Thrills without the bills: the case for the classic Audi A2 1.4
Fast(ish) cars you can actually afford... and you might even want
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What is it?
OK, so the Every1 previews a small, efficient German EV, but the A2 was ahead of the game in all ways when it came to German efficiency 25 years ago.
Why are we so interested?
Because the 1.4 petrol A2 was an aluminium genius that's ULEZ compliant (not the diesel), and it was well packaged and efficient.
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Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
True cost of Britain's pothole crisis revealed: Here's the typical repair bill to fix battered vehicles
Failing to avoid one of the millions of potholes on Britain's roads can be a costly affair, according to a new study revealing the value of garage bills to fix damaged vehicles. For those unable to steer around craters last year, the average associated repair bill rang in at £320, according to IAM RoadSmart. However, other drivers were forced to stump up more than three times that amount to repair or replaced damaged tyres, suspension components and steering parts. Some 5 per cent say they paid more than £1,000 getting their motors fixed after driving through a pothole during the 12-month period. The road safety charity said they are not just a 'danger to motorists and cyclists alike' but they have become a 'substantial financial burden' on drivers. The RAC estimates there are over one million potholes on our roads, though the actual number varies by season and council maintenance schedules. The poll of almost 2,000 motorists found that a fifth had been left no option but to pay for pothole repairs in 2024. A quarter got away relatively lightly with garage receipts amounting to up to £200, while another quarter spent between £300 and £600 on having their motors rectified. For one in five drivers, the cost of colliding with a pothole isn't a rare occurrence. Some 22 per cent of those surveyed said they are having to splash out of crater-related garage bills at least once a year, with many discovering retrospective issues during annual servicing and MOTs. And it's not just costs that are surging as motorists told the charity that they are increasingly having to take evasive action - sometimes dangerously - to dodge damaging craters. The study also highlighted that three quarters of drivers have slammed on the brakes to avoid potholes on journeys in the last 12 months, while almost all motorists (99 per cent) admitted to driving or riding in the middle of the road to avoid them. The same proportion were found to have swerved at the last minute to dodge potholes, and more than nine in ten confessed to being distracted scanning for potholes up ahead rather than concentrating on what's going on immediately around them on the road. The poll revealed 52 per cent of motorists think the roads have deteriorated in the past 12 months. Earlier this year, the Government announced a £1.6billion investment to improve road conditions and repair seven million potholes by 2026. However, research published earlier this year by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) revealed a one-off cost of £16.8billion was needed just to bring UK roads up to an adequate condition, while half of our local roads have less than 15 years of useable life left in them. Nicholas Lyes, of IAM RoadSmart, said: 'Potholes are not just a costly inconvenience; they pose a danger to motorists and cyclists alike. 'The financial burden on motorists due to pothole damage can be substantial, with many facing unexpected repair bills of hundreds of pounds. 'In 2023, there was a 12 percent year-on-year increase in the number of casualties where defective road surfaces where identified as a contributory factor. 'Addressing this issue is crucial to ensuring the safety of our roads and reducing the economic impact on motorists and businesses alike.' Are road conditions getting worse? The Government says so... The nations motorists are having to contend with worsening road conditions, the Government has admitted. The Department for Transport's Road conditions in England to March 2024 report highlights a growing proportion of busy 'A' roads falling into a poor state of disrepair. The report categorises road condition by a traffic light coding system. While the volume of 'red' roads - those that should be investigated fully over concerns about the condition - have remained static, the report uncovered that the number of A roads moving from 'green' condition (no work is needed) to 'amber' status (maintenance may be required soon) has jumped in the last two years. Since 2022, the proportion of 'green' A roads decreased by four percentage points from 72 per cent to 68 per cent in 2024, while 'amber' roads increased by three percentage points from 24 per cent to 27 per cent in 2024. The report also shows that the number of 'B' and 'C' roads – which together account for 29 per cent of local authority managed roads in England – now classified as 'amber' has increased by 3 per cent, from 28 per cent in 2022 to 31 per cent in 2024. The percentage of red road has risen from 6 per cent in 2022 to 7 per cent in 2024. While this represents just a fraction of the country's road network, it is equivalent to approximately 500 miles of local and rural 'B' and 'C' roads. Our five-step guide to making pothole compensation claims 1. Collect the evidence If you're a motorist looking to make a claim for a repair bill for pothole-related damage, or a cyclist putting in a damage or personal injury claim after hitting one in the road, the first port of call is to make a note of where the pothole is located, the time and date of the incident, and take a photo of the pothole. A pothole needs to be at least 2 inches deep to be deemed a pothole in the eyes of councils. And it's not just the depth and size of the pothole that councils will try to use to refuse paying out compensation. Local authorities may defend a claim if they successfully argue that the pothole was not an obvious hazard - or if they were unaware of it, despite having in place a reasonable system of inspection and repair. To improve your chances of a successful claim, it will help to demonstrate whether the pothole was an obvious danger or not. Where possible, take photos at the scene, just in case the council repairs the pothole before you can return to take them. If you didn't do this at the time of the incident, you can return to the scene to take pictures. You should also take a photos of the damage the pothole has caused to your vehicle (or person, if you have been injured). If possible, take your car to a garage and ask for a mechanic's report in writing for the projected cost to fix the issue caused – or if your motor isn't drivable, phone a reputable repair centre and request a quote. 2. Work out who is to blame To make a claim for compensation, first you need to know who should pay out. If the pothole is on a motorway or main trunk road, the chances are it is a National Highways (formerly Highways England) problem. For local roads, you will need to research which council is responsible. Once you've identified the party you need to contact, request a copy of highway maintenance schedules and number of reported incidents on the particular road for the previous 14 days as evidence that the road hasn't been properly maintained or a reported pothole hasn't been addressed. 3. Make the claim You'll need to issue a formal claim to the local authority or National Highways and most responsible parties will have a template you can request from them. 4. What to do if you do - or don't - get a compensation offer After making the claim, you should be notified if compensation is being granted. Though you can still reject the value of the offer if you believe it isn't sufficient, especially if you have evidence that the pothole had already been reported but the responsible party had not acted to rectify it. If the council refuses compensation, you can seek legal advice or make a case through the courts. However, a word of warning that this could be a time-consuming process and is likely to be worthwhile only if the repair bill is considerable. 5. Final option: Make a claim through your insurance If you have comprehensive cover, you can claim for pothole damage on your insurance policy. However, it's worth considering the cost of the damage as well as your excess payments and if this action will affect your No Claims Bonus.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Every secondary school in the UK set to learn new AI skills
The UK government is launching a £187m 'TechFirst' scheme to equip secondary school pupils with AI skills for future jobs, aiming to reach one million students with learning resources. Research indicates that AI will influence the roles of approximately 10 million workers by 2035, prompting the government to invest in AI education. The TechFirst program includes a £24m TechYouth initiative to provide AI skills training in every secondary school across the UK over three years. Sir Keir Starmer is initiating a government partnership to train 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030, with tech giants like Google and Microsoft providing free training materials. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged that AI is not flawless and can produce unreliable information, emphasising the need for understanding how it works and the importance of future AI legislation.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Nintendo Switch 2 – live restock updates as retailers run low
It's just been a few days since the Nintendo Switch 2 launched, and most places have already sold out. There were restocks here and there throughout the week, but as of last weekend, consoles have been snapped up almost everywhere. Argos, Amazon and Currys to ShopTo, Smyths Toys have all run out of stock, and even Nintendo 's own site has sold out. Your only options right now are EE and O2, but they're only selling to existing mobile customers with an existing contract. But there's a very good chance more drops will land this week. We'll be updating you with all the real-time stock as it arrives. Keep your eyes peeled. Nintendo Switch 2 specs The Switch 2 might look familiar, but there's a lot going on underneath. It's powered by a new custom Nvidia chip, so games don't just load faster, they look better and run more smoothly. You get 12GB of RAM (up from 4GB on the original Switch), and most of that goes straight into powering games, not just background stuff. The screen is still LCD, not OLED, but it's bigger at 7.9in and has 1080p resolution. It supports HDR and a 120Hz refresh rate. Colours pop more, and motion looks buttery-smooth in handheld mode. There's also DLSS upscaling built in, so older games look better. Sadly, while it supports variable refresh rates, it doesn't work when docked – just in handheld mode. Nintendo Switch 2 price The Nintendo Switch 2 on its own costs £399.99, and the main bundle with Mario Kart World costs £429.99. Buying the bundle saves you £40 compared to picking up the game separately, so it's better value if you're planning to grab it anyway. No big discounts yet – it's not even been out a week, after all – but some retailers have larger, more expensive bundles. These include the new Switch 2 camera (£49, the Pro controller (£74.99, and the official carry case and screen protector (£20.99, as well as extra games and accessories. Nintendo Switch 2 launch games There are plenty of new Nintendo Switch 2 games at launch. Mario Kart World is the big one, but you've also got upgraded versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, plus mammoth games like Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition and Hogwarts Legacy – two games that really test the console's muscle. Other launch day games include Hades 2, Split Fiction, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Street Fighter 6, Survival Kids and Suikoden I & II HD Remaster. You've also got Yakuza 0: Director's Cut, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and Deltarune Chapters 1–4, plus more niche picks like Fantasy Life i and Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD. Civilization VII and No Man's Sky are here too, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour acts as a mini showcase for the new hardware. On top of that, loads of older Nintendo titles have been patched with free performance updates, and Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and Soul Calibur II are now available through the new Switch Online GameCube library. Check Nintendo Switch 2 stock As the Switch 2 stock really starts to sell out, I thought it'd be helpful to put together an extensive list of the retailers to check over the weekend. If you choose to buy from EE, bear in mind my previous post about the delivery times. Argos Game Amazon EE ShopTo Very HMV JD Williams The Game Collection Currys Asda Smyths Toys My Nintendo Store John Lewis AO Kaleidoscope Alex Lee6 June 2025 22:18 An update on EE Nintendo Switch 2 stock Jamie, one of our readers, has just got in touch with me on Instagram. After ordering a Nintendo Switch 2 from EE on launch day, he decided to call up and ask about delivery times. According to the rep he spoke to, delivery could take up to 14 days. That's a lot longer than the '1–3 working days' estimate currently quoted on EE's website. If you're planning to order through EE, just be aware that your console might take a little longer to arrive than expected. I've asked EE for clarification and will update this post when I hear back. Buy now at EE Alex Lee6 June 2025 21:11 Here's where you can buy a Switch 2 right now And the last of the Nintendo Switch 2 consoles at Nintendo and Very have gone. Your only chance to get one now is at two mobile carriers – EE will come the quickest and O2 will take ages to arrive. More stock may drop soon, so keep your eyes peeled. Buy now at E Buy now at O2 Alex Lee6 June 2025 17:32 Here's our Nintendo Switch 2 review So, I've officially had 48 hours with the Nintendo Switch 2, and it's a definite step-up over the Nintendo Switch OLED. My colleague Jake Brigstock and I have been putting it through its paces. Here's our initial review – yes, you're getting two takes for the price of one. Nintendo Switch 2 review: What we like (and dislike) about the console After almost a decade's wait, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here Alex Lee6 June 2025 17:01 Here's where you can buy a Switch 2 right now You can still buy the Nintendo Switch 2 from a few places in the UK, but each option comes with a caveat. The My Nintendo Store has the console in stock now, though you'll need an active Switch Online membership to place an order. Delivery is fairly quick though, with consoles arriving in two to three days. Very also has a bundle available to buy, but delivery is on the slower side. Orders aren't expected to arrive until Friday, 13 June. EE has stock as well, but it's only available to pay-monthly customers and delivery takes between 1-3 working days. O2 is also selling the Switch 2 to existing customers, but shipping is particularly slow – some orders could take more than four weeks to arrive. Alex Lee6 June 2025 15:28 Nintendo just dropped stock I predicted it earlier and it's come to pass. Nintendo's just dropped some stock. You have to have a My Nintendo account to buy a console, but the stock is there. There's a standalone Nintendo Switch console and a Mario Kart World bundle. Alex Lee6 June 2025 12:59 Smyths Toys taking orders Smyths Toys sold out around midday yesterday, but they're taking orders once again. It won't be a fast delivery; the retailer says it expects stock between 10-16 June, and delivering your Switch 2 could take up to three working days after that. However, if you missed out on the console yesterday, this is a good bet. Buy now at Smyths Toys Alex Lee6 June 2025 11:57 Nintendo Switch 2 stock at O2 Huge thank you to reader Mark Brooker, who got in touch about some Nintendo Switch 2 stock at O2. It's unlike any of the stock we've seen so far. It's a Mario Kart World bundle and only for O2 customers. You have two options. You can either pay in full for £449.99 or spread the cost. If you spread the cost, it costs £110 up front, but you can pay as little as £9.44 a month at 0% APR. The catch? Delivery could take more than 4 weeks. Buy now at O2 Alex Lee6 June 2025 11:40 Stock just dropped at Very It's been quiet since 6am this morning, but Very just dropped stock. You can get a Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World, and a Switch 2 Camera for £479. It will arrive on Friday 13 June. Buy now at Very Alex Lee6 June 2025 11:04 More detail on EE stock Right now, EE is the only place in the country you can buy a Switch 2. You have a few options: The first is the basic Mario Kart World bundle. You get a Nintendo Switch 2 console and, unsurprisingly, Mario Kart World. You also get a 12 month Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, so you can play online. This also gives you access to 170 old-school games from the NES, SNES, GameCube, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and Sega Genesis. It costs £22 a month for £24 months, and you have to pay £20 upfront today. Buy now at EE The other option is more expensive, but you get a lot more. As well as the Nintendo Switch 2 console Mario Kart World, and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, you get some hardware. You also get a Nintendo Switch camera for online gaming. Alex Lee6 June 2025 10:11
