Get a grip on winter driving with ŠKODA

Citygate recommends seven important checks to prepare a vehicle for winter.

Last year an early cold snap caught thousands of motorists by surprise, and with forecasters predicting yet another severe winter for the UK, it’s more important than ever to be prepared.

To ensure drivers don’t get caught out as the winter draws in, Citygate is offering customers a complete Winter Check to ensure their car is ready for the forthcoming season – helping them to drive safely whatever the weather.

The Winter Check is on offer to ŠKODA customers for just £19.99 and includes a full vehicle health check with specific focus on the key vehicle systems that are critical for safe winter driving.

Winter Check - ŠKODA’s Seven Steps To A Worry-Free Winter

ŠKODA recommends the following seven important checks to prepare your ŠKODA for winter - all carried out by highly-trained technicians at Citygate as part of a Winter Check.

1. Lights – Are they aligned correctly? Perfectly aligned lights enable drivers to have the best possible visibility, critically important during winter’s dark days and nights.
2. Wiper blades – Severe weather puts increased demands on wiper blades, so it’s crucial to make sure they’re in good condition before winter begins.
3. Windscreen washer fluid – ŠKODA technicians will check it is topped up with the correct antifreeze screen wash fluid.
4. Brakes – Fast, responsive brakes are essential in winter, so the pads, discs and brake fluid are checked allowing drivers to brake more effectively.
5. Tyres – The condition of the tyres is checked, plus customers will be given additional advice about choosing winter tyres.
6. Battery – Winter puts extra strain on batteries, so technicians will check they’re in good working order before cold weather hits.
7. Air-con – By ensuring the air-con is in good shape, drivers need not worry about a winter of condensation.

At Citygate, services are undertaken by skilled technicians who have the knowledge and expertise to service vehicles using genuine approved ŠKODA parts which carry a two year unlimited mileage warranty. All ŠKODA dealerships comply with the Motor Industry Code of Practise and strive to offer fantastic customer service at competitive rates.

Citygate ŠKODA also subscribe to the Motor Industry Service & Repair Code and are signed up to ŠKODA’s Customer Promise – a set of standards to ensure that every ŠKODA customer enjoys a flexible and convenient service which draws on their retailers’ expertise and attention to detail. Every visit should be easy and enjoyable, leaving the customer in no doubt that their ŠKODA is being maintained to the highest standard.

To find out more, visit Citygate ŠKODA or call us on 0845 346 0101.

Winter tyres ‘could save your life’!

Winter tyres offer huge safety benefits over normal tyres in adverse conditions, according to research by What Car?

The motoring magazine tested four brands of winter tyres against their summer tyre counterparts in a series of cold-weather performance tests.  The snow and ice testing was carried out in northern Sweden, and the wet and dry tests in Germany.

In snow, the summer tyres took more than twice the distance to stop on average than winter tyres.  When braking on sheet ice from 12mph, the average stopping distance for winter tyres was 12.5 metres compared to 19 metres for summer tyres. 

Winter tyres don’t only work better on snow and ice, they also perform better than summer tyres on wet roads when the temperature falls below 7C.
However, just 10% of UK motorists swapped to winter rubber last year, while 5% tried but failed due to a shortage of tyres.

“Winter tyres make for much safer winter driving, so we would encourage all motorists to change their tyres in the colder months,” said What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett.  “Used in this way, a set of winter tyres will last motorists several years.”

October is TyreSafe month and in support, Citygate Volkswagen are offering free fitting and balancing on all winter tyres and wheel sets. We can also perform a free visual health check as part of our Volkswagen Service Promise to give you peace of mind for the winter months ahead.

Speak to your local Citygate retailer today to book or find out more.

Fuel costs hitting local businesses

Citygate VolkswagenVan Centre in High Wycombe, has just launched the new Volkswagen Crafter, which is more fuel efficient with lower-emissions than the previous model, and is highlighting how fuel economy can improve profit margins for businesses.

In the last 12 months, the average price of unleaded petrol in the region has risen by 16 per cent, while diesel has risen by 17 per cent.*

This increase in fuel prices has led to services like Business Link, the government’s online business resource, issuing advice on vehicle investment.

Business Link states: “Businesses must manage fuel effectively to maintain their profit margins and remain competitive.

“Fuel savings also go hand-in-hand with lower CO2 emissions, so managing fuel effectively also reduces impact on the environment.”

Other methods of improving and monitoring vehicle efficiency, including driving style, tyre pressure and fleet management systems, which can produce further fuel savings of between five to 10 per cent.**

Mark Hudson, brand manager at Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre in High Wycombe, said: “Many businesses in the region will need to consider the costs of fuel and tax in the coming years.

“The new Crafter is designed with efficiency and low emissions in mind.  It uses Volkswagen’s latest 2.0-litre TDI engine, which can achieve 29 per cent better fuel economy, yet delivers more power or torque than its predecessor.”

The new Crafter was officially launched on 1 August with retail prices starting from £20,450 (plus VAT) and is currently available to business users by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Finance from a suitably frugal £305 a month (plus VAT).

For further information about the new Volkswagen Crafter, please contact Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre on 01494 450 611, or visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

Media information:

* Statistics taken from www.theaa.com.

** Statistics taken from Business Car Magazine Issue 123.

For information on Business Link visit www.businesslink.gov.uk Fuel management for vans article.

The new Volkswagen Crafter CR35 2.0-litre TDI 163 PS BlueMotion Technology, medium wheelbase panel van achieves 29 per cent better fuel economy on the combined cycle than the previous 2.5-litre BlueTDI engine with the same power output.  This is the equivalent of up to eight miles further per gallon, which could add over 130 miles to the range of the 75 litre fuel tank