The school holidays are approaching and as a result there tend to be many cars on the road going away for a break. Unfortunately more car accidents do occur during these periods. We encourage all drivers to do their upmost to ensure that they have a safe trip. A great start is to ensure that your car is in the best condition. Service your car by refilling the oil, wiper fluid and coolant. Clean your car to provide excellent visibility and you may need to replace your wipers.

If you have concerns over the safety of your car look at the “How Safe is Your Car” website. It will provide you with information as to how well your car rates. If you continue to have concerns you may wish to look at purchasing a recent model car. The newer cars are well equipped with airbags and other safety features.

If you require a finance quote to see if purchasing a new vehicle meets your budget then speak to a Madison Finance representative on 1300 887 967. Alternatively, you may wish to apply for an online quote.

If you are looking for a novated lease then speak to a novated lease specialist! A novated lease specialist will be able to guide you through the whole process, from purchase of the vehicle through to settlement. If your employer does not offer a novated lease program, we can get them started seamlessly and within a short time frame.

A novated lease is a tax effective way of financing a vehicle or the like. In recent years we have seen a trend towards employers offering this program to their employees. By offering such a system it attracts future employees and helps to retain existing staff members. Employees get an instant pay increase without any cost to the employer.

A novated lease is a form of salary packaging whereby the repayments on your vehicle are deducted from your pre tax income. You may wish to take out a fully maintained novated lease whereby the costs of running the vehicle are also deducted from your pre tax income. The running costs of the vehicle include insurance, registration, fuel and servicing. The savings made by opting for a novated lease can run into thousands of dollars each year.

In recent years manufacturers have been building their convertibles as hard-tops. The reason for this is for comfort, as the roof is up most of the time. However, Mercedes engineers have developed a new system called “Aircap”. This alters the windscreen aerodynamics which provides a quieter, more comfortable ride. When a hard-top roof is up it can be mistaken for a fixed-head coupe. Now Mercedes have returned to a soft-top model with the E Class cabriolet. So of course everybody will know you are driving the real deal.

The E Class cabriolet is a four seater which seats two adults and two children in the rear with ease. Four adults do fit, however, leg space is compromised for all passengers. The latest model has sleeker lines and looks better than its current counterparts. The E class drives particularly well and features lower emissions and fuel consumption than previous years. The power and torque have not been compromised as a result but have actually improved.

When purchasing a car it can be difficult to know where to start. The most important thing to do is to ascertain what type of car you are likely to buy. You will need to consider your needs when determining your car of choice. For example you wouldn’t buy a sports car to transport a family of four. You will need to consider how you drive your car and which is most economical for your purposes. You will also need to consider what sort of driving you do. Do you need a large boot space? Do you need 7 seats? Are you conscious of purchasing a car which is cleaner for the environment?

There are so many elements to consider when purchasing a car, which does end up providing you with a shortlist of cars suitable for your purposes. Of course you will also need to consider your budget. You may need to purchase a second hand car. Second hand cars can be found through dealerships, auction houses or private sellers. The internet is a useful tool for searching cars.

Once you have determined what sort of car you are likely to buy and your budget, you will need to organise your car finance. It is very wise to organise your car finance in advance so you are certain of the funds available to purchase your new vehicle. In the event that you have not organised your car finance, ensure that you sign your contract “subject to car finance of your choice”. This way you won’t be forced to take out finance through the dealership which limits your options. To ensure that you are provided with the widest range of financiers and products available, invest in the services of a car finance broker.

Car manufacturers have been focusing on providing greener more efficient vehicles to their consumers. Commercial customers will be happy to know that they too will have the choice of greener vehicles. Mercedes Benz have introduced a range of Sprinter vehicles that are better for the environment. All their Sprinter vehicles for 2010 now meet the tough Euro V emission regulations. These vehicles even come with the option of the engine automatically switching off when the vehicle is stopped and it will restart once the clutch is engaged. It is a truly fascinating system but does take some time to get used to. One of their engines is designed to run on natural gas or petrol.

The Sprinter still rides well despite their size and has a tight turning circle in relation to parking. As the Sprinter is such a well engineered German vehicle it handles extremely well. The NGT (Natural Gas Technology) model, which has gone on sale for the first time in Australia is a super-charged four-cylinder engine. This model can almost run on natural gas alone. The need for petrol is only required during very cold starts and is only needed for a minimal time. Unfortunately filling up can prove to be difficult as only a limited number of places offer natural gas. Hopefully this will soon change. However, some operators may already have natural gas tanks on their site so will benefit from being able to operate this vehicle immediately.