- Car envy
- Councils’ controlled parking issues
- En-suite parking space
- Leaving a warm car on cold days
- Swapping pompoms for podiums
- When more spaces mean less space
- Speeding motorists becoming rarer
- Unlucky registration plates
- Distracted driving during the summer
- Gone driving
- June 2009
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Friday, January 21, 2011
Suspect female suspect
I suppose the easy thing to say about this particular item would be: “He’ll have to try harder than that to get a cheap deal on women’s car insurance!”
The man in question is a Sydney police officer, caught and charged recently for behaving in an offensive manner whilst off-duty.
Patrolling colleagues discovered him sat in the back of his police car at 10.40pm, parked in an unlit street in the West of the city.
On the seat next to him were his uniform and police issue gun-belt. And how shall we put it, his disguise as a woman was not very convincing.
It’s not a pretty picture.
The man, who had six years of police work behind him, was fined $500 (a little over £300), but it was not recorded whether he lost his job.
I’m inclined to think that a man’s ability (or lack of it) to dress prescriptively in his free time shouldn’t have to affect his status at work. But needless to say, the fact that he was caught in a police vehicle - and sat next to his own police uniform – shines a less than professional light on the Sydney police force.
I expect that in this country, his behaviour would result in an instant dismissal – and probably an inquiry of some drawn-out and expensive kind. But I’d like to think that in the more laid-back antipodes a cop could be caught cross-dressing by his mates; be teased mercilessly about it for a while; and afterwards be given the chance to get back on with his job (and his out-of-hours hobbies) in peace.
Image © Alex Proimos via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: women's car insurance
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sheilas come off the wheels
It’s a bit weird, isn’t it? I’m talking about that bit in the Sheilas’ Wheels advert where the brunette Shelia says: “..and visit our ace website!” with her all-too-English accent.
Everything else in the commercial has been in the same mock-Australian tone we’re used to from the popular ladies’ car insurance firm, and then she goes and drops this accent bombshell.
The joke kind of derails.
I mean, everybody knows Sheilas’ Wheels is a UK company – it’s actually a subsidiary of Esure. And we knew that in all probability the three women who star in their adverts aren’t actually Australian (in fact, one of them is. The other two are from the UK).
But for the sake of the antipodean joke that is the foundation of their entire brand, you’d think she could fake it, right?
As it turns out, copywriters at Sheilas’ Wheels also seem rather keen to distance themselves from the Australian identity they have carved out over the past six years. “No, we're not Australian and we don't sell insurance in Australia” is a mantra that appears over and over again on the company’s webpages.
So why the about face - why try deliberately to undermine the gag? Nobody really believes that an Australian-only insurance company would be advertising on British telly – and telling the joke this way is about as funny as forgetting the punchline.
In fact, the firm’s website is riddled with such strange inconsistencies. On one page for instance, pictures of the Sheilas are accompanied by their autographed signatures – all of which read ‘Sheila’. Yet on the next, the women are identified as Cathi, Emma and Carly.
We can only speculate as to the explanation for this. Maybe after six years of the same women’s car insurance marketing strategy, some staff at Sheilas’ have started to really believe they are Australian. Maybe the Sheilas themselves have started to believe it (in one case, they would be right).
But in any case: maybe it’s time for a new marketing strategy?
Everything else in the commercial has been in the same mock-Australian tone we’re used to from the popular ladies’ car insurance firm, and then she goes and drops this accent bombshell.
The joke kind of derails.
I mean, everybody knows Sheilas’ Wheels is a UK company – it’s actually a subsidiary of Esure. And we knew that in all probability the three women who star in their adverts aren’t actually Australian (in fact, one of them is. The other two are from the UK).But for the sake of the antipodean joke that is the foundation of their entire brand, you’d think she could fake it, right?
As it turns out, copywriters at Sheilas’ Wheels also seem rather keen to distance themselves from the Australian identity they have carved out over the past six years. “No, we're not Australian and we don't sell insurance in Australia” is a mantra that appears over and over again on the company’s webpages.
So why the about face - why try deliberately to undermine the gag? Nobody really believes that an Australian-only insurance company would be advertising on British telly – and telling the joke this way is about as funny as forgetting the punchline.
In fact, the firm’s website is riddled with such strange inconsistencies. On one page for instance, pictures of the Sheilas are accompanied by their autographed signatures – all of which read ‘Sheila’. Yet on the next, the women are identified as Cathi, Emma and Carly.
We can only speculate as to the explanation for this. Maybe after six years of the same women’s car insurance marketing strategy, some staff at Sheilas’ have started to really believe they are Australian. Maybe the Sheilas themselves have started to believe it (in one case, they would be right).
But in any case: maybe it’s time for a new marketing strategy?
Image © Robert Couse-Baker via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: ladies' car insurance, women's car insurance
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cars and bars don’t mix
We’re careering headlong towards Christmas – yes, I know it’s early, but I am far from the first person to mention it - the Argos Christmas commercial campaign has been running for weeks already and the Boots “Here Come the Girls” make-up ads have already got me thinking I need a new shade of lip gloss for those inevitable mistletoe moments.
So, with that in mind I am writing to remind all women’s car insurance holders that now is not the time to risk your no-claims bonus – not to mention your personal liberty – by getting behind the wheel of your motor having had a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio at the office do.
Being found guilty of drink-driving is a very serious offence, and if you have caused a car accident whilst driving under the influence of alcohol you are likely to face stiff penalties.
If you happen to cause a death under such circumstances you will be subject to an unlimited fine, an obligatory 2 year driving ban and, oh yes, a little matter of up to 14 years in prison.
Is another glass of cheap wine really worth it – we think not.
Being found guilty of drink-driving is a very serious offence, and if you have caused a car accident whilst driving under the influence of alcohol you are likely to face stiff penalties.
If you happen to cause a death under such circumstances you will be subject to an unlimited fine, an obligatory 2 year driving ban and, oh yes, a little matter of up to 14 years in prison.
Is another glass of cheap wine really worth it – we think not.
image © Nick J Webb via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: women's car insurance
Thursday, November 11, 2010
James Bond’s sexy car is off the market
How long have we women been in love with James Bond? Too long for some of us.
Well, his lovely silver car has just been sold!
It’s 40 years old and so delightfully vintage, and Bond actually sat in it – Mr 007 himself!
The Aston Martin DB5 was sold for $4,608,500 – that’s £2,912,000 to us in the UK – to an American bidder called Harry Yeaggy, who’s going to put it in his private collection of classic cars somewhere in Ohio.
Private? You mean will never get to see it again? That’s terrible news!
The car still has all its Goldfinger and Thunderball gadgets on it, for example its revolving registration plate, courtesy of “Q.”
Still, I imagine that with all that gadgetry still in place, taking it for a spin would be a no-no – and I bet women’s motor insurance would get pretty expensive if you had to cover that piece of iconic film history!
On second thoughts, maybe it is safer off the road away from other traffic.
Well, his lovely silver car has just been sold!
The Aston Martin DB5 was sold for $4,608,500 – that’s £2,912,000 to us in the UK – to an American bidder called Harry Yeaggy, who’s going to put it in his private collection of classic cars somewhere in Ohio.
Private? You mean will never get to see it again? That’s terrible news!
The car still has all its Goldfinger and Thunderball gadgets on it, for example its revolving registration plate, courtesy of “Q.”
Still, I imagine that with all that gadgetry still in place, taking it for a spin would be a no-no – and I bet women’s motor insurance would get pretty expensive if you had to cover that piece of iconic film history!
On second thoughts, maybe it is safer off the road away from other traffic.
Image © matchity via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: women's car insurance
Monday, October 25, 2010
Ladies are thrifty when it comes to buying a vehicle
Take a look at some of the greatest car chase movies of all time and you’ll see men driving fast expensive cars.
Steve McQueen burns some serious rubber in a Ford Mustang, Daniel Craig puts the pedal to the metal in an elegant Aston Martin DBS and Jason Statham zooms along in a BMW735i.
It may not shock women's car insurance holders to discover that men like to emulate their film heroes by driving around in luxurious cars, or that the average man is prepared to splash out up to £14,000 on a powerful new vehicle. While women impose a spending limit of £9,000, according to research by Findyoucars.com.
Women are supposedly interested in how many children can fit on the rear seats and how much luggage can be stored in the boot. Men are apparently enticed by quick 0-60mph times and modified exhausts.
The vehicle search site claims that the majority of women drivers will be happy as long as the car comes in a pretty colour and has comfortable seats. Yeah, right!
Most men who visited the car comparison website during September were on the hunt for flashy “bimmers”. A high number of women's car insurance holders searched for basic Volkswagens.
Labels: women's car insurance
Friday, October 22, 2010
iPhone app informs drivers of their environmental impact
Environmentally friendly women drivers will be happy to hear that Volvo have launched a green iPhone App. The promotional literature says that this brand new programme will “dispel the myth that small cars are automatically low emissions cars”.
Owners of the elegant iPhone will find it simple to install this free toxic emissions measurer. They can then discover how much carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon and particulates their gas guzzler is spitting out.
It's no great wonder that Volvo are keen to show off their green credentials, especially as the V70 2.5 litre, petrol manual estate produces less than 50% of the amount of toxic emissions as the seemingly innocuous Fiat 500 Supermini.
The 500 produces a whopping 2,080 mg/km of emissions, while many other cars emit more than 1,000 mg/km. Women's car insurance buyers may be shocked to learn that the Nissan Pathfinder and Seat Ibiza come high up on the list of shame.
Sales of the Skoda Yeti 1.2 105ps and the Nissan Qashqai+2, 2 litre 4×2 may receive a boost after eco-conscious car buyers discover that these vehicles are ultra green. The findings are also unlikely to do any harm to the clean reputation of the Volvo brand.
Peter Rask, regional president for Volvo car UK, Ireland and Iceland, said, “We proved earlier in the year that just because a driver is buying a small car doesn’t necessarily mean they are buying a low tailpipe emission car.
“What our Emissions Equality programme aims to do is to help drivers make more informed decisions by giving them access to the total emissions data of their car. Ultimately by using the information on our App, drivers can genuinely help improve local air quality.”
Volvo is obviously a company which embraces the latest technology. Not satisfied with designing the sophisticated new app they have developed a Facebook petition to pressurise the government into making the emissions data available in vehicle showrooms.
Good on them!
Labels: women's car insurance
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Super Santa Ski Jump!
As well as the bounty of cakes, chocolates and mince pies, Christmas time in the office brings with it a whole host of free Christmas downloadable games which wing their way round the company.
Every year the theme of the games change just slightly- and new and even more quirky Christmas related gaming is invented.
Last year the most popular in the office was a snowball throwing game with the aim of taking out as many penguins that filled the scene as possible. This year however, the latest game that is set to take the CoverGirl office by storm is 'Super Santa Ski Jump' which involves helping Santa impress the judges by collecting as many stars as possible as he completes his ski run.
While it's possibly not the most advanced game (collecting the necessary stars simply involves pressing the space bar), it is strangely addictive and offers some light relief from the search for women's car insurance. So give it a go yourself.
Every year the theme of the games change just slightly- and new and even more quirky Christmas related gaming is invented.
Last year the most popular in the office was a snowball throwing game with the aim of taking out as many penguins that filled the scene as possible. This year however, the latest game that is set to take the CoverGirl office by storm is 'Super Santa Ski Jump' which involves helping Santa impress the judges by collecting as many stars as possible as he completes his ski run.
While it's possibly not the most advanced game (collecting the necessary stars simply involves pressing the space bar), it is strangely addictive and offers some light relief from the search for women's car insurance. So give it a go yourself.
Labels: Christmas, CoverGirl, women's car insurance