| New research suggests that fancy additions to | | | | front wheel drive vehicles. |
| today's vehicles are leaving many Britons | | | | The LV= report also examined male and female |
| bewildered. | | | | perceptions to their own understanding of how |
| Many Britons bewildered by the "fancy additions | | | | vehicles work, with men said to be reluctant to |
| to today's vehicles" new research suggests. | | | | admit their bafflement at the complexities of |
| Insurance services provider LV= claims that over | | | | modern cars, the company states. Despite not |
| a third (37 per cent) of people interviewed in a | | | | knowing how to undertake basic repairs or fix |
| recent study admitted to not understanding the | | | | their cars in the event of a breakdown, 71 per |
| function of the fancy icons displayed on their | | | | cent of men said that their understanding of |
| dashboards. Furthermore, nearly three-quarters | | | | automobiles was average or above. Only one in |
| (74 per cent) of people said that they would be | | | | ten men admitted to knowing nothing about |
| unable to fix their car in the event of a | | | | modern cars, compared to 30 per cent of |
| breakdown. An additional 47 per cent said that | | | | women. |
| they had no understanding of how engines | | | | Emma Holyer, spokesperson for breakdown |
| function, with just five per cent of respondents | | | | service Britannia Rescue, said: "There is little doubt |
| to the study believing their understanding of how | | | | that innovation has made driving a far more |
| a vehicle operates is excellent. | | | | pleasurable experience, but it has made part-time |
| Britain it seems is a nation that relies on | | | | weekend mechanics a thing of the past. With |
| breakdown and repair services, with as few as 4 | | | | many cars relying on complex electronics or |
| per cent of car owners confident they could | | | | technology, many problems now require specialist |
| repair their car if it broke down, while a further 18 | | | | equipment, as well as specialist knowledge, to get |
| per cent claimed the could carry out basic repairs | | | | the problem fixed. Which makes it even more |
| without help. | | | | important for motorists to take out breakdown |
| For those looking to fund expensive repairs to | | | | cover, at least they can then get back on the |
| their vehicle, a cheap personal loan may allow | | | | road quickly and easily in the event of a |
| car-owners to get their vehicle back on the road | | | | breakdown." |
| quickly providing the extra cash flow needed to | | | | The research follows reports last month by |
| cover maintenance costs. | | | | motor services group the AA suggesting that car |
| Confusion about the varied functions of today's | | | | insurance costs are becoming an increasingly |
| vehicles were said to be compounded by a | | | | prohibitive item of expenditure for many UK |
| multitude of acronyms used to describe already | | | | vehicle owners. Citing statistics from |
| obscure features. More than a quarter (28 per | | | | MoneyExpert, the group states that the average |
| cent), said that they were unaware that the | | | | annual insurance policy costs 629 pounds and four |
| acronym MPV stood for multi person vehicle, | | | | pence. A personal loan quote may be advisable |
| while 63 per cent of respondents were found to | | | | for those looking to fund the additional costs of |
| hold the false belief that FWD stands for four | | | | keeping a car on the road. |
| wheel drive. In fact, the term is used to denote | | | | |