If you are someone who is new to driving, or simply a little slow on the uptake, here is a list of seven easily misunderstood phrases and what they actually mean. You can thank us later.
1. “Automatic model”
In common parlance, an automatic car is not a car that drives itself, rather sadly. It just means that the car changes gear automatically... which is pretty cool as well, when you think about it.
2. “Estate car”
“Estate” refers to the size and shape of the car and not the fact that you would be most likely to see it on a housing estate. Similarly, a saloon car wouldn’t necessarily be spotted parked outside a Wild West tavern. (Where did they get these names?)
3. “Hot hatch”
A term that conjures up images of a freshly-laid egg (to me anyway), car enthusiasts use this to describe high-performance versions of hatchback models, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the temperature of the car.
4. “Golf”
Not the sport originating on the coastline of St Andrews, but a model from Volkswagen that has been around for nearly as long. For more confusing car names, see also: Ibiza, Leaf and Compass.
5. “Outstanding finance”
This doesn’t usually refer to terrific finance deals (although we have them too.) It means there is still money to pay on the car. Not quite as good as it sounds.
6. “Connected cars”
We’re not talking caravans, towbars, trailers or kids hanging on to the back whilst on rollerblades. The Connected craze is all about using in-car technology to allow cars to metaphorically speak to each other and send useful information, such as where traffic jams are. Fancy.
7. “Road tax”
I’m being pedantic here, but road tax is actually a tax paid on motor vehicles – it isn’t a tax on roads.
But what you really care about is paying as little of it as possible – so search by clicking below.