MOTOR MATTERS ®WHEN you next find that your car has


been clamped, instead of being con­


fronted by a beligerent and offensive opera­ tor, you may well find that he is understand­ ing, polite and what is more - qualified. The examination board Edexcel is now offering clampers a vocational BTEC qualification in “Vehicle Immobilisation”. Part of the course includes conflict management and communi­ cation skills training. The idea is to make the industry more professional and to change the image of the “cowboy clampers” th a t per­ vades all those working in this business. The course takes five days to complete and is fol­ lowed by tests, which students must pass. Edexcel rejected suggestions that the course was a waste of time or a qualification for its own sake. I t believes that i t will improve the repu tatio n of the indus try. Licensing becomes mandatory in February 2005.


© SMALLER cars are getting safer as


tion. Small vehicles have behaved less well than their bigger brothers in crash tests in the past mainly because of their size and the need to keep costs a t a minimum. As these cars have become more popular and drivers more conscious of safety, so manufacturers have had to invest in safety as a priority. The results are seen in the latest crash test


results from Euro NCAP where the Renault Modus was the first car classed as a supermi­ ni to receive the coveted five-star rating for Occupant Protection. The new Citroen C4, classed as a small family car, performed par­ ticularly well across all three safety classifi­ cations scoring five stars for Occupant Pro­ tection, four stars for Child Protection and a creditable three-stars for Pedestrian Protec­ tion. The SEAT Altea, classed as a small MPV also scored the same as the C4 across the three classifications.


4 ^ GERMAN pedestrian Maria Schnudt 'O ' found herself in hospital after being hit by a car for the second time in nine years. On each occasion the same driver was behind


the wheel. drivers demand better crash protec­


How to take perfection and then improve on it


by Jonathan Crouch


T h e r e are always a few for Think for a moment what, for you,


whom the best is never quite good enough.


would be the finest car in the world. Perhaps it would have Porsche per­ formance yet sensible fuel consump­ tion? Handle better than a BMW, yet cosset like a Rolls Royce? Boast tech­ nology so revolutionary th a t , if desired, the car could almost drive itself? Just imagine. Stop dreaming. Mercedes-Benz


already makes such a car, the current S-class, and it still sets impressive standards against rivals already rated as outstanding in the large lux­ ury sector. But for some customers, th a t’s still not enough. They want more. And Mercedes now provides it in the form of the S65 AMG: here, the ‘S’ would seem to signify ‘Super­ saloon’. You may already be familiar with


the details of the current S-class. If that’s the case, then you’ll probably know that arguably the pick of the model range is the S600, with a six- litre V12 and a pretty generous stan­ dard specification in exchange for the not inconsiderable sum of £93,090. But th a t ’s only the s ta r t of what becomes an AMG S65. AMG started as an independent


tuner and modifier of Mercedes-Benz cars before eventually becoming fac­ tory-approved. These days they’re


■ ■ ■ I I I I I I I I


1 ^ ^ 1 I I I \ J I d I


part of the company itself and know how to take perfection - and improve on it. First the 6.0-litre V12 is bored out


to 5980cc, with extra urgency coming courtesy of a revised bi-turbo system, which features larger turbochargers and a more powerful charge-air cool­ ing system as well as many other engine design measures. You get the idea. The result is that power goes up to


a jaw-dropping 612 b.h.p. Torque goes up too, by what Mercedes describes as “a huge boost”: I ’d say that at l,000Nm, it’s off the planet. Anyway, this luxury limo has now been fettled to the point where (with help from revised ratios in the five- speed automatic gearbox) it lunges to 60 m.p.h. in 4.4 seconds, half a second faster than an S600 and close to Porsche/Ferrari territory. I t keeps going too, with 124 m.p.h. just 13.3


seconds away from rest. Top speed is an electronically reined-in 155 m.p.h. bu t a careful short circuit or two would enable you to see close to 200 m.p.h. Each S65 AMG is built to order for


its UK buyer and costs (deep breath) £142,670. . You’d think for that you’d get just


about everything but my test car still managed to come with £3,700-worth of extras.


■iAi' V C:V 1


H I


Lomeshaye Business [M65 Junction 12], Tel


WE’VE MADE THE BEST EVEN BETTER WITH 2 YEARS FREE SERVICING PACK WDRTH BETWEEN £15DD - £3DDD


les ciici< /co.uk'


• Half Leather Alcantara Trim • Air Conditioning • 16" Alloy Wheels • Roof Rails • 6 x CD Player • Power Fold Door M ir ro rs • Park Distance Control • Remote Wheel Controls


Previous Price £18,795 This Week's Price


£16,995 . ' - r ^ 1 ’’ r '■*, t -


. *'103 king'sfreet,',whalley .'tel: pi 254'825569


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jn Sunda ^ cji X. ' T i ^ viv. ^ f ^ i ' 'y ^


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mbndaycfriday from>9om - 5 30pm with late night opening op ' ' r" Wed nesday until 7pm, Saturday 10am-4pm ajnd Sunday 1 Dam-'1pm


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■ ^ i n i i S i i ! I t


sooner, from mileage at timo of purchase, all servicing to bo cartiod out oy nmenadm. u annual increase in the cost of labour, parts and oil. Metallic Paint extra t o u c.


Offer correct at time of going to press end is sulyoct to change


r«re ehnwn for illustration purposes only. ^2 yoors/24,000 miles servicing whichever occurs offer excludes Range Rover and 04 model year Freelander. Packs worth assumes a 10%


thursday until 7pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm and Sunday 1 30pm - 4pm ' n


''


H ille n d a le Lomeshaye Business Park, Nelson, Lancashire (M65 Ju n c tio n 12J,


Tel Sales: 012B2 723731 ■ Service 01282 728716 ■ P a r ts 01282 728708 www.hillendale.co.uk APPROVED USED VEHICLES


CANa-^ ‘ ROVER,


04 54 FREELANDER 1.8 SE 3


ONLY


Amount of Credit £13,500,24 Monthly Rentals of £199, Followed by 1 Optional Rnal Rental of £10,986.88, Acceptance Fee payable with the First Rental £95, Purchase Fee payable with the Final Rental £25.Total Amount Payable £18,377.88


Prestons mtmmm


| j l I | l l l l l l l l l | l l l l | l l l l | l l l l | i l l i | i i i i iM i t in i i |M n |m i | in i |n I j ,1 cm'' r 11


2'


Lomeshaye Business Park, Nelson, Lancashire [M65 Junction 12], Tel; 01282 723731


^;Q4'54BMW318TiSE ?yGbmpact


• Metallic Paint ' Air Conditioning •Alloy Wheels • Electric Windows • CD Player • Remote Alarm • 1 Owner • Very Low Mileage


Prestons Price £15,995 Typical Deposit £2,495


9.8% Only 24 x £199 Per Month APR


End of M6S, Crown Way, Colne, Lancashire


Tel Sales: 01282 720742 Service: 01282 856770 Parts: 01282 856771


www.prestons.co.uk


oer mile wiU be incurred Finance s u ^ ^ lo status, available for over 18s only, guarantees and indemnibes may be required. Car wown for illustration puroosM only. 12 Yea5 free serweng or 30,1)00 miles, whenever oeciffs ^crfrDmmilcaqe3tlinieofputthase.allsefvicingtobecarriedoutbvPrestons.Frceservidn3i$notincludedonM3.X5.X50iesdandZ4cars.E£OL


aae100iiiilei.tanijalmileJ3e8,000 miles, Toalrniltajenndudingslartmitagt) 16,7 6 ;m ilcs.ll»* anmaal mieaqe or loUl mileage rigums ^ . Approved Used Can - BMW.' *


Opening Tim*!* - . Monday •Friday . 84lfi.ini • t>.3tipm • Salurdaydam-Spni . „: . Sunday 1l 8m*4.30pm,r


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