Advantages: Peace of mind, security.
Disadvantages: A bit of extra expense.

...Motor Insurance! We are bombarded with adverts and offers about it from all sides - T.V., newspapers, magazines, e-mail and snail mail! Do we need it? Of course! Apart from it being a legal requirement, often our cars are the biggest investments in our lives after a house. We need to protect the money we pour into them against that unfortunate day when we have an accident or even worse for some, when you come out of the shops laden with shopping to discover that your trusty steed is not where you parked it, it`s been nicked! In the worst case scenario, your vehicle is a write-off or is unrecoverable and the insurance company decide, eventually to pay you with a big fat cheque. Oops, they say, we know that you bought the car new only a couple of months ago and that it cost £18,000 but you only get the current market value... Read review

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Advantages: A good family day out
Disadvantages: Check to see which facilities are open before visiting

...Our grandchildren provide us with many opportunities for days out and Beaulieu is one of our favourites. We have visited the museum several times over the last few years and have not been disappointed. The museum itself houses the National Motor Collection which offers the opprotunity for the visitor to experience the evolution of the motor vehicle from its earliest days to the present. There is so much more than just cars here, there are vehicles of all types and many are housed around reproductions of buildings typical of the era such as the magnificent garage from the thirties and forties. Experience again the feel and smell of the buses from the late fifties, see for yourself how milk used to be delivered, what the first taxis looked like and of course there are the vehicles used in the James Bond films not to forget the famous... Read review

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Advantages: Great for all the family, excellant way to meet the drivers, brilliant actio, great modern track, the list goes on
Disadvantages: For me, it's in Northants, UK - and I'm in Ireland!!

...I've really just started out at Ciao and I just had to search for Rockingham and Days of Thunder, and I was so suprised to see that someone hasn't tried it before me, so I asked for it to be listed! For all of you who don't know, Rockingham Motor Speedway is an Oval racing track in the Corby / Rockingham area of Northamptonshire, in the UK. It is 1.479 Miles or 2.416 m in length, with 4 turns. There is also some internal tracks, The track is very modern, built in 2001, and has great access to it. The nearest train station is Kettering, with Market Harborough, Leicester and Peterborough not too far away. Bus services run to Corby itself, and there is ample parking at the track. There is also a helipad for any one who just happens to travel by helicopter everywhere. Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and East Midlands airport... Read review

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Advantages: Encouraging instructors, Lovely cars
Disadvantages: none!

...I wanted driving lessons for my 17th birthday so i could gain more independance however i did NOT want to drive in a mini, any other car was fine, just not a mini. So what does my mum do? Books my lessons with Bramhall school of motoring - purely minis. At first i was sceptical, i thought of the old style minis and thought they would be cramped and just not very nice to drive. I was hugely mistaken. The mini's are lovely, really comfortable and plenty of space. My instuctor is really patient with me and very encouraging. I was allowed to drive on my first lesson after being taught the basics so was impressed with that. So far i have only had 3 lessons so i can't comment on whether i pass first time or not , however i have booked my theory - only 3 weeks after first learning to drive a car! The lessons sound pricey... Read review

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Advantages: Beat any quote, good service
Disadvantages: None so far

...I hate motor insurance, I hate the wedge of my income that I have to spend every year on protecting my car from some of the idiots who think they own the road or have fluked their way through our country's pathetic driving exam. Anyway enough ranting, onto the facts. I've just left Axa, who I didn't have a problem with at all. For the 2nd year running, Axa gave me the "best" price on my insurance with sufficient cover etc. However tucked away in a draw was a letter which I'd had during the year from Barclaycard promising to beat any quote, no quibbles. I've a P reg VW Polo and 2 years no claims, living in a decent area & am 25,male.(useful to know if you have / are similar). So I spoke to Barclaycard, who weren't after too many questions. I got through straightaway and after about 3 minutes, I had a quote, only £10 cheaper... Read review

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Advantages: friendly people
Disadvantages: I didnt have enough time!

...Yorkshire Motor Museum, probably the friendliest place on earth! "May I take pictures?", I asked, on entry. I would be sad if you didnt! he replied.. this set the tone for the morning (I could have spent longer there, but 'er indoors wanted to get on to Salt's mill in Saltaire - the Hockney place; we were driving there and I saw the signs... how could I not drive in???.) Jack didn't work there, just one of those hangers -on who delight in just being there (and who in turn make the place delightful), amongst and indeed working on the bits and bobs. I wandered , mistakenly, into the workshop itself (camera viewfinders often lead me astray!) and was pulled back by 'erself. No problem, Jack said, come and have a real look, there's nobody about.... The engine (a beautiful straight six) I had spotted in bits, was laid across several... Read review

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Advantages: Variety. Venue. Honda Dreamscape Performance. Heritage Enclosure. Debuts.
Disadvantages: Crowds. Heat. Marques Missing. Very Long Day!

...WHAT IS RICHADA DOING AT A LONDON MOTOR SHOW? Whilst widely recognised as something of an automobile aficionado, paradoxically, motor shows are not where, recently, you would have found me exercising my passion. Indeed, the last British Motor Show that I attended was at the NEC in Birmingham - before the turn of the current century. In many respects, whilst much further away geographically, the National Exhibition Centre suited me, we rarely visit London these days and never enjoy the congestion and crowds there. The NEC, providing you arrived early, was always easy to get into - and then out of when all you wanted to do was to go home. I am not so familiar with the Docklands area of London and had not visited Excel previously. In truth, we very nearly gave this year's London show a miss too, having last Saturday attended... Read review

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Advantages: gives you a hearty laugh (sorry Jo)
Disadvantages: the boob competition is a bit tedious

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Advantages: It's another great Motorhead album
Disadvantages: None

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Advantages: fun, diverse range of attractions, excellent value for money.
Disadvantages: poor gift shop, a couple of tired looking exhibits.

...It's very important to me that I make something very clear from the outset - I have never been a car enthusiast. Ok, so I watch Top Gear. But, hand on heart, who can honestly say they watch Top Gear for the cars anymore? No, we watch it to see for the comedy value, the stunts, and the challenges. My other reason for watching it is to thank God that I'm not Jeremy Clarkson. Ok, so my best friend knows more about cars than Henry Ford and Murray Walker put together. We sometimes talk motors but, sadly, there are only so many letters and numbers I can process in one sentence, and once that threshold has been reached I start hearing songs in my head. Sorry Dave. Cars for me are purely functional. The only time I am passionate about seeing a car is when it becomes the trusty chariot whisking me away from the shops and back... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful