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4x4 - What is it good for? Northern Counties Insurance Brokers
Added: (Mon Mar 27 2006)
Following the recent budget, drivers of 4x4 vehicles have been hit hard with increased road tax bills due to their high CO2 emissions.
And whether you love or hate 4x4�s most people have an opinion about them. Here are 4 facts you may not know about 4x4 vehicles:
- 4x4�s and people carriers are the least likely cars to be stolen. For every 1000 4x4�s on the road 6 are stolen. This compares to 13 out of 1000 for small saloons and 12 in every 1000 for mini�s and super mini's.
- The World�s fastest 4x4 is due to hit the UK this year. Chrysler�s new SRT-8 will have a top speed of a whopping 170mph.
- 187,000 4x4�s were sold in the UK in 2005 and this accounted for 1 in every 15 cars sold.
- Greenpeace want a new �1800 punitive tax band for cars which exceed 250 grams of CO2 per kilometre. The biggest Range Rover churns out 370g per km (which is more than double the average for British owned cars).
Mark Burdett of Northern Counties Insurance Brokers had this to say about 4x4�s, �We provide insurance for many people and businesses and their 4x4�s. Living in the North East means they certainly come in handy when the poor weather sets in especially in rural areas. It�s clear the environment is high on the governments list though so it will be interesting to see if the new road tax bandings have any effect on 4x4 sales. I suspect it probably won�t though so expect to see more and more 4x4�s.�
So with the likes of Ken Livingstone and Jeremy Clarkson having strong opinions about 4x4 drivers and now the government also hitting them in the pocket maybe this is the beginning of the end for the 4x4 market. Or maybe not!
NOTE TO EDITORS
Northern Counties is a Gateshead, Tyne & Wear based Insurance Brokers. Established in 1928, the company can provide all types of Business, Commercial and Personal lines Insurance and specialize in providing Motor Trade Insurance, Nursery/School Insurance, Hotel and Guest House Insurance and Liability Insurance.
Telephone: 0191 482 1219
http://www.northerncounties.com/