Monday, January 16, 2012

Top 5 Gifts for Car Enthusiasts - Guest Blog Post from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts

Is a special day in your partner’s life coming up? Or is it time for a gift for a close friend or relative? Most men (and a lot of women!) are auto crazy, and a motoring related gift is the perfect treat for a driving enthusiast.

This list covers all the options no matter what your budget is, so treat a loved one with a well thought out present based on their interests. The days of relying on boring novelty gifts are over!

A track day experience

A racing aficionado will appreciate some time on a track, and nowadays more local raceways are letting you test out your skills. Some track days allow you to take your own car on; otherwise there are opportunities to drive some of the rarest and most exotic cars in the world. This experience gift is perfect for anyone keen to get on a track, and prices start from as little as $129 on most occasions for a few laps in a prestige motor, and many tracks across the whole USA will offer something.

A Porsche 911 book

Looking to save the pennies? Well a motoring book shouldn’t cost you more than $25 or so, and the best of the lot is probably a document of the 911 history. This car has been with us for decades and the evolution is staggering. A look at the designs, special editions and model throughout the years will be a treat for any true motoring enthusiast as the Porsche 911 is one of the true motoring greats. 

A car valet gift set

A car owner likes nothing more than cleaning and polishing the specimen back to showroom condition whenever the sun is out. This is the one type of cleaning that men enjoy, so a valet gift set that includes a chamois, wax, shampoo and sponge will be the perfect treat. Don’t expect to pay more than $50 for a good set. If you’re in the UK then Nationwide Vehicle Contracts should be your first stop.

A Graham drivers watch

On the other side of things, if you have money burn on the motorist in your life, then you might want to splash out on smart Graham drivers watch. The Silverstone model is the pick of the range and features an automatic movement and racing features like a carbon fibre dial and a rubber strap that resembles a car tyre. To add to it in terms of exclusivity, there are only a handful being produced, but expect to pay over $7,000 for the pleasure of owning one. You might need insurance on something like this.

 

 

Some Hummer cologne/fragrance

Looking for a gift with some novelty value? Do you want to reaffirm the manly status of your partner in the form of fragrance? Well Hummer has released their own fragrance that we imagine smells of pure manliness (in a good way!). We haven’t tried it, but it’s sure to pack a punch if it wants to represent the vehicles they make. The price for the delight? Around $50 for 100ml.

 

Nationwide Vehicle Contacts are one of the UKs largest car leasing companies and offer out thousands of car leasing and van leasing deals as well as car hire services and a range of car accessories. You can find them on Twitter @car_lease.

More Guest Blogs on GRAutoBlog:
How to Get More MPG with Your Car
6 Steps to Carefully Buying a Used Car

6 Things to Consider When Selecting Tires
The Importance of Having Your Car Serviced 

Monday, January 9, 2012

Courtesy's 'Car of the Month' January: 2012 Chrysler 200

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="613" caption=""The New Face of a New Detroit.""]2012 Chrysler 200[/caption]

To usher in a new year, for January's "Car of the Month," we wanted to choose a vehicle that stands out as a beacon of renewal, a car that in 2011, caused the nation to sit up and take notice of the Motor City - the 200 is the poster-car for a new era in Detroit.

 
The new Chrysler 200 first sparked the nation's interest with its inspirational Super Bowl ad "Born of Fire" featuring Eminem cruising the rain-slicked streets of Detroit and ushering in the phrase, "Imported from Detroit."



 

 

The Chrysler 200 may be the new car on the block, but with its wide range of trim levels, a convertible model and a starting LX MSRP of $18,995, the 200 is a strong part of Chrysler's line-up. The new sedan's sleek and sporty styling, combined with its aggressive design elements puts it in a category all its own - a car for a new generation, representing a new direction for Chrysler and its hometown. Now it's the perfect time to purchase your own "Imported from Detroit" model, because this month at Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge you can receive up to $4,500 in rebates on the 2012 Chrysler 200!*

2012 Chrysler 200 - At a Glance:

  • 2011 IIHS Safety Pick

  • LX, Touring, Limited, S Trim levels

  • Advanced Uconnect Media Center

  • Bluetooth Streaming Audio

  • LED-accented headlamps

  • Best-in-class Pentastar V6

  • Electronic Stability Control System

  • MacPherson Strut Suspension


Read up on all Chrysler 200 trim-levels.

2012 Chrysler 200


Read up on "Imported from Detroit":
Chrysler’s New “Imported From Detroit” Project to Raise Funds for Detroit Charities
Chrysler’s “Imported From Detroit” Helps Re-brand Motor City


More from ‘Car of the Month’:
2012 Chrysler 300 – July

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan – June
2012 Jeep Wrangler – May
2012 Chrysler Town & Country – April
2012 Dodge Charger – March

2012 Jeep Compass – February
2012 Ram 1500 – December
2012 Dodge Journey – November
 

2012 Jeep Liberty - October
*Disclaimer:  Customer must qualify for all applicable rebates.  All rebates assigned to dealer. See dealer for details.


More on Chrysler from GRAutoBlog:
Best of 2011 from GRAutoBlog: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Edition
Chrysler 300C Receives "Excellent" Consumer Reports Rating
Chrysler’s “No Payments for 90 Days” at Courtesy
Chrysler Announces SRT Brand Revival
Chrysler “Drive for the Kids” Program Helps Local Odyssey of the Mind Team
Chrysler’s “Road to Literacy” Program
Chrysler in the Kitchen: Syfy’s “Quantum Kitchen” in Detroit