Glossary
4 x 4 – Rather than front or rear wheel drive, four wheel drive vehicles have the power going to all four wheels which provides additional grip, especially in wet, muddy or snowy conditions. As well as off-roaders, saloons, hatchbacks and coupés are available with four wheel drive, to provide additional safety and performance.
Alternative Fuels – Rather than using petrol of diesel, alternative fuel vehicles can run on such diverse fuels as cooking oil, electricity or hydrogen. Technology is improving and it is likely that alternative fuels will eventually replace petrol and diesel.
Annual Mileage – If the vehicle exceeds the annual mileage then an additional charge is payable. If the lease is over 3 years and the agreed yearly mileage is 10,000, the maximum mileage the vehicle can cover in those 3 years is 30,000. It doesn't matter how the 30,000 is made up, so it doesn't have to be exactly 10,000 miles per year.
Automatic Transmission – Makes driving easier as the car decides when to change gear, and there is no clutch pedal. Traditionally found on executive cars, but becoming popular on smaller cars used for city driving.
Business User – Companies than have been trading for over 2 years are usually able to take advantage of special deals aimed at business users.
Cabriolet – A car with a roof that can be folded or removed, but has part of the roof structure permanently in place when the roof is folded. Used in place of Convertible, and tends to mean the same thing.
Carrying Capacity – This is the weight in Kg that a commercial vehicle can carry. A small van such as the Citroen Berlingo will have a smaller carrying capacity than a large van like the Ford Transit.
Cash Deals – Some dealers will quote a lower price for a new vehicle if it is paid for in cash. Paying for a vehicle using a bank loan can be considered to be the same as cash, as the dealer doesn't need to arrange finance.
Commercial Vehicles – Vans and pick up trucks are described as commercial vehicles, rather than cars. Their carrying ability makes them ideal for businesses that need to transport goods.
Contract Hire – Also known as an operating lease, contract hire is a way of a business leasing a vehicle. The vehicle is rented over a period of time, and then given back. The vehicle is never owned by the business.
Convertible – A car with a fully folding roof, which has no part of the roof permanently in place when the roof is folded, such as the BMW Z4. Used in place of Cabriolet, and tends to mean the same thing.
Coupé – The traditional sports car body style, usually two doors and not much legroom in the back. Popular models include the Mercedes C Class Coupé, and the Citroen C4 Coupé. Some coupés such as the Mazda RX8 have 4 doors.
Deposit – An initial payment, sometimes for reserving the vehicle, with the rest of the amount owed to follow.
Diesel – Diesel cars are more fuel efficient than equivalent sized petrol engines and also produce less greenhouse gas, making them more environmentally friendly than petrol cars. The purchase price of a diesel is usually higher than an equivalent petrol model, but the additional expense can be recouped in improved fuel economy and reduced tax. The performance of diesel vehicles has improved dramatically over recent years, and diesel cars are increasing popular. A high mileage diesel car will be easier to sell than a high mileage petrol car.
Estate – Estate cars longer than the saloon or hatchback they are based on, and are alternatives to MPVs.
Executive Cars – Larger than a family car, and often a saloon, executive cars include the Audi A4, BMW 3 series and Mercedes C Class.
Glossary Pages
