Vehicle check company fi nds 74 stolen cars a day


In 2017, experts at hpi identifi ed 27,062 used cars for sale as being stolen, an average of 74 vehicles every day. On average, hpi checks fl ag more than half a million cars with outstanding fi nance – that’s one in every three vehicles checked. Every day 1,771 are identifi ed as insurance write-offs yet only half (51%) of used car buyers perform an online history check when making a purchase. Vehicle history check expert hpi is warning motorists not to fall foul of scams and rip-offs when buying a used car.


Fernando Garcia, consumer director at hpi commented: “Buying a used car can be very stressful without the additional headache of whether or not the vendor is trying to rip you off. There are so many dangers and scams to be alert to, and used car buyers need to be made aware of the pitfalls and risks. For instance, it’s worrying that the process of ‘clocking’ costs UK motorists more than £800m every year yet only 54% of drivers have heard of this scam. “Buyers could unwittingly end up with a car that is stolen, or subject to outstanding fi nance, it may have been clocked or it could have been involved in an insurance claim at some point. While it’s easy to be taken in by many of these common scams, it’s also easy to protect yourself by doing just a few key things before buying. It includes carrying out an hpi check which allows buyers always to get the fullest possible picture of the car they are about to buy before they part with their hard-earned money.” The company’s hpi check data has identifi ed that there is a one in three chance of uncovering a


hidden problem, one in 16 vehicles has a


Grow Your Own in a Pot


If you have ever thought about growing vegetables in pots, now is the time to give it a go!


mileage discrepancy and one in fi ve cars has had a plate change. The hpi check protects buyers against making a costly mistake by revealing whether a vehicle is currently recorded as stolen with the police, has outstanding fi nance against it, or has been written off.


also includes as standard, a mileage check against the National Mileage Register, which has records of over 200 million mileage readings. Also, by following these four simple steps will also help prevent drivers being scammed in the majority of cases: ● Always pay with a banker’s draft,


not cash.


its Registration Document (V5C) and check that the details on this piece of paper match those on the car.


It


● Don’t rely on just a mobile phone number to communicate with the seller. Get a landline number, although it’s still easy for a scammer to disappear once they’ve provided one of these.


Criminals and


scammers don’t like banker’s drafts as they’re traceable – cash isn’t.


● View the car at the address on


A new Aston Martin online shop has opened its virtual doors at shop.astonmartin.com. T e new shop is the best destination to purchase anything from an Aston Martin print to clothing from our lifestyle collection. For anyone looking for Aston Martin Racing team wear they can now head over to the Ready-to-Wear section where they will fi nd not only team kit but apparel featuring limited edition artwork, polo shirts, bags, cashmere scarves and even a mini race suit for younger fans of the team. Aston Martin Partners also feature in the new shop; Hackett clothing and Marma sunglasses are available now and soon there will be a new collection from Red Bull Racing. A wide selection of iPhone cases are available in the Lifestyle section. In addition to the ‘Le Mans’ phone case, a series of cases featuring artwork to celebrate the launch of Vantage across the world will be collectible. Also highly collectible is a set of beautiful scale models of the Aston Martin DB11 that have just arrived, along with models of the DB5 from the James Bond fi lm ‘Skyfall’ and the DB10 from ‘Spectre’. A brand new collection of bespoke luxury luggage, from wash bags, to briefcases and holdalls adorns the new website, which also serves as a portal to take Aston Martin owners to the accessories shop for their own model of Aston Martin.


www.cardiffandsouthwalesadvertiser.com


● Ultimately, if you have any doubts about the vehicle or the seller whatsoever, walk away. As well as offering free MOT history and valuation checks, hpi has also created a new online guide to car scams and motor fraud and advice on how to stay safe when buying a used car. Visithttps://www.hpi.co.uk/ content/newsroom/car-scams-and- motor-fraud/stay-safe-buying-used- car/


Aston Martin online store opens for business


A unique series of artwork commissioned to celebrate key moments in Aston Martin’s recent history is also now available. Art prints include Valkyrie at the Geneva Motor Show in 2017, the Aston Martin Vulcan’s fi rst visit to Abu Dhabi and Aston Martin Racing’s 2017 class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Simon Sproule, Aston Martin’s Vice President, Chief Marketing Offi cer said: “We’re thrilled to open the new Aston Martin online shop and bring together all of our luxury products under one virtual roof. T e shop has something for everyone from Aston Martin Racing gear to your very own set of Aston Martin wings or bespoke luggage for your DB11. With many more product lines to be added in the future we invite you to visit shop.astonmartin.com for a browse.”


There is a huge variety of vegetables that can be grown in containers or smaller spaces to make ‘growing your own’ accessible to everyone. Some of the best veg to grow are Beetroot, Broad beans, Carrots, Dwarf French beans, Herbs, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Rocket, Runner beans, Chillies & Peppers, Salad leaves, Salad onions, Salad turnips and Tomatoes. It’s just a question of right veg, right sized pot. Choose large deep pots to grow root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots, and shallower ones for beetroots and onions. Vigorous growing veg such as courgettes, tomatoes and beans need large pots filled with good compost to accommodate their roots. Lettuce and herbs can be grown in window boxes.


Containers can dry out very quickly so need frequent watering. Beware of over watering as well. The way to test if you’ve got it right is to put a finger in the compost – if it’s slightly moist just below the surface it’s spot on.


Use compost specially designed for containers as it will hold onto water better and have extra nutrients added to get your plants off to a good start.


composts are fine or a soil-based compost such as John Innes No3.


For the greatest choice of plants, grow from seed, but if you don’t mind too much about the variety, buy ready grown plants or plug plants from garden centres or mail-order suppliers. If growing from seed, check the instructions on the packet. Seed sowing time may vary depending on the crop but the main growing season for vegetables is from early spring to autumn. Don’t forget to feed your crops on a regular basis. Pot grown veg run out of nutrients due to the limited amount of soil they have to grow in, so a feed of general-purpose liquid fertiliser should be applied every couple of weeks. Finally, make sure you position your pots so they are in the best location for their growing needs. Most vegetable plants like lots of sun, so it’s important to site your containers where they will receive a good few hours of direct light a day. South or west facing locations are the best. Climbers such as beans or peas can’t cope with windy or exposed spaces so a sheltered spot suits them best against walls or fences. If pots and containers are just part of your outside space then here are some gardening tips for this


month from the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) • Sow vegetable seeds and plant potatoes • Protect new spring shoots from slugs • Plant summer-flowering bulbs • Feed containers with fresh compost • Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed) • Cut back winter shrubs • Keep your eyes peeled for weeds starting to come through


• Start conserving water • Re-pot houseplants • Prune bush and climbing roses


National Garden Gift Vouchers can be bought and redeemed at over 2,000 outlets in the UK, with more than 90,000 garden plants and products on offer. Visit www.thevouchergarden.co.uk to view details of all the outlets that sell and accept them or call 0870 2408237 for more information. You can also buy them online.


Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser - Friday 23rd February 2018 - 15 Things


to look out for when choosing the right one are soil and loam-based composts, extra nutrients, plant food and water-retaining granules.


Most multi-purpose


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