Consumer news

It's not only repairs you can save on by checking online. A new website called www.carservicedirect.com lets drivers search for garages that charge up to 40 per cent less for servicing than franchises, yet still meet manufacturer warranty standards.Youths are in a fix

YOUNG drivers are useless at repairing their cars, insurer Direct Line has revealed. Its survey found oil checks are beyond most motorists under 25, while half of drivers this age can’t jump-start a vehicle and 55 per cent don’t know how to change a tyre.

THERE’S no stopping Britain’s pensioners when it comes to motorbikes! A recent AA report found no less than one in five female bikers is above retirement age. An evergreen veteran who was nearly 80 was the oldest biker in the study.

FANCY a bit of cosmetic surgery for your car? You can now search for the cheapest price on the www.look4carcare.co.uk website. It has a database of specialists in fixing faults such as scuffed bumpers, upholstery burns and panel dents.

IF YOU drive a soft-roader and want some meaner wheels, German maker AEZ has the answer. Its new Phoenix is a five-spoke alloy with a high-gloss finish, and comes in 18-22-inch sizes.