**Affordable Options at the Sales**

When it comes to car accessories and upgrades, many people tend to overlook the sales and look for bargains elsewhere. However, there's always something exciting to find at these events. I recently got my hands on an incredible cover-up plate that disguised a year of ownership on a Bentley, all for just £750. It's amazing how much can be achieved with a little creativity and resourcefulness.

**The New Renault Spass**

Renault has released the latest version of its popular people carrier, the Spass. This new model is designed to cater to families who need space for seven passengers without sacrificing comfort or style. Unlike previous models, this one features a more modern design that's sure to turn heads on the road. The interior is bright and airy, with plenty of glass and a spacious feel that's perfect for family outings. One of the standout features is the large sunroof, which lets in loads of natural light and provides a sense of freedom.

**Individual Seats in the Rear**

One of the most exciting innovations in the new Spass is the individual seats in the rear. Gone are the days of cramped, bench-style seating; instead, each child gets their own separate seat with its own 3-point harness. This feature is not only practical but also provides a sense of comfort and reassurance for parents. The seats are all interchangeable, so you can easily rearrange them to suit your family's needs.

**Storage Space Galore**

Speaking of storage space, the new Spass has an astonishing amount of it – more boxes and places to put stuff than I've ever seen in a people carrier before! Whether you're talking about everyday essentials or larger items like bikes or sports equipment, there's always room for something extra. And with the addition of air conditioning controls for the rear seats, families can keep their little ones cool and comfortable on even the hottest days.

**The Driving Experience**

When it comes to driving the new Spass, I was pleasantly surprised by its smooth and responsive handling. The three-liter V6 diesel engine provides plenty of torque, making it easy to merge onto highways or tackle steep inclines. And with the automatic gearbox, you don't even have to think about shifting gears – it's like having a limousine on wheels! The ride is surprisingly quiet, thanks to Renault's innovative multi-cylinder harmonics technology.

**A True People Carrier**

The new Spass is undeniably a people carrier at heart. It's not designed for speed or agility, but rather for comfort and practicality. And in that regard, it succeeds admirably. Whether you're ferrying a family of five to soccer practice or shuttling around the office crew, this car will provide plenty of space and reassurance.

**Comparison to Previous Models**

In contrast to previous Spass models, which often felt clumsy and awkward around town, the new one is a revelation. It's nimble and responsive, making it a joy to drive in tight spaces or through congested city streets. I've spent hours driving this car on the roads of Rome and the countryside, and I can confidently say that it's been an absolute pleasure.

**A Genuine MPV**

One of the things that sets the new Spass apart is its authenticity as a people carrier. Unlike some other models, which feel more like glorified delivery vans, this one is genuinely designed for families on-the-go. And with its impressive features list, generous storage space, and comfortable ride, it's hard to argue against it being the best people carrier in its class.

**The Range Rover of People Carriers**

In a bold move, Renault has declared the new Spass the "Range Rover of people carriers." While this might seem like an exaggeration, I can see why they'd say that. With its commanding presence on the road and spacious interior, this car is undeniably a leader in its class. Whether you're a fan of originality or just looking for a reliable and practical family car, the new Spass is definitely worth considering.

**The Verdict**

Ultimately, if you've got to have one of these people carriers, the new Spass is an excellent choice. While it's not without its compromises – particularly in terms of fuel efficiency – it more than makes up for them with its generous features list, comfortable ride, and impressive storage space. So, whether you're a busy family on-the-go or just looking for a reliable and practical car for everyday use, the new Spass is definitely worth considering.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthank you in this edition of fifth gear one of the best handling cars in the world second hand how to bag a bargain number plate and the latest radical Renault the newest Bass in case you hadn't noticed hot hatch is a big business once again no self-respecting car maker can do without one in their model lineup and not a month seems to go by without yet another even hotter one sending motoring journalists into a frenzy so we've brought our favorite six-pack here to Anglesey to see what's currently hottest of the hot MG Rover have maxed out the 25 to make it the ZR BMW's Mini Cooper now comes with an s that makes it supercharged and in response Renault have shed the kilos and the price with this stripped out Clio cut but it's this 197 horsepower Honda Civic Type R that holds the hot hatch Crown now though two big heavyweights have arrived offering over 200 horsepower the seat Leon Cupra R and the hot hatch everyone is talking about the Ford Focus RS so what's our verdict well I am a big fan of everything mg are trying to do to put some life into Old Rovers but whilst this ZR has much improved looks and handling it is the least path of our Bunch I'm sorry but the interior is well awful good but could do better they're saying though can't be said about BMW's Mini Cooper S with fantastic retro looks both on the inside and the outside and a Heritage to match meaning sure to sell and sell and sell but like the mg it lacks serious grunt I'm sorry but that whining supercharger is not for me when I was Cleo cup 172 on the other hand seems like the perfect mix it's very light it looks mean and it's the cheapest car here a bargain at just under 13 Grand but cutting costs and weight by throwing out such modern day Essentials as abs and aircon hardly seems like progress to me which is why Honda's Civic Type R has ruled the roof for the past year or so it's still quicker to six in the Clio despite the renault's crash diet it's a full-on racer with a lightning gear change and all the joys of Honda's fabled VTEC power plant Allied to edgy adrenaline pumping handling this is what the new boys on the Block have got to beat so let's remind ourselves just how good it is so just wait till the rev counter goes past six thousand and they let it sing all the way to its 8 200 RPM limit this is what I call mechanical music none of those twittering turbos or whining superchargers this is a real engine driving position is also so good I sit low and a very supportive seat I've got the steering and the pedals right when I want them I've also got this sexy little gear lever right beside me and the handling the car feels so light I can turn just a little bit of oversteer is easily caught it feels much lighter and nimbler than any of the opposition I've driven so far can become a bit of a snack other criticism also the traction's not that good in the wet but it's dry today the Civic sets a Target lap time of 54.9 seconds around the challenging Anglesey circuit so to take on the Honda say out of squeezed 210 horsepower under the Leon svelt Spanish uniform sounds good to me the first thing you notice just how smooth the power deliveries of this turbocharged engine no sun boost at all just got some pressure there's a lot more understeerable roll it's generally a much softer car than the Civic which is why on the road it's actually a more pleasurable car to drive because it's got a better ride around this race track I'm having a lot of fun but I don't think I'm going very quickly impressive but not really hot a fact underlined by lap time 1.1 seconds slower than the Hondas so what about Ford well I knew how good the Civic was and how powerful the set was going to be so they turned to their rally team for inspiration and like their world rally car it's full of parts from Specialists like quaff Garrett AP sax Brembo and Sparco all top shelf Automotive pornography for the Die Hard enthusiasts it's not such good news on the inside though in keeping with the tradition of previous fast forwards the interior is very Essex you got blue dials blue trim blue seats apart blue steering wheel and a green starter button I'm here by the power strike rate Apex good traction racing different hold the top and that's a bit of a surprise very good and it is by just 0.3 of a second but you have to pay the price away from the track you see on public roads it's not quite quite rice bread limited slip differential that provides such sharpness and traction on the circuit becomes Its Own Worst Enemy that's the boost pressure chimes in and out the steering weight constantly varies many little Hollows or odd canvas will pull the nose of the card this way or the other without really giving much warning it becomes nervous drive on country roads the ride is also very very harsh and the damping quite severe this is a car really only for hardcore enthusiasts so before you rush down to your local Ford dealership to try to put your name down for one of the four and a half thousand rs's to be built I suggest you consider it on-road manners it's garish interior and the fact that you only get a fibers change out of 20 000 pounds oh and yes that does a 240 horsepower Volkswagen Golf due any day now right now though there's no doubt the Focus RS is the hottest of the hot on the track but the sound is a much smoother and better man and Road car and for me the best compromise between the two and still the overall King of the hot hatches is the Honda Civic Type R foreign 1996 to the kind of excitement reserved for World Cups and Beckham babies the Lotus Elise was an instant hit six years on secondhand prices start at 11 and a half grand for the price of a cheap hot hat you could buy one of the best handling cars in the universe but should you motoring Knowles will tell you that Lotus stands for loads of trouble usually serious and they'll direct you swiftly to something weighing two tons and that's been made in Germany so is the Elise just a pretty waste of cash or does it make good second-hand sense The crucial question is can a girl like me buy a car like this and not regret it oh few cars at any price are more fun to drive than the Elise is that classic recipe a lightweight chassis a small but potent free revving engine and a beautifully damped wheel at Each corner the result is pure joy you know exactly what it's doing because it communicates with you through your hands your feet and your bum it really is every bit as good as they say it is now for all I know Brad Pitt snores in bed then who knows what irritating habits Cameron Diaz has and alas it's the same for the Elise it's hard to get in and out of it's noisy on the motorway and while I'm at it the boot is Tiny and what can we say about that hood it's like a mincer test made of Lego and once the hood is up it's even harder to get in and out of oh joy as with any used car service history low mileage and condition are crucial early cars had a clutch pipe problem that meant you couldn't get reverse once the car had warmed up also they had dodgy Inlet manifolds which cause blown head gaskets but most of those problems will have been sorted by now all get stone chips and broken driving lights window winders get sticky if they're not regularly lubricated and that fabulous Hood will let water in particularly if your Elise lives outside many owners invest in a cover but personally I'd get a garage Gators on ball joints and steering arms will split in time leading to damage to more expensive Parts again maintenance is the key the biggest worry is accident damage even when you get underneath it's hard to see much of that fancy aluminum chassis making it easy to hide a moody repair modifying cars is very much part of the Elise World trick exhaust systems engine mods and detachable steering wheels are bound they're worth having if you like them but they don't necessarily add value for eleven and a half thousand pounds expect anything up to sixty thousand miles on the clock a lot for Analise the more powerful 111s commands a thousand pound price premium and decent Mark II starts at about 21 000 pounds what else could you buy for the money well for the price range of a second-hand release you could have any modern sports car used of course from the cheap and cheerful Mazda MX-5 through to the excellent Honda S2000 all of them have more Creature Comforts but they are that little bit softer specialist cars like the elite often reach a point where depreciation meets demand and the price levels out so if you buy a good low mileage car for 12 to 13 Grand it's unlikely to lose much value finally be suspicious of anything that looks too cheap to be true it probably is so should you or I buy one well yes but with one Proviso if you're going to use it as an everyday car and lots of people do then make sure you are not going to miss those Creature Comforts you may experience the odd niggle or leak but it is a small price to pay for one of the best driving experiences in the world all right once The Preserve of the aristocratic classes in the seriously Rich more and more of us these days are buying personal plates they're the ultimate in automotive jewelry that'll hide the age of your car as well and if you want to play the plate game there are plenty of people prepared to separate you from your hard-earned look through any of the Sunday papers and you will see scores of dealers selling literally thousands of number plates plus there are plenty of dedicated number plate websites too but in the plate business things often aren't what they seem it's a world of Illusion learn about the tricks of the trade before you buy and you could save lots of cash and the best trick is to buy directly from the dvla they sell new unissued number plates at auction which means you will be buying at Rock Bottom money the dvla is of course open honest and transparent which means there is no risk at 250. there are classic auctions where you find the more exclusive numbers and custom ones like this where things start at around 250 quid if you haven't got your heart set on a particular combination of letters and numbers there are lots of entertaining plates to snap up 550. now the point I'm making is that there is always always something being sold cheaply at these auctions now just look at this Abe 5T if your name is Andrew best it would be yours for 2100 and here's a nice cover-up plate covers up the age of your car you just plonk it on nobody can tell how old it is 180x 700 pounds that is not there and look at this if your name is Andrew Gray agr4y 2200 I'm not countenancing that you muck about with the spacing but all these plates here are being sold at less than market value you could go again you could sell them on later and make a profit so come to these sales be here in person just a mop up the cheap gear 500 pounds in fact prices are so reasonable that dealers come here buy from the dvla and then sell them on with a massive markup look at this nice one if you've got a beamer sold for just 650 pounds a dealer is selling it for just under two grand what about this one nice plate sold for 2700 by the dvla the trade currently has it up for a five a short of 10 grand unbelievable but this this is the best one caulking plate 911l sold for six grand a dealer is advertising it for sale for over 15 thousand pounds that is a nine grand markup anyone can come and bid at these auctions so aren't the Dealer's markups thoroughly unreasonable well I don't think they are I mean it's um we take a high risk it went by players we do our all our own marketing all our own advertising and we make losses we don't always make games old at 650 pounds buy a number Janine dealers also say that they offer a wider Choice with access to numbers already in circulation and not just unissued plates and that they're open longer hours what they probably won't tell you is that their advertising plates for sale that they don't even own look at this m33 Jed here on a dealer's website for 450 pounds plus the transfer fee and vat taking over 600 pounds but here's the exact same number on the dvla site for 250 pounds including all extras so always check with the dvla to see that they haven't got it cheaper 100 pounds on bed and let's not forget numbers are a really good investment there will be lots of people in this room disaffected with their ices and tessas who are putting their money into plates why because over the last two years number plates have increased in value 22 try getting that sort of interest rate from a building Society so what makes a plate an investment well the shorter the better and remember one number and three letters are the ones to go for if you can afford them always try to get an s or a in the combination rather than say an F or Y because they're the more common initials and also don't rule out the new registrations there are still combinations to be had there look at this a Manchester registration could be mu51 c a l positively lyrical earlier on I said that they were always always Bargains at these sales what about today unquestionably I've just bought two one one one a XG that cost me 800 pounds it doesn't spell a name or a word but it's a brilliant cover-up plate it will disguise the year of your car forever 800 quid 900axj again Great Cover-Up plate looked fantastic on a Bentley that one was 750 pounds and I can go away securing the knowledge that I bought either of these from a dealer I would have paid three times as much and it was all it's easy as shopping at Woolworths well blow me down there's a new version of the Renault spass that spawner of imitators and creator of one of the most influential niches in car history that are the full fat full-size MPV for 18 years it's been close to the heart of many a Suburban mum who forgot to stop having kids after the requisite Duo it catered for people who needed to see seven in relative Comfort but without resorting to a family's Sunshine bust in line with renault's decision to get all fruity and Bonkers on the design front this new mark IV has got some attitude it's still just about recognizable as an espash but with some serious massaging to make sure renault's brave new outlook isn't compromised by a dried uphold Weezer as the top family mover and it looks um big it might not be quite as Brave as the valsati saw the new Megan let alone the visual headbutt that is the Aventine but he couldn't be dismissed as weak design it's sprug moving Chic as opposed to utility Dowdy and once you get inside it's very light and bright and Airy and it's got loads of glass mainly thanks to this huge sunroof and the espresso's interior is filled with these Spacey liquid design cues and with its blue digital dash it looks like the kind of thing people thought cars would look like back in the 1960s and as for in the back instead of the not quite three-seater crappy bench you get in most people carriers you get all individual seats and they're all interchangeable you also get three point harnesses on every single one the usual picnic tables and stuff and even air conditioning controls for the rat bags in the back and if you thought your car had a lot of storage space check this out this thing's got more boxes and places to put stuff than anything I've ever seen I mean look at all this Jesus you could lose one of the kids and like all new renaults these days Keys just aren't cool anymore it's all about cards and starter buttons and Mobius loops and tame black holes which is in keeping with the whole modernist bass Thang it's no longer about hoofing a small Lorry about the place more about a tall limo experience in the real world the best version to have is renault's own three liter v6 diesel mated to an automatic gearbox you've got lots of lovely torque and you don't even have to change gear 30 mpg the fuel economy isn't quite as good as the smaller diesel units but it is much quieter thanks to something called multi-cylinder harmonics which must be clever because it's a diesel and my ears aren't bleeding even the driving makes the espresso Cut Above the Rest on its Laguna based platform now it won't be scything down a nasty left-hander at 90 miles an hour but you don't want the baby spewing down the back of your neck either so the compromises it makes are good ones and the thing is the oldest bass used to feel a bit clumsy around town I've been driving this for the past eight hours in Rome and in the countryside and it's been absolutely fine it's Nimble it behaves more like a car than the old one in fact it's a lot better than I thought it would be I'm quite impressed all of which confirms that this isn't some sort of refurb delivery van it's a genuine MPV so whether all six of your passengers are on the way to a board meeting or a semi-naked beach party they won't have much room for complaint so the newest bass is the Range Rover of people carriers and for all the stuff you get it's not actually that bad money starting at about 20 grand thing is if you've got to have one of the breed then original is still definitely the best and it just goes to show that space doesn't have to be square thank you foreign\n"