In terms of the car’s statistics, the highest speed this car can go is 80 mph, and the range of the vehicle tops out at 92 miles. To go from zero to 60 mph in this car takes about 15.9 seconds. In the promotion for this vehicle, Citroën emphasises the fact that it is particularly suited to the types of trips that are taken everyday, such as trips to work or school.    

There is a beep that lets the driver know when the engine of the vehicle is on, and because this car has one of the quietest motors around this feature is necessary. One of the selling features of the car is the fact that no external component is required for charging: the car does it on its own. Whenever the driver decelerates, the motor transfers the kinetic energy that comes from the car into the electricity needed to power the battery. To keep the driver informed of how much power they have left, there is an indicator displaying power consumed and power generated. This feature allows drivers to adapt their driving style to suit the power situation.      

Safety features of this vehicle include Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). The new Citroën C-Zero can be found in the UK at the local car shop or car supermarket.

A car supermarket is basically an auto superstore.  It is a large car retail outlet that usually sells a mixture of both used and new cars.  These cars will be from a variety of car manufacturers and will vary in age.  However, new to three-year-old cars are the most common.   

One thing that many consumers like about car supermarkets is that they typically employ a no haggling ideology.  Unlike a conventional car dealership, a car supermarket will usually try to not negotiate on the price.  This means that the price the buyer sees is the price they will pay.  They will not need to attempt to bargain with the dealer to drive down the price; at the same time, the dealer will not be trying to drive up the price.  For many consumers, this eliminates an unnecessary hassle associated with buying a car.

This does not mean that there is little selection available at car supermarkets.  In fact, car supermarkets such as Carcraft usually have hundreds or even thousands of vehicles available to choose from.  This means that consumers can get a huge selection and still need not worry about the hassle of negotiating.  Plus, car supermarkets often offer lower prices than dealerships.  With their high volume, they can offer discounted prices to consumers.

In the UK, 17 is the magical age when someone can apply for a provisional licence, which should lead to a full legal licence once the difficult national driving test has been successfully passed. Often the first place to search for a new car is a car magazine such as Auto Trader, or alternatively local newspapers and comparison websites will list a range of local car dealers.

When buying a car it is important to take along an experienced driver as they will be able to advise on any potential problems, and also be able to ask the vendor pertinent questions about the new motor.

The car’s service history should also be examined, and petrol consumption and the warranty period must be established. A newly bought car should not break down but it is reassuring to realise that most warranties will protect the driver and their new vehicle within a specified amount of time.

Some of these cars are brand new, others second-hand or a part exchange car. Some drivers are choosing to go for car repairs rather than spend money on a new car given the challenging global economic conditions. Other motorists are exploring the Internet and social networking sites in order to share car purchase experiences before taking the plunge and visiting their local car dealer.

The government’s ‘scrappage’ scheme, rising Road Tax and the constant increase in fuel prices has led to changes in the way in which the public buy their cars. Many more families and individuals are looking for fuel economy and efficiency rather than a cool image. Motor manufacturers have risen to this challenge and there has been a growth in so called ‘super minis’ and ‘city cars’ which have been designed to beat the congestion charge, look good and also have economic fuel consumption.

Another way to source second-hand car bargains is on the web. Most car giants and car supermarkets have informative and at times entertaining websites, which offer not only vehicles for sale but also give driving hints and tips, reviews, ‘green’ cars and ways to save on fuel. Another advantage to sourcing second-hand cars on the web is it makes price comparison so much easier and quicker.

Second-hand cars have come a long way from the stereotypical used car salesman caricature and there are often great bargains to be had either on the forecourt, the web or in the newspaper. Second-hand cars are now sold with service history, warranty and guarantee as standard and there are very often other incentives to purchase too. Established vehicle outlets that specialise in second-hand cars usually offer great choice ranging from nearly new cars to older models so the discerning buyer has plenty of choice.

The second-hand car market is one of the most improved businesses in recent years with more quality and choice offered to the customer, who is valued every bit as much as the new car buyer.

Back in the day those described as ‘car people’ would be without exception would have been young, male and with propensity towards mechanics, however the term car people could now be applied to most UK citizens. Recognising the new inclusivity of the market, car makers everywhere quickly adapted to meet the new demand resulting in cars designed with all types of car people in mind. Commonly found on TV are car adverts aimed at fashionable young women, young men, families, singles, pet-lovers, professionals, mature drivers, the list is endless.

There are also more opportunities to learn about cars now too. In addition to basic mechanic courses that have always proved very popular with car people, there are also a number of informative sites that help troubleshoot any problems, in addition to myriad customer reviews and blogs on every make and model of vehicle. Put this together with motoring programmes on TV and the popularity of road movies and it can easily be seen that the growing army of car people just had to be catered for.

While car people have come a long way from the teenager tinkering with an old scooter in dad’s garage, so too has the car industry evolved. The diversity of car designs available today then is a direct result of car people everywhere.

Depending on the price of the car you may be able to negotiate cheap car finance, which is a great way to go if you are a new driver looking to gain experience in an older second hand car and do not have too much cash available.

You can find very cheap cars on the internet and also in various car trade magazines that are published regularly, usually weekly. Used cars, in good condition, are much sought after and form a large part of the car sales market in the current economic climate. 

If you have passed your test in an automatic car or simply find them easier to drive, you may find that some garages offer relatively cheap automatic cars for sale on their forecourts.

First, do research into the car that you want.  Check magazines and go online to see how much the car has been selling for at different dealerships.  If you find a place that has sold it for a particularly low price, take a printout to your local dealership and ask them to match it.  The salesperson will not want to lose a potential customer to a rival and may well reduce their price for you.

You can also think about purchasing used, but almost new, cars from the dealership.  Cars that have been used for test drives are usually in near perfect condition and have very few miles on the clock.  These cars can have huge discounts because they are not straight out of the factory.  Most dealerships will offer ex-demo cars for great prices if asked about them.

Another possibility is to buy a preregistered new car.  In this case, the car has been registered under the name of the dealer but has never actually been used.  Dealers may do this during quiet periods in order to reach sale quotas set by the manufacturer.  Since officially the car has had a previous owner, it can be sold with a significant discount.  This is a great opportunity to get a new car for a low price.

Do not be afraid to haggle with a dealer.  They have many different techniques to make the consumer think they are giving them a good deal, but there is no harm in trying to push prices lower and lower.  If part exchanging a vehicle, make sure you accept a good price for it.  Some dealers may value a used car highly and then push up the price on the new vehicle, or give a poor valuation and a low price on the new car.  This can become confusing, but work out the difference between the two amounts and that is what you will be paying for your new car.  If it seems like a good deal, then take it.

Anyone who requires a small run-around for short journeys or inner city travel should consider a compact car.  They are smaller than hatchbacks.  Due to their tiny size, they are lighter and require only a small engine and less fuel.  This makes them incredibly cheap to run.  Furthermore, because their emissions are relatively low, they are also very cheap to tax.

Compact cars will only have three doors and a very small boot.  Most will have four or five seats, though some may only have two.  They are not ideal for families or anybody who requires lots of storage, but may be ideal for singles or childless couples.

New compact cars are inexpensive compared to hatchbacks or saloon cars because they are so much smaller.  This does not mean they lack sturdiness or safety.  There are usually options of different trim levels in order to make them more high-tech and comfortable, depending on budget.  Compact cars are gradually becoming the new chic accessory to city life.

License plates are the most common modification found, and are often looked upon favourably. Many just have the drivers name in some form, for example Lord Alan Sugar’s car has “AMS 1”. This is quite often a quite nice investment and can personalise a new car, it may also be a perfect gift for a new driver. In addition, there are no hidden charges, you should only pay the cost of having the plates made. Once you have purchased a personalised number from the DVLA you will receive a Certificate of Entitlement (V750), which you will need to keep safe.    

Other modifications however, risk detracting from the car itself and possibly damaging it, or even risk being illegal. For example, heavily tinted windows may seriously reduce your view. It is also illegal to have any LED or under the vehicle lighting systems emitting a blue light. Care must be taken when modifying a car and it must be noted that any and all modifications must be reported to the insurer. Failure to do so can result in the voiding of your insurance or the loss of a pay-out in the result of an accident.