Ten cars that hold their value

Which are the most important factors to take into account when choosing a new or used car?
With the price of fuel hitting all-time highs, you should check a vehicle's fuel economy, as well as deciding whether you want a petrol or diesel engine.
Also, when doing your sums, you'll need to add on the cost of car insurance, so check to see which of the 50 insurance groups your new vehicle falls into. Likewise, your Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, or 'road tax') could be anything from zero to over £1,000 a year, depending on the car's CO2 emissions.
And then there's the service, maintenance and MoT costs, plus interest charges and fees if you buy using a personal loan or other finance.

The biggest cost of ownership

However, the above list excludes what is often the biggest cost of owning a car: depreciation.
Depreciation is the tendency for vehicles – both new and old – to lose value over time. As cars age, they become less valuable, largely because of wear and tear. Generally, the biggest loss of value comes in the first year of a new car's life, when depreciation is at its steepest.
Obviously, this loss of resale value really does matter, because the steeper a vehicle's depreciation, the less you'll get for it when you come to sell and replace it. Depreciation varies widely between makes and models, but typically ranges between 15% and 35% in the first year and can reach 40% or more over three years. Then again, depreciation can be even higher for cars with high mileages and those that haven't been well looked after.
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Slowing depreciation down

However, it’s not all doom and gloom if you want to buy a new or used car, as some depreciate slower than others and hold onto their value for longer.
On the whole, cars that are well-built, reliable and popular tend to hold their values much better than cars seen to be unpopular, unreliable or at the lower end of the quality scale.
CAP Automotive, the car pricing experts, have found the cars that have held their value best over three years and 30,000 miles. So if you want to recover a large percentage of what you pay for a motor at resale here are the top ten cars that will deliver.

1. Porsche Cayenne diesel (2010-)

The Porsche Cayenne caused a bit of a stir when it launched in 2002 as the luxury SUV signalled a fresh direction for the traditionally sporty brand.
The second generation 2010 diesel model has been found to retain a whopping 84.2% of its original value even after three years and 30,000 miles on the clock.
A new Cayenne diesel starts from an eye-watering £47,390, but based on CAP’s calculations after three years the resale value is only likely to fall 15.8% – a loss of £7,488.

2. Toyota Land Cruiser V8 diesel SW (2008-2011)

Next up is a more mainstream option if you want to battle depreciation.
The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 diesel SW is the second best vehicle to retain its value over a three-year stretch clocking up 30,000 miles.
CAP Automotive found that this 4x4 retained 72.4% of its original price on average.
So a new 2010 V8 diesel available from £32,145, would only drop in value by 27.6% leaving it worth around £23,273 today – a cash loss of £8,872.

3. Porsche 911 GT Coupé (2009-2012)

The Porsche 911 has been around for over 50 years and still remains an iconic sports car as well as a great depreciation buster.
The GT Coupé body style was found to retain 72.1% of its value over three years and 30,000 miles.
So a 2011 model that would have set you back a whopping £73,123 might only fall in value by 27.9% – a loss of £20,401, by 2014.

4. BMW X3 diesel (2010-)

This environmentally friendly 4x4 got a reboot in 2010 and the second generation model is still popular today.
CAP Automotive found that this particular model retained 70.3% of its original value on average.
Prices start from £28,965 and if the research stands up you should only lose 29.7% or £8,603 of the value after three years and 30,000 miles.

5. Skoda Yeti diesel (2009-)

This compact 4x4 is a family friendly crossover that has a very adaptable interior – with the ability to remove the back seats fully.
According to CAP’s research the Yeti retains 69.9% of its value over three years and 30,000 miles.
New it is the most affordable of the top ten with a starting price of £15,235 and after three years on the clock it is likely to only fall in value by 30.1%, which amounts to £4,585.

6. Land Rover Discovery 4 diesel (2009-)

Despite its reliability track record, Land Rovers remain appealing to car buyers for its off-road ability, comfort and style.
The second generation of Land Rover’s Discovery 4 can keep you in the money according to CAP’s research. The make and model was found to retain 69.2% of its original value.
Prices start from £32,695 so after three years with 30,000 miles built up you might find the vehicle experiences a 30.8% drop at resale, leaving you £10,000 out of pocket.

7. Audi Q5 diesel (2008-2012)

The sporty medium-sized SUV can run circles round its load-lugging rivals and was found to hold onto 69.1% of its original value by CAP Automotive.
New the 2008-2012 range was available from £26,600, so with an average fall of 30.9% found for models with three years on the clock, buyers can expect to lose just over £8,000.

8. Kia Sportage (2010-)

The Kia Sportage holds onto its original value well too, retaining 68.2% on average.
It’s another affordable crossover with the looks of a 4x4 but less off-road ability.
The improved 2010 Sportage is available from £17,495 so a fall of 31.8% would leave you £5,560 out of pocket after three years at the time of resale.

9. Mercedes-Benz Viano diesel (2004-2010)

The Mercedes-Benz Viano is the only MPV to make the list.
New the 2004-2010 Viano’s were available from £35,760, but after three years and 30,000 miles the value of this range tends to drop by 33.8% – a loss of over £12,000.

10. Corvette Z06 Coupé (2005-2010)

Even though it's quite obscure and was only available in limited numbers with left-hand drive, the Corvette Z06 Coupé was found to retain 65.5% of its list price after three years on the road.

Available new it would have cost from £45,850 so after three years owners are likely to experience a 34.5% drop where around £15,818 would be wiped off the value.

Life on Earth: A billion years left

All animals and plants will vanish from the Earth within the next billion years, a new study suggests.

Ironically Armageddon is going to arrive as a result of too little, rather than too much, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Currently experts are trying to find ways to cut levels of the greenhouse gas to prevent global warming running out of control. But as the Sun ages and grows hotter, greater evaporation and chemical reactions with rainwater will take away more and more carbon dioxide.
In less than a billion years, its levels will be too low for photosynthesising plants to survive, say scientists. When that happens, life as we know it on Earth will cease to exist.
With the loss of plants, herbivorous animals will also die out, as well as the carnivores that prey on them. Eventually microbes will be all that remains - and for the majority of them even their days will be numbered
After another billion years, the oceans will have dried out completely leaving only the hardiest bugs.
"The far-future Earth will be very hostile to life by this point," said astrobiologist Jack O'Malley-James, from the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
"All living things require liquid water, so any remaining life will be restricted to pockets of liquid water, perhaps at cooler, higher altitudes or in caves underground."
The surviving organisms would also have to cope with extreme high temperatures and intense ultraviolet radiation, he said.
Mr O'Malley-James made his bleak forecast at the National Astronomy Meeting taking place at the University of St Andrews. The predictions are based on a computer simulation of the impact long-term changes to the Sun are likely to have on Earth.

Global warming “can be reversed", scientists claim

Hi-tech bio-energy plants pumping carbon dioxide into old gas wells 'could reduce temperatures by 0.6°C per century'

Hi-tech new bio-energy plants could “reverse” global warming by pumping carbon dioxide into old gas wells - lowering temperatures by 0.6°C per century, according to a study.

There are already 16 projects around the world working on the technology - aiming to generate power for local homes by burning vegetation such as wood or straw and then burying the carbon dioxide it produces deep underground.

“It’s like drilling for natural gas, but in reverse,” says Niclas Mattson of Chalmers University, Sweden, co-author of the study.

Because trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide while they grow, the technology, known as BECCS - Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage - is “carbon negative”.

The bio-energy plants will capture thousands of tons of CO2 per day, and then pipe the gas down into rock formations, or depleted oil and gas wells. By 2050, the researchers believe, the BECCS plants could bury billions of tons of CO2 per year.

[Related: World energy agency sees "record" oil demand]

The first BECCS plants will be here within a decade, Mattson says. They are likely to be expensive relative to coal-burning power stations - but the researchers say that even if the technology only becomes widespread in 2050, it would enable governments to beat current climate goals.

Study author Professor Christian Azar said: “We can reverse the warming trend and push temperatures back below the 2°C target by 2150.”

Around 60 per cent of global CO2 emissions come from power plants fuelled by coal, natural gas and oil.

“Bioenergy plants are already widespread, especially here in northern Europe,” says Mattson. “The new part is applying carbon capture. This could be done by retrofitting existing plants, but we believe this will primarily happen by building dedicated new plants.”

“After being separated in the power plant, the CO2 needs to be transported (by pipeline or shipped in liquid form) to an underground storage facility. Alternatively, you can build new power plants directly by the storage sites. Then you pump the CO2 underground (same as drilling for natural gas, but in reverse). Suitable storage sites that can keep the CO2 intact underground can be: depleted oil and natural gas wells, coal beds or possibly saline aquifers.”

Plants that burn a mixture of coal and vegetation (such as straw or wood), could also be “carbon negative”.

“Carbon dioxide separation, transport and storage are already being done for various purposes on a fairly large scale, but only individually,” says Mattson. “The first combined full-scale power plants will probably be here within a decade, so it will take several decades for this to become significant on a global scale. We consider this delay in our model, however, and still find that the technology has the potential to help us meet or even beat the two-degree target.”

“Even if current political gridlock causes global warming in excess of 2°C, we can reverse the temperature trend and reach targets later,” Azar says.

Azar says that the technology shouldn’t be used as an argument against reducing emissions.

Azar says: “BECCS can only reverse global warming if we have net negative emissions from the entire global energy system. This means that all other CO2 emissions need to be reduced to nearly zero.

“To do so requires both large-scale use of BECCS and reducing other emissions to near-zero levels using other renewables – mainly solar energy – or nuclear power.”

Why pay for toys when you can make them?

You can be frugal and still keep children entertained

 Children get bored fast. They can also spend days begging for a special toy, only to discard it a few hours after they get it – and more often than not go and play with the box instead.

With the long summer holiday just around the corner, I’ve been taking a look at cheap and free toys and games that could keep them happy and save you a fortune.

Home-made Play-Doh

OK, so the large lump of greenish clay in the picture may not look particularly beautiful, but it was made by a two-year-old.

We’ve wasted plenty of money on shop-bought clay. A four pack of Play-Doh tubs cost £3.99, and it doesn’t last long. Every time my toddler plays with it we pay a sort of Play-Doh tax as bits fall off, gather crumbs and dog hair, and get trodden on.

But we made our own by mixing from flour, oil and food colouring (there’s a good recipe here). It was safe to use, incredibly cheap and my toddler helped make it, which was as entertaining for him as playing with it. It also helped him learn to follow instructions.

We had all the ingredients in our cupboard already, but I’d estimate this cost us under 20p.

Home-made finger paints

Once you’ve cracked making your own Play-Doh, you can make paint with the contents of your cupboard too. I found this recipe for home-made paints.

Because they’re made from stuff in your kitchen – sugar, salt, corn starch and food dye – they are safe for even small babies to play with as it won’t hurt them if they put their fingers in their mouths (obviously they shouldn’t be actually eating it).

One heads-up – I found this stained my son’s hands for a couple of days, although I may have used too much food dye in an attempt to get a richer colour.

Frugal fashion design

If your children love playing dress-up or designing clothes, you can buy expensive costumes and fashion games. There’s a ‘fashion pack’ of stickers, feathers and ready cut-out hearts priced at £19.99 from one leading toy shop.

But a little more planning and you can let your kids stage a fashion show for a fraction of the cost. Collect up any old unwanted clothing in the house, or pop down to your nearest charity shop and let them choose a t-shirt. Then come home and let them decorate it as they want; by cutting holes, using felt-tips, gluing cut-out shapes.

I’ve done this with my nieces and it’s a big hit. It’s more fun, more creative and far, far more affordable.

Build a den instead of buying a playhouse

You can buy pre-fabricated dens and playhouses for hundreds of pounds, but I think this misses the point. Kids don’t actually want to spend their playtime in a plastic house, even if it is waterproof and has windows that really open.

Half the fun of a den is building it, and they only need some old blankets or tarpaulin, a few sticks and some string. The Eden Project has a good guide to den building including rules for keeping safe.

If you don’t have a garden, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust have guides on making your own in one of their parks. Free, fun and in the fresh air.

Create ‘stained glass’ windows

If you have crafty kids, you know that supplies like crepe paper can cost a fortune. At Tesco, for example, one roll of crepe paper costs £1.30 and you’d probably need more than one colour.

But if your kids want to create ‘stained glass’ colourful covers for their windows, you don’t need pricey craft supplies. Most of us have a cupboard or drawer stuffed with colourful plastic bags that can be chopped up instead – obviously with adult supervision for younger children.

Sweet wrappers are also good for this, especially if you’ve had a tin of Roses or Quality Street at Christmas. Get people to put their empty wrappers back in the tin and keep them for a rainy day when you need a craft project.

Are you a parent or grandparent? Share your tips for free or frugal fun using the comments below

Hackers target more than eight million computers

A cyber-scam network, which has infected more than eight million computers around the world in the past two years, has been shut down.
Microsoft and Symantec combined forces and closed down the hackers' network last week

The hackers used an online virus, known as the “Bamital Botnet”, to gain access to personal details stored on PCs.

Cyber-crime network

The botnet was used by criminals to access people’s PCs and hijack online search results. It would then lead the user to an unknown website which could start downloading malware, steal their personal information or charge businesses for false online advertisement clicks.
It also led users to websites they never intended to vist. For example, one user was redirected from an official Norton Internet Security Page, which appeared in a list of search results, to a rogue antivirus website distributing malware.
Although exact numbers aren’t known, Microsoft says more than eight million computers have been targeted with this virus in the past two years and 300,000 were disconnected this week from the network.
On 31st January Microsoft filed a lawsuit which was supported by Symantec to the botnet’s operators to sever communication lines. This didn’t happen, so data centres across the US were raided and the infected servers were disrupted.
Those computers which had been infected were then disconnected from the virus network. Users were directed to get rid of the virus.
This is the sixth time in the last three years that Microsoft has stopped a cybercrime network and the second in cooperation with Symantec.
“It was done in such a sneaky way that most victims wouldn’t have even noticed a problem while the botnet was still operating,” explained Richard Domigues Boscovich, assistant general counsel for Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit.
“Because the data gathered from this takedown will become part of Microsoft’s ongoing research in support of protecting its customers from a range of evolving online security threats, we can actually use the criminals’ infrastructure against them and make it harder and more expensive for them to commit cybercrime,” he added.

How to disinfect your computer

Computers which are currently infected with the virus were contacted with a message from Microsoft.
It appeared when the user attempted to search for something on the internet and told the user their computer was very likely to be infected with malware which was redirecting the results of their search queries.
Two free programmes were then listed, Microsoft Safety Scanner and the Norton Power Eraser, which users were encouraged to run to disinfect their computers. More information on how to clear the virus from your computer can be found on the Microsoft Support website.

How to avoid cyber crime

The best way to avoid being hacked is to keep your computer’s security systems up to date and regularly scan for infections. It’s also vital to use different passwords for all the accounts you use online and to use a password which isn’t likely to be hacked.

If your personal details have been stolen criminals can use them to get access to your accounts or apply for credit in your name. Therefore check your bank statements regularly and your credit record as this is where you’ll be able to spot any irregularities.

If you do see something untoward, such as a payment you haven’t authorised, call your bank immediately and let it know.

The evil Red House of Essex

Is the Red House in Goodmayes the hell mouth of Essex?

Deep in the wilds of Essex is a suburb named Goodmayes. In years gone by it was known for the sprawling Goodmayes hospital complex, a home for the clinically insane. The hospital used to take up a great deal of the area, but much of it has now been closed or relocated. However, Goodmayes has not lost any of its eeriness. The 'Red House' on Goodmayes lane is one of the creepiest buildings in the area. I would go so far as to say it's our town's 'Amityville Horror'.
Why does it stand out? It is painted a sinister shade of scarlet, a horrific 'blood red'. Could the house have been smeared with the essence of its numerous unwilling victims? Is it in fact a meeting place for the 'Satanists of Essex' regional group? Is the red a signpost for a secret society's meeting place? There are so many unanswered questions.
You just can't miss it when driving down Goodmayes lane. Some may describe it as an eyesore, others think it's a quirky way to make a statement. I, however, believe that there is more to this symbolic building than meets the eye. I went to investigate.
The creaky iron gate at the entrance was stuck fast, so brute force was needed to open it. There were bags of rubbish at the entrance ready for collection. I have never seen anyone enter or leave the house but took this as a sign that somebody was in. The entrance is a heavy wooden door along with the number '69' nailed crudely into the side wall. It's a gothic-looking black cast iron sign (only adding to the satanic/evil look).
After ringing the loud chiming doorbell several times there was no reply. I waited, presumably for some little old lady slowly making her way to greet me. But inside I doubted this. The Red House looks as though it is home to a dark lord. A giant horned creature with claws ready to drag unsuspecting visitors into it's abyss - visitors like me!
Just as I was about to ring the doorbell a fourth time a biting chill wind suddenly came from nowhere. The house didn't want me there, I got the message and didn't stick around. Once I had stopped running from this Essex Hellmouth I managed to take a few pictures. The photographs do not do it justice. In all its years the paint has never faded, as if some supernatural force is keeping it fresh.
Am I a nosy neighbour? Possibly, but there is more to the Goodmayes Red House than meets the eye. Will I ever be privy to it's secrets? Only time will tell. This semi-detached in our leafy suburb is anything but ordinary.

Your Family Beach Holiday

How to save money on your family beach holiday

Cutting the cost of a family holiday abroad without compromising on quality requires advance planning, lots of research and clever thinking. My faamily did it and so can you.

 

Taking a family holiday abroad is an expensive business these days, with the average European break for four costing over £2,000 (and that's before you count spending money, travel insurance and your holiday wardrobe). Cutting costs without compromising on quality requires advance planning, lots of research and clever thinking. My family did it and so can you, here's how:


Consider a villa

Whilst an all-inclusive family break often seems like the most budget friendly option, hiring a villa or apartment can often work out a fraction cheaper. You get lots more room and, if the purse strings stretch to it, potentially your own private pool too - no more battles for sun loungers! After trawling through an endless list of budget busting 'package' holidays, most of which wanted extra on top for transfers, and in-flight meals, we took a look at some alternatives and realised that a villa, flights and car hire would be a cheaper option.
It takes a little more planning and a little more time but if it saves you a few hundred quid then it's worth it. Ownersdirect.co.uk features over 40,000 properties across the globe whilst holidaylettings.co.uk, which is run by the good folk at Trip Advisor, features over 100,000 and has a regular selection of late deals and offers.

Potential saving: £150+



Don't bank on budget airlines
Despite their well marketed reputations, budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair don't always work out the best value for money if you're booking standalone flights. In the past I've booked some great deals with Monarch and the flights for our most recent family holiday were booked with Thomas Cook. As nauseating as it is, if you want to save money on flights you really do have to run through the quote process with several airlines, most don't add extras like booking fee or taxes until right at the end and these can really increase the cost of your 'cheap' flight. If you decide to use a comparison site, my husband swears by skyscanner.com.
Potential saving: £100+


Always your cash or travellers cheques in advance
Buy your holiday currency on the High Street and you'll almost always get a better deal than you will at the airport. I shopped around for the best rates online using travelmoneymax.com, it's a great site that allows you to type in either the amount of foreign currency you want or the amount of Sterling you want to spend. The site then provides a list of High Street and Airport bureau de change rates as well as banks, travel agents and even the Post Office.
Once you've arrived at your destination try not to use your debit card to withdraw cash, unless you have a specialist card or bank account you'll be slapped with a hefty 5%-6% commission rate. The same goes for any shopping or restaurant bills that are 'converted' into Sterling for you by the staff. Remember there's always the slim chance that a beady eyed bank executive could spy your sudden overseas shopping spree and place a block on your card in case it's been stolen or cloned. Use a credit card that charges nothing for foreign exchange and always pay in local currency.
Potential saving: £26+


Be clever about insurance
If you're heading for a holiday in Europe be sure to apply for your EHIC card. Everyone in my family has one (including my two year old daughter) and it lets you get the same level of health cover in Europe that locals of that country have. It doesn't include repatriation costs though. The EHIC is free but there are plenty of sneaky websites out there trying to charge for applications, don't be fooled. Apply for your card via the NHS by calling 0300 330 1350 (local call charges apply) or by visiting www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/healthcareabroad.
If you have home insurance then it may cover your personal belongings so bear this in mind when shopping for travel insurance. Out of the many comparison sites, I found the best deals with reputable, recognisable companies on moneysupermarket.com. If you pay for your bank account check if travel insurance is included in your benefits package, Nationwide also offer free European travel insurance with their free current account. Even if it's not, it might be worth contacting your back to see whether they can provide a policy for a small extra fee.
Potential saving: £15+


Book and travel midweek for the best deals
Start your holiday on a Friday and you can expect to pay around 35% more for your flight according to research from Consumer Association Which? Fly back on a Sunday and the fare difference can be a whopping 45%! Travel mid-week and you'll always get a cheaper deal. Even booking over a weekend often seems to work out more expensive. After about two weeks of internet searching I purposely booked everything late on a Wednesday night, by Saturday the flights alone were £80 more expensive.
Potential saving: £100+


And finally…turn off your mobile
Did you read the one about the tourist who used his phone abroad and then baulked at his £500 phone bill a month later? As soon as I reach my destination the parents get a quick text to say we've arrived safely and then the phone goes in the safe. It stays there until the day we fly back home, unless we have an absolute emergency. Holiday outside of Europe and chances are that you may be charged for incoming calls as well as outgoing.

If you absolutely can't live without telling your Facebook friends that you're loving the Spanish sunshine then make sure you check roaming charges with your mobile operator before you leave. It may be that they can amend your usage charges for a short time to help keep costs manageable.

Or turn off data roaming and look for WiFi hotspots locally (increasingly large numbers of cafes, restaurants and bars offer this) or sign up to your hotel's WiFi option. Sometimes it's free, other times it will cost a few pounds - but that's still an awful lot cheaper than being slapped with a bill for hundreds of pounds.
Potential saving: £100's +