars literally haven’t been this cheap in years!

What Fatal Flaws are damaging the US Car Industry?

News sources such as the Independent have reported that a fatal flaw is driving the US Car industry backwards. On the Canvey Carriage Company blog this week, we ask what these fatal flaws are and what does it means for the current state of the international car market.

At the Canvey Carriage Company – the Canvey, Essex-based used car provider, known for the quality of the versatile service we offer, we provide you with used cars from all over the world, including the US, which is one of the most prolific makers on the planet. That is why we watch the market closely; to make sure any changes won’t affect the first rate service we strive to give you.

Millions of Vehicles Recalled by Ford and General Motors

So what are we dealing with here, how large is the scale of the problem over there? Well it seems it’s larger than you might think, as the Independent has reported that Ford recently announced the recall of 1.4 million vehicles. Furthermore General Motors (GM), its closest revival, has recalled an astonishing 15.8 vehicles so far this year.

The reason  that the US’ largest two car manufacturers are recalling cars is because people are finding that their vehicles have faulty ignitions, steering, brakes, disabled airbags etc. Specifically, for example, out of the 1.4 million vehicles recently recalled by Ford, 1.1 million Ford SUV’s were thought to be at risk of a loss of power steering, whilst 200,000 Ford Taurus Sedans, are thought to be prone to corrosion issues.

How dangerous are These Motors?

There’s a reason that these cars are being recalled and this reason is generally that they can be very dangerous and lead to road accidents that could even be fatal. Take GM for example. The fact they have recalled 15.8 vehicles in 2014 – 13.8 of them in the US alone, is astounding. The fact that they did so in part because of reports that faulty issues caused 13 road deaths, is even more striking.

Whilst at Canvey Carriage Company, we recognise that this is a problem mostly confined to our cousins across  the Atlantic, we realise that it could affect cars in Britain as well, which is why we would advise you to be really careful that you get a car fully check before you buy. 

Canvey Carriage Company Asks: Are Car Prices About to Go Up?

Reports that came out last week suggested that a future rise in interest rates may push up what you pay for a new car.  Is there any truth in this? Canvey Carriage Company Explores.

Canvey Carriage Company – The Cost Effective Used Car Service

We prioritise rock bottom prices here at the Canvey Carriage Company. A Canvey, Essex-based used car provider, we’ve built up a reputation as the showroom where you can bag a quality bargain for your latest used car.

The services of used car providers such as Canvey may be more in demand than ever, according to industry experts, as the wallet friendly prices currently trending in the national car industry may be set to disappear, as the national interest rate gets raised by the Bank of England.

Set to Hit Pre-2008 Levels of Economic Growth

For anyone who reads the money pages of their local rag, you’ll know we’re in the midst of an economic recovery. Accoridng to practically every financial expert around, our economy is stronger than it’s been since the recession, and we’re set to return to pre-2008 levels of growth by the summer.

This has been spurred on in no large part by the Bank of England setting their benchmark interest rate at 0.5% last year in a bid to spur British business growth. It clearly worked for the car industry, as UK car production jumped 12% in March alone and people are buying British cars in droves.

So Goes the Interest Rate, Goes the World

It seems like the bubble could burst a little now, though, as UK Hyundai CEO Tony Whitehorn has suggested that even small rises in the interest rate would impact the car industry, as it would restrict access to the funding people need from lenders to buy their car.

Reuters reported that Whitehorn said of the situation "I think it just has significant ramifications to confidence and directly into accessibility of funds to buy cars." Whitehorn has a point, as the interest rate will rise at some pint – it has to in order for the economy to keep on growing.

That is why used car services such as those supplied by Canvey Carriage Company are going to become more important than ever in the coming months – the interest rate can’t stay at 0.5% forever!

Canvey Carriage Company’s Top Five Road Safety Tips

If you want to make sure you stay safe on the road and get the most out of your used car for years to come, this blog post might just be the thing for you, as this week Canvey Carriage Company lists its top five road safety tips!

At Canvey Carriage Company, we’ve built a reputation as the Canvey Essex-based used car broker that you can count on for quality service. We’ve managed to do that, quite frankly, through the application of one very old fashioned principle. We care about our customers.

That care is why we provide the safest, most cost effective used cars you’ll find this side of the British Isles; it’s also why we provide you with an extensive MOT service that your wallet will love.  That’s why we want to make sure you play it safe on the road.

The Top Five Ways You Can Stay Safe on the Road

We’ve seen many a driver over the years, and a fair few of them have played it risky on the roads and paid the price. Our time in the business has given us the knowledge of how to stay safe on the road and here’s what we learned:

Don’t Be Tempted to Overtake: When you’re in a rush and you’re stuck behind a driver cruising at a snail’s pace, it’ll seem tempting to overtake them. Really tempting. Don’t. Did you know that hundreds of accidents are caused every year on the road because of overtaking? Maybe just beep them instead?

Keep Your Distance: It’s always a good idea to keep a healthy distance between you and the drivers in front and behind at all times on the road. Think of it this way, if you don’t and they come to a sudden stop, you’re screwed. Use your mirrors to keep your car at a healthy distance. 

Stick to the Speed Limit: We know you’re on a motorway and it’s so tempting to put your foot down, but you really shouldn’t. Did you know that 3,267 people were killed or seriously injured in speeding accidents in 2011 alone? Stick to the speed limit.

Be Aware of What’s Around You: Have you ever had to suddenly stop because a pedestrian has unwittingly walked into the road? Everyone has, and to drive safely you need to be aware of what’s going on around you. Don’t use mobiles while driving, check mirrors, ask your passengers to keep an eye out etc.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time: People who are in a rush tend to be careless on the road; carelessness tends to lead to accidents. Set off early when you’ve got to arrive at your destination by a specific time, so you can concentrate on the road. 

If you're in the market for a used car, visit Canvey Carriage Company.

Canvey Carriage Company on Toyota HQ move

At Canvey Carriage Company we have lots of Toyotas available, but news has come in today that Toyota plan to move their HQ from Southern California to Dallas, Texas.

After a rumours have been circulating for some time, Canvey Carriage Company can now report that the move will go ahead with an expected move in date to be around early 2017.

Toyota Prius available from Canvey Carriage Company

The Japanese car giant are relocating from Torrance, just outside of Los Angeles, and the move will bring

much of the manufactures operations under one roof. This includes Toyota’s sales, marketing, servicing, advertising and quality control. As well as this some manufacturing operations will be moved to Texas, which currently operates in Kentucky.

The move by Toyota will be staggered, and begin to take place at the end of 2016. Toyota set up in California in 1957, beginning in a shop at a former rambler dealership in Hollywood.

Torrance mayor has described the move as “sad news”. Adding that "Toyota has been an integral part of the city."

Toyota’s move means that all three major Japanese car manufactures, which account for a large proportion of the US auto market share, will have left the state where they first moved in the beginning of their US operations.

Nissan moved most of its operations from Gardena, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, outside Nashville in 2006. Just last year, Honda decided to move a number of executives from Torrance to Columbus, Ohio.

Speaking to employees, Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz said: "Currently, we’re operating as multiple affiliates in a connected-but-independent way. In other words, we still have silos, and that’s slowing our decision-making processes. Our goal is to become not a group of dedicated affiliates, but one company -- One Toyota."

Lentz added: "Many roles will transfer, unchanged, to the new locations. Some new roles will be created, while others may evolve to meet the changing needs of the new organization."

It’s a bold move for Toyota, but one that they must believe will benefit the company going forward.