Four Arnold Clark Renault branches have made it to the final stage of the JD Power of Excellence Awards for ‘Motor Dealer of the Year 2015’.

The four branches that have been shortlisted are:

• Dumbarton Renault
• Wigan Renault
• Elgin Renault
• St Helens Renault

Dumbarton Renault is the headline branch, as they have the best performance of the group.

The final stage of the JD Power awards process is to complete an onsite assessment, where a representative will visit the branch to see how they perform on service and customer processes. JD Power automotive ratings offer consumers an independent guide and are based on customer satisfaction surveys from people who have visited the branches nominated. The award will go dealerships that provide an outstanding level of customer service consistently.

An assessment score of over 80% is required to secure the accolade of JD Power of Excellence 2015.

We congratulate all of our competing branches for getting this far, and wish them the best of luck in this final hurdle.

If you’re really keen to get behind the wheel before you’ve taken your full driving test, a quadricycle could be the one for you.

Quadricycles are lightweight, car-like vehicles that fall into the same category as a moped. They weigh less than 350kg and as a result of this you do not need a full licence to be able to drive them – only a Compulsory Basic Training certificate from an accredited training centre.

If you're still learning in the meantime, follow our top tips to pass your driving test.

Renault Twizy 45

Popular French brand Renault tried their hand at a light-quadricycle. It was intially put on the market for €6,990 which doesn’t include the monthly battery charge of €50 and your insurance.

The Twizy 45 is unfortunately not available in the UK, but there is a range of 13kw Twizys available.

Whilst the Aixam Coupe/Crossover looks super cool and you can bet none of your friends will have a Renault Twizy 45 or a Liger, quadricycles aren’t without their drawbacks. For a start, there’s the price tag. Can you really afford around £10,000 for a vehicle you may only drive for a year? That’s more expensive than the popular Ford Fiesta! In addition, they only reach a top speed of 28mph so your dreams of anything more than a trundling pace might be dashed.

As you wait for the bus in the pouring rain this may sound like a tempting idea however we would suggest continuing to pester your friends and family for a lift rather than splashing out.

We take a look at the best cars for a short, medium and long commute, taking into account running costs, driver comfort and entertainment.

Best car for a medium commute

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion

The Volkswagen Golf is an excellent all-rounder, with a combination of style, quality, performance and refinement that is rarely seen elsewhere. The more eco-conscious BlueMotion model brings the Golf’s efficiency to a new level.

If you’ve got a fairly sizeable commute every day, you’ll be happy to know that the Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion diesel has emissions of just 85g/km and reaches 88.3mpg. This means your road tax is free, and you also have one of the cheapest cars to run.

If you’re on the road for around an hour every day, you’ll be glad to know that standard equipment is extensive enough to keep you occupied and entertained on your journey. The Golf TDI has a CD player, MP3, aux-in, usb and iPod connection cables, and a five-inch touch screen.

For city driving, start-stop technology means that fuel wastage is minimised, and auto brake and lane departure warning systems are helpful, too.

Spec:

• Engine: 1.6-litre 109bhp

• Fuel: Diesel

• CO2: 85g/km

• MPG: 88.3

• Road tax: Free

We also recommend: Ford Fiesta, ŠKODA Fabia and Seat Leon.

Do you have any other suggestions? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

According to a survey carried out by Vouchercodes.co.uk 83% of Britons will opt for a UK staycation this year, an increase of 17 per cent on last year’s figures. In light of these findings we’ve uncovered three driving staycations within the UK, perfect for your summer holiday.

If you are choosing one of our staycation ideas you can follow our top six essential summer driving tips to ensure you remain safe and happy on the road to your getaway. Here’s hoping the weather is as impressive as the attractions and you’ll need to read these tips on how to stay cool in your car this summer.

Most historic

Bath – Cirencester – Gloucester – Cheltenham – Stratford-Upon-Avon

The beautiful city of Bath has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city offers lots in the way of historic sights to visit, including the Roman Baths, The Royal Crescent, The Fairfield House Museum, Cleveland Pools and The Circus.

A 37.1-mile drive north-east along the A46 and A433 is Cirencester, a market town on the River Churn. The town is dominated by one of the largest churches in England, the Parish of St. John Baptist built in 1490. Other sites are Cirencester Park and Corinium Museum. If you time your visit right you can visit one of the markets.

Our third location on the historic tour is Gloucester, just 18 miles north west of Cirencester. The A417 offers a fairly straight drive along the A417 a wide country road to the cathedral city of Gloucester. Located on the River Severn Gloucester offers plenty of history, being founded in AD97 by the Romans. One of the main attractions is Gloucester Cathedral in the heart of the city, there is also Gloucester City Museum and if you fancy a different mode of transport other than your car there is the Gloucester Leisure Cruises. There are plenty of places to stay in Gloucester, too.

Cheltenham is the next stop on our tour, only 9.5 miles north east of Gloucester along the A40. Cheltenham is a large spa town and known as the cultural centre for the Cotswolds where you can enjoy a walking tour of the regency town and it’s historical sights.

The final stop is Stratford-Upon-Avon, a north-eastern journey of 31 miles from Cheltenham along the A40 and A46. Stratford-Upon-Avon is renowned for being the birthplace of Shakespeare and provides plenty of culture and history. Located on the banks of the river Avon (as the name would suggest) Stratford-Upon-Avon offers the Mechanical and Art Museum, Holy Trinity church, Ghost walks and boat tours, as well as all of the Shakespeare related attractions.

If you have found any better routes for your UK staycation, let us know!

If you fancy a driving staycation but don’t have a suitable car then think about renting one.

Festival season is almost upon us – meaning lots of you will be getting ready to eat, drink, dance and sing, most likely in the middle of nowhere! You’ll need to do more than just follow the sound of the music – we’ve compiled some of the best ways of travelling to a festival to help you on your way.

Car share

Car sharing can be a cost effective and green way of travelling to festivals all over the UK. Sites like GoCarShare allow you to search for drivers willing to take passengers in return for a contribution to the journey costs. If you’re a driver, you could get your car seats earning money by taking fellow festival-goers on the journey. A driver of an average car will save 20 kilos of carbon by car sharing for a 100-mile trip.

A classic camper van

No vehicle embodies festival spirit quite like a classic VW Camper Van. Once you arrive at the festival you won’t need to dig out your camping gear, you’ll simply park up and everything you need will be there. Whilst they look great, classic VW’s can be in the region of 35 years old, so make sure you take advantage of our free vehicle health check and have breakdown cover in place before you set off. You wouldn’t want to miss the festival, would you?

1. 5 a Day

5 a Day is a national campaign launched in 2002 to encourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables. The campaign originated after an announcement from the World Health Organisation that people should eat ‘a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables per day’. The NHS launched a website to help everyone meet their five a day including advice on how to grow your own vegetables.

2. The big five

The big five refers to the five main animals that tourists on safari tours look for in Africa. They are the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. There are other big animals that can be found on an African safari, such as hippos and giraffes. Unfortunately the term has stemmed from the prevalence of big game hunting of these animals, and has now been taken on as a marketing term by tour operators.

3. The Famous Five

This series of much-loved children’s novels by Enid Blyton was first published in 1942. The books follow the adventures of Julian, Dick and Anne, their cousin George and her dog Timmy while on their school summer holidays. The series comprises 21 individual stories, the final one of which was published in 1963. A survey commissioned by the Cartoon Network and the Prince of Wales Arts and Kids Foundation in 2004 revealed that Blyton’s Famous Five remained a firm favourite among adults.

4. 5ive

5ive were a ‘90s boyband, unsurprisingly made up of five members: Sean, Ritchie, Scott, Abs and Jay. The band formed in 1997 and release a number of hits, such as Slam Dunk (Da Funk), Got the Feelin’ and Everybody Get Up. After several misfortunes, illnesses and injuries the group split up in 2001. They have since attempted reformation with several line up changes, most recently without Jay or Abs. They are now a three piece, though have retained 5ive as a name, I suppose 3hree doesn’t work as well as 5ive.

5. Channel 5

The UK television network Channel 5 launched in 1997, way back when the launch of a TV channel was still considered an event. Up until then there were only four UK terrestrial TV channels and Channel 5 was the final analogue network before the digital switchover. The launch made quite the splash, with a reported 2,490,000 viewers tuning in to discover such delights as Xena Warrior Princess and that cultural relic – the Channel 5 afternoon movie. Now owned by Viacom media there are additional digital channels: 5*, 5USA and Demand 5. Channel Five remains the home of our favourite antipodean soaps Neighbours and Home and Away, as well as guilty pleasure Big Brother and documentaries such as My Gastric Band Ruined My Life and The Girl With Seven Mums.

Curious as to why we find the number five so fascinating? Watch this space…

Arnold Clark Automobiles, Europe’s largest independent car dealer, is delighted to announce its acquisition of the SEAT Western Newcastle dealership as of 29th May 2015.

Located to the northeast of Newcastle city centre in Bellway Industrial Estate, the branch presently has 23 employees, all of whom will remain as Arnold Clark staff.

Arnold Clark SEAT Franchise Manager Roch Starrs said, ‘SEAT has proven itself to be a tremendous brand for Arnold Clark, and it’s always exciting to welcome a new branch to the Arnold Clark family.

‘We’d like to assure the branch’s existing customers that the same friendly faces will greet them in branch, and they can expect the transition to go easily.’

Arnold Clark employs more than 9,000 staff and has over 200 branches across Scotland and England. With more than 15,000 cars to choose from at any one time, Arnold Clark offers its customers a wide selection of new, nearly new and used vehicles.

Arnold Clark is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Digital Art degree exhibition at the Ayr campus. The exhibition opened on Friday 22nd May and showcased the final year students’ pieces that they have been working on over the last nine months. The event will be open to the public until Friday 5th June.

The work on display covers a wide range of materials and mediums including fine art, sculptures, light installations and short films – demonstrating a hugely talented and varied class.

Artwork by Jack Millen

One student whose work is on display is Rebecca Cairns – a contemporary artist from East Ayrshire. Rebecca’s work focuses on transparent mediums, photography, distortion and installation art. She cites Peter Doig as one of her major influences as his work is often based on photography and then adapted to create surreal and magical scenes that are far from reality. Her main project is a light installation of distorted photographs projected through three layers of fabric entitled ‘Memories of Memories’. It represents how memories fade and alter over time.

There’s also a nod to graphic design through Jack Millen’s creations. Jack redesigned vintage movie posters for the exhibition, but also enjoys creating digital and watercolour illustrations, which he sells through his website.

Artwork by Rebecca Cairns

Bonnie Wallace’s work is also showcased. Inspired by Scott Naismith, Bonnie incorporates bright, surreal colours into her landscapes to create atmosphere. She also likes the way Naismith layers spray paint, acrylic and oil paint to create striking effects.

Overall, the event has been a huge success and a great way for the students to display their talents and round off their time at UWS before moving on to pastures new.

Ford Model T Town Car (1915)

Registration: 6254 AM

The 1915 Model T Town Cars were produced in January 1915 at Highland Park, Michigan. Noticeable features were their brass rims and cowled firewall, and for the first time, electric headlights were now standard.

The Town Car variant was always more expensive than the Tourer; in 1915, there would have been around $250 in it. There were only 1,600–2,000 units produced each year, so there are fewer Town Cars surviving today.

This particular ‘T’ was originally supplied through F.H. Peacock of Balham. Well-known Veteran Car Club stalwart George Evan-Cook O.B.E then acquired the car, and christened her ‘Florence’. The car was a common sight at VCC rallies and was featured in an illustration by artist Gordon Davies in Anthony Bird’s profile publication on the model in 1969, shown below.

The car was then taken into the Sullivan collection in Hawaii, and later returned to the family of the former owner after the collection was disbanded in 1990.

The Ford spent most of the 1990s in restoration by a main Ford expert. The interior was brought back to life with a period button leather trim, and the Laundaulette top was renewed. The chassis was repainted and the engine overhauled.

The ‘T’ currently resides at our Ford Parkhall branch and is kept in tip-top condition.

Keep an eye out for the next instalment of this classic car series, which will be posted next week.

In the next instalment, we take a look at Sir Arnold's collection of vehicles from the 1920s.

As we have previously announced, the paper counterpart driving licence will be abolished on 8th June 2015.

These changes mean that when you want to hire a car abroad, in the UK, or if you require a courtesy car from one of our Servicing departments you will need to retrieve a licence check code from the DVLA website.

How to create a licence check code

• Log in to the DVLA website with your licence details, National Insurance number and postcode.
• Select the Share your licence information tab.
• Select the Create a code button.
• The code will be displayed in the next screen.

Points to remember:

• The code is case sensitive
• It is only valid for 72 hours
• It can only be used once
• You can only create 5 codes within a 24-hour period

When you arrive at our servicing branch you will need this code and the last eight digits of your driving licence. The staff at our branch will then use this information to check your licence; they are not permitted to create this code for you, due to data protection laws. You will need to do this before you visit the branch or if that’s not possible we can give you access to a PC to create the code yourself, with your driving licence number and National Insurance number.

The launch of the fantastic 5 Day Giveaway event, which will take place from the 4th to the 8th of June at every Arnold Clark branch across the UK.

Throughout the 5 Day Giveaway, our customers who buy a car will be given a Service Plan worth up to £400 absolutely free– it is hoped to help you on your way to two years of completely hassle-free motoring with your vehicle.

As well as deals and offers over the five days, branches will be putting on entertainment and refreshments, meaning there will be fun for all the family to make car shopping less of a chore for customers’ little ones. In addition, our branches have over £50,000 worth of high street vouchers to gift to customers as random spot prizes throughout the event to brighten their day.

It’s not all about the allure of a free Service Plan and giveaways, either, – the event campaign cites five great reasons for customers to get involved, including the branch’s ‘friendly, knowledgeable staff’ and ‘superb deals’ among its many reasons to attend.

Arnold Clark Managing Director Eddie Hawthorne commented: ‘We’re always looking for new ways to do something significant for our customers, and our annual June event affords us an excellent opportunity to achieve just that.

It’s that time of year. Festival season is upon us! If you’ve read our previous article on the best ways to travel to a festival and you’ve decided to take the car, don’t leave home without these essentials.

Oil, water, air

Before setting off on any journey it’s important to make sure your vehicle is road worthy. You can pop in to any Arnold Clark Service Centre for a free vehicle health check to ensure your car is ready for the drive ahead.

Sat nav

Chances are you’ll be heading somewhere remote. Most festivals will be well signposted but take a sat nav, just in case.

Killer tunes

To get you and your passengers in the mood! With some excellent choices available on DAB digital radio, you’re sure to find something to suit your party mood.

Wheelbarrow/trolley

Festival car parks feel a million miles from the campsite when you’re carting your camping gear across a field! If you have space in your boot, a trolley will make your life so much easier.

Fuel

It might sound obvious but ensure your tank is filled with enough fuel to get you to, and far enough out of the festival. Most festivals will be miles from a petrol station and those close will be queued out of the door. If you book a service with us before you go, you’ll get a free £20 fuel card to help you on your way!

Tickets!

Unless you fancy a round-trip, REMEMBER YOUR TICKETS!

Breathalyser

It’s likely you might have enjoyed a few beverages over the weekend. Whilst the designated driver should always take it easy on the last night of the festival, never take the risk of getting caught out. Ensure you’re well below the legal limit before setting off by bringing a self-test breathalyser. If you’re in Scotland, be especially wary about the new drink-driving laws.

Bin bags

Bring along some bin bags for muddy jackets and footwear. They’re cheaper than a valet bill!

Jump leads

Can you imagine returning to your car at the end of a festival only to discover your battery is flat? Jump leads should be an essential for any driver, especially those travelling to a field in the middle of nowhere!

Water and painkillers

At least one of you might be feeling a bit under the weather by the end of the festival. Have water, and painkillers on hand for the drive home.

When looking for your next taxi, there’s a lot to consider. One of the most popular makes down your local rank is probably the ŠKODA –probably because of its low original cost, low running costs and its reliability, all of which are important factors for ferrying customers around all day. Here are some other things to keep in mind.

What to look for when buying a taxi:

Five doors Obviously, passengers need to get in and out of the car easily, they don’t want to be climbing over the front seats to get in the back! Ease of access is also important – cars with a high step up to the seating or awkward spaces are far from ideal for those with restricted mobility.

Space for passengers Your customers need to have some legroom, so look for a vehicle with generous interior space. It won’t be an enjoyable journey if they’re sitting with their knees up by their ears - and they won’t choose you again.

Boot space Your passengers may have luggage, shopping, or pushchairs with them, particularly if you regularly pick up from an airport or train station. Ensure your boot space is ample, and not only will you have room for your passengers’ items, you can stow essentials like a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and antifreeze to be prepared for any roadside eventuality.

Fuel efficiency You don’t want to be filling up the fuel tank every half an hour, so you’ll need to find a vehicle that delivers on mpg. You can also keep control of rising car tax costs by choosing a car with low emissions.

Cost efficient maintenance and upkeep A used car may sound like a good idea, but will it be as reliable as a new one? Will servicing costs erase the savings you made buying the car? These are points that need to be considered. A used car in good condition is a sound compromise.

Cars to consider

ŠKODA Octavia

• Doors: 5
• Seats: 5
• Boot space: 624 litres
• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Used price from:£4688
• Max MPG: 74.3 (GreenLine)

VW Touran

• Doors: 5
• Seats: 7
• Boot space: 121 – seats up, 700 – seats down
• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Used price from:£4,988
• Max MPG: 61.4

Hyundai i30 Tourer

• Doors: 5
• Seats: 5
• Boot space: 528 litres
• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Used price from:£5,488
• Max MPG: 70

SEAT Toledo

• Doors: 5
• Seats: 5
• Boot space: 550 litres
• Safety: Five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Used price from:£12,488
• Max MPG: 72.4

Good Egg Safety’s car seat experts are on the road in Scotland this summer to keep your children safe.

Our safety partner Good Egg is taking their expertise to you this summer via their car seat checking events. These five-minute checks will highlight if your car seat is fitted correctly or not and you will be shown how to make sure your child is safe when travelling in your car.

Their fully qualified experts will also inform you if your car seat is incompatible with your car, which can sometimes be the case, and recommend what you can do about it.

Find out where the nearest car seat checking event is to you, events will run from 11am–4pm on the dates below.

You can find out more about these events on The Scottish Good Egg In-Car Child Safety Campaign Facebook page.

The Renault Clio is the main prize in Yorkhill’s Grand Prize Draw and the car will be touring Scotland to raise awareness of the draw and the good work carried out by the Yorkhill Children’s Charity. The proceeds of the draw will help to fund state-of-the-art equipment in the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children, formerly Yorkhill Children’s Hospital, now located at Southern General campus.

The colourful car was designed by Ryan Greenlees, 10 from Alloa, a patient at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital. Ryan’s impressive design was awarded first place in a colouring competition, the prize being to see his design come to life.

Kirsten Sinclair, director of fundraising, Yorkhill Children’s Charity, said: ‘With the generosity of the public and Arnold Clark, the Grand Prize Draw will help us to fund £75,000 of state-of-the-art equipment at the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

‘We may be on the move but our mission to support families across Scotland continues. And when we move into our new home next week, our 200 volunteers will be on hand to provide information to families as they arrive.’

Every ticket sold in the Grand Prize Draw will help Yorkhill Children’s Charity provide care for 160,000 babies, children and young people.

The closing date is Monday 27th July.

Your Ford is important to you, so between the 12th and the 28th of June, you can bring it in to the people who know it best for the Ford Motorcraft Reunion Event, and get tuned up for summer.

If your Ford is four years old or over, there are some exciting new Ford Motorcraft 4+ offers you can take advantage of at your local Arnold Clark Ford branch.

Throughout the Ford Motorcraft 4+ event, a Summer Check and Air-Conditioning Refresh will be priced at just £9.99*. This 30-point Ford check includes tyres, brakes, wipers, steering, lights, suspension, exhaust, battery and fluid levels. Designed to clean, anti-bacterialise and generally leave your car smelling fresh, the Air-Conditioning Refresh will bring a welcome breath of fresh air to your summer. Take a look at these other tips on how to stay cool in your car this summer.

Just £64.99, the Ford Motorcraft 4+ Summer Check and Air-Conditioning Service includes a summer check and air-conditioning refresh. You’ll alse receive a service of the air-conditioning system, including replenishing the refrigerant gas, lubricant, checking system pressures and operation.

Or, you can always book in for a Ford Motorcraft 4+ Service for only £125. Know you can always go the extra mile, with one year’s roadside assistance and a £20 fuel card if you book your during the Reunion event.

Here’s to a breezy, easy summer of motoring!

*Price available during The Reunion event only. Terms and conditions apply. Visit the Ford Reunion webpage for more offers and information.

The automotive industry grew rapidly in the 1920s. Following in the footsteps of Henry Ford and his huge success with the Ford Model T, which we covered in Sir Arnold Clark’s classic car collection: Part 1, more and more car makers were taking advantage of mass production, and creating models that were both reliable and affordable.

Most of the cars – especially in the first half of the roaring ‘20s – were open top tourers (convertibles). New manufacturers were cropping up everywhere; from the affordable Ford to the upmarket Rolls Royce, and many are still going today.

In stark contrast to Ford’s unimaginative palette, many cars of the 1920s now had bright paint and attractive details. This is typified perfectly by the oldest of Sir Arnold Clark’s 1920s car collection – the Citroën Cloverleaf.

Rolls Royce Park Ward Single Tourer 20hp (1928)

The 20hp Rolls Royce was introduced in the early 1920s to offer a more affordable option than the Silver Ghost, which was much bigger and harder to handle.

An immediate success, the 20hp was hugely popular with the upper working classes, such as lawyers and doctors.

Between 1922 and 1929, 2,940 were built. This particular model is from 1928.

The light coachwork and delicate interior controls give the Park Ward Tourer an attractive style and sense of precision.

Whilst the 20hps were not fast, with a maximum speed of just over 70mph, they were agile, and also economical to run.

This Park Ward Tourer has a bright blue over black body, and a brown leather interior with red dashboard.

Sir Arnold purchased this car in 2004, when it also underwent some repair work.

With just 54,940 miles on the clock, such a low-mileage original Rolls Royce is quite a rare find. The car now resides at our Inverness rental branch.

Keep an eye out for our next instalment of this classic car series, which will be posted next week.

In the next instalment, we’ll be taking a look at Sir Arnold Clark’s collection of vehicles from the 1930s.

If your dad is mad on cars but you know your budget won’t stretch to a Lamborghini, or whatever his dream wheels are, take a look at some motoring gift suggestions that will keep him happy and to suit any budget.

A car book

If your dad loves cars and books you could buy him a related book such as The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. We have reviewed this and six other books for car lovers so you can check them out before you decide.

Hubcap art

If your dad is the cultured type then you could buy him the gift of art, with a car-related flavour. Artist Ptolemy Erlington, who we have previously interviewed , creates pieces from recycled hubcaps and other old car parts. You could purchase an already created piece or you could even have a piece commissioned for your dad.

A driving experience day

There are plenty of companies that offer driving experiences as gift certificates. Days out range from the exhilarating 4x4 off road driving or extreme dodgems to the more serene racing car simulator experience.

Accessories for his beloved set of wheels

If your dad is motor mad an accessory for his pride and joy might suit. You can choose one to suit his. You could try a steering wheel cover, a keyring or even driving gloves. Whatever make or model your dad’s car is there are accessories to suit at a range of prices suitable for every budget.

Music for any journey

You could go retro and buy your dad a CD such as 101 Driving Songs or if he’s with the times you can create him a playlist of songs for the open road, you could take a look at the 5 raciest car tracks for inspiration. If you don’t have the time you can simply use a playlist that has already been created such as Time Out’s 50 best road trip songs on Spotify.

Make a motoring gift

If your budget is low and you’re feeling creative you could always crochet a motoring gift for your dad. Such as these crochet dice the pattern is available here.

You may have seen our recent article on the best UK driving holidays, where we looked at short breaks for scenic, historic and literary connections. However, for the adventurous among you, why not see if you can do the whole of the UK in one ultimate road trip! Prep your convertible and pray for sunshine, and get ready to start your engines in…

2. Lake District

Hop on the M74 for a nice ride that will take you to one of Britain’s most iconic places – the Lake District. Get ready for an amazing drive by the coast via the A595, which will take you right to the heart of the national park. You might not be able to drive right to the mountain’s top but you are sure to enjoy the valleys and woodlands of this beautiful area.

4. East Anglia

The picturesque East coast is just made for a road trip. You might even get a Californian sensation as temperatures can peak up to 30 degrees in summer! Start off at Cromer and make your way down to Colchester; don’t forget to try some of the local seafood specials, which will give you a real marine experience.

Now we’ve officially entered the summer months, for many, thoughts will turn to enjoying the sun and soaring temperatures.

Those who make the most of the Great British summer do so in a number of ways – you may choose to visit a park, head off on a road trip, drive to the beach, or go to a festival; the list is endless.

One popular summer pastime, though, is picnicking.

And you may not be aware of this, but we’re currently in the middle of National Picnic Week!

Of course, when it comes to a good picnic, the food is the most important ingredient, but there’s much more to the perfect picnic than that.

For instance, location and weather are key. But let’s not forget about how important your car is too.

Not only can your car be used as a means to get to your desired destination, but now, many are using their vehicles as a driveable dining room.

These days, folks have abandoned the traditional picnic rug and sitting on the ground option for a couple of deck chairs and using the boot floor as a table.

Whatever your preference, it’s important that you have enough food to feed everyone and also that you have a car that lends itself to the perfect picnic.

So whether you’re planning on a traditional rug-on-the-ground picnic, or one that sees you repurpose your car as a dining room, we’ve decided to run down a few of the best cars for a picnic.

Fiat 500 Convertible

Unlike the Countryman, this car is more suited to couples, and with its retractable roof, it’s well-suited to sun-kissed days. You can either enjoy driving to your picnic destination with the wind in your hair or you slide your seats back and enjoy dining in the car – still with the wind in your hair. Total flexibility.

It’s also great fun to drive, so the journey to your location will be an enjoyable one.