The New Penguin from Google

Looking For A Car Review - Will Google's New Penguin Help You?

Google Shows Respect to the 655,000 WeLoveAnyCar.com Car Reviewers

Google has recognised the contribution our 655,000+ car reviewers have made and now, when a car buyer uses Google for a specific car review, they are likely to find WeLoveAnyCar.com car reviews with Google on their 'first' page of results. 

Of course this makes us happy.  It also shows respect to the hundreds of thousands of motorists who have spent their time and energy trying to help other car buyers by submitting a car review to the WeLoveAnyCar.com site.

Without Google, Would We Find The Way?

We invite people we know who own specific cars to say what they think. Our car reviewers tell us about the things people buying cars want to know:  Is that car reliable, is it economical, fun to drive, practical for the kids, easy to park and so on?

Google Penguin Update

Every so often Google will look at the way it generates results.  When Google does this in a major way they have called the change 'Panda', 'Hummingbird', 'Penguin' and so on.

Apparently, this weekend, Google updated their 'Penguin' which tries to do an even better job at giving people, who use Google to search for information, better results.

WeLoveAnyCar.com and the Penguin

Unlike many car sites we don't have clever scientists to work out what Google is doing.  We certainly don't know what their new 'Penguin' will mean to people looking for honest and independent car reviews.  

Our focus, here at WeLoveAnyCar.com, will therefore be to carry on asking more drivers to submit more car reviews. 

If we stick to our aim of enabling car owners to help each other - we think Google will respect this and especially the hundreds of thousands of car reviewers who have built the biggest car review site in the UK and beyond.

WeLoveAnyCar.com 

We ask motorists what they think about their cars - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly cars. 

Our free online site allows anyone to look see what owning a specific car is like.  With over 655,000 car reviews WeLoveAnyCar.com gives prospective buyers the inside track on car ownership.

We invite people we know who own specific cars to say what they think. Our car reviewers tell us about the things people buying cars want to know:  Is that car reliable, is it economical, fun to drive, practical for the kids, easy to park and so on?

The End of the Tax Disc - Driver's Beware!

No more paper tax discs from the 1st of October!

The DVLA has just asked us to tell you that tax discs won't be needed after 1st October 2014. 

You will still pay for car tax. A reminder will be sent to you when the road tax is about to expire, even if your car is exempted from paying it.

How do I pay for the road tax?

From the 1st October 2014, you will be able to pay the road tax annually, twice a year or monthly by direct debit. 

If you decide to pay every six months or every month, it will be 5% more expensive. Payments will be continued until cancelled.

What if I am selling my car?

Once you have sold your car privately, you should notify the DVLA to get a refund on remaining months.

Tax discs WILL NOT carry over to the new owner.  You can no longer sell a car with remaining months valid tax after 1st November 2014.


If you sell your car to WeBuyAnyCar.com or a car dealer, they will sort it out for you. You can get a car valuation here .

94 Years Ago the First Road Tax Disc was issued 

Road tax was introduced in the 1888 budget and the current system of excise duty applying specifically to motor vehicles was introduced in 1920.

Thinking about buying a new car?

A new car with lower CO2 emissions means a cheaper road tax. New cars with less than 100g/km CO2 emission don't pay road tax.

Search for any make and model, new or used here (the road tax information and mpg figures are included to help.


Our Top 10 cars with no road tax

1. VOLKSWAGEN UP 1.0 BlueMotion Tech Move Up 3dr
2. SKODA CITIGO 1.0 MPI GreenTech SE 3dr
3. CITROEN C1 1.0 VTi Touch 3dr
4. FIAT PANDA 0.9 TwinAir [85] Easy 5dr
5. HYUNDAI I10 1.0 SE Blue Drive [4 Seat] 5dr
6. KIA PICANTO 1.0 1 3dr
7. TOYOTA AYGO 1.0 VVT-i X-Play 5dr
8. SUZUKI ALTO 1.0 SZ3 5dr
9. DACIA SANDERO 1.5 dCi Ambiance 5dr
10. MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 1.0 5dr

Have a look at the UK’s biggest car review database to see what others think about their cars and which are the most economical run and maintain.

For more information, visit our special information page on the changes taking place, just click here.

‘DO NOT BUY THAT CAR’ - CAR BUYERS WARNED

‘DO NOT BUY THAT CAR! - CAR OWNERS CAN NOW ‘SPOT THE DOGS’ BEFORE THEY BUY

Car buyers should NOT buy any car until they've checked what other owners say about the cars they are considering.

By checking with WeLoveAnyCar.com, motorists can make a better choice by ruling out specific model derivatives. 

For example, motorists shouldn't buy:

• The popular cabriolet which leaks in the rain – owners get soaked with the top up.
• Some cars with run flat tyres that spoil the ride enough to make owners sell early.
• The 4x4 with a turbo which has failed for many owners – and cost them thousands.
• The supercar susceptible to rusts under the front floor mats.
• The particulate filter in certain diesel cars which doesn’t clear causing loss of power.
• A specific seat design in a variant of a best-selling car which gives owners back ache.
• The expensive to repair electrical faults found on a high selling estate model.

Do Not Buy A Car 
Without Asking Owners 
What They Think

Nice Brochure, Pretty Car - Shame About the Faults

The WeLoveAnyCar.com site is a ‘must use’ for anyone who has a specific car in mind.  

Car buyers can access the biggest source of ‘real life’ car information because each car review is provided by car owners themselves.

There are few poor cars, but there are some really bad individual model derivatives which people should simply steer clear of because of specific problems. 

Owners, who have lived with, paid for, and sometimes suffered with a car, are the only people car buyers can trust when it comes to avoiding the hidden dogs of the automotive world.

Only Owners Can ‘Spot the Dogs’

Today there are some 30,000 individual derivatives of cars on sale.  The choice of engine, specification, optional extras and subtle differences in design can give rise to unforeseen problems.  

Persistent faults can only found once ownership is well under way so even the manufacturers and expert car reviewers are unable to ‘spot the dogs’ as well as car owners who have first-hand experience. 



137,357 WeLoveAnyCar.com reviewers rate their car’s economy, reliability, driving experience and this gives an overall rating.  

Not Recommended

Owners also give a score out of five on how much they would recommend that car to a friend.  In addition to the star ratings, motorists give their own comments providing prospective owners insight into the real cost and practicality of owning that car.

Each day thousands of car buyers check out what owners of the car they have an eye on is like, how it is rated and if there are any issues to look out for. Three minutes on WeLoveAnyCar.com car review site can save much heartache and a great deal of unexpected cost by finding out what cars to avoid. In most cases though, the mainly positive reviews will give prospective buyers comfort so then it’s just about finding the best deal.
 

Owners Rate Other Reviews

Car buyers can trust WeLoveAnyCar.com as only known car owners are asked to submit a review and the majority are ‘moderated’ by owners of the same car who may, or may not, agree with the comments made.

Here, the site only allows motorists known to own or have owned the car to submit a review and give ratings. Other owners of exactly the same derivative of car are then asked to ‘vote’ on whether they agree or disagree with the opinion given.  

Which Car To Buy - What Car to Avoid

In an example of owner power, one car reviewer said, “Beautiful car to drive. Silky smooth with multitronic gearbox. Watch electronics. Sensors tend to go after a number of years.” Here, 12 other owners of the same model agreed.  Encouraged to buy the car, prospective buyers might want to check out the sensors on the models they see for sale.

Over 617,566 second review votes have been cast on 137,357 car reviews submitted – making the WeLoveAnyCar.com car review site not only the biggest in the UK but also the fairest and most advanced review sites of any kind.

Each day hundreds of new reviews are published by WeLoveAnyCar.com and the base of information available is fast attracting manufacturers and dealers who can respond and react to what has become the biggest source of car ownership experience in the UK.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: 8,176 ORIGINAL MINIS STILL ON BRITISH ROADS

There are still 8,176 original Minis driving around British roads - out surviving many of its contemporary competitor models. The Mini's unloved replacement, the Mini Metro sold under the Austin and Rover brands, has fared less well with just 3,262 left despite being produced later on.

Just One Mini Van Left

A Mini Van 850 dressed up in AA livery

There are 34 different Austin Mini models remaining on UK roads. Some models are the last of their kind; someone is driving around Britain in the last licenced Austin Mini ‘850 Van’ and there are just 3 Mini ‘SPL’ versions left.

Remember the Metro?

Only 3,261 of the poorly built and unloved Austin and Rover Metros are left on the roads with an amazingly high 77 model versions. Some are facing total extinction; there is just one Austin Metro ‘HL’ left and two licenced Rover Metro ‘MG Turbo’ versions remaining.

Since WeLoveAnyCar.com launched the #CarCountUK page, 10’s of thousands of people have visited the site to see how many of the cars they knew, loved and drove remain on British roads.  Of the greatest surprise to many is the fact that they are discovering the car they drive today might also be quite rare.”

Your car, your last car, your first car? 

Find out how many there are left on British roads.

Just click here 

Today’s Exclusive Cars

BMW has been successful worldwide with the modern Mini and there are 490,376 registered for British Roads. There are only three Mini Cooper Graphite C-Man DA models registered; their owners can rightly claim to own a very rare and exclusive modern car.  The most exclusive Mini driver in Britain is the owner of the only Mini One ‘Soho Clubman Auto’ registered before December 2013.

A younger Tom Daley takes delivery of his
free Mini given to him by the Company

Everyone Can Drive an Exclusive Model

There are 206 different modern Mini models registered to drive on British roads.  In an increasing trend to ‘design’ a car,  offered by Fiat 500, Vauxhall Adam and others, prospective owners can choose exactly what they want from thousands of extras to add-on to the hundreds of base models available.

WeLoveAnyCar.com - the UK's Biggest Car Review Site

WeLoveAnyCar.com is the UK’s biggest car review site with over 601,179 car owner reviews and opinions.  We designed the #CarCountUK website so anyone could find out how many of a certain model of car is left registered to drive on public roads.  

WeLoveAnyCar.com has 1,482 Mini owner reviews (as at 10th July 2014)   

Visit our Mini review page to find out what Mini owners feel about their car.

Government Statistics Made Easy

The figures are produced each year by the government and WeLoveAnyCar.com has taken this and reprocessed the information so it is easy, and free, to use. There may be other models of any of the cars mentioned in garages and sheds but these, for whatever reason, have been taken off the road by their owners.

Austin Mini.  Numbers by Model remaining on UK Roads as at 12/2013. https://www.weloveanycar.com/carcountuk  

Make	Model	Number left on British   Roads
AUSTIN	MINI	1336
AUSTIN	MINI 1000	485
AUSTIN	MINI 1000 AUTO	20
AUSTIN	MINI 1000 CITY E	1363
AUSTIN	MINI 1000 CITY E AUTO	166
AUSTIN	MINI 1000 HL E	86
AUSTIN	MINI 1000 HL E AUTO	8
AUSTIN	MINI 1000 VAN	3
AUSTIN	MINI 1275 GT	60
AUSTIN	MINI 25	131
AUSTIN	MINI 850 VAN	1
AUSTIN	MINI ADVANTAGE	118
AUSTIN	MINI AUTO	13
AUSTIN	MINI CHELSEA	70
AUSTIN	MINI CLUBMAN	218
AUSTIN	MINI CLUBMAN AUTO	9
AUSTIN	MINI COOPER	434
AUSTIN	MINI COOPER S	397
AUSTIN	MINI COUNTRYMAN	88
AUSTIN	MINI DESIGNER	146
AUSTIN	MINI JET BLACK	88
AUSTIN	MINI MAYFAIR	1591
AUSTIN	MINI MAYFAIR AUTO	274
AUSTIN	MINI MOKE	31
AUSTIN	MINI PARK LANE	52
AUSTIN	MINI PICCADILLY	82
AUSTIN	MINI RACING FLAME	235
AUSTIN	MINI RED HOT	49
AUSTIN	MINI RITZ	58
AUSTIN	MINI SKY ROSE	107
AUSTIN	MINI SPL	3
AUSTIN	MINI SPRITE	35
AUSTIN	MINI THIRTY	402
AUSTIN	MINI THIRTY AUTO	17

Photo Credits.  AA Picture from WikiPedia  which also gives more information about the Mini.

Mini picture featuring Tom Daley sourced via Newspress - provided to them by Mini

40% of Jaguar, Audi, BMW and Mercedes Owners: "We'll Buy Electric"

Nearly 40% of BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar drivers said they would buy, or seriously consider buying, an all-electric car capable of 300 miles from one charge from their brand.  

Electric cars can accelerate faster, are quieter, better for the environment and now their range is climbing fast - but who would buy them?

Electric Cars- Mainstream Choice For Prestige Car Buyers 

WeLoveAnyCar.com surveyed 24,227 owners of prestige cars and the results suggest the market for all electric cars is ready to move from the ‘eco-shadows’ to the mainstream and possibly become the one of the most important car market sectors in the next 10 years.

Tesla - Now Available In the UK

Currently, only the US-made Tesla boasts range and performance figures considered in the survey but now solid evidence exists that the European brands’ investment in all-electric technology could be a way to increase sales and retain customers.

The Survey - Shock Results?

Each car owner in the survey (3,896 Jaguar owners, 8,154 BMW, 6,240 Mercedes and 5,937 Audi drivers) were asked the question: “All other things being equal (price, style, options and performance), would you consider buying a totally electric Jaguar/BMW/ Mercedes/Audi with a range of 300 miles from one charge?”

Would You Buy an All-Electric Car with a Range of 300 miles?

The results of this survey are remarkably similar across all prestige brands. BMW drivers are perhaps more open but, with around 40% of all prestige brand car owners surveyed saying they would, or would seriously consider, buying an all-electric car, manufacturers interested in retaining their market share must take note.”

Only 12 to 17% of all respondents said they'd never buy an electric car with a 300-mile range. 

Electric Cars - Highly Charged Battle Ground For the Luxury Sector

BMW is arguably ahead of the electric race with a multi-million Euro investment in electric technology.  They have clearly done the research and see the size of the market becoming the key battleground for the prestige driver.  

Investment Available For New Entrants? 

Tesla, the most advanced all-electric car manufacturer, have recently announced that they are happy to share technology, helping both major car companies and, perhaps, new start-up automotive manufacturers alike.  It can’t be long before the market potential, access to technology and governments with ambitious emission-reduction targets attract major investment from the deep pockets of the investment community.

Big Budget Buyers - Ready To Switch? 

Our 132,872 car owner reviews have major themes; the most popular being fuel economy.  This survey shows that fuel economy is just as attractive to the motorists with high disposable income as those on a tighter budget.

Aston Martin - 10 reasons to Buy, 10 reasons To Sell

Heart Throbbing Drive

Car review site WeLoveAnyCar.com rounds up over 140 reviews by Aston Martin owners and find true car love but, like any unfaithful lover, many have to be dumped.

Aston Martin owners love their cars. Comments submitted by owners on the UK's biggest car review site show how much love there is:

Adoring Aston Martin Lovers

1. "From the moment you push the start button until the moment you turn it off you have a constant smile on your face :)"
2. "A car with amazing presence and a real head turner. An understated modern classic"
3. "Fantastic car far better than the Ferrari 355 I owned before it"
4. "One of the greatest marques in the world to drive"
5. "A real head turner where ever you go" 
6. "The looks of the car are fantastic and always get the respect of other road users"
7. "A car I always dreamed of owning"
8. "This is simply the best value ''super car'' on the market"
9. "The sound of the engine is awesome"
10. "The instant you start this machine your life will feel slightly better"

Whilst the compliments flow, so do the criticisms which seem to dawn on Aston Marin owners over time:

Race Car - The team is on hand to fix!

Aston Martin Breaks their Hearts

1. "My experience was disappointing due to huge annual servicing costs even though I only did 1500 miles/year"
2. "Wish the blue tooth connectivity was better with the telephone as pretty hopeless"
3. "The only downs are the servicing costs which appear to be rather high from Aston dealerships!"
4. "Spares prices are ridiculous. They obviously take the view that if you drive one their cars you can afford to be fleeced"
5. "Not as exciting as expected. Very high running costs, especially servicing intervals and costs"
6. "Fuel economy is around 22 mpg if you are careful and a lot lower if your not!!"
7. "It lets itself down with daft things like warning lights coming on and the ABS going off for no reason"
8. "Very expensive to repair when problems occur and, believe me, they will"
9. "I find the gearbox a little agricultural"
10. "it's c**p"

One owner said his car was, "pre owned by Sir Elton John".  Maybe only the deeper pockets of someone like Sir Elton can afford to love a car like the Aston Martin.

WeLoveAnyCar.com has over 130,960 owner reviews covering all makes and models in the UK.  

Photo Credits:  David Kimber

Cars of the 70’s Nearly Extinct– Just 161 Allegros, 22 Bugs and 3,482 Cortina’s Left on British Roads

The largest group of drivers on British roads are people born in the 60’s and 70’s. 

Cars of their youth are almost extinct – there are fewer than 22 Bond Bugs, 161 Austin Allegros and just 3,482 Ford Cortina’s, once the UK’s most popular car, still registered to drive on British roads.

2.6 Million Sold in the UK - 3,482 left

These figures don't include those cars where the car is ‘unregistered’ or taken off the road via a SORN notice to the DVLA. 

2.6 Million Cars - Gone

2.6 million Cortina’s were sold in the UK so just 0.1% of the Ford success story remains on the roads.  

There are 4,119 Ford Sierras, the Cortina replacement, still licenced of the 1.3 million sold in the UK.  

Cosworth - Worth Keeping

Specialist models such as the Ford Sierra Cosworth (RS and Sapphire) tend to be better preserved than the average Sierra with 956 still licenced – that’s over 23% of all Sierra models remaining.

Using government statistics, the car review site has made it easy for anyone to look how many cars are exactly like the one they drive or one they used to drive.

The Bond Bug - Have You Seen One Recently?

Is Your First Car Here?

Our easy-to-use site allows anyone to look at how exclusive their cars are and in some cases drivers might be surprised to find they are one of a handful driving the model they own.

Are You the Only Person Driving your Exact Car?

Try It Now

Even current car owners can be in a very exclusive group.  There are only 6 owners of the Audi Q7 SE TFSI 333 QUATTRO A model on all the roads in the UK and just 9 owners of the Peugeot 308 SPORTIUM E-HDI S-A variant. be more Allegro’s in classic car collections than actually licenced to drive on the roads.

161 Allegro's on the road -
more in storage and in
classic car collections?

Photo credit: David Kimber - visit more of his pictures on our Gallery