John's Journal

Green for Go

Go for a green car and your chances of being hassled by other drivers are lessened. Apparently if the newest pastels - lime and lilac - are your colours of choice, you're eight times more likely than drivers of silver or metallic blue cars to have experienced depression. This titbit comes courtesy of a survey of car owners conducted by the Royal Automobile Club.

Other findings include: red is the colour of choice of the outgoing, black is the first pick of the ambitious. According to psychologist Conrad King, choice of car colour says more about a person's personality than the clothes he/she wears or the house he/she lives in.

What about car make? Sorry, that probably says more about cash flow than character.

 

News Briefs Across the Atlantic

VW's new Beetle seems to be most popular in the US if it is decked out in cyber green or silver. When Volkswagen decided to bring back its favourite product, it faced the challenge of keeping the original's fun-loving spirit and quality while injecting modern amenities and safety. The car has proved to be the gem of the year in America with about 55,000 sold so far at a starting price of 15,900 dollars (about £9,000). Already the entertainment world has embraced it. A yellow Beetle appeared in Lethal Weapon 4 and Spin city adopted the Beetle coffee mugs. Coming this month: the Beetle with more ooomph - 150 horsepower and leather seats.

VW is recalling about 11,585 four-door 1999 Jettas and Golfs because sound-absorbing material used in the doors might have been improperly installed and could catch fire. The seat belt tension system, designed to provide extra protection in severe collisions, creates heat and could potentially ignite the material if it has been damaged by improper installation.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail and all work will be completed at no cost to the customer. Interesting to note that the Jetta is VW's best-selling car in the U.S.!

 

Sail to a cheaper Deal

Great savings on new cars will be available when a cross-channel importing operation starts this month (March). Ferry operator Stena Line has joined with Broadspeed, a car engineering and sales group in Essex, to turn its Harwich-Hook of Holland service into a floating 'dealership' catering for drivers who want to buy cut-price imports.

This allows you to bypass the UK showroom rip-off highlighted in this magazine in the past. Out of 76 leading models on sale during November in the 12 EU countries, 57 cost most in Britain. Under this plan, bargain-hunters can drive on the ferry in their old car and choose the model they want to replace it during the three hour crossing. If they make their selection from a limited range on show at a small Broadspeed outlet near the port, they could be driving back home the next day in vehicles identical to those in UK showrooms, but at substantially lower prices. And because they are legitimate private imports, the cars rate with those sold by domestic dealers for warranty and service work. For example, a Rover 200Vi costing £16,350 in Britain will be available at £9,983 tax paid, a saving of 39%. A Vauxhall Astra 1.4 five-door priced usually at £12,250 will be going for £8,992 and the Peugeot 306 1.9DT three-door model at £14,880 will be selling at £10,510. The same applies to other makes - including VW.

Broadspeed's 24-hour London hotline number is 0171 413 9980. Good luck

 

Channel Cover for Motorists

Green Flag has launched a new annual travel insurance policy to motorists who visit continental Europe at least twice a year.

Called Annual European Motoring Assistance Plan, it will give a year's comprehensive continental cover for a flat £70. The policy includes vehicle breakdown cover of up to £850 for seven days before departure, emergency roadside repairs in Europe and vehicle repatriation. In addition, the cover includes taking passengers to their destination or returning them home.

John Daniels

 

Postscript

This may very well be the last ever John's Journal so its an apt time to say goodbye to the past and bring in the new.

Let me first say a big thank-you to John Daniels who has been editor of this magazine for many, many years and who has done an excellent job editing the magazine and handing over the task to Daniel and I. Once again, a Big Thank You

As you can see, Wheelspin has changed. It has been away for a month while the club was in temporary limbo without a full committee. The magazine has changed and will continue to change over the coming months and years. Getting this first totally revamped issue out has been quite a task, but I know each month it'll get easier (I hope).

This brings me to the crux of the matter. The club has always been eager to get more involvement from you, the members but now we are redoubling are efforts. This goes for socials, shows and Wheelspin itself. I want the magazine to evolve based on what the membership want to see.

So any letters, articles, photos, criticism and suggestions are welcome (especially articles and letters - I don't want to have to write the whole mag myself every month!). This, first of the new look Wheelspin, has already got a slew of contributions from the new committee but we all want to hear from you, so write in. You can either write (or mail a computer disk) to the club PO Box number or e-mail
wheelspin@ltv-vwc.org.uk. I obviously prefer the disk or e-mail method as I don't have to type it in gain, but don't let that stop you sending in contributions. So welcome to the new Wheelspin and the new club, and come and meet the committee at this years events.

Louis Henwood co editor