Month: September 2019
Here at Oracle Car Finance, we make it as easy as possible for you to finance your car. But, we appreciate some of the finance industry terminology can be a little confusing.
We guarantee to simplify the process by ensuring you have a dedicated account manager to manage the whole thing from start to finish.
This means that while we do most of the tricky stuff such as liaising with lenders, sending applications and arranging payments, all you have to do is find the perfect car.
So that you feel informed about the different options and terms you may discuss with your account manager, we’ve prepared this handy guide to financial jargon.
PCP
At the beginning of some finance agreements like PCP (Personal Contract Purchase), the guaranteed future value is calculated based on mileage at the beginning of your agreement. This then becomes a balloon payment. There are options at the end of your agreement including refinance, paying the balloon in full, part exchanging your current vehicle towards another or handing the car back to the lender.
Agreement term
The amount of time you have to repay your finance agreement. We’ll keep in touch throughout the agreement term to help you understand your options as you go along.
APR (Annual percentage rate)
This is the annual rate charged expressed as a percentage, which represents the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan.
FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority ensure that customer get a “fair and honest” agreement.
Equity
This is the difference between the value of the car and the amount of outstanding finance.
Finance agreement
Explains the terms of your finance – including agreed any fees, monthly payments, product type and your balloon if applicable.
Part exchange
Trading your current car as a contribution towards another vehicle.
Quotation/soft search
A type of credit search that won’t affect your score or file.
For more information contact us via the Oracle Car Finance Website or call us on 0800 012 6666.
Ferrari has been the driving force behind the supercar phenomenon. Founded in 1947, Ferrari has over 70 years of experience, craftsmanship and sublime design. These are the top 3 models they have ever produced, scored on history, favourability, styling and performance.
Number 1: Ferrari 458 Italia
Specifications:
- Top speed – 202 mph
- 0 – 60 – 3.4 seconds
- Maximum Torque – 398 lb-ft
- Brake Horsepower – 562
When the Ferrari 458 was unveiled in 2009 as a replacement for the Ferrari 430, it quickly became the benchmark for the supercar world.
One of the key reasons is because of the engine. The engine note from the V8 is truly amazing, it was one of the last churning V8 engines that were naturally aspirated. It’s powered by a 4.5-litre V8 engine that delivers a total of 570bhp at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 398 lb-ft at 6000 rpm.
The car is beautiful in every sense of the word, with a wonderfully sculpted body styled by Pininfarina the looks are scintillating and you can’t fault this car at any angle. From the rear, you have a wonderfully placed trio of exhaust pipes that emit that amazing V8 sound. Mounted behind the sloping glass is the red polished Maranello V8 which matches the beauty of the body shape perfectly.
Number 2: Ferrari LaFerrari
Almost 1,000 horses. Say that again, 1,000 horses. That statistic alone is enough to put this car in the Top 3, but it definitely isn’t just the horsepower that makes this wild hypercar in our top 3 Ferraris, there’s a lot more to it than that…
Specifications:
- Top speed – 217 mph
- 0 – 60 – 2.6
- Maximum Torque – 663 lb-ft
- Brake Horsepower – 950
To achieve this staggering amount of horses, Ferrari has a 6.3 litre V12 and to accompany it, an electric motor. The LaFerrari was limited to just 500 production vehicles so they’re certainly a rare sight. Being so rare, they all sold out at the £1million price tag, (including the 210 Aperta models.)
Unlike other vehicles where horsepower only peaks at certain times, the Ferrari LaFerrari produces the 950 bhp at all times through a highly incredible system called HY-KERS which works in synchronisation with the monstrous V12. Energy is constantly extracted all the time through braking, the traction control system, the ABS and even things such as the E-Diff.
That means instant throttle response, razored responses and the most natural-feeling hybrid in existence. In terms of normal road driving, after a while, it’s no more intimidating to drive than a 458.
James May from Top Gear said to sum the car up in a sentence, “LaFuture of supercars.”
Number 3: Ferrari F40
Specifications:
- Top speed – 201 mph
- 0 – 60 – 3.8 seconds
- Maximum Torque – 425 lb-ft
- Brake Horsepower – 471
The F40 was designed to celebrate 40 years of Ferrari, and it just happens to be the final car to be approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988. It had a twin-turbo V8 developed from the 288 GTO that made 471bhp, and Ferrari claimed the F40 had a top speed just over 200mph. The bodywork is made from a mix of kevlar, carbon fibre and aluminium to save weight, while the stripped-out interior featured air-conditioning as its sole luxury.
The Ferrari F40 has gone down in history as one of the greatest supercars of all time. Ferrari decided that this model should be very different from the last model and this F40 should be an exclusive road-going supercar. On the road, the F40 delivers explosive performance thanks to its light 1,400kg body.
This is the hardcore Hyundai i30 N Project C. But there’s just one disappointing thing about this car. It isn’t coming to the UK… At least not yet.
Specifications for the i30N Performance for reference – the Project C stats have yet to be released
- Bhp – 275
- Top Speed – 155
- 0-60 – 6.1
- Torque – 260 ft-lb lb-ft
The already fantastic hot hatch has had an overhaul and it looks brilliant. But it doesn’t just look the part, it’s managed to shed 50kg of weight from its already pretty light body (1,429kg). The stealth matte grey looks truly epic when met with the splashes of carbon fibre on the diffuser, spoiler and street racing style carbon hood. The small flairs of red on the brake callipers, side skirts and bumpers add a level of race-inspired aesthetics.
Hyundai shaved the 50kg from the i30 N by using the classy forged OZ wheels, these alone make it 22kg lighter. Sabelt seats with carbon-reinforced plastic shells trim another 15kg. 7.2kgs are lost by swapping a metal bonnet for a carbon one.
There are some changes underneath the car too since the rear wheel hangers are now made from aluminium rather than steel to remove 4.66kg. The stiffer suspension setup has also brought the car 6mm closer to the road to improve handling and lower the centre of gravity by 8.8mm.
These changes sound wonderful and make us really excited for the car to finally go on sale, but it’s just very sad that only 600 of these carbon hot hatches will be released worldwide, with 500 of them placed in Germany and the remaining 100 that scattered throughout other areas of Europe.
Thomas Schemera, the Hyundai project manager for the i30 N Project C has, however, stated that the UK will receive something similar.
Project C is all about reducing weight so there aren’t any changes to the powertrain. The Project C is based on the i30 N equipped with the Performance Package, therefore it uses the higher specification of the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine.
Want to read about other hot hatches? Read our top 5 hot hatchbacks article.
Image Credits: Top Gear
The Frankfurt Motor Show brought some really interesting new cars to the table, from the BMW concept 4 to the Lamborghini Sian. This car though is one of our favourites. The Defender…
The all-new Land Rover Defender is an off-road weapon. Land Rover has always been renowned for their ability to conquer muddy, rocky and snowy terrain and this 2020 model update does it spectacularly and makes it look far too easy.
Design features of this machine have changed a lot from the old model, despite being based on it. Although it’s a reworked version of the existing models’ skeleton, it’s described as being 95% new. The styling is far more utilitarian and army-themed than the predecessor. The paint you see, isn’t actually paint at all, it’s just a wrap, so if you scuff it whilst taking it through harsh terrain you can just strip it off and Land Rover will put some new wrap on for you. It keeps the Defender’s boxy styling but updates it with modern light units with Land Rovers new ‘circles in squares look’ (See picture above), new technology and rounded panel edges, giving it a far more modern appearance.
The Defender hasn’t just been designed to look the part, it’s undergone rigorous extensive testing to ensure that it’s a beast. It’s been subject to far more tests than any other Land Rover model, covering 1.2 million miles across terrain such as sandy desert at incredibly high altitude and the frozen ice-laden Arctic.
To help the Defender in any environment it encounters, Land Rover has given this model a bunch of new performance features such as a new monocoque chassis, a spanking new four-wheel-drive system and comfy air suspension. Furthermore, to aid its incredible off-road driving, the Defender has a system called ‘Configurable Terrain Response’, which deploys electronic assistance automatically at varying styles of driving. There are also three levels of throttle and gearbox sensitivity aimed at boosting driver control.
The new Land Rover Defender lives up to its heritage. In the UK, you could encounter heavy hauling and deep water, but these shouldn’t prove a problem for this beast. It can tow up to 3,500kg, can carry 300kg on its roof and has a wading depth of up to 90cm, far more than its rivals such as the Jeep Wrangler.
If you’re feeling extra excited about the new Defender, treat yourself to Lego’s 2,573 piece technic kit. We have it on good authority that the Lego kit has been tested for more than 1.2 million miles and has a working winch, which we didn’t see at Frankfurt!
Image Credits: Autocar