Bentley

Bentley Motors Limited are a British car firm founded in 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley (known as “W.O”). Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1. Since 1998, the company has been owned by VW. The firm is based in Crewe in the UK.

1912 -- 1921 The beginning

“WO” and his brother bought Lecoq and Fernie, a French car company, renaming it “Bentley and Bentley”, with it’s headquarters in Mayfair, London. In 1919, after making airplane engines during WWI, the company was renamed “Bentley Motors”. The first Flying B badge appeared on the 1920 Bentley 3.5 Litre car, which was built near Baker Street, London. The first production car, another 3.5, was delivered to Bentley’s first client in 1921.

1921 -- 1930 Racing pedigree

Bentley won at Brooklands in 1921 and in 1923, a privately owned Bentley took 4th place in the first-ever Le Mans race! Engines grew ever larger in during the 1920′s, with a 6.5, a 4.5, a supercharged “Speed Six”, and an 8 liter engine that weighed two and a half tons (!) produced at the Cricklewood factory. Driver Tim Birkin got private financing to build the supercharged Birkin Blowers.

1930 -- 1939 Bought by Rolls Royce

WO’s dedication to quality created beautiful cars -- but was not financially viable. In 1926, he was demoted to managing director and Woolf Barnato became chairman. By 1931, things were no better. Rolls-Royce bought the company and kept WO on, pretty much just to stop him creating a rival company. The first Rolls-produced Bentley car, a 3.5, was released in 1933, and WO left the company for Lagonda two years later. In 1939, the Crewe Bentley factory opened.

1940-1982 Swallowed Whole

The MkVI of 1946 was the first Bentley to be built using Rolls components, and the 1952 R-Type Continental was the last Bentley built without a Rolls equivalent. These years are really the black point in Bentley history. Bentleys and Rolls-Royce’s were built side-by-side at the Crewe facility, with a Bentley-badged clone for every Rolls that rolled off the assembly line. WO died in 1971 at age 83.

1981-1998 Rebirth!

The introduction of the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo in 1982 turned the tide for Bentley. In 1984, the Bentley Corniche was renamed the Continental, hearkening back to the company’s roots. The Bentley Continental R, launched in 1991, was the first Bentley to have its own dedicated body since ’54. With Bentley outselling Rolls by the early 1990′s. The next year, Rolls made a deal with BMW for the German company to supply engines for Rolls and Bentley.

1998-2006 Divorce from the Enemy

VW bought Rolls-Royce in 1998, an acquisition which included Bentley. BMW then bought the Rolls-Royce name and announced that as 2002, Rolls and Bentley would be two separate companies. VW announced that it would invest nearly $1 billion to revive Bentley! The 2006 Bentley Azure became the resurrected Bentley’s flagship luxury sedan.

2006 -- Current -- The future

Since its introduction in 2003, the Bentley Continental lineup has expanded from one fast saloon to seven even faster convertibles and saloons! Each has the 6.0 W12 engine, but the “Continental Supersports”, as part of Bentleys commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, can run on either gasoline or biofuels. With the introduction of the Bentley Mulsanne in the summer of 2009 Bentley was back on firm ground with a long, luxurious, saloon car!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xjw4a9q6Jk

Bedford

Bedford was a originally a part of Vauxhall providing commercial vehicles. Vauxhall itself was founded in 1857 at the Vauxhall Iron Works founded by Alexander Wilson in Wandsworth Rd, Vauxhall, London. In the 1900′s Wilson had left the business and the board directors became interested in the “horseless carriage”. In 1903 a 5 hp, single cylinder, motor car was constructed and priced at 130 guineas. In order to expand the company, it was necessary to leave London, so the company moved to Luton, Bedfordshire in 1905.

Car production continued and in 1925 Vauxhall was bought by General Motors. Chevrolet trucks had been on sale in Britain since 1923, but were very expensive due to import tax. GM decided to build a complete British truck using the under used capacity at Vauxhall’s Luton plant. This was a very popular idea with the British public, as there was an economic downturn at the time.

1931 – The first true Bedford Van

In 1931 the last Chevrolet and GMC trucks and vans were completed and the first true Bedford was launched. The “W” series featured 30 cwt trucks and a 2 ton version. There was also a “bus” with 14 or 20. By 1937 Bedford’s sales had reached 30,000 cars!

Civilian production suspended during the war

During the war production of civilian vehicles was suspended. The Army had lost many of its tanks, and Vauxhall was given the task of building the Churchill tank.

Production restarted after WW2 using the tried and trusted K, M and O types introduced in 1939, and these gave way in 1951 to the new S type and later it’s 4×4 relative the R type. This was used by the Army as its standard truck for years, finally being replaced by the MK and MJ types. Another milestone in 1955 was the opening of the Dunstable truck plant, all large commercial vehciles being assembled there with some van building continuing at Luton.

The 50′s – The birth of the “A type”

The “A type” appeared in 1953 and was followed by the “D” and “J” types. These were still being sold well into the seventies. The “CA” van was replaced by the “CF”. A subsidiary company IBC Vehicles was formed and operates to the present day.

Recession in the eighties

Recession during the eighties, and foreign imports took their toll and GM announced the closure of Bedford! The Dunstable plant was sold to AWD, who continued the “MJ” and “TL” ranges for a while, mainly for exports. When a large defence contract went to Leyland, AWD itself was forced to close. The “TL” range was adopted by Marshall of Cambridge before they introduced their own “SPV” design.

Here at AutosDirect we always recommend a taxi home form a good night out! Drinking and driving cannot be supported in this day and age. Also, Spain has extremely strict drink driving laws! – Far more strict than many other countries so please watch out! The legal limit here in Spain is just 0.05% (0.01% for new drivers). They are serious about drunk driving and have strict penalties, such as heavy fines, license suspension and imprisonment.

Drink driving limits in Europe

These are the limits for blood alcohol around Europe expressed as milligrams per millilitre

• 0.0 – Estonia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary
• 0.2 – Norway, Poland, Sweden
• 0.4 – Lithuania
• 0.5 – Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany (Germany is 0.3 if you’re in an accident), Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Serbia/Montenegro, Croatia, Latvia, Macedonia, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus (North)
• 0.8 – UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Switzerland
• 0.9 – Cyprus (South)

So how many drinks is that!?

Spain’s 0.5mg limit is the equivalent of just one small beer (caña), and of course, if you are a new driver, then Spain’s 0.1 tolerance effectively means you can’t come within a sniff of a small beer!

The consequences

Don’t expect any leniency if convicted of drink-driving here in Spain. At the very least you’re going to get a large fine. Your licence will be suspended or you’ll be banned from driving. The last client we had here at AutosDirect who fell foul of the law not only received an extremely heavy fine, but also community service, and a ban. If caught driving again, he will go directly to prison! Serious stuff indeed. “Luckily” his license to drive in the UK is not affected, but of course he lives here full time!

The future

There is every indication that the law across Europe will be unified into a uniform 0.2mg limit. Again, that’s effectively “zero tolerance”.

Be safe!

Audi

Audi have been making luxury cars and SUVs for more than a hundred years! Audi was started in Germany and has remained there to this day.

Audi’s history is one of the more interesting stories ever told in the history of the car industry. The Audi “four-ring” emblem symbolises the merging, in 1932, of four vehicle manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Wanderer and Horch.

1901 -- Early days

In 1899, August Horch (1868-1951) established the company A. Horch & Cie. in Cologne. Here he designed his first car, which was completed in 1901. The company moved to Reichenbach in 1902 and then to Zwickau two years later, establishing A. Horch & Cie. Motorwagen-Werke AG .

The first Horch car eas released in 1901: it had a horizontal engine which developed about 4-5 bhp. An additional small piston in the engine was designed to absorb the vibrations of the crankshaft. Horch called this his “impact-free” engine. Another new feature was the alloy crankcase, a pioneering design.

1906 -- The Sulmobil is launched

1906 saw the launch of the “Sulmobil”, a three-wheeler with a 3.5 bhp motorbike engine! This was not a success! As a result, the first “Original Neckarsulm”, with a 1308 cc four-cylinder engine and 10 bhp, went into production.

1909 -- Dispute leads to the “Audi” name

In 1909 Horch got into a dispute with the supervisory board of A. Horch & Cie. Motorwagen-Werke AG. Horch left the company he had set up. Then in 1909, he established, Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH, but Horch lost the legal dispute over the company name. A solution was found: the Latin translation of the name (the German word for “hark!”). The new company name, Audiwerke GmbH, became effective on 25th of April 1910.

1912 -- The “”Wanderer” is released

The first Wanderer car with a 5-12 bhp four-cylinder engine went into series production in 1913.

1921 -- Audi introduces left-hand drive

Right hand drive came from the horse and carriage, where the coachman sat on the right hand side! In 1921 Audi became the first German car manufacturer to create a car with left-hand drive seating, the “Audi Type K”.

1926 the first German eight-cylinder -- The “Horch”

In 1926 the “Horch” was released, this was the first German eight-cylinder car to go into volume production. The engine designed by Daimler was DOHC driven by a vertical shaft. With a displacement of 3132 cc. and output of 60 bhp

1931 -- The first mass produced car with front-wheel drive

In 1928 J. S. Rasmussen acquired the majority of shares in Audiwerke AG. He had the DKW small car with front-wheel drive produced in large numbers at this company in Zwickau from 1931. This car also had a wooden body covered in imitation leather and the typical DKW two-stroke engine. This design formed the basis for one of the most successful German small cars of the 1930s, over 250,000 of which left the Zwickau plant up to 1942.

1932 -- Auto Union AG is established, front wheel drive launched!

On 29th June 1932, the four motor-vehicle brands Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer joined forces to create Auto Union AG, in Chemnitz. The new company group was able to serve all consumers, from light motorcycles to luxury saloon cars. At the Berlin Motor Show, Auto Union AG presented the new Audi, its first car with front-wheel drive.

1934 -- The Auto Union grand-prix cars

The new Auto Union had great success with a racing car design that was based on plans by Porsche. The sixteen-cylinder engine was installed behind the driver which had a very good effect on the car’s aerodynamics.

1937 -- Speed records!

The Auto Union racing cars were high-tech cars in their time. They stood for supreme achievements in motor-vehicle construction that concentrated above all on high-power engines, lightweight construction and aerodynamics. An Auto Union car with an output of 545 bhp, was the first to attain a speed of 400 kmh on a normal road!

1938 -- The First crash tests!

From 1938 Auto Union carried out crash tests, one of the first car manufacturers to do so.

1941 -- Armaments production

With the development and production of special vehicles for the military, Auto Union became an important supplier of vehicles to the army in the mid-1930s. Following the outbreak of war, civilian production was stopped in 1940.

1948 -- Dismantlement!

On the orders of the Soviet military administration in Germany, the plants of Auto Union were dismantled as reparations in 1945. Following this, the company’s entire assets were expropriated without compensation. On 17th August 1948 Auto Union AG of Chemnitz was deleted from the Commercial Register!

1949 -- A new start in Ingolstadt

Loans from the Bavarian state government helped a new car plant to be set up in Ingolstadt. Production of a small 125cc motorcycle and a delivery van started the same year.

1950 -- The first DKW passenger car after the war

In 1950 Auto Union produced its first post-war passenger car. This was the “Meisterklasse F89 P”, was available as a saloon and a four-seater “Karmann” convertible. Since the facilities in Ingolstadt were not adequate for the production of this car, Auto Union used the factory of Rhein-metall-Borsig AG in Düsseldorf. DKW vehicles were built there until the end of ’61.

1951 -- NSU motorcycle sets world record

As early as 1945, a modest number of motorcycles were built again. “NSU” motorcycles were state-of-the-art. In 1951 the motorcycle racer Wilhelm Herz set a new world record, reaching a speed of 290 kmh on a supercharged 500cc NSU motorcycle.

1953 -- DKW “Sonderklasse”

Auto Union launched a new three-cylinder model in time for the 1953 German Motor Show. This went by the name of “3=6 Sonderklasse”. The name 3=6 referred to the fact that a three-cylinder two-stroke engine had the power characteristic of a six-cylinder four-stroke engine thanks to twice the number of combustion cycles.

1955- NSU is the world’s biggest cycle manufacturer

In 1955, NSU announced a total production of more than 342,000 two-wheeled vehicles. This made NSU the world’s leading manufacturer of two-wheelers.

1957 -- NSU returns to car manufacturing

Following an absence of nearly thirty years, NSU returned to car manufacture in 1957. The company opted for a small car, designed for average earners. The “NSU Prinz” was SHOWN at the 1957 German Motor Show.

1958 -- Daimler-Benz takes over Auto Union

Daimler-Benz AG acquired the majority of and, subsequently, the remaining shares in Auto Union GmbH in 1958. From this date until 1965, Auto Union was a fully owned subsidiary of the Daimler Group.

1959 -- The start of the new plant in Ingolstadt

With Auto Union having stopped all motorcycle production activities in 1958, the new car plant in Ingolstadt went into operation in 1959, and in 1962 the Auto Union plant in Düsseldorf was sold to Daimler-Benz.

1963 -- The “NSU Prinz”

Known as the Wankel Spider, this amazing small open top, two-seater had a single-rotor rotary piston engine at the rear. NSU had been working together with Felix Wankel on a new engine concept since the beginning of the 1950s: instead of a reciprocating piston, a rotor compressed the fuel/air mixture.

1964 -- VW takes over Auto Union GmbH

Volkswagenwerk AG acquired the majority of shares in Auto Union GmbH in 1964. The Ingolstadt-based company became a fully owned VW subsidiary from the end of 1966.

1965 The name Audi is reborn -- The VW buyout

All work on the two-stroke engine ended when Auto Union became part of the VW Group. A four-cylinder four-stroke engine developed previously under Daimler-Benz -- known as the ‘medium-pressure’ engine -- was installed in the last “DKW model F 102″ and presented as an Audi in 1965.

1967 -- NSU presents the Ro 80

In 1967, NSU presented the “NSU Ro 80″. Featuring a 115bhp twin-rotor rotary piston engine. Its modern body was ahead of its time. The NSU caused a sensation, but was unable to help the Wankel principle make the hoped for breakthrough.

1968 -- The “Audi 100″

In 1968, this model, took Audi into the competitive upper mid-size class area. The Audi 100 quickly became a best-seller and formed the foundation for a new Audi series that ensured the future independence of Audi.

1972 -- The “Audi 80″ is launched

In 1972, Audi presented the Audi 80. This car used a four-cylinder OHC engine which was later also adopted by the VW Group. The Audi 80 was a hit. Over a million were built and sold within six years.

1974 -- “Audi 50″

1974 saw the launch of the Audi 50, the smallest car in the Audi model range and Audi’s answer to the energy crisis of the early 1970′s. Six months after the appearance of the Audi 50, this model was also launched as the “VW Polo”.

1980 -- “Audi quattro” a four-wheel drive sensation

In 1980, a four-wheel-drive sports coupé caused a sensation at the Geneva Motor Show. The Audi quattro was the first high-performance car with four-wheel drive. The permanent four-wheel-drive system in the Audi quattro enjoyed worldwide success in motor sport and found its way into the entire Audi model range!

1982 -- Audi 100

The third-generation Audi 100 outclasses the rest of the automotive world in the area of aerodynamics.

1986- Fully galvanised

The third generation of the Audi 80 was now also given a fully galvanised body with a ten year warranty.

1988 -- “Audi V8″

This new model was fitted with a 250 bhp 3.6-litre eight-cylinder alloy engine. Technical details included permanent four-wheel drive, four valves per cylinder and a four-speed, electronically controlled auto transmission. Audi’s first true luxury car

1989 -- Audi turbodiesel with direct injection

After over 13 years in design, Audi succeeded in making diesel direct injection, which had previously only been used on trucks. In conjunction with a turbo-charger, it was also possible to achieve an extremely low-loss combustion process which resulted in very economical fuel consumption. In 1989, the Audi 100 was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show with a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TDi engine.

1991 -- Audi Quattro Spyder & Audi Avus Quattro

Audi presented two sports car studies in 1991: the Audi quattro Spyder, and the Audi Avus quattro. The consistent use of aluminium for the bodies of these two model studies made reference to the future use of lightweight construction at Audi.

1993- The AUDI Space Frame

For some years Audi had been working on the development of a lightweight aluminium production car. The aluminium study known as the Audi Space Frame. The body used new design principles: extruded aluminium sections connected together by die-cast nodes form a frame structure into which aluminium panels are integrated, where they have a load-bearing function.

1994 -- “Audi A8″

In 1994, Audi presented its new model in the premium segment, the Audi A8, at the Geneva Motor Show. This was the first production model with all-aluminium body. At the same time a new naming process was introduced for the Audi models. From then on the Audi 80 was known as the A4, the Audi 100 was called the A6. They were followed in 1996 by the Audi A3, the first representative of the compact class. Production of the Audi A2, the first volume-built aluminium car, commenced in June 2000.

Audi TV -- (50 videos!)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=24CF83FFD698E947

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo was founded by Alexandre Darracq in Milan in 1910. The cars produced were, unreliable and poor, and within four years, the company was on the brink of ruin. They changed their name to “Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili” or A.L.F.A.

After the first war, the future of the company was in doubt. An industrialist named Nicola Romeo (from Naples) came in, bought into A.L.F.A. and took over as MD. A.L.F.A. was then making aero-engines, tractors, compressors and railway equipment and car-making then was a distant reminder of pre-war times.

In 1918, there was little demand for Romeo’s products. Cars were few and far between and the car market was soaring. Romeo turned to car production in earnest. However, new designs were badly needed. A new name was also needed as A.L.F.A was a bit outdated and linked with industrial engineering -- it had little significance to car purchasers. Romeo found the solution by combining the past with the future as part of an engineering group well respected for its high quality

Alfa Romeo of Milan was born.

1910-1920:

The cars initially built by Alfa Romeo were all highly technical and far ahead of their competitors. New inventions were engineered, tested and introduced in the production cars immediately. For example the double overhead camshaft (DOHC). which still appears in all modern Alfa Romeo engines. The “Torpedo” (20/30bhp!) was the first car produced by the “new” Alfa Romeo.

1920-1930:

From 1929 to 1931, the Alfa 6C 1750 is unchallenged in all the Mille Miglia races (Sports category). Alfa cars also showed outstanding performance in the Le Man races. In the early thirties a young Enzo Ferrari was racing, and later tea manager, for Alfa Romeo. When Alfa Romeo decided to put an end to racing activities in 1938, Enzo Ferrari started his own racing car business in 1940!

1930-1940:

Alfa factories are modernised, mass production starts. Sporting activities are affected by the politics – Italian drivers are banned from racing in France.

1940-1950:

Alfa Romeo becomes a success symbol, and starts to gain celebrity drivers!The “Alfetta” racing car wins the World championship in 1950 and 1951. Manuel Fangio says, “The Alfetta is the best racing car I have ever driven.”

1950-1960:

New Alfa sports cars are highly sought after, starting off “Alfamania”.

1960-1970:

The Giulia 1600 Sprint is designed, and the Alfa 6C 1750 is redesigned. The “Duetto” appears in “The Graduate” with Dustin Hoffman.

1970-1980:

The Ialian and Swiss police forces chose the Alfa Romeo for emergency vehicles.

In 1978 the “Giulietta” features in “Vaggio con Anita” with Goldie Hawn. “Giulia” police cars are used in other movies including the Italian Job!

1980-1990:

A revolution in turbo engines, and the advent of aeronautical technology used in car design.

The “Alfa 33″ replaces the “Alfasud”, but retains the Alfasud’s mechanical framework. The car’s style, however, is completely redesigned. In a “split two-box” style.

1990-2000:

The Alfa 155 is the first medium saloon with front-wheel drive. In 1998 the “Alfa 156″ is voted Car of the Year.

2000 to now:

In 2001 the “Alfa 147″ is awarded European Car of the Year, whilst in 2004 the “Alfa GT” is voted the “Most Beautiful Coupe in the World”! In 2006 Alfa won a host of awards including “European Automotive Design Award” and Autocar’s “Best Design Award” for the “Alfa Brera”. The “Alfa Spider” also won awards including “Cabrio of the Year” at the Geneva Motor Show.

The “Alfa 159″ was awarded a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, which puts it ahead of the field for safety.

Please click here to see if we have any used Alfa Romeo cars here in Spain!

Alfa Romeo TV -- (75 videos!)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB7F09182064410F

The rules of the road

The rules of the road! For many people owning their own car in Spain is an essential. Spain is a beautiful country and site seeing in your own car opens up the whole country! But you do need to know the rules before you get started! Driving on the “other side” of the road is nothing to fear, it’s surprising how quickly you get used to it! Here at AutosDirect it is our mission to help you get on the road, and to help you drive legally and safely. We will assist you in any way possible.

What do I need with me in the car?

To drive your own car in Spain you will need the following things with you:

• Your current driving licence.
• Two red warning triangles.
• Reflective jackets that must be worn by anyone outside the car at anytime, day or night.
• A set of spare bulbs. – Update 2010 – Not needed any more!
• Valid insurance
• The V5 registration document (remember we supply these in your name in just 24 hours!)
• Drivers who wear glasses must carry a spare pair.

The good news is that apart from the driving license AutosDirect are able to help with everything else! Including of course the car! With ever used car we supply we are happy to include a full safety pack which includes the luminous vests and safety triangles. We can also help arrange cheap motor insurance. We have you covered!

Can I drive my current “foreign” car?

You can only be a “tourist” for three months in Spain and after that period your insurance will be invalid. The police are hot on this these days…it is not like it used to be ten years ago!

The roads in Spain

In our area, here on the Costa Blanca, roads are excellent, but perhaps the sign posts are not quite so good. A GPS is always a handy thing to have! With regards to speed limits, please consult the following guide:

• Motorway (Autopista) – These have an A or E prefix to the road number, and are either standard or toll roads (peajes). Maximum speed 120 kph (73 mph)
• Dual carriageway (Autovia) Speed limits from 80 to 110 kph
National road (Carretera Nacional) – These have an N or CN prefix to the road number and are main roads, such as our “famous” E332! Speed limits are 100 to 60 kph
• Local road (Carretera Local) Speeds as signed posted, but usually no more than 100 kph

Please note that the speeds are somewhat less for some vehicles including caravans or people towing trailers.

A few rules of the road and laws

Give way to traffic coming from the left, especially on roundabouts! Do not pull over into the middle of the road to turn left if there is a solid line in the road. Sometimes however there are special lanes for this, signposted “cambio de sentido” (change of direction), especially on the motorways.

Do NOT drink and drive – the limits are roughly half of those in the UK and the penalties are extremely high including losing your licence on the spot. You will not be allowed to leave the area where you have been stopped until you have paid the fine. You may even be spending time in the cells if you cannot pay cash! Ensure a receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine!

You are not allowed to have a speed detector in your vehicle and speed traps are becoming quite frequent and the cameras – just like in the UK – are on the rise.

If you are not a resident in Spain, all fines are payable “on the spot” in cash. The legal drink-drive limit is currently just 0.5 grams per litre of air using a breathalyzer. If caught with excess alcohol or drugs, you can expect to lose your licence (in Court, probably that same day) or, if you are resident, have to attend a special school.

It is compulsory for everyone in the car to wear seatbelts, both front and rear. The driver is responsible for any fines when passengers do not wear a seatbelt. Children under twelve are not allowed in the front seat. Also, if seated in the back, the belt must fit correctly, or a special “booster seat” must be fitted.

Road tax and vehicle inspections

If you are using your foreign registered car in Spain for a few months (no more than six months in any year is allowed) then it must be legal. That means roadworthy, insured and taxed. You cannot get your car MOT tested here in Spain and if the certificate runs out, not only will you be illegal in all of Europe – including the UK of course. All used cars from Autosdirect will be delivered with a full ITV (Spanish MOT) so you will have complete peace of mind.

GB stickers

UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (with a circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need to have a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.

Mobile telephones

The use of a mobile telephone, other than hands-free, is now completely banned in Spain. You have to pull off the road completely to use a phone. Penalty points can now be awarded for this – watch out!

Headlamps

Headlamp converters are compulsory on right hand drive cars in Spain. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Parking

Do not park in where the curb is painted yellow or where a no parking sign. There are parking spaces marked in blue which require a ticket from a nearby machine. They usually have a two hour maximum, but can be free on weekends or fiestas and after about eight in the evening.

Parking illegally, especially in a foreign car, will almost certainly see you becoming a victim of the “grua” (tow truck) If you come back to find your car “missing” look a sticker left on the curb with the phone number and address of your car’s new temporary home! Getting your car back will cost you a fine, and will certainly require use of Spanish. Our clients are welcome to call us in such an emergency where we will provide what assistance we can on the phone!

Fuel

All grades of unleaded petrol (benzin), diesel (gasoleo A) and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. Leaded no longer exists in Spain. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at garages. If you’re only here for a little while, then it’s a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don’t suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

A Spanish driving license

Ah, the dreaded driving test! Nobody relishes taking exams, and sadly here in Spain the test is generally seen as being more difficult than the UK! To obtain a driving license here in Spain it is necessary to attend driving school and then pass medical, written and practical exams!

Of course, if you’ve arrived from another country to Spain, and you already have your license, you can consider yourself lucky! There are some rules applying to you, and we cover those below too.

Learning

The average price for a one hour lesson in Spain is about €25. When you are ready to take your exams you pay for a batch ofthree tries. However this only covers two tries per type of test. So if, for instance, you don’t pass your theory until your second attempt, you then only have one try at the practical. Should you fail your theory test twice for example, you will have to pay a second fee of about €160.

Step 1 – The medical exam

By all accounts, passing the medical exams is extremely easy! Just a perfunctory eye test and a once over, and you are ready for step two…

Step 2 – The theory exam

The theory exam consists of forty multiple choice questions. You are allowed only four incorrect answers! It is said to be extremely difficult and can even include questions about mechanics, first-aid and even vehicle technical specifications! Luckily practice papers and the tests are available in several languages. You have to pass your theory exam before you can take the practical exam.

Step 3 – The practical exam

The practical exam lasts for thirty minutes and takes place in live traffic. Drivers can expect to face city streets, alleys, roundabouts, hills, and of course, the dreaded parallel parking manoeuvre!

When the exam has finished you’ll receive your results from your instructor once the examiner has departed the scene! Just like the written exam, should you fail, you can take it again. After all…who passes the first time?

If you fail you will have to wait about three weeks before going round again. Unlike the UK, here in Spain, there are no provisional licences. Before you pass your test, the only person you can drive with is your instructor.

You passed!

Once you pass your test you will be awarded a green and white L-plate. For one year, you are not allowed to drive in excess of 80kph. For two years you are not allowed to drive with an alcohol level of more than 0.3g (as opposed to the normal level of 0.5g). That is of course practically zero tolerance for alcohol.

Drivers from outside Spain

If you’ve arrived here in Sunny Spain from foreign shores, these are the rules that apply to you!

EU Countries visiting Spain

If you hold a driving licence from an EU country, it is automatically valid in Spain. Lucky you!

EU Countries resident in Spain

If you are a full time resident you must alter your license. There are two options: either get your current EU license “stamped” at the “Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico” or you exchange your license for a full Spanish version. You will need a copy of your residencia, your current driving licence (original), two photos and a signed form which can obtain from police station.

It takes about two weeks for the papers to go through, and the cost is about €46.

Non-EU Countries

We’re sorry! All other countries, can drive for just six months and must then obtain a Spanish licence (see above).

The driving school will handle the paperwork for you. To apply for a test you will need to present a copy of your residencia, passport photographs, a completed application form and of course the fee of €160.

The driving license documents

The Spanish driving licence is a plastic card, the same size as a credit-card, with your personal information and photograph printed on one side, and driving information on the other. It must be carried whenever you are driving here in Spain

Air-bags in a Mercedes E-Class

For years, the seat belt provided the sole form of restraint in our cars. Now we have the air-bag, and it has saved many lives! In this article we’d like to take a look at the history, technology and safe usage of the air-bag, and also look at specific legislation concerning air-bags in Spain.

The history of the air-bag

John Hetrick, a retired American industrial engineer, designed the original “safety cushion” for car use in 1952. Air-bags for passenger cars were introduced in the mid ’70s, when seat belt usage rates were quite low. Air-bags were originally marketed as a convenient alternative to seat belts!

In 1987, the Porsche 944 turbo became the first car in the world to have driver and passenger air-bags as standard equipment. By the mid 90s, European car manufacturers such as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault and Fiat were including air-bags as optional equipment across their entire model ranges. By the end of the decade, it was very rare to find a mass market car without an air-bag, and some late ’90s products, such as the Volkswagen Golf (Mk IV) also had side air-bags.

How an air-bag works

The function and design is conceptually simple, a central “Air-bag control unit” (ACU) monitors a number of sensors within the vehicle, including impact sensors , accelerometers, side pressure sensors, wheel speed sensors, brake pressure sensors , gyroscopes, and seat occupancy sensors. When the requisite “threshold” has been reached or exceeded, the air-bag control unit will trigger the ignition of a gas generator propellant to rapidly inflate a nylon fabric bag. And it is rapid! An air-bag explodes at 200mph (322 kph) – faster than the blink of an eye! It’s loud too ( 165-175dB) can be measured during the deployment explosion.

As the car’s occupant collides with and squeezes the bag, the gas escapes in a controlled manner through small vent holes. The air-bag’s volume and the size of the vents in the bag are tailored to each vehicle type, to spread out the deceleration of the occupant over time and over the occupant’s body, compared to a seat belt alone.

The goal of an air-bag is to slow the passenger’s forward motion as evenly as possible in a fraction of a second. The bag itself is made of thin nylon, which is folded into the steering wheel or dashboard or, more recently, the seat or door. Inflation happens when there is a collision force equal to running into a brick wall at 10/15 miles per hour.

A mechanical switch is flipped when there is a mass shift strong enough to close an electrical contact. The sensors receive information from a microchip mounted accelerometer. The air-bag’s inflation system combines sodium azide with potassium nitrate to produce nitrogen gas. Hot blasts of the nitrogen inflate the air-bag. The gas then quickly dissipates through tiny holes in the bag, deflating the bag so you can move.

The whole process happens in only 1/25 of a second! The powdery substance released from the air-bag is regular cornstarch or talcum powder, which is used by the air-bag manufacturers to keep the bags pliable and lubricated while they’re in storage.

Specific laws for Spain

In April 1975, the Traffic Safety Administration of Spain implemented a mandatory safety-belt use law for persons who were front-seat passengers travelling outside city limits. On June 15, 1992, the law was expanded to include all front-seat passengers travelling in vehicles in the city limits and passengers in the back seats of vehicles with manufacturer-installed safety belts.

In 1997 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a rule to allow car dealers to install on/off switches that allow air-bags to be deactivated. Individuals with medical conditions in which the risks of deploying the air-bag exceed the risk of impact can apply for deactivation of either or both driver and passenger sides. (Every case is personally accessed.)

For the driver side those who cannot position themselves to properly operate their cars at least 10 inches (254 cm) hack from the centre of the driver air-bag cover. Passenger side deactivation for individuals who need to transport a baby in a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat because time car has no rear seat, the rear seat is too small to accommodate a rear-facing child seat or because it’s necessary to monitor a child’s medical condition. (Many vehicles feature a passenger air-bag on/off switch.) They did not, however recommend turning off air-bags for relatively common conditions such as: pacemakers, eye-glasses, angina, emphysema, asthma, mastectomy, previous back/neck surgery, old age, or pregnancy.

Safe usage of your air-bag

Never try to disable the bag yourself, remember, this is not a soft cushion! It’s a powerful device, and can hurt you if you don’t know what you’re doing. To use your air bag correctly, follow these tips: Move the seat at least ten inches from an air-bag and always use your seatbelt. Place children under 12 in the back seat. Drive with both hands on the side of the wheel (10 to 2), not draped or laced, to prevent a broken arm if the air bag deploys. Don’t smoke, drink or eat while driving, And remember to have the air bag professionally inspected every five years.

Roundabouts - Careful!

The subject of roundabouts here in Spain continues to cause confusion and, it must be said, some annoyance to our clients. Here we try and clear up once and for all – What is the best approach (no pun intended) to roundabouts here in Spain?

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, Spain had no roundabouts at all. However, like much else in Spain, rapid growth and massive changes to the road system have left plenty of drivers confused. The only answer to the problem is to drive defensively. One must simply assume that the car in front (or on your left if you enter the roundabout in the left hand lane going a little quicker than him!) will either go right, straight or cut across the front of your car and turn left. Indeed, it might keep going round and around! This errant car is not likely to be indicating either!

Be aware, that if the police are called, then the law is apparently very much a grey area. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the person entering the roundabout first has right of way. If you hit them (as they cut you up from the left) you may be held responsible. It’s a little infuriating, but it’s the reality of the situation, and again our advise is – Drive carefully, and assume the car in front will do the worst.

Guardia Civil on the road

If the worst happens, it pays to be prepared. Common sense prevails. Make yourself safe and get all the required information, especially from any witnesses. Keep the number of a Spanish friend handy! Don’t get flustered, try to stay calm.

Whether or not the police attend is dependent upon the severity of the accident, and whether there are any injuries. Our guide below will stand you in good stead if you find yourself in this unfortunate position.

Immediately after an accident:

• Of course you must immediately stop.
• Put on your high-visibility jacket (driver and passenger). Do this immediately!
• Turn on your hazard lights
• Put two warning triangles on the road (you have those right?!) One 50m in front of your car and the other 50m behind.
• Do not move the cars until the police arrive unless they are blocking traffic. If that is the case, then take photos of the cars (camera phones are handy!) and possibly mark the positions of the cars if it’s safe to do so.
• Exchange details with the other driver; registration number, name, address and insurance company details.
• Make a note of the license plate numbers of ALL the vehicles and witnesses involved.
• Never sign any paperwork unless certain you understand it!

If anyone has been injured, you must call an ambulance and the police on 112 (Guardia Civil or 092 (Policia Local). You can use the SOS telephones, located on main roads, or call free from your mobile. If there are no injuries and only minor damage caused there is no need to call the police.

If anyone is injured, you should keep them warm and do not move them unless they are in danger. Carrying a first aid kit in your car is a legal requirement in Spain. Witnesses are obliged to contact emergency services and help until the authorities arrive.

If the police do come, they will make an accident report. Help them in any way you can.

The accident report

In the event of a minor accident, the drivers involved must exchange details and write a summary of events, for submission to the insurance companies. If the drivers involved do not agree about how the accident happened you must call the police. Do not sign anything you do not understand or agree with!

Include the following details in the report:

• Date, time and place of the accident.
• Car information: make, model and vehicle registrations.
• Drivers information: Names, addresses, driving licence details (number, category, date and place of issue), Identification (NIE, DNI or passport number)
• Details of insurance companies and policies of all drivers
• Witnesses: names and addresses
• Injuries
• Vehicle damage
• An illustration and explanation of the accident including details of damage caused.
• Circumstances of the accident, including weather conditions, speeds involved and any other details that might be relevant.

Notifying the Insurer

• Notify your insurance company as fast as possible, certainly within seven days
• If there are injuries make sure that the insurance company is informed and provide a medical certificate

If the insured feels that the other driver is to blame, they have two months in with which to make a report to the authorities, and possibly initiate a criminal procedure. If the authorities then decide that the other driver has not committed an office, you may initiate a civil procedure within one year.

In cases where physical injury is involved, the victim must be examined by the court’s doctor to determine whether compensation is payable by the defendant. Of course, if you are in any doubt about any aspect of your accident we advise you to contact a lawyer as soon as possible.