Section: Motors:News Motors

A SUPERCHARGED pre-war Alfa Romeo “classic sportscar” Torpedo is being put up for auction and could sell for more than £3.75m.

This could make it among the world’s most expensive cars, when aligned with pre-auction estimates.

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The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 is a sports car that dominated in racing during its time in the 1930s, establishing new standards for high-performance cars.

It captured multiple wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1000 Miglia, leading the Alfa Romeo to sell a street version of the vehicle.

The 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Torpédo will be up for grabs at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions from August 15 to 16.

This one features original open coachwork by famed Parisian coachbuilder Joseph Figoni, with desirable Monza cowl.

As a bare chassis, these vehicles were available on the road in both short and long-wheelbase models, with coachwork that could be commissioned by the customer.

It could be done through firms such as Touring, Zagato, and lesser known Carrosserie Figoni, that provided a high quality build, fine woodwork, luxurious interiors and elegant styling.

Figoni is said to have outfitted seven road-going 8C 2300s between 1932 and 1935 on a built-to-order basis.

The striking two-seater Torpedo that is displayed on the 1933 vehicle was ordered to Paris by Alfa Romeo’s first owner, Louis Jeantet.

It includes a rare Alfa Romeo Paris badge, a folding soft top with exposed bows, long fenders, a separate trunk, and dual-mounted spares.

French luxury car authors, Peter M. Larsen and Ben Erickson, described the car as having: “A body that would be plain from the hand of any other carrossier, but its austerity is alleviated by handsome and perfectly balanced proportions that achieve an understated yet exciting look…

“It is a classic sportscar style conceived at the cusp in time just before aerodynamic thinking changed car design forever.”

There are no side windows on the cars vody, or curtains, beltine or other ornamentation.

Nevertheless, the 8C 2300 boasts an all-aluminium 2.3L twin-cam straight eight that is supercharged to produce 138 horsepower.

It has been dubbed the “premier prewar Italian sports car”, with 140 BHP at 4,800 RPM.

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Last year, another iconic Le Mans racing car hit auctions, and was expected to sell for an eye-popping £7million.

It was a 1954 Jaguar D-Type, that clocked a blistering 172.97 miles per hour.

And earlier this year, another rare Alfa Romeo supercar was bought by a British man to impress his wife on their 1956 honeymoon.

He bought an Alfa Romeo 8C from 1932, for £3million at auction.

A MAJOR motorway is closed after a lorry caught on fire, causing significant delays.

The M6 northbound is closed between J3A for Coleshill and J4 for the M42.

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It has led to around five miles of congestion, with drivers being warned of long delays.

Delays of around an hour can be expected.

Motorists have been advised to plan alternative routes.

A diversion via the M42 up to the J9 roundabout is in place.

The incident occurred at around 4pm today, with pictures from National Highways showing fire crews tackling the blaze.

A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport has warned that the delays could affect routes to the terminal.

In addition to the M6 closure, the M42 and A4535 are also affected by closures amid “multiple ongoing road incidents”.

A RETIRED judge has shared top tips on what to do if presented with a private parking ticket.

Thousands of motorists across Britain know the feeling of thinking they’ve been unfairly handed a parking fine.

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The unwelcome sight of a yellow sticker on your windscreen is always enough to ruin any motorist’s day.

But Stephen Gold, a retired judge, has revealed the three words that can help you beat a private parking ticket.

Speaking to the MailOnline, he said: “Getting a ticket after parking in a private car park does not mean you have committed any offence.

“It won’t lead to a criminal conviction, whether or not you pay it.

“You can challenge a ticket that has been wrongly issued, and the challenge could take you to the county court, where the park operator would have to sue you for non-payment to have any hope of getting you to pay up.”

THE THREE WORDS

The judge told the paper that a key defence against tickets is: “I knew nothing”.

This is a defence that counts on the you being able to prove that parking conditions were not properly indicated.

The operator would have to prove the conditions of parking were displayed on one or more notices that a reasonable motorist would have seen.

So if you only discovered the terms of parking upon returning – perhaps due to signs being inconspicuous or absent – the defence would hold.

It is always best to take photographs of the signs and their location within the car park if you want to use this defence.

The operator will likely try to rely on pictures of the signs within the car park – but these might not show exactly where they are.

APPEALS PROCESS

It comes as more and more car parks use number plate capturing cameras to send out tickets.

Sometimes this will result in a ticket being placed on your windscreen, but often these days a letter will be sent in the post.

If you wish to appeal a ticket, your first action should be to go to the car park operator.

An independent appeal would be the next step, and a final point would be going to a county court.

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DRIVERS have been warned to brace for summer holiday chaos as a UK seaside hotspot is hit with months of road closures.

The Cornwall town will see significant travel disruption over the next four months as part of a gas work upgrade.

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The £110,000 gas work upgrade will start in the Marlborough Crescent area of Falmouth later this month.

Utility company Wales & West said the upgrade work should be completed by mid November.

They said: “The gas emergency and pipeline service is starting the work on 24 July and, barring any engineering difficulties, it will finish by mid-November. 

“The works are essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations.”

Traffic management will be in place throughout after the company liaised with Cornwall Council to plan the work.

The road closures will include:

• A closure on Tregenver Road from the junction ‘Access to Garages and Rear of 16 to 25 Tregenver Road’ to the junction of Dracaena Avenue (July 24 – August 8)
• A closure on Penmere Hill between the junctions of Kings Avenue and Tregenver Road (July 24 – August 8)
• Rolling two/three-way lights starting on Penmere Road leading onto Theydon Road (August 4 – 29)
• Rolling road closure on Theydon Road, from the junction of Penmere Hill to the junction of Margaret Place and Marlborough Grove to the junction Marlborough Avenue (September 8 – November 14)

Further traffic management will also be required between September and November.

Wales & West Utilities Natalie Raphael is managing this work and said: “We have been working with the council to plan these essential works. We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.

“We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Cornwall. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.”

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales.

Another busy road near one of Britain’s best beaches is also still currently closed as it undergoes 14 weeks of works.

For those travelling to Bournemouth from Walkford, they will need to follow a diversion route while a dodgy pipe is replaced.

A finish date for the works has not been confirmed, but the 14 week closure should bring us to the end of August.

And if you’re hitting the roads for your summer holidays this year, drivers have been warned about making a deadly mistake over the holidays.

Motorists have been urged to take regular stops on their long journeys after analysis revealed a steep rise in fatigue-related crashes during the summer months.

National Highways issued the advice and warned that driver tiredness can lead to “dangerous mistakes”.

Drivers have been urged by the agency to plan breaks that go “beyond quick pit stops”.

They suggest activities such as exploring a nearby tourist attraction or beauty spot to ensure drivers are alert before they get back behind the wheel.

SOMETHING a bit different. It’s not a car review. It’s a world-first look at Apple CarPlay Ultra. 

Most of you with a newish car will hook up your iPhone and use the central touchscreen for music and maps. 

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CarPlay Ultra allows you to use two screens. So you can have Waze or Apple Maps filling the driver’s display in front of you. 

Finally. 

Apple’s first collab is actually with Aston Martin but you can guarantee CarPlay Ultra will be popping up in other motors in the near future. 

There’s some cool updates on the central touchscreen too. 

Swipe right for an Apple Watch-style dashboard with up/down toggles for weather, clock, calendar and more. 

There’s a simple button to deactivate the bloody annoying driving assistance tech. We like that too. 

Plus, car-specific buttons for hill descent control and noisy exhaust mode. 

Radio station favourites are linked to your device. So when you’re driving you’ve got talkSPORT and when your partner’s at the wheel they’ve got Magic FM. Or vice versa. 

It’s all very slick. All very easy. All very Apple. No handbook required. 

The funny thing is, when the DBX arrived in 2020 it didn’t even have a touchscreen. Now it’s top of the class. Dreamy lines. V8 engine. Cutting-edge tech. Aston Martin is on it. 

THIS is the moment a huge pile-up takes place on a motorway, involving multiple cars, a caravan and a huge 30-tonne heavy goods vehicle.

But while the destruction and terror brought about by the incident are all very real, not all is as it seems.

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Indeed, the high-speed crash was all part of a carefully planned experiment conducted as part of a Channel 4 documentary titled Pile Up – The World’s Biggest Crash Test.

Carried out at a former RAF base in Scotland, the experiment involved recreating a high-speed motorway pile-up with eight vehicles and a 30-tonne lorry.

The cars involved were a Toyota Prius, Porsche Boxster, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford F-150, Audi A8, Dodge Grand Caravan, Mercedes ML and a Vauxhall Vivaro van.

The team used an almost 2-mile-long stretch of road, which was presumably an aircraft runway, and included white lines, a hard shoulder and motorway-grade varioguard barriers to make everything as realistic as possible.

Professor James Brighton and his team from Cranfield University’s Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre led the study, which thankfully utilised cars that were remote-controlled from ‘pods’ but driven at motorway speeds.

Four members of the public took part, each selected to represent a cross-section of road users.

To make the pile-up as realistic as possible and to capture genuine reactions, the four selected drivers had no knowledge of the true nature of the experiment.

They were revealed as 19-year-old Caitlyn, who represents inexperienced drivers aged 17 to 24; Luke, 26, a “boy racer,” reflecting young male drivers who account for 65% of serious injuries or deaths; 66-year-old Lynn, representing older drivers aged 60+; and Tito, 57, a surfer and international driver familiar with UK and US road differences.

All four believed they were taking part in an experiment to improve motorway safety and advance their driving skills and were unaware they would be involved in a high-speed multi-car pile-up.

As they drove along at speed, a lorry swerved into their lanes to simulate a pile-up.

Over 90 cameras, drones and black boxes were used to capture the moment of impact, recording crash dynamics, vehicle data and driver reactions.

The experiment provides valuable insights into crash dynamics, safety systems and human behaviour during multi-vehicle accidents, while also highlighting areas for improvement in vehicle design and accident analysis.

The aftermath of the crash replicated several intricate details, such as a car sliding under the lorry and also demonstrated crumple zones, which are effective at absorbing impacts and saving lives.

For example, despite a massive rear shunt from a van, the Prius’ electric battery remained intact.

Afterwards, Marcus Rowe, a crash investigator, was sent to the scene of the accident – having not witnessed the crash – to figure out what happened using crash forensics.

One concerning finding was that airbags might not always deploy and largely depend on where the vehicle is hit, showing that safety systems can struggle with multiple impacts.

One thing that can’t be determined is a driver’s reaction in the heat of the moment, as one panicked motorist accelerated into the lorry, despite having come to a stop safely.

Lastly, it found that the hard shoulder is a dangerous place to be, as any drivers or passengers in the cars on the mock-up hard shoulder would most likely have lost their lives.

Speaking on the experiment, David Twohig, an Automotive Engineering Consultant, said: “The beauty of a lab-based crash test is everything is controlled.

“Everything is repeatable, but unfortunately, the real world is not a laboratory, and there are many, many variables.

“It might be the weather conditions, it might be the friction of the road surface, it might be temperature, humidity, the state of the driver, the mood of the driver – so I think that’s the limitation of the lab, it’s almost too good.”

Pile Up – World’s Biggest Crash Test airs Sunday 15 June at 9pm on Channel 4.

MOTORING experts have revealed the ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK.

The average insurance premium has increased by a whopping 43 per cent year on year from £284 in 2024 to a shocking high of £941.

Prices have begun to drop over the past few months but the average quote is now sitting around £834, which is still a huge premium.

Experts have now revealed how to get this massive premium down a bit.

They’ve revealed the top ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK to help keep the price of motoring down for everyday Brits.

Not only are the motors cheap to insure but they are affordable for anyone looking to pick up a new car.

The list consists mostly of hatchbacks and super minis but some SUVs do make an appearance.

Skoda Fabia

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The Fabia is reportedly the cheapest of all UK motors to insure.

The little Czech hatchback only costs around £237 a year to insure and can be bought for an impressively low £19,410.

Seat Ibiza

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The Ibiza remains a cheap option since the mark one was introduced to the UK market in 1983.

At only £240 a year and £19,795 to buy the little hatchback remains one of the UK’s best cheap and cheerful models.

Dacia Sandero

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Costing just £240 a year to insure and a very cheap £13,250 to buy, the Romanian motor offers an excellent option for first time drivers.

Only slightly more expensive to insure than the Ibiza the Sandero is a fair sight cheaper to buy than most of the alternatives.

Volkswagen Polo

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The German made Volkswagen Polo is up next with an insurance premium of around £247.

A favourite among first time drivers in the UK the Polo costs just £21,210 to buy.

Volkswagen T-Cross

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Surprisingly the SUV style Volkswagen T-Cross came in next, despite being large it can be insured for just £248.

A Volkswagen T-Cross could be purchased for around £24,895 and offers the most space on the list, perfect for families.

Hyundai i10

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The first Japanese car on the list, the Hyundai i10, can be insured for only £259 and purchased for a modest £16,380.

The most technologically advanced of the motors on this list the i10 offers a slew of futuristic features not available with some of the other options.

Kia Picanto

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The tiny Kia Picanto can be insured for just £250 and bought for only £18,945.

One of the smallest motors on the list the quick little car is a perfect option for the city, learners or first time motorists.

Kia Stonic

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Another Kia, the Stonic, though much larger than the hatchback Picanto, can be insured for around the same at £260.

Buying one is a fair bit pricier though costing motorists around £20,265.

Hyundai i20

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Not to be confused with the much more powerful i20N the Hyundai i20 can be insured for just £282 and purchased for £20,880.

A little larger and more powerful than some other entries on the list the i20 offers a bit of a step up in performance for a bit of a step up in cost.

Toyota Aygo X

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Scraping in at the bottom of the list the Toyota Aygo X can be insured for £307, the only motor on the list to break the £300 mark.

It remains relatively cheap to buy however at around £16,515.

A MAJOR car manufacturer is axing its record-breaking hot hatch just three years after its latest revamp.

The FL5-generation Honda Civic Type R is being culled in the UK and Europe from 2026 – but is set to go out with a bang.

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Forty final Ultimate Edition models with a classic Championship white paint job, and red accents, including a central pinstripe, are being made as a swansong – but is likely to cost more than the regular Type R (£48,900).

Just 10 of these special edition motors will be available in the UK – and these will be available on a first come first serve basis, according to Honda.

The news will come as a bittersweet blow to petrol heads, with the FL5 having broken countless front-wheel drive lap records during its short reign.

Honda’s European strategy boss Hannah Swift put the axing down to the industry “changing” and an evolution of its model range “in accordance with European legislation”.

Those changes relate to stricter emissions standards in Britain and the EU, with which the Type R doesn’t comply.

The four-wheel-drive hatch market comprises of the Golf R, Toyota GR Yaris and Mercedes-AMG A45 S – but all are risk due to the new regulations.

Several brands are instead moving to e-performance cars.

It comes 28 years after the first Civic Type R arrived as a grey import from Japan.

Arriving in late 1997, before a second generation model in 2001, a third in 2007 and a fourth in 2015.

Its fifth and sixth generations are widely regarded by experts as the finest driver’s cars of the modern age.

According to the Honda website, the current Type R features a two litre- four cylinder VTEC TURBO engine and can accelerate from 0-100km/hr in 5.4 seconds.

It adds: “The Type R is the fastest front wheel drive car to have driven the legendary 5.8km Suzuka circuit.”

Ms Swift said: “As we say farewell to a true icon of the Honda automobile line-up in Europe, we thought it was fitting to give the Civic Type R the ultimate send-off with this special edition model offering our customers a unique opportunity to celebrate its legacy.

“The industry is changing, and our model range is having to evolve with it in accordance with European legislation.

“However, Type R has always been Honda’s ultimate expression of our passion for driving excitement, and we look forward to celebrating its heritage in the weeks and months ahead.”

Ten things YOU should know as a car owner

To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:

A MAJOR car dealership has suddenly shut down after forty-five years of selling 10,000s of motors.

Customers in Lowestoft, East Suffolk, were shocked by the owner’s statement announcing their closure.

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Stanley Street Motors, run by John Mitchell, has been serving a loyal client base since 1980.

But the boss revealed he will be powering down operations due to health reasons.

In a statement on Facebook, the firm said: “Stanley Street Motors has now ceased trading, due to ill-health and retirement.

“This facebook page is in the process of being closed down, and the automatic updates will shortly cease. Our website will have further details in due course.

“We at Stanley Street Motors want to thank you, our customers and friends, and all our suppliers, contractors and supporters, everyone who bought our cars, liked our posts and recommended us to others.

“For over 40 years we have bought and sold cars from Stanley Street. Over the years we have had tens of thousands of lovely customers, many of whom became, not just repeat customers, but friends.

“We will miss you all. Thank you and goodbye.”

The site will now be up for grabs at auction through Auction House East Anglia, as reported by the Eastern Daily Press.

Bidders will have the opportunity to bag the property on June 18.

A guide price has been listed for anywhere between £200,000 and £300,000.

A spokesperson from the auctioneers said: “Former car sales showroom and forecourt with development potential.

“This showroom with offices and workshop is to be sold vacant and ready for a new operator, or there is potential to change the current use subject to planning.

“The premises has been used successfully for used cars sales and repairs by the current owners for over 40 years but is now being sold due to retirement.

“The premises comprise of a generous showroom, workshop, two offices, presentation suite, kitchen and cloakroom.

“There is a large forecourt for upwards of 30 cars and the premises has three phase electricity and security alarm system.”

This comes as motor dealerships across the UK have been waving goodbye amid a string of devastating closures.

Last month a highly recommended company with excellent reviews shut down suddenly.

The Evans Halshaw location ceased trading quietly with no warning given.

Elsewhere, a pioneering car dealership with over 91,000 vehicles is currently on sale – putting over 100 jobs at risk.

The German online used car marketplace has made heavy losses since opening in the UK in 2019 when it looked to rival Auto Trader and Motors.

Heycar’s majority shareholder, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), have pulled the plug leaving more than 126 employees across the UK, Germany, and France at risk of losing their jobs.

Meanwhile a fellow dealership pulled the shutters down as part of a “brand shift” with staff being moved over to another company.

The Sytner Group sold its former Manchester Carshop site to a used car company.

Shaun Lane, the CEO of Motor Range, announced the move on LinkedIn.

According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK.

The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships.

With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don’t even step foot into a dealership anymore.

Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared.

Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket.

Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors.

The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry.

A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars.

They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050.

The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals.

This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.

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A MAJOR car brand has unveiled a new look for its smallest motor due to be rolled-out later this year.

The tiny Toyota Aygo X has received a mid-life update, with its mini 1.0L petrol engine being swapped out for a hybrid powertrain, borrowed from its big brother, the Yaris.

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When it arrives in the UK later this year, it will be the smallest entirely hybrid car on sale in the country.

Toyota will also discontinue its manual gearbox petrol version, making the Aygo X hybrid-only.

The Japanese carmaker has found a great deal of popularity with its “A-segment” city car, selling nearly 300,000 since they were introduced in 2022.

Now, its refreshed Aygo X could attract even more buyers with its 114bhp 1.5L petrol-electric hybrid setup – borrowed from the larger and more expensive Yaris and Yaris Cross.

However, the design has been adapted from these other motors, due to the Aygo’s tight dimnesions.

For example, while battery cells are usually found parallel in the Yaris, the Aygo X will have them placed as two stacks alongside each other underneath the rear seats.

The auxiliary battery will also be moved under the boot storage in order to not cramp the space inside the tiny motor.

In terms of power, this new hybrid setup churns out a respectable 114bhp, far more than the 71bhp seen in the current Aygo.

Toyota says this means the Aygo X will be able to go from 0-62mph in “less than 10 seconds”.

The new motor is also expected to boast fuel economy figures beyond 70mpg, reports Car Magazine.

On top of this all, Toyota says the new Aygo X will have CO2 emissions of just 86g/km, the lowest of any car that does not need to be plugged in.

The iconic Japanese carmaker has also claimed to have made the Aygo quieter and more comfortable through increased noise insulation, especially on the top-spec model – which will come with thicker glass.

On its exterior, the updated Aygo X boasts new sharp LED headlights as well as a redesigned front bumper.

The motor stretches 76mm longer than its predecessor, primarily to accommodate the larger hybrid powertrain.

On top of a new bonnet, there is also an option to have a retractable canvas roof.

If you’re feeling like splashing out some more cash, there’s also a newly introduced GR Sport trim level for the Aygo X, said to be “inspired by Toyota’s motorsport teams”.

In the cabin, there aren’t many changes to come with the update – although a new seven-inch digital instrument cluster has been added.

There is also expected to be a new wireless smartphone charger for higher-spec cars.

Prices and specifications have yet to be fully announced for the Aygo X, although experts have said to expect a “healthy increase” on top of the car’s current starting price of £16,845.

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DRIVERS looking to buy an affordable but reliable older motor should consider one of these top 10 picks from the Which? annual car survey.

The consumer group has revealed a list of cars it recommends with five-star reliability ratings between 10-15 years old, some for less than £3,000.

From nippy city cars to big family SUVs, there are options for all drivers hunting for a bargain buy that doesn’t scrimp on quality.

Michael Passingham, senior researcher at Which?, told thisismoney that hybrid cars have come to dominate the list of most reliable, older vehicles.

He said: “Why do these cars perform so well? One reason could be that the hardest part of a car’s life – starting and pulling away – are mostly handled by the small electric motor.

“These motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines and, along with sturdy main battery packs, really don’t have to work all that hard. 

“The downside is that our data shows a much higher failure rate of the 12V battery (the small battery all cars have) on full hybrids; this component is worked hard so it pays to buy a quality one and get it replaced every five years or so.”

In good news for consumers, so called ‘full’ hybrids’ have been removed from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars planned by the government.

Micheal warned against opting for a plug-in hybrid, saying that this type of car has “one of the least reliable engine types according to our data”.

Here is the full list of the 10 best buys for the most reliable older cars…

10. Toyota Auris (2012-2019)

Average used price: £4,650

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Faults: 28% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 5.3

The predecessor to the Toyota Corolla, the Auris served as the brands family hatchback offering for almost two decades until it was replaced in 2019.

The second generation Auris, sold between 2012-2019, boasts impressive reliability with less than three in ten owners reporting faults in the last year, and only seven per cent saying their vehicle broke down.

The average price of £4,650 makes this a competitive option when looking for a family, and environment, friendly hatchback.

The only caveat is that the Auris took an average of 5.3 days to get back on the road after a breakdown, which is higher than other cars on this list.

9. Suzuki Alto (2009-2014)

Average used price: £2,800

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Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 1% Days off the road: 2.6

The Suzuki Alto, released in 2009, is still living up to its promise of being a cheap, compact and reliable supermini.

It was first offered for £6,000-£7,000 and now can be snapped up for less than three grand, the cheapest buy on this list.

The simplicity of the Alto makes it a particularly reliable option, with just 1 per cent reporting breakdowns in the last 12 months, and a quarter saying they had to deal with faults.

If it does need a repair, the Alto’s simplicity means it gets back to you in an average of only 2.6 days.

8. Toyota Yaris (2011-2020)

Average used price: £3,100

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Faults: 23% Breakdowns: 6% Days off the road: 3.1

The go-to small, dependable car for many in the last 25 years, the Yaris, is still making recommendation lists for its affordability and reliability.

With less than a quarter reporting faults and only 6 per cent dealing with a breakdown in the last 12 months, the Yaris still holds up remarkably well after all this time.

This is the 2011-2020 model with a hybrid drivetrain, an addition which makes it economical to drive as well as to buy, averaging just over £3,000.

7. Suzuki Swift (2010-2016)

Average used price: £3,500

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Faults: 27% Breakdowns: 8% Days off the road: 1.4 

Suzuki appears again on this list with the 2010-2016 Swift supermini, a compact, simple vehicle at a compelling price.

Received positively upon release, the Swift was praised for being fun to drive with a competitive blend of efficiency and performance.

Now on sale for only around three and a half grand, this might be a great option for those looking for a small but fiery little motor.

Although it scores a little worse on breakdowns, with 8 per cent being the highest on this list, it does only spend a brief 1.4 days in the shop when things do go wrong.

Couple this with a good score of 27 per cent reporting faults, and this characterful car is still a good buy in 2025.

6. BMW X1 (2009-2015)

Average used price: £5,200

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Faults: 35% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 2.1

In a shock entry to this list, the BMW X1 is an outlier for luxury SUVs, which are often unreliable and costly to repair.

On the contrary, the X1 competes with other, much smaller, simpler cars with a respectable record of just 7 per cent reporting breakdowns last year and only 2.1 days taken to fix on average.

Consumers may be able to take advantage of typically low SUV resale prices, generally due to reliability and repair cost concerns, to pick up this hidden gem for a very reasonable price of around £5,000.

That said, the X1 does rank low on this list in terms of faults, with over a third experiencing issues in the last 12 months.

5. Skoda CitiGo (2009-2019)

Average used price: £4,500

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Faults: 22% Breakdowns: 5% Days off the road: 2.8

Mechanically identical to the VW Up!, the Skoda CitiGo was meant for squeezing into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets while keeping your fuel costs and insurance premiums to a minimum.

After being discontinued five years ago, the CitiGo now makes for a tempting prospect on the second-hand market.

It was initially praised for being surprisingly roomy for being so small, and for being the cheaper alternative to the Up! while essentially being the same car.

It boasts impressive reliability, with only 22 per cent reporting faults and 5 per cent experiencing a break down.

The CitiGo is fairly quick to repair as well, only spending 2.8 days at the garage before being ready for more.

4. Honda Jazz (2008-2015)

Average used price: £3,800

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Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 4% Days off the road: 2.7

Almost exclusively driven by those of a certain age, the Honda Jazz is popular amongst the older demographic for a reason: its convenient, reliable and easy to drive.

These attributes might get Grandma excited, but they should also make the Jazz an attractive option for anyone looking for a solid vehicle at a bargain price.

One in four owners reported a fault with their cars and the average time in the garage was 2.7 days being fixed by mechanics.

Your Jazz shouldn’t be seeing the inside of a garage too often though, with only 4 per cent breaking down in the last year.

3. Lexus RX 450h (2009-2015)

Average used price: £6,400 

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Faults: 16% Breakdowns: 0%  Days off the road: 2 

This chunky SUV was voted the most satisfying car to own in 2024 in a Which? survey.

A glance at the cars record quickly confirms that one of the factors that make it so popular must be its excellent reliability.

Looking at the hybrid-powered models here, only 16 per cent reported a fault in the last year and none had their RX break down on them.

For the times that the RX was sent into the garage, it only spent 2 days on average being worked on.

The price is a little higher than some others on this list, but buyers are getting both space, comfort and relatively good fuel efficiency.

2. Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015)

Average used price: £3,800

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Faults: 26% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.7

The iconic MX-5 speeds into the number two spot for good reason, bucking the trend of unreliable sports car to still deliver thrilling driving with solid build quality at a good price.

Hailing originally from the late 1980’s, this example of the world’s best selling roadster is the third generation MX-5, it debuted in 2005 and still holds up today.

The record from Which?’s data is flawless when it comes to breakdowns, and shows that this classic is quick to fix only spending 1.7 days in the shop.

Just over a quarter reported faults, but that’s not a huge figure when it comes to second-hand sports cars.

1. Lexus CT 200h (2011-2020)

Average used price: £7,300

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Faults: 13% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.2 

Topping the list as the most reliable 10 to 15 year-old car comes the Lexus CT 200h, a full hybrid hatchback which served as the brands answer to the Ford Focus and VW Golf until 2020.

CT 200h owners surveyed by Which? delivered glowing reviews, reporting zero breakdowns and only 13 per cent experiencing a fault with their car.

Drivers praised the vehicles comfort and, of course, reliability, only pointing to a small boot and clunky infotainment system as critiques, as reported by thisismoney.

The car sells for around £7,000, the priciest offering so far, but its near spotless record should mean your investment pays off with a dependable motor that is good for years to come.

The ones to steer clear of

Which? puts the diesel powered Vauxhall Zafira (2005-2014) and Nissan Qashqai (2007-20013) as two of the least reliable vehicles that consumers should steer well clear of if dependability is their aim.

The Zafira has become known for catching fires in recent years due to issues with its heater blower motor and regulator. This usually happens when owners replace parts with cheaper, aftermarket components.

It is hardly a wonder that drivers are turning to cut-price alternatives when the Zafira breaks down on three in ten owners, with more than half reporting faults in the last year.

The car also takes a whopping 14 days on average for repairs to be made.

The first generation Nissan Qashqai also from suffers reliability issues, and needs almost a week in the garage on average before it is road-ready after a malfunction.

Both these cars use diesel fuel, and Which? has found that this is by far the worst fuel type for reliability, with an average fault rate of 48 per cent, compared to 39 per cent for petrol and 23 per cent for hybrids.

THE BRITISH cities with the worst availability and speed of electric vehicle charging have been revealed in new research.

More and more people are making the switch to EVs each passing year, but access to charging infrastructure continues to be a key concern for motorists.

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Cost, speed and access to EV chargers can vary vastly from region to region across the country.

But new data from Available Car has shed light on exactly which cities are the best and worst to drive an electric vehicle.

Researchers looked at the number of charging points per 10,000 people within a five mile radius of city centres.

They also noted the average cost and time it takes to charge half an EV battery.

The data examines 53 major cities across the UK, excluding London.

Liverpool was found to be the city with the lowest number of chargers, with just two chargers per 100,000 people within a five mile radius of the city centre.

Newcastle barely did better at 2.4 chargers per 100,000, while Bradford and Leeds followed up with 2.6 each.

Smaller cities boasted far better numbers in the EV charging accessibility ranking.

Ripon was the city with the highest number of chargers per 100,000 at 63.1 – far ahead of second placed Salisbury at 43.7.

But simply finding a charger isn’t the only issue EV owners face.

Available Car’s data also highlighted a major regional disparity in the time it takes to charge half a battery.

Leicester is the city found to have the slowest EV charging times – taking an average of 8.25 hours to get to half charge.

Available Car’s report reads: “The city’s slower charging infrastructure highlights the need for investment in faster chargers to support the growing demand for electric vehicles.

“Without quicker charging options, Leicester may face challenges in encouraging more drivers to switch to electric.”

But Leicester EV drivers have some solace – as the survey also found it to cheapest city to charge your car, where a half full battery would cost an average of £12.60.

Brighton & Hove and Portsmouth followed Leicester as the next slowest for charging, 6.24 and 5.67 hours respectively.

Wakefield recorded the speediest charge of the cities surveyed, taking an average of just 0.8 hours.

The researchers used a Tesla Model Y as the benchmark vehicle when gathering the data.

Their report adds: “Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) should be an exciting step towards greener, more sustainable driving.

“However, one of the biggest barriers preventing drivers from switching from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles is having to rely on their local charging infrastructure, particularly the time it takes to charge and the cost involved.

“Unlike petrol and diesel drivers, EV owners must navigate the UK’s charging network, where charging speeds and costs vary significantly based on location and charger type.”

FORD has confirmed that one of their most popular cars has officially gone off the market in the UK.

The American car giant announced that its factories will no longer produce the Focus ST due to a lack of demand.

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The Focus ST was first launched 23 years ago, but has since disappeared from dealer price lists.

But for those wanting to get their hands on some of the last remaining cars, the US firm said that 170 are still unsold in the UK.

Stock is still available to buy in dealerships, but customers will not be able to order new models.

Speaking to Autocar, Ford UK said: “There are no new factory orders available for the Focus ST at the moment.

“But there are around 170 built and unsold currently available within the UK dealer network.

“This includes 30 of the special ST Edition variant in Azura Blue.”

Ford introduced Focus ST to the world in 2002, with the initial ST170 version.

It was powered by a 2.0 litre engine, reaching 60mph in just under eight seconds.

In 2005, Ford introduced the second generation – the ST500 – with a meatier 2.5 litre engine.

Developed alongside Volvo and Mazda, it was powered by a Volvo five-cylinder engine, allowing it to hit 60mph in 6.8 seconds.

But the US manufacturer ditched Volvo in 2010 and introduced the Focus St Mk3 with its own engine.

It introduced a more powerful four-cylinder turbo and lowered the suspension – putting the 0-60mph time at 6.5 seconds.

And finally the Mk4, featuring a slightly larger 2.3 litre engine, which was the first version to offer automatic transmission.

It remains the fastest iteration of the Focus ST, reaching 60mph in 5.7 seconds.

Ford could well be responding to industry trends, with hot hatch cars generally being phased out across the board.

Other big manufacturers, including Hyundai, Peugeot and Toyota have started pulling cars off the market as a result of the low interest.

It comes as the Ford Focus is set to be phased out completely, with its production life cycle terminating in November this year.

The move was first announced in 2022, but Ford’s European chief Martin Sander doubled down on the decision in March.

He added: “In the long run, we are still deeply convinced that EVs will be the future and we will see a significant increase in volume.

“By the end of this year, we will have a full range of electric vehicles and we are quite flexible to adapt to market demand.

“For the next couple of years, we have a broad choice.

“Basically, our customers have the power of choice to pick what they want.”

The Ford Focus was first rolled out in 1998, off the back of their Escort model.

It was one of the last hatchbacks with a manual gearbox.

However, Ford is now putting more efforts into their Mustangs and Broncos to boost profits.

This comes after Ford sales in Europe fell 17 per cent in 2024, the first full year without the Fiesta which was axed in July 2023.

AN ICONIC carmaker has been thrown a £1billion lifeline from the UK Government. 

The struggling car maker had announced plans to axe over 20,000 members of staff due to soaring production costs and disappointing sales. 

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Nissan is looking to raise £5.2billion to stay afloat, with UK Export Finance underwriting a £1billion loan – which will support the beleaguered company. 

The manufacturer is planning to cut its number of factories from 17 down to 10. 

This has prompted fears that the brand’s Sunderland factory could be under threat. 

While Nissan has not confirmed the fate of its only UK factory, its CEO Ivan Espinosa has insisted that more electric cars will be produced there. 

It is hoped that the £1billion loan from Nissan’s lenders, underwritten by The Government, will protect the site. 

The huge cash injection is just a fifth of the 1Trillion Yen needed by the company to survive. 

It will also look to issue as much as 630billion yen in convertible securities and bonds, including high-yield and euro notes.

Reportedly, the firm is looking to sell-and-lease-back its Yokohama headquarters alongside several properties in the United States.

The Yokohama site is valued at £500 million and was first opened in 2009.

It has 22 floors and a glitzy gallery, along with thousands of workers who use the site every day. 

Finally, the struggling car manufacturer is eyeing a sale of its stakes in Renault and battery maker AESC Group.

Mr Espinosa has commented in the past on Nissan’s urgent cost-cutting mission. 

He said: “In the face of challenging full-year 2024 performance and rising variable costs compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume.”

He added: “As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery.”

Development on some Nissan models has been paused, whilst the company tries to balance its books. 

Work on all “advanced and post-FY26 product activities” has been paused, though Nissan has not confirmed which particular vehicles will face suspension. 

Mr Espinosa has previously issued a full statement about Nissan’s financial woes.

He said: “This is not something that happened in the last couple of years.

“It’s more of a fundamental problem that probably started back in 2015, when management thought this company could reach [annual global vehicle sales] of around eight million.

“There were heavy investments both in terms of planned capacity as well as in human resources, but the reality today is we are running at around half that volume. And nobody did anything to fix that until now.”

A MAJOR car brand is reportedly looking to raise £5billion including a loan guaranteed by the UK government after axing 20,000 jobs.

Cash-strapped Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker, is already facing £4billion in losses – its worst annual loss in a quarter century.

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But now, the company are said to be considering raising more than 1 trillion yen – just over £5 billion – from debt and asset sales in a bid to prop up Nissan.

The struggling Japanese automaker plans to issue as much as 630 billion yen in convertible securities and bonds, including high-yielding US dollar and euro notes, according to Bloomberg News.

The move would also include a £1billion syndicated loan guaranteed by the British government, the documents show.

Sale-and-lease-back plans for its Yokohama headquarters, plus properties it owns in the United States, are also reportedly on the cards.

The aggressive fundraising plans underscore Nissan’s rapidly deteriorating financial and operational position, despite efforts by newly appointed chief executive Ivan Espinosa to turn the company around.

In addition, Nissan is reportedly seeking to sell part of the stakes it owns in Renault and battery maker AESC Group, as well as plants in South Africa and Mexico.

Bloomberg News cited sources as saying Nissan’s board did not appear to have approved the funding proposal yet, leaving it unclear whether it would happen.

The proposal was also slated to include the rollover of some debt, the report said.

A Nissan representative said the company does not comment on speculation.

It comes after Nissan said they could part ways with its global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, to fund the company’s urgent restructuring plan.

After having moved to the 22-story high-rise in 2009, the car manufacturer is now facing mountains of debt and is on track to cut 20,000 jobs, shut several of its plants and slash billions in costs.

With a glitzy gallery, the flashy headquarters can showcase more than thirty motors and stands in stark contrast to their previous offices.

The company have said that part of their plan has called for reviewing assets that can be sold in a desperate bid to pay for the restructuring.

With its own headquarters in sight, thought to be worth approximately £500 million, Nissan would structure a deal so it could continue to use the site through a lease so its offices and operations remain in place.

A company spokesperson said: “Nissan is considering all possibilities to recover its business performance, but there are no specifics to share at this point of time.”

The move is not unprecedented, however, with McLaren doing something similar with its HQ in Woking in recent years.

Nissan confirmed in April that it was anticipating losses of up to £4 billion, its worst annual loss in a quarter century.

Nissan is also planning to close seven factories by 2027, including two domestic sites which are thought to be the Oppama and Shonan plants, saving £2.6 billion in the process.

There have also been reports of downsizing or a partial sale of its Tochigi assembly plan and test centre facility north of Tokyo which was recently equipped with manufacturing technologies to assemble electric vehicles.

To underline the dire financial situation, the motor company is even halting the development of certain models to cut its expenses.

While the car company has been hit hard by the effects of Donald Trump’s tariff war, Nissan’s new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, has admitted the company’s financial trouble started a decade ago.

He said: “This is not something that happened in the last couple of years.

“It’s more of a fundamental problem that probably started back in 2015, when management thought this company could reach [annual global vehicle sales] of around eight million.

“There were heavy investments both in terms of planned capacity as well as in human resources, but the reality today is we are running at around half that volume. And nobody did anything to fix that until now.”

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A LITTLE-known car brand is preparing to launch an AI-powered luxury saloon to rival the mighty Porsche Taycan.

Chinese EV manufacturer Xpeng has unveiled the latest iteration of its P7 sports saloon that they’ve branded “more than a car”.

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Said to be Xpeng’s answer to “the AI [artificial intelligence] era in form and function”, the company has identified itself as an “AI-driven mobility company”.

Indeed, they’re positioning the new flagship P7 as a showcase for how AI can redefine the luxury car experience.

Details at this stage are scarce, but the previous P7 was described as “the world’s first AI-defined vehicle” and included highly advanced autonomous driving functions, as well as a ‘smart cockpit’ that included a Knight Rider-style voice assistant.

The next-gen model is expected to build on this, as well as introduce even more advanced capabilities.

Their ultimate aim is to stand out in China‘s increasingly crowded luxury saloon market – with the likes of the Avatr 12, Nio ET9 and Luxeed S7 all hoping to be big sellers.

Regarding the upcoming P7’s new styling, Xpeng’s Exterior Design Director Rafik Ferrag told Autocar: “With this new generation, we set out to design a pure-electric sports sedan that could amaze at every angle.

“This car is our dream – refined through countless iterations.

“In my eyes, the all-new Xpeng P7 is a work of art, shaped with emotion and purpose.”

It’s currently unknown if the P7 will be sold outside of China – with more details to follow.

For now, the Porsche Taycan remains the industry leader when it comes to luxury, performance all-electric saloons.

While sales have dipped in recent times, the Taycan remains a highly sought-after electric sports car ahead of the likes of the Lucid Air, Tesla Model S, BMW i4, and Audi e-tron GT.

One other Chinese brand that’s got Porsche in its sights is Denza – headed by motoring giant BYD.

The ever-expanding car brand is one of the largest private companies in China and has already started to make waves globally – including in the UK.

But for those seeking something with more speed and luxury, their sister brand Denza and their first car in its line-up – the stunning Z9 GT – might appeal.

Clearly borrowing design cues from the Taycan and Panamera, the grand tourer – with its shooting brake estate styling – was unveiled at the recent Milan Design Week ahead of its European market release later this year.

MAZDA is pulling the plug on its first and only electric car, criticised during its four-year run for its limited range and cramped cabin.

The MX-30, which made its world debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, is a subcompact crossover SUV that offered EV, plug-in hybrid, and mild hybrid variants.

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But now, it’s quietly reached the end of its production lifespan.

Launched in the UK in 2021, the MX-30 was positioned against competitors such as the Kia Soul EV and Peugeot e-2008.

However, it struggled to gain traction, primarily due to its short range and limited practicality.

One of the most significant criticisms of the MX-30 – aside from its bizarre, coach-style doors – was its modest range of just 124 miles, thanks to its 35.5kWh battery.

The smaller battery size, chosen to reduce the car’s weight, certainly improved handling and lowered its CO2 emissions during production.

However, it also resulted in persistent range anxiety among drivers.

Indeed, today, rivals like the Jeep Avenger, Renault 4, and MINI Aceman offer ranges of around 250 miles, highlighting the MX-30’s shortcomings.

WHAT’S NEXT?

While the fully electric MX-30 has been axed, the plug-in hybrid version remains on sale in the UK.

This variant, equipped with a fully charged battery and a full tank of petrol, can cover more than 400 miles, according to Mazda.

What’s more, the brand is set to give electric cars another stab next year with the 6e saloon, which is poised to be in the same segment as the top-selling Tesla Model 3.

A fully electric SUV is also in the pipeline, but the decision to temporarily pluck its only pure electric vehicle in its lineup is bold – particularly in light of the UK Government’s ZEV mandate.

Under the current mandate, at least 28% of manufacturers’ new car sales must be zero-emissions vehicles by 2025, prompting many brands to prioritise EV production.

As reported by Auto Express, a Mazda spokesperson said: “Mazda will meet the requirements of the ZEV/VETS legislation through the various flexibilities within the scheme and the introduction of further BEVs.”

This comes as Sun Motors supremo Rob Gill recently got to road-test the new Mazda 3, featuring a gutsy 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.

HAVE a guess what engine powers this little Mazda3.

Is it a cheery 1-litre three-pot similar to a Volkswagen Polo?

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A sweet 1.2-litre turbo à la Vauxhall Corsa?

Or even a 1.5-litre hybrid like a Toyota Yaris?

The answer is none of the above.

It is actually a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.

That’s a B-I-G lump for a little squirt.

Bigger than anything you’ll find in a Kia Sportage or Nissan Qashqai, come to think of it.

The reason being, Mazda has always dared to be different.

It doesn’t do “downsizing”. In other words using a smaller capacity engine and fitting a turbo to it.

It prefers “right-sizing”. Having the correct capacity engine for the job, so it is less stressed and more efficient.

Also, this new engine, combined with 48v mild hybrid tech, produces more torque lower down the rev range than the old 2-litre, improving real-world performance.

Cylinder-deactivation tech shuts down two cylinders under light loads, lowering CO2 and adding a smidge of mpg.

So it’s a really clever engine for a vehicle that’s aged well, drives sweetly and is brimming with big-car kit from £25k.

Slick six-speed manual or auto? I’d go manual. It’s one of the best in the business and an absolute joy to thread down a B-road.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the fastest ride at the fairground but it corners tidily, with good body control, and feels solid and safe.

If you need 4WD, try a CX-30.

The cabin is another example of Mazda’s mission to provide the highest quality for the money.

Clarkson once said the Mazda3 is ‘probably the most amazing car on sale in Britain’

Head-up display, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and a reversing camera all come as standard. We like that.

We also like the skinny, leather-wrapped steering wheel, squishy elbow pads, chunky ­footrest, big cup holders, old-school ­volume and heating controls, and grab handles galore.

It’s almost like they know exactly what people want from a car.

Clarkson once said the Mazda3 is “probably the most amazing car on sale in Britain”.

A pint of Hawkstone Lager says he’ll like the 2025 version even more.

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DRIVERS are being warned they could face £100 fines as councils crack down on so-called ‘ghost plates’—illegal number plates intended to evade speed and bus lane cameras.

These plates often use reflective or obscuring materials to avoid detection by traffic enforcement systems.

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In Wandsworth, council chiefs are taking action to shut down the loophole.

These banned plates, often referred to as 3D or 4D plates, reflect camera flashes and can render a vehicle invisible to enforcement systems.

Council bosses have issued a stark warning about rogue motorists using ‘ghost plates‘ to avoid detection.

These plates, which are not legal for road use, are being used by some drivers to beat traffic rules and avoid fines.

Authorities are now ramping up efforts to stop them.

Two years ago, the head of the national Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system revealed that a shocking number of drivers – roughly one in 15 – could easily outsmart the system.

On leaving his post, Professor Fraser Sampson wrote to Transport Secretary Mark Harper expressing his frustration over the lack of government action on the issue.

To combat the problem, new cameras capable of spotting these ‘stealth’ number plates have been rolled out in some areas.

In Wolverhampton, local enforcement officers were equipped with upgraded technology during a strict clampdown last year.

Drivers caught using ghost plates can expect to be hit with a £100 fine.

In his letter to Mark Harper, Prof Sampson detailed how motorists were getting around the law using reflective materials, cloned plates, and other deceptive tools to avoid penalties for speeding, low-emission zone breaches, or bus lane violations.

According to Prof Sampson, the ANPR system has a 97 per cent success rate in reading plates but still produces 2.4 million incorrect readings daily.

That margin of error could mean innocent drivers end up being wrongly fined.

Prof Sampson has raised major concerns about the vulnerability of the system, which still depends heavily on readable number plates despite advances in technology.

He said: “For all its technological advancement and operational indispensability, the ANPR system still relies ultimately on a piece of plastic affixed to either end of a vehicle.

“Served by a wholly unregulated market, what my predecessor termed the humble number plate represents a single and readily assailable point of failure with the ANPR network being easily defeated by the manufacture and sale of stealth plates, cloned registration marks and other rudimentary obscurant tactics.”

He added: “The result is that the ability to frustrate the ANPR system remains staggeringly simple at a time when proper reliance on it for key public services such as policing, law enforcement and traffic management is increasing daily.”

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A MOTORIST has shared how he made “hundreds of thousands” by buying and selling car number plates.

Neal Bircher, 60, has collected hundreds of plates worth gargantuan sums and currently has around 350 in the garage at his home in Uxbridge, London, and owns the rights to 220 more.

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The DVLA is auctioning 2,000 car number plates in its latest sale – and an expert has revealed the best buys.

The latest auctions of personalised registrations starts on Wednesday at 10am.

Plates expert Neal has identified which plates to keep your eye on.

He says that dateless plates – those with a number at the start or the end – dateless plates with a single letter and shorter plates with common initials are where the money is.

For example, Neal believes 910 AM – which has a starting price of £2200 – will attract more interest thanks to the popularity of ‘AM’ as a set of initials, wheresas 232 XW – also with a starting price of £2200 – won’t have as many buyers.

In terms of plates less likely to grow, Northern Irish style plates, containing the letters’ ‘I’ and ‘Z’ are at the lower end of the market.

Neal, an IT management consultant and part-time plate dealer, said: “As a general rule, the shorter the better, and also the popularity of initials is a very common factor.

“‘Dateless plates are always popular and can be good investments.

“‘1’ plates have proved very good investments, whatever the letters, and so plates such as 1 XDX will be expensive even though ‘XDX’ is unlikely to be many people’s initials.

“1 YOB starting at £2400 is an interesting one – reminiscent of ‘YOB 1’ which famously adorned Slade guitarist Dave Hill’s Rolls-Royce in the 1970s!

“In recent years dateless plates that contain only a single letter have become more sought after – for example 125 B starting at £2500, or 8118 D starting at £2500 in this auction.

“And those where the letter is ‘O’, and hence the plate can look as if it only contain numbers, have really grown in popularity of late.

“Hence 54 O starting at £2500 might well fetch the top price in this action. ‘540’ is also a model of BMW.”

According to Neal, a common misconception is just because a plate might look like it spells a word, it doesn’t mean it’s valuable.

He said: “People sometimes assume that if a plate looks as if it spells a word then it will prove valuable.

“That may well be the case if the word is relevant to a business or profession, but if it’s just a random word then not necessarily so.

“Registration numbers generally tend to grow in value, but the ones less likely to do so are those at the lower end of the market, especially some of the Northern Irish style plates, containing the letters’ ‘I’ and ‘Z’.

“But there can be exceptions with those as well.”

Having bought and sold for much of his life, Neal has urged people to be cautious before entering the number plate game.

He added: “People who are trying to make money have to be very careful.

“It requires a lot of homework if you’re looking to invest or make money.

“Two very similar-looking plates might have very different values.

“AJB would be worth far more than XUY for example because of how common the first set is for initials.

“Not everyone is, but some are interested in the backstory behind plates.

“There are a lot of people who are in clubs and associations who ask me a lot of questions every day about value and the history of plates.

“People are very interested in when it was issued, to know what vehicles it was in, who owned it etc.”

The DVLA number plate auction

The DVLA is auctioning some highly coveted number plates on May 14

The plates range from £300 to over £2000, as drivers clamour to get a unique number for their motor.

Bids can only be placed at the auction or through the DVLA website.

The plates on sale on May 14 include:

• CIG 300 Lot 324 Starting price £300
• AB16 BUM Lot 18 Starting price £250
• MOU 555E Lot 119 Starting price £250
• PO25 CHE Lot 1390 Starting price £250
• F44 YYE Lot 639 Starting price £200
• A96 COX Lot 31 Starting price £200
• A600 DAY Lot 35 Starting price £200
• CR16 PTO Lot 372 Starting price £250
• SAV 146E Lot 1586 Starting price £250
• EA69 GLE Lot 509 Starting price £250
• OOH 11H Lot 1336 Starting price £300
• FAM 1T Lot 583 Starting price £500
• 145 SAM Lot 1578 Starting price £800
• 77 JET Lot 840 Starting pricd £1200
• 36 ANT Lot 116 Starting price £1200
• DMZ 1 Lot 457 Starting price £2000
• 910 AM Lot 92 Starting price £2200
• 1 YOB Lot 1991 Starting price £2400
• 1 LTR Lot 1075 Starting price £2400
• 54 O Lot 1309 Starting price £2500
• 2025 M Lot 1096 Starting price £2500