All posts by christiaan Van den Broek

After lockdown disruptions the CVSL boys are back on their bikes in their Lycra cycling shorts. They are returning to the beautiful Scottish Highlands to scale the infamous and epic Mt. Schiehallion as part of the Etape Caledonia gruelling route. Riding in memory of Steve Burne and to support The Steve Burne Charitable Trust, that raises vital funds for Ronald McDonald House as well as The Christie Hospital and other local charities such as Cash for Kids.

During the final 12 months of his life Steve managed to raise over £400,000, all whilst undergoing gruelling treatment himself, for The Ronald McDonald House in Manchester. This charity provides free accommodation for 65 families every night, so that parents and siblings can be close to their children whilst undergoing medical treatment at the Manchester Childrens Hospital. Steve raised money to provide 5 extra rooms at the house which were aptly named ‘The Steve Burne Rooms’ and thankfully he got to see 3 of these completed and in use before he passed away.

The gruelling Etape Caledonia takes place on Sunday 15 May 2022, in one of the most breath-taking of settings through the spectacular Scottish Highlands.

Tony, Director at CVSL comments; “After 2 years, it is fantastic that the team here are going back on their bikes to raise funds for the Steve Burne Trust. I am inevitably slightly nervous about it as it will be a tricky 81 miles through the Caledonian mountains, but it is great fun to start training again and we look forward to a challenge in May! We are hoping for continued support from our friends and family so that we can continue to make a difference”.  

We wish the whole team, the best of luck with their challenge. To support the guys and this amazing ​charity, please click here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Sbctpitlochery2022

Many people are back behind the wheel, but some are experiencing Covid-19-related anxiety in regards to being out and about, and hence seeking ways to reduce this.

As a consequence brands are attempting to emotionally connect with drivers – offering an avenue for them to feel more relaxed – which is more fitting as many opt to drive rather than use public transport.

So, what exactly triggers our stress when driving in particular?

Do you relate to any of the following?

As stated by the Ipsos Covid-19 trackers, (Campaignmonitor.com) 56% of consumers prefer the car as a mode of transport and two-thirds are missing restaurants and cinemas, among other places. However even when life eventually returns to normal the stress of driving won’t disappear.

In the Happy Commuter research, 71% of people said they arrive at work feeling charged by their journeys, “super-stressed drivers claimed three main triggers, in normal times – feeling lonely while driving 44%, a fear of being late for work 21% and too much traffic 55%. Now there’s a fourth: Covid-19-related anxiety. That’s a big ball of loneliness and stress.”

How exactly are brands connecting?

We’re all exposed to stressful driving from time-to-time. However to alleviate this and act as a pick-me-up for drivers embarking on long journeys, brands have attempted to entertain drivers with little touches. Last Christmas, as part of Coca-Cola’s global festive activity, users of the geo-platform Waze could have Santa as their own personal navigator, allowing the big man himself to guide them “Ho Ho” home (great pun!).

Another example is the McDonald’s famous M glowing on our dark maps, prompting people to take a break and re-route. Apparently, the sign has offered a source of comfort and company to a lonely driver who fancies a little treat on their journey.

Back to the geo-platform – Waze has attempted to be of value to consumers tracking where they are going. Letting drivers know perhaps where local stores are open, along with drive-thru and click-and-collect options, alerting them to hygiene protocol, easing Covid-19-related anxiety – or offering takeaway options once the driver reaches their destination! Offers presented to the driver will be in line with regular routes taken, retailer special offers such as those from Tesco will be presented at the right time, right place and the right journey.

Platforms such as this are helping to ease traffic related issues by alerting drivers alternative routes, whilst letting you know where to find a local petrol station or shop. Nobody likes being late for work, so as Waze collaborates with cities and towns, traffic issues can be fixed to help drivers get to where they want to be faster (well within the National Speed Limit!).

It’s great to see brands serving a meaningful purpose and fundamentally being of use when people need it more than ever, especially right now with more people experiencing a greater degree of loneliness or stress.

Are you on the hunt for a car that offers you more comfort and joy whilst driving? A new fixed contract car gives a driver immeasurable levels of pleasure including for example: driver comfort, performance, latest technology for SatNav and Spotify, highest levels of safety and security, and critically at the moment – ambient air management inside vehicles.

To find your next stress relieving car – check out our latest offers:

www.cvsl.co.uk/specialoffers

It’s Sharks time! The wait is finally over…it’s been a long time coming but the time has come… the Sale Sharks Rugby team are back out for their next battle!

As rugby makes a welcome return and takes a step towards normality, CVSL will be cheering the guys on as official car supplier for the remainder of the 2020 season, helping drive Manchester and the North West’s  premiership rugby team forward. 

CVSL Managing Director Tony Poole comments,“it’s great to see rugby securing a green light to safely recommence play after a tough few months. Let’s hope for a successful end to the season for the Sharks, and best of luck from all the team at CVSL”.

With tonight’s game against Wasps, we expect a fierce battle with Wasps edging Sale in third place in the table at the moment – and with several changes to the Sharks team from the Exeter clash this will be interesting to watch.

#Rugbyreturns

To celebrate the return of Sale Sharks we have some scrum-my car offers just for you…

Discover our full Audi ranges, that embrace performance, efficiency and design: 

Lease an AUDI Q7 DIESEL ESTATE which is built for adventure. 

From: £355.99pm + vat

https://www.cvsl.co.uk/vehicle.php?VehicleType=C&VehicleID=90671

Lease the menacingly powerful new AUDI A7 SPORTBACK.

From: £446.71pm + vat.

https://www.cvsl.co.uk/vehicle.php?VehicleType=C&VehicleID=92237

Let CVSL look after you, get in touch today.

As the summer holidays approach and lockdown eases, we are set to enjoy more road trips and “staycations” this summer, swapping airports and planes for motorway services and cars. 

With the weather heating up, many of us are heading out on the road with families to explore and embark on a mini summer adventure.

So how can you make driving a breeze and ensure that you avoid breakdowns and drive safely this summer? Cars can get hot and stuffy for longer journeys even with great air-conditioning, and a large supply of water. To avoid delays and allow for breaks it’s always a good idea to prepare yourself, your car and your route before setting off.

Here’s our advice to help with the bigger challenges of summer driving and to ensure that the start of your trip is a great one!

Plan your journey ahead – Ensure that you check the weather, road conditions, and traffic –either via an online route planner or a mobile phone app providing traffic updates, local radio stations can also be helpful.  Allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely (although part of the mission of getting there is gathering all the troops together!). Avoid travelling back on a Sunday evening before a school term starts. And if you’re on holiday, but it’s a working weekday then plan your trips to avoid rush hour.

Essential car check – Basic checks before you set out can avoid unnecessary break downs during the journey. As a minimum, check the engine oil, coolant and screen-wash levels are correct. Check the car’s tyres for tread and pressure – make sure you have enough fuel too, keep your gas tank close to full whenever possible. Punctures are more likely to occur if your tyres are already damaged or they’re at the wrong pressure, the higher temperatures of summer will increase the risk of a blowout.

You can also apply all these safety checks that we previously mentioned here: https://www.cvsl.co.uk/blog/2020/04/

Avoid overheating – High temperatures can aggravate cooling system problems too. It’s important to check the coolant and cooling system regularly to avoid overheating.

Avoid glare –  Dazzle from the sun causes lots of accidents but you can reduce the effect by keeping your windscreen nice and clean, and by replacing worn or damaged windscreen wipers.

Stay alert – On long trips try to stop at some stage, to stretch, get something to eat, return calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you are feeling sleepy, even if it affects your arrival time to your destination – take breaks!

Car entertainment –  If you’re travelling with children, pack toys and games that will keep them occupied and reduce the chances of them distracting your attention from the road.

Drink up – Of the h2o kind of course. In general you should always look to stop in a safe place for food and drinks stops. As mentioned, avoid getting over-tired or dehydrated; take frequent breaks from driving.

Heatstroke – This mainly applies to children in the car. If it is a hot day and children are left unattended in a car park for instance even for a few minutes. Vehicles heat up fast, especially temperatures inside the car, even with the windows down. Think about any pets travelling with you too! They will need regular comfort breaks, a leg stretch and a drink. Never leave your pet in a hot car while you go to the services for example.

Cool Car – Keeping a regular supply of cool air circulating inside the car will help you stay comfortable and alert.

So there you have it. CVSL’s little guide to ensure that you are ready to drive this summer!

If you need help finding that perfect vehicle for your next trip get in touch.