Citygate scores sponsorship deal with Wasps and Wanderers

Two of the county’s sporting teams have received a boost from Citygate High Wycombe to help transport them to and from matches.

Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre is now the sole commercial vehicle sponsor of, Wycombe Wanderers FC and London Wasps.

The Volkswagen Van Centre on London Road will provide both teams with a [type] van, which the clubs will use for transportation, necessary for the Wasps and Wanderers to help organise sporting events and clubs at local schools that may not otherwise have the kit and resources to take part.

London Wasps said: “Having the use of a van for events allows us to play a more integral role in the community and support deserving individuals in the area.

 “Without support from businesses like Citygate Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles our presence in the community would not be possible.”

Mark Hudson, head of business at Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre said: “We’re thrilled we can support two teams in our community.

“Everyone at Citygate Volkswagen is fully behind the clubs and many of staff are already regulars at matches.”
Wycombe Wanderers added: “its brilliant news to have the support of such a prestigious brand that’s based in our community.”

Citygate High Wycombe helps Revive the Wye

Citygate, has been reaching out to the local communities and recently completed an environmental clean-up of the river Wye in High Wycombe.

The river Wye flows through High Wycombe, Wycombe Marsh, Loudwater, Wooburn and Bourne End before joining the River Thames. It is home to some of the UK’s most rare and endangered species. The river and its backstreams flow under and around Citygate’s High Wycombe dealership and around Citygate’s new Commercial Van dealership in Wooburn.

8 volunteers from all areas of the Citygate business worked alongside members of “Revive the Wye” a partnership project to protect and improve the River Wye, headed up by the Chairman Mike Overall of the Chiltern Society. Wycombe District Council supplied the equipment and during the course of 6 hours, a large skip was filled with rubbish and debris removed from the section of the river running parallel to the London Road.

Mark Hudson, Head of Business for Citygate Volkswagen High Wycombe, who organised the clean-up said: “As part of our immediate environment, we all felt it was of upmost importance to get involved with the maintenance and preservation of the Wye.

“Our intention is to carry out this work on a regular basis and keep the section of river around the dealership as clean as possible so that our staff and customers can enjoy the local surroundings.

“I was really impressed with the number of staff that expressed their interest in, and completed the event. It really goes to show how important environmental conservation is to all of us and we look forward to getting involved again in the near future.”

Mark Overall added: “It was fantastic to see so many Citygate employees get involved, it really helped raise the profile of the work we are doing to the Rye. We look forward to embarking on the next project with the Citygate team.”

More information on the Revive the Wye project can be found at www.revivethewye.co.uk.

Volkswagen celebrates 35 years of the Golf GTI

A 35th birthday can mark the onset of a mini midlife crisis, the tipping point between the big 3-0 and even bigger 4-0.  Luckily the iconic Golf GTI is in no such predicament, but rather celebrating in style with a special edition model which has an uplift in spec and appearance and, underneath the skin, the most powerful production Golf GTI engine to date. Clearly those gym sessions have paid off.

 

Now on sale, the Golf GTI Edition 35 – which made its debut at the GTI enthusiasts’ meeting on the shores of Lake Wörthersee in Austria at the start of June – has a 1,984 cc four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which produces 235 PS (25 more than the standard GTI) at 5,500 rpm and 300 Nm (221 lbs ft) of torque at 2,200 rpm.

 

Like the standard GTI, the Edition 35 is front engined and front-wheel drive.  Standstill to 62 mph takes 6.6 seconds and top speed is 153 mph.  The model still returns a very respectable 34.9 mpg on the combined economy cycle (35.3 DSG) and emits 189 g/km of CO2 (185 for the DSG model).

 

Bespoke exterior styling changes include a more sporty bodykit incorporating new side skirts and a revised front bumper which sits below bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.  Unique lightweight 18-inch ‘Watkins Glen’ alloy wheels, finished in ‘Dark Steel’ or – at no additional cost – silver, distinguish this model from the standard GTI, along with an Edition 35 badge on the front wing, gloss black door mirror casings, rear windows with 90 per cent tinted glass and rear tinted LED lights. 

 

Subtle ‘35’ signatures are carried through to the interior, featuring on the head restraints of the heated Vienna leather front sports seats as well as the door sills and floor mats, along with a red stripe on the seatbelts and the now famous GTI ‘golf ball’ gearknob which is available on both manual and DSG transmissions.

 

Although the new car is a special edition model, there is not a specific restriction on the number available. Citygate has begun taking orders with first customer deliveries due next month.

Shocking car maintenance survey results

Almost a fifth of motorists think servicing their car is a ‘complete waste of money’ and have admitted to only doing so when they can afford it, rather than when recommended, new research by Manheim Auctions has revealed. 

As the cost of driving increases, cash-strapped motorists are spending their money on legal requirements such as road tax, insurance and the MOT, with servicing becoming a ‘nice to do’ not a ‘need to do’.

These worrying findings also show that over a third of motorists think of their car maintenance skills as poor or very poor, relying on either the garage, their dad or their partner for help.  

Interestingly, 70% of motorists think car maintenance should be incorporated into the driving test to ensure new drivers know how to keep their vehicle safe.  The financial cost of neglect isn’t just about avoiding the costs of replacing an engine.  A simple task such as making sure you have the correct tyre pressures will save fuel as well as improve safety.

“It is so important to keep on top of maintaining your car, not just through annual services and MOTs but by checking tyre pressure and tread, oil and water levels and all lights,” commented Craig Mailey, Marketing Director at Manheim Auctions.  “Not only will it help to keep you safe on the road, it will also ensure you get the best resale price possible when you come to sell your car.” 

“The cars that consistently achieve the best price at auction are the ones that have been properly looked after, with a full service history and a good level of maintenance.  It might seem like servicing and car maintenance are a waste of money, but in the long run it really will pay off.”


If you own a Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi or Seat; contact Citygate for your servicing requirements.

Drivers warned of changes to London Emission Zone

Citygate is giving drivers an early warning ahead of major changes to London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

The changes, which take effect from January 3rd 2012, mean the LEZ’s emission standards will become more stringent, affecting about 75,000 drivers of commercial vehicles. Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre is advising Buckinghamshire-based van drivers who travel to London for work, to ensure their vehicle is ready for the change and avoid daily charges of £100 to enter the LEZ and fines of up to £1,000.

At present, vehicles registered as new after 1st October 2001 meet the current standard, but from January 2012 only vehicles registered as new after 1st October 2006 will meet the standards. The LEZ was first introduced in 2008 to encourage the most polluting heavy diesel vehicles driving in the city to become cleaner and now covers most of Greater London. Mark Hudson, head of business, at Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre, said: “The new levels of emissions limit the amount of particle matter coming from vehicle exhausts.

“As a business we’re offering advice to commercial vehicle drivers about the changes and providing cost-effective solutions to reach the new standard to alleviate any problems. We have also put together an offer to help support drivers of older vehicles meet the new standards.”

Cameras monitor the traffic going in and out of the zone. It operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and public and Bank Holidays. Drivers of vehicles that don’t meet the emissions level will be required to pay £100 or £200 for every day, depending on vehicle size.

Mark added: “Fitting an approved filter to a vehicle’s exhaust could reduce the emissions enough to meet the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) emissions standards.

“It does take at least three months for this to be completed and registered, although there is no time limit on how long the filter will last. “Alternatively individuals or companies have the option of part exchanging a vehicle for a newer, more fuel efficient and greener van.”

Further information can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk or by contacting your local Citygate Van retailer