Dan Bruce

France’s second largest car maker, Renault, announced that profit in 2011 did not increase due to European car sales falling for the fourth consecutive year and competition increasing.

The Paris-based car manufacturer’s profits matched the predictions of 20 analyst’s estimates after it was announced in a statement earlier today that earnings before interest, taxes and one-time items fell by 0.7% to a minor 1.09 billion.

The company forecast that the car market will contract around 3% to 4% in 2012, marking the fifth year in decline. Throughout the entire industry, car sales in Europe fell by approximately 1.4% in 2011 bringing the amount of cars sold, to around 13.6 million vehicles. Renault’s deliveries fell more than 8%.

Renault’s deliveries outside of Europe actually rose by 19% last year, which accounted for 43% of the company’s sales, compared with 37% in 2010.

Sales in Brazil jumped a whopping 21% in 2011, which then pushed the company’s market share up 0.9 percentage point, leaving them with a 5.7% market share in Brazil. Sales in Russia grew by an astonishing 60%, making the country Renaults 4^th biggest market, as appose to its 9^th biggest market in 2010. The French manufacturer is therefore likely to reach a target market share in of 8% in Brazil, a year before its set date of 2016.

I have two sons, the eldest of which has just passed his driving test- congratulations Thomas! However, now it’s down to me to help him decide which car would best suit him as his own first car… Picking a first car can be hard, especially if it is for someone else. The fact that he has his heart set on a Lamborghini does not help! However, I think I have found the perfect car….

Fiat 500

The fiat 500 is a new and modern car full of all the ‘essentials’ that a teenage boy would need in his car. Including a new and developed hands free system to help minimise distractions and keep his eyes on the road!

As well as all this technology, the Fiat is compact, small and light weight, making it excellent for a first time car. Parking will definitely not be an issue if you’re driving one of these fellas!

The car has been awarded a five-star crash rating, which is reassuring; it comes with no less than 7 air bags and is fitted with ESP which helps you control the car even in the slipperiest conditions. Safety has to be one of the key elements when picking a first car, sustainability too- nothing less than a few rough and tumble bumps can be expected… not to mention the extremes that young boys go to these days to show off!

Pimp my ride! The car has over 5,000 ways to personalise it yourself, which is every young lads dream! From roof stickers to inside accessories, the car can be personalised anyway you like!

Then there’s performance! The fiat 500 is well known for its ‘smooth ride’ due to its tweaked suspension and its seriously sharp handling! It is an easy drive and can be easily driven by everyone…

But then there’s the price… The Fiat 500 is not the cheapest of cars. However, then can often be purchased for a fairly reasonable price second hand. Insurance costs are also fairly pricey and alongside taxing costs, this could end up sky high!

So, I am back to square one again, what car should I buy my son for his first motor? I guess I’ll just have to keep searching for now…

Photo © tefano@torino

The Dubfreeze show is a one day classic and modern car event. The show is taking place on the 19^th of February 2012. Although I have never been myself, it has been recommended by a friend who has been numerous times and regards it as a truly spectacular event!

The winter VW event takes place in Bingley Hall in Staffordshire. From 9am- 4pm, I am expecting to see a wide range of vehicles and automobiles and have a truly spectacular time!

The event is really in expensive costing only £10 per adult entry and even free entry for children aged 16 and under- meaning I can take my younger son, Henry, along for free! I am extremely excited as it is a new event for me and I am not entirely sure what to expect.

I am pleasantly surprised that the events are still happening throughout the winter, as it seems to have been a while since my last road trip! I will just have to make sure that I wrap up warm and hopefully hot beverages will be ion sake there!

So, for my first blog post on my website, I thought I should explain my passion in a little more detail, by writing a post about my favourite classic car, here is some history about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL…

The magical motor was first introduced on scene in 1954 as a 2 seat sports car. The car design was then later rethought and ‘tweaked slightly’ and was later released as a road car.

The decision to create a road-going SL was largely due to Mercedes-Benz’s American distributor, the famous, Max Hoffman. Hoffman argued for a production version of the 300 SL racing car to be manufactured during a 1954 meeting of the Daimler-Benz Board of Directors. Apparently, initially his ideas were objected. However, Hoffman was determined and left Germany with a commitment for the construction of 1,000 SLs motorcars.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was a very popular car at the time and was actually the fastest production car of its day… resulting in a period stretching from late 1954 to April 1957 the Mercedes-Benz factory built around 1400 of this particular model.

The wonderful car is a 4-speed manual weighing around 2410 lbs. and reaching an astounding speed of 160 mph.

Today, the ‘original super-car’ is now one of the most collectable Mercedes models- probably due to its very famous vertical hinged doors. If I had the money, I would no doubt buy this model, even if it was just to sit in the garage for me to look at. If you’re looking at buying you could pay anything from £300,000 up to around £700,000. It may seem a lot, but I assure you that this particular car is worth it!

Photo © Martin Pettitt