Latest news with #Hagerty
The Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Britain's most ‘unexceptional cars' revealed from teeny Honda to modest Toyota – does your motor make the cut?
BRITAIN's most unexceptional cars have been revealed from a teeny Honda to a modest Toyota. The motors featured at a classic car show like no other where they celebrate the delightfully unremarkable. 7 7 7 7 The Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional 2025 pretty much does what it says on the tin. It's a festival of classic cars that were once considered commonplace but are now quite rare. The festival took place on July 26 at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire, with motor enthusiasts flocking from all over to get a sight of the wonderfully ordinary. This year saw eligible cars cross into the 21st century with motors from 1970 to 2000 making an appearance. Those on display included a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser VX Auto, a popular model known for its ruggedness and reliability. With a powerful 4500cc engine and four wheel drive, this classic SUV has been conquering different terrains with ease for decades. The VX model is actually higher-trim model and often included more luxury features such as leather upholstery and heated seats. From its beginnings in 1951, the Land Cruiser is the longest produced vehicle in Toyota's history. Also featuring was a teeny flame red 1994 Honda Jazz, or Honda City as it was known in other markets. The small, nippy city car featured a 1251cc engine producing 55 brake horsepower. Britain's best-selling car brand unveils EV camper van perfect for living off-grid with lounge seats & rooftop tent It's thought that this specific motor is the oldest known example in the UK with just four licensed on the road. It was sold in Europe between 1984 and 1985 and was positioned as a smaller alternative to the iconic Honda Civic. Classic car enthusiasts were also treated to the delightfully unremarkable 1988 Peugeot 205. The popular and iconic motor was a small, lightweight hatchback known for its fun driving experience and sharp handling. The GTi model, particularly the 1.9 litre version, is highly sought after by collectors today. Also on show was a 1984 Ford Sierra with a 2.8 litre engine. It was a European mid-size car at the time known for its aerodynamic design and available in various body style configurations. It replaced the Ford Cortina/Taunus and was later replaced by the much-loved Mondeo. With hundreds of other motors on show, judges were looking for the quirkiest, most charming examples of everyday classics with extra points for the most basic specifications. Coming out on top was a 1992 Skoda Favorit Forum, which not only took top prize but the People's Choice Award too. The 22-year-old owner rescued the car from scrapping and the car's super basic specification - with not even a radio fitted - won the judges over. A 1999 Ford Mondeo came a close second with third place awarded to a bright yellow 1979 Citroen Visa Club - one of just three surviving in the UK. And despite being relatively cheap cars, their owners lavished as much care over them as they would on something worth a lot more. For many, the owners and their stories were just as interesting as the motors on display. 7 7 7
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Urgent warning for drivers who own cars made between 2001 and 2017
A tax warning has been issued to drivers who have cars with specific registration plates. The alert is aimed at motorists with vehicles made between 2001 and 2017 A tax alert has been issued to drivers who own cars with specific registration plates. The warning is targeted at motorists with vehicles manufactured between 2001 and 2017. The alert follows a Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) overhaul under the Labour Party. For older cars, including modern classics registered between March 1, 2001 and March 31, 2017, the system remains emissions-based, and those emitting less than 100g/km will continue to pay nothing, while for everyone else there's a £10 increase compared to 2024 rates. Car insurance company Hagerty stated: "That means owners of older cars emitting more than 255g/km of CO2 will pay £735 a year for the privilege of driving on Britain's beautifully-maintained road network. Ahem." It comes after UK drivers were warned over 'avoiding' a road instead of having to follow new rule. The firm added: "Cars registered before 1 March 2001, that were still younger than 40 years old on 1 January 2025, are charged based on engine capacity. That's £210 a year for those under 1,549cc and £345 for anything above. The Government considers any car older than those to be a "historic vehicle" and is therefore exempt from paying road tax, or, indeed, being required to have an annual MOT test." Drivers who have vehicles registered afterwards pay under a different system. For the first year of registration, they have to pay a "showroom tax", which is based on the vehicle's CO2 emissions. John Cassidy, managing director of sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, has highlighted that some buyers are already deterred by the sparse battery charging network for electric vehicles (EVs), reports Chronicle Live. Lorna Macpherson, a car finance specialist at Ocean Finance, pointed out that although tax reforms make eco-friendly cars more economical to operate, the soaring costs of motoring may prevent drivers from making the switch. She said: "For petrol and diesel cars, an increase in VED means higher running costs for owners, making newer, more efficient cars even more attractive." Yet, Lorna observed that "with rising interest rates on car finance" coupled with the financial strain felt by Britons, "many will hold on to their current vehicles for longer rather than upgrading". In addition, a warning has been sounded for millions of UK motorists who use E10 fuel. The shift to E10 petrol is driving up fuel expenses for drivers and road users across the country, as recent alerts have indicated. The E10 initiative was backed by the previous Tory government as a step towards environmental conservation. Nonetheless, research from the University of Warwick has disclosed that the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, which includes E10, has led to increased fuel prices. The study revealed that over the past five years, the RTFO has added an average of 3.5p per litre to unleaded petrol and six pence to diesel prices. The research, conducted by Dr Nikhil Datta and Johannes Brinkmann and published through the CAGE Research Centre, attributed the increase to rising biofuel costs and escalating RTFO obligations. E10 is a biofuel blend consisting of 90 per cent conventional unleaded petrol mixed with 10 per cent ethanol. The standard unleaded fuel available prior to the introduction of E10 contained a maximum of 5% ethanol and was suitable for any petrol-powered vehicle without issues or the need for modifications.
Top Gear
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Are these the UK's most ‘unexceptional', ordinary cars?
Are these the UK's most 'unexceptional', ordinary cars? Annual Festival of the Unexceptional celebrates the humdrum… and it's brilliant Skip 40 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 40 Welcome to the most 'unexceptional' cars in the United Kingdom. Last weekend saw Hagerty's annual 'Festival of the Unexceptional' which, as the well-trodden axiom goes, pretty much does what it says on the tin. Which means it is a festival of… actually very ordinary tin. Regular, humdrum tin. The kind of tin you grew up with, or around, that once populated UK roads and now populates nothing more than your rose-tinted memory. Advertisement - Page continues below So, all hail regular cars! Top Gear's correspondent was on hand to savour a field of unimaginable reasonableness and came away thrilled; not because they were exciting, but because he hadn't seen such tin in years. And despite being relatively 'cheap' cars, their owners lavished as much care over them as they would on something worth much, much more. Indeed, the owners and their stories were just as interesting as the cars. Because an old car only becomes a classic when it's carrying a few stories under its bonnet. Have a flick through these pics which offer but a flavour of a day celebrating the truly unremarkable. Photography: Andy Franklin Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Do you remember these once common but now vanishing cars? The show dedicated to dull motors from the past
Owners of some of the rarest - but also most unremarkable - cars to have graced our roads in the last 50 years congregated in Lincolnshire at the weekend for what has been dubbed the biggest gathering of uninspiring cherished motors. The Festival of the Unexceptional descended on Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday, inviting drivers from around the world to showcase their mundane family cars from the seventies through to the 1990s. Thousands made the journey to the idyllic 13th century country house in their contrastingly bland vehicles, with the event celebrating the most basic and boring models that have become forgotten products from our past - but are guaranteed to jog the memory of readers of all ages. The show, now in its 11th year, is organised by classic car insurer Hagerty and has rapidly become a notable entry to the motoring calendar that's truly like no other automotive event. And the 2025 rendition delivered in spades, with collectors displaying a bounty of once readily available dull cars of their generation that have since disappeared from our roads, some falling to single digit figures and now rarer than vintage Ferraris and Lamborghinis worth hundreds times as much. We reveal the top three standout motors in attendance as voted by a panel of judges and show goers. But to take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, we've bundled in as many of the other unexciting vehicles that made the pilgrimage to Britain's least exotic car show. While the show's title suggests this is an event for unexceptional cars - Ferrari owners, you're not welcome here - the turnout on Saturday proves that there is an exceptional cult following for motors of this ilk. While the 'Concours de L'Ordinaire' is the yearly major showpiece of the 50 rarest, best kept and surprisingly cherished vanilla vehicles, the show parking area is always a feast of cars that have gone from being commonplace to seldom seen in the 2020s. Badges you'll almost never see on the road today - ranging from Maxi, Nova and Allegro - were all in attendance, mixing with the likes of Trabants, Ladas and Datsuns that only this show could endeavour to bring together in one place. Organisers celebrated the appearance of several motors that would barely impact a petrol head's pulse rate back in the day. This included a Mk1 Ford Granada in entry trim with a manual gearbox that the keeper has cocooned for years to retain its showroom condition. And a young owner driving 1,000 miles to display one of three Talbot Solaras he has in his collection - all of which are in immaculate working order and all in the same trim and engine specification. There truly isn't another event like it where owners are congratulated for lavishing time, money and extraordinary effort on such ordinary vehicles. Thousands made the journey to the idyllic 13th century country house in their contrastingly bland vehicles, with the event celebrating the most basic and boring models from forgotten eras that are guaranteed to jog the memory of readers of all ages The annual event offers rare glimpses of cars that have typically disappeared from the road over the years. Prime example of this is the 1984 Honda Jazz pictured, which was sold in other country as the Honda City The proud owner of this banana yellow 1976 Datsun Cherry - one of the 50 cars entered into the concours competition - wipes away the rainwater from the bonnet There are few - in fact no - other car shows where a pair of Millennium-period Daewoo Matiz will be on display together as a showpiece This 1988 Peugeot family car is a perfect example of the type of motor the Festival of the Unexceptional wants to celebrate. It's grey, has a diesel engine, is a lower trim level and has an enthusiast owner desperate to keep it on the road despite the ageing vehicle clocking over 100k miles This year's top three concours motors on show were an eclectic mix of vehicles you would have least expected to receive awards for their stardom if we'd asked you 30 years ago. Third place was awarded to a bright yellow 1979 Citroen Visa Club. It is one of only three still surviving in the UK with owner Andy Smith drawing plenty of attention as visitors marvelled at its immaculate condition. The automotive showpiece has been a sell-out event for the last few years with nostalgic petrol heads enjoying stumbling across long lost motors from their past The 'Concours de L'Ordinaire' is the yearly competition where owners of the 50 rarest, best kept and surprisingly cherished vanilla vehicles duke it out for best in show A 1999 Ford Mondeo took second place. This is another example of a car that was - for one reason or another - spared from the motoring graveyard that many of its Mk1 siblings are now residents. Owner Callum Bailey said he spotted the red base model family saloon being transported on the back of a truck a few years ago, with the Mondeo destined to become a banger racer. He bought it on the spot and has spent £6,000 returning it to its former glory from 26 years ago. The overall winner was this incredibly original 1992 Skoda Favorit Forum. The car is 11 years the senior of its keeper, 22-year-old Simon Packowski (pictured), who knocked the judges off their feet with a bright blue hatchback so basic it doesn't even have a radio as standard The top three award winners in this year's Concours de L'Ordinaire proudly hold their prizes as they pose alongside their beautifully retained mundane modern classics But neither could match the 2025 Festival of the Unexceptional winner - a 1992 Skoda Favorit Forum. The car is 11 years senior to its keeper, 22-year-old Simon Packowski, who knocked the judges off their feet with a bright blue hatchback so basic it didn't even get sold with a radio as standard. Simon rescued the car, which was about to be scrapped for a failed head gasket, and brought it back to its former glory. He said its restoration included a 1,000-mile round trip to collect a set of original headrests for the Czech classic. Enthusiasts and collectors brought along a bounty of once readily available cars of their generation that have since disappeared from our roads, some falling to single digit figures in recent years. This 1978 Peugeot 504 GL is a great example A 1996 Volkswagen Polo arrives at the show three up leading a stream of vehicles of varying vintage, typically first registered in the seventies through to the nineties A bronze Vauxhall Corsa from 2001 heads a stream of older motors into the show grounds. Following behind are meticulous examples of a 1995 Honda Accord Estate and saloon, a 1972 Rover Mini, eighties Peugeot 205, Mk1 Ford Focus and 1990s Jag Showgoers look on at this 1999 Toyota Corolla arrives in the event car park. This particular car has over 120,000 miles on the clock - but you wouldn't be able to tell from its appearance An entry trim level Ford Ka, fittingly displaying its contrasting black plastic bumpers, emerges on the hill of Grimsthorpe Castle A host of special guest cars appeared at the event too, including a selection of British Leyland prototypes, kindly supplied by the British Motor Museum. A 1969 Mini 9X hatchback prototype was joined by a British Leyland ECV3 from 1981 and a 1975 Triumph SD2 concept. They all provided a glimpse of motors that might have featured at the event had they made production, and a cult-like group of collectors maintained them for decades. The Festival of the Unexceptional is now in its 11th year, with Grimsthorpe Castle in the Lincolnshire countryside its destination since 2021 The owner of the 1980 Rover Allegro stands proudly alongside the motor. Despite being 45 years old, it has covered just over 60,000 miles in its lifetime A beige 1985 Nissan Micra pictured heading into the event behind a very rare Nissan Infiniti. Just eight examples of the latter are still on UK roads One of the recurring features of The Festival of the Unexceptional is the growing number of younger owners of cherished older cars, which are typically more senior than they are This Mazda 323 with its period-correct 1990s pop-up headlights might not be in the greatest cosmetic condition, but this trusty 100k-mile-plus Japanese motor is another cherished car driven to the event on Saturday No, it's not a Panda. This well-aged nineties compact car is the rebadged Seat Marbella. Around 15 survive in the UK today The British Motor Museum team also presented their own award for their choice of car of the show. Stephen Tearle took that trophy for his all-original, family owned from new, Micra 1.0 Celebration. Speaking after the gongs had been awarded to the best motors in show, Mark Roper, managing director of Hagerty International, said: 'Festival of the Unexceptional continues to grow bigger with every year. 'Over the past 11 years we have seen FOTU-era cars become recognised as proper classic cars, and the younger owner demographic shows this is a new movement in car culture.' The event also throws up a few interesting previous-generation imports, especially from Japan. This nineties Honda Beat is one example The cars owners attend The Festival of the Unexceptional in will almost certainly trigger the memory, like this 1996 VW Polo Harlequin This 1987 Nissan Prairie is one of just 24 believed to be registered in Britain today. Around 170 were on the road a decade ago This 1991 Volkswagen Polo is relative entry trim is another wonderfully maintained examples of a modern classic. This one has covered just over 50k in its 34-year lifetime A 1986 Bedford Rascal van arrives at the event. The compact commercial vehicle optimises the era in which it was new. Again, this is a very low-mileage example, covering less than 20k Not your usual concours entries: Very few motoring events will have a first-generation Mercedes A-Class, 2000 Nissan Micra and a Perodua Nippa vying for a best in show award Plenty of the cars in attendance are models you would have considered incredibly dull back in the day - and unlikely to have become collectors' pieces later in their life. Such as this 1986 Volvo 300 Series, which looks almost as good as new A three-door K11 Nissan Micra from the 1990s in basic trim with flat white paint, steel wheels and plastic bumpers isn't the first motor you think of when it comes to cherished modern classics, but it's owner would likely disagree CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST Buckle up for a chat with the new AI-backed electric Mercedes-Benz CLA Omoda 9 SHS plug-in hybrid review: We drive it through 9 countries Vauxhall Grandland test: It's always a Grand day out in this roomy SUV Mini Aceman JCW EV packs plenty of poke - but is it too much power? Is life a beach with the Renault 4 or another EV wipeout? We drive it Britain's best-selling car has gone electric: Ford Puma Gen-E review MG S5 EV driven: Is this the best budget-friendly electric family car? Vauxhall's Mokka is a treat to drive - but there's one major problem Dacia's new Bigster is big on comfort and a lot of car for your £25k Aston Martin's £175,000 Vantage Roadster is a V for Victory Audi Q5 is its best seller - we went to Morocco to try the new version Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo is speedy, sporty... and super expensive The French electric revolution: Driving Citroen's new £22k e-C3 EV Driving Rolls-Royce's most powerful car EVER: Black Badge Spectre Jaecoo 7 SHS review: China's £35k Range Rover rival driven in the UK The Honda Jazz is an underappreciated star: We test the latest version We drive the blisteringly fast new open top Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider Is this Porsche's ultimate family sportscar? Macan GTS tested Last petrol Jag: F-Type review ahead of Jaguar's big electric move Hyundai Inster review: Is it the affordable EV we've been waiting for? Audi A6 e-tron Avant: Can the beloved exec estate deliver as an EV? The most controversial new car of 2024: We drive the Ford Capri EV Has Vauxhall's grand plans for its new Grandland SUV paid dividends? Aston Martin Vanquish: Britain's new brute of a sports car tested Renault 5 EV: Can it recreate the character and charm of the original? Polestar 4 EV: The first car sold in Britain WITHOUT a rear window We take to the wheel of Ferrari's stunning new £336k 12Cilindri GT car China's new sub-£16k EV: Leapmotor T03 arrives in UK with low price Peugeot E-5008: Is the £49k SUV the choice for eco-conscious families? Ducati's new £30,000 Panigale V4 S costs the same as a small Mercedes Is the new £22k MG ZS hybrid family-friendly SUV a genuine bargain? This £100k Volvo has driven me to distraction: EX90 SUV driven VW Touareg is a luxury SUV for a lower price - why is it so unpopular? We test the new MG HS - Britain's favourite budget-friendly family SUV We test drive the £15,000 Dacia Spring - the UK's CHEAPEST new EV Suitable for UK climates: You can enjoy Mercedes CLE Cabrio year round MG Cyberster review - convertible EV costs £60k and is fun to drive 'Euros' winning Renault Scenic E-Tech gets Ray Massey's vote Ford Explorer: Is the £40k electric SUV a good buy for UK drivers? Polestar 3: Does the Tesla Model Y now have a real fight on its hands? Lotus Eletre is an EV Lamborghini Urus rival: The hyper-SUV tested Dacia's new Duster is here - has it lost its value-for-money appeal? Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release
Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 4. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. Zacks Consensus Estimate This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.13 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +8.3%. Revenues are expected to be $354.53 million, up 13.2% from the year-ago quarter. Estimate Revisions Trend The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 6.45% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Earnings Whisper Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction). The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Hagerty? For Hagerty, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +42.10%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1. So, this combination indicates that Hagerty will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue? Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Hagerty would post earnings of $0.02 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.08, delivering a surprise of +300.00%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times. Bottom Line An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Hagerty appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
