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The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Bank Holiday getaway chaos starts early with drivers stuck in huge queues – check worst times to hit the roads
THE Bank Holiday getaway chaos has started early today with drivers stuck in huge queues. Traffic was spotted crawling on the A2 in South East London as holidaymakers started to make their getaways ahead of the weekend. Advertisement 4 The Bank Holiday getaway chaos has started early today with drivers stuck in huge queues Credit: George Cracknell Wright 4 Traffic was spotted crawling on the A2 in South East London as holidaymakers started to make their getaways ahead of the weekend Credit: George Cracknell Wright Drivers have been advised to check traffic conditions with 17.9 million road trips expected over the late May Bank Holiday. The RAC and transport analysts INRIX are warning of a potential "double dose of delays" today and on Saturday. The highest number of leisure trips are projected to be made by car – 3.4 million on both days respectively. With most getaway trips due to begin before lunchtime, research suggests the best times to hit the road will be very early in the morning or into the evening. Advertisement Read more Motor News A majority of drivers say they'll head off at some point between 5am and 12pm. Meanwhile 14 per cent plan to leave between 5am and 8am and nearly a third intend to travel mid-morning between 8am and 10am. A further quarter will set off later between 10am and 12pm. Traffic is expected to peter out significantly later in the day with those that can advised to leave their journeys as late as possible. Advertisement Most read in Motors Just 3 per cent of motorists are planning trips between 7pm and 11pm following the evening rush hour. Experts are warning M25 users to plan well ahead as the UK's busiest motorway is expected to bear the brunt of the worst delays. Elon Musk's Cybertrucks are coming to Britain - and may spell the end of household bills On Friday – the day most drivers will be setting off – the M25 anticlockwise from J4 to J1 near the Dartford Crossing may see lunchtime journeys delayed by more than 45 minutes compared to normal. Later in the day, the M25 anticlockwise between Cobham services (J10) and Clacket Lane services (J6) may face queues of 35 minutes longer at 5pm during the evening rush hour. Advertisement Elsewhere multiple routes connecting the West Country to the rest of the UK are expected to carry the lion's share of journeys on Saturday. Stretches of the A30 westbound towards Okehampton, the M5 southbound to Bridgwater and the A303 westbound past Stonehenge may suffer hold-ups of up to 55 minutes more than usual. 4 Almost four-in-10 journeys will be squeezed into the first two days Credit: George Cracknell Wright 4 Most getaway trips are due to begin before lunchtime Credit: George Cracknell Wright Advertisement With the bank holiday weekend marking the start of the school half-term break in many parts of the UK, there's little reprieve for drivers travelling home back on Friday, May 30. RAC Mobile Mechanic Aaron Bryan said: "Our research shows it really is best to leave as early or late as possible this bank holiday weekend, as the majority of motorists are planning to set off in the morning. "If the warm weather continues, travelling at cooler hours of the day saves fuel, puts less strain on the air conditioning system, and means older cars have much less chance of overheating. "Regardless of the weather, always check your vehicle's oil and coolant levels before setting off, as well as tyre pressure and tread depth. Advertisement "Alternatively, an RAC Mobile Mechanic can check any battery or brake pad issues before you travel, along with diagnosing any faults signalled by dashboard warning lights. "There's no need to squeeze in a last-minute trip to the garage either, as we can come to you at home or work. "In hot temperatures, it's wise to carry lots of water, food and a tool kit, with jump leads, torch and some first aid basics. "In the worst-case scenario of a breakdown, make sure you've got an umbrella and sunscreen to provide shade for all passengers when awaiting assistance. Advertisement "While Devon and Cornwall remain some of the most popular destinations for summer getaways, many other major routes across the country could be hit by increased traffic – not least the M25 which so many drivers use to reach the coast and the South East. "These stretches are likely to be equally as busy on Friday 30 May when drivers use the same roads for return journeys." Best and worst times to drive this late Spring Bank Holiday weekend: Friday, May 23: Leisure trips by car: 3.4 million Worst times to travel: 10am to 8pm Best times to travel: Before 2pm Saturday, May 24: Leisure trips by car: 3.4 million Worst times to travel: 9am to 4pm Best times to travel: After 5pm Sunday, May 25: Leisure trips by car: 2.7 million Worst times to travel: 11am to 2pm Best times to travel: Before 11am Bank Holiday Monday, May 26: Leisure trips by car: 3 million Worst times to travel: 11am to 6pm Best times to travel: Before 11am
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I've made ‘hundreds of thousands' by buying and selling car number plates – here are the best to make easy money
A MOTORIST has shared how he made "hundreds of thousands" by buying and selling car number plates. Neal Bircher, 60, has collected 3 Neal Bircher collects number plates Credit: SWNS 3 Each number plates he buys is worth a staggering sum of money Credit: SWNS 3 Neal has a unique method for working out a plate's value Credit: SWNS The DVLA is auctioning 2,000 car The latest auctions of Plates expert Neal has identified which plates to keep your eye on. He says that dateless plates - those with a number at the start or the end - dateless plates with a single letter and shorter plates with Read More on Motor News For example, Neal believes 910 AM - which has a starting price of £2200 - will attract more interest thanks to the popularity of 'AM' as a set of initials, wheresas 232 XW - also with a starting price of £2200 - won't have as many buyers. In terms of plates less likely to grow, Northern Irish style plates, containing the letters' 'I' and 'Z' are at the lower end of the market. Neal, an IT management consultant and part-time plate dealer, said: "As a general rule, the shorter the better, and also the popularity of initials is a very common factor. "'Dateless plates are always popular and can be good investments. Most read in Motors "' '1' plates have proved very good investments, whatever the letters, and so plates such as 1 XDX will be expensive even though 'XDX' is unlikely to be many people's initials. "1 YOB starting at £2400 is an interesting one - reminiscent of 'YOB 1' which famously adorned Slade guitarist Dave Hill's Rolls-Royce in the 1970s! I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's what you have to do in order to apply for a licence "In recent years dateless plates that contain only a single letter have become more sought after - for example 125 B starting at £2500, or 8118 D starting at £2500 in this auction. "And those where the letter is 'O', and hence "Hence 54 O starting at £2500 might well fetch the top price in this action. '540' is also a model of BMW." According to Neal, a common misconception is just because a He said: "People sometimes assume that if a plate looks as if it spells a word then it will prove valuable. "That may well be the case if the word is relevant to a business or profession, but if it's just a random word then not necessarily so." "Registration numbers generally tend to "But there can be exceptions with those as well." Having bought and sold for much of his life, Neal has urged people to be cautious before entering the number plate game. He added: "People who are trying to make money have to be very careful. "It requires a lot of homework if you're looking to invest or make money. "Two very similar-looking plates might have very different values. "AJB would be worth far more than XUY for example because of how common the first set is for initials. "Not everyone is, but some are interested in the "There are a lot of people who are in clubs and associations who ask me a lot of questions every day about value and the history of plates. "People are very interested in when it was issued, to know what vehicles it was in, who owned it etc." The DVLA number plate auction The DVLA is auctioning some highly coveted number plates on May 14 The plates range from £300 to over £2000, as drivers clamour to get a unique number for their motor. Bids can only be placed at the auction or through the DVLA website. The plates on sale on May 14 include: CIG 300 Lot 324 Starting price £300 AB16 BUM Lot 18 Starting price £250 MOU 555E Lot 119 Starting price £250 PO25 CHE Lot 1390 Starting price £250 F44 YYE Lot 639 Starting price £200 A96 COX Lot 31 Starting price £200 A600 DAY Lot 35 Starting price £200 CR16 PTO Lot 372 Starting price £250 SAV 146E Lot 1586 Starting price £250 EA69 GLE Lot 509 Starting price £250 OOH 11H Lot 1336 Starting price £300 FAM 1T Lot 583 Starting price £500 145 SAM Lot 1578 Starting price £800 77 JET Lot 840 Starting pricd £1200 36 ANT Lot 116 Starting price £1200 DMZ 1 Lot 457 Starting price £2000 910 AM Lot 92 Starting price £2200 1 YOB Lot 1991 Starting price £2400 1 LTR Lot 1075 Starting price £2400 54 O Lot 1309 Starting price £2500 2025 M Lot 1096 Starting price £2500
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Look inside vintage motor graveyard where nostalgic 90s buses & long-forgotten Royal Mail wagon are left to rot
A HAUNTING graveyard of rotting vintage public transport vehicles has been captured in the British countryside. Images show rusting motors lined up, including nostalgic 90s buses and a long-forgotten Royal Mail wagon, in various states of disrepair. 6 Images show rusting motors lined up in various states of disrepair Credit: mediadrumimages 6 Some remain eerily intact with faded signage hinting at their past lives spent ferrying passengers Credit: mediadrumimages 6 The exposed location has allowed the elements to take their toll Credit: mediadrumimages Some have been completely gutted by fire while others remain eerily intact with faded signage hinting at their past lives spent ferrying passengers. Among the rows of decaying buses are a First Bus Volvo B6, an old Dublin Bus and a Volvo Olympian/Alexander Belfast. Abandoned lorries left to the elements have also been snapped. The exposed location has allowed the elements to take their toll with years of wind, rain, and vandalism accelerating the decay. Read more Motor News The derelict site located in Platt Bridge, Wigan, was once operated by Blackeleys Recycling but has now become an eyesore. It is strewn with approximately 15 disused buses, lorries, and a long-forgotten Royal Mail wagon. The pictures were captured by urban explorer Kyle Urbex. He said: "After arriving at the site, it was clear these buses had not been given any care or attention in quite a while. Most read in Motors "Some of the site was struck by fire damage with a few of the buses completely burnt to a crisp. "The site is becoming a true eyesore. It's a shame the site has ended up in such a sorry state. Classic car graveyard found in field where a 1960s classic with rare feature worth up to $150K has been left to rot "Somebody who appreciates buses may have been able to reuse them at one point." Despite its desolate condition, the site remains unsecured allowing access to curious urban explorers and, at times, unwelcome guests. The future of the site remains uncertain, but with little action taken to preserve these relics of public transport many are likely to be sold for scrap. 6 Some have been completely gutted by fire Credit: mediadrumimages 6 The derelict site is located in Platt Bridge, Wigan Credit: mediadrumimages 6 The pictures were captured by urban explorer Kyle Urbex Credit: mediadrumimages
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Porsche heir's incredible plan to build £8.5m underground supercar garage inside a MOUNTAIN – with secret tunnel network
THE heir to Porsche has announced plans to build a private tunnel and underground garage beneath his mansion. Wolfgang Porsche's £8.5million project, reminiscent of a James Bond villain's lair, has sparked outrage in 6 Wolfgang Porsche, with his former wife, Claudia Huebner in 2017 Credit: Getty 6 The 81-year-old plans to drill an underground private tunnel below his villa on the Kapuzinerberg Credit: Getty 6 The 81-year-old struck a deal with the Austrian city's former conservative mayor, Harald Preuner, in 2024. It included plans to drill an underground private tunnel below his 17th-century villa on the Kapuzinerberg. It would allow him to park up to a dozen of his cars underneath the Paschinger Schlössl. Under the deal, the billionaire paid €40,000 to gain the rights to dig a tunnel on city-owned land. Read more Motor News A steep and narrow road that can turn icy when temperatures drop currently leads up to Porsche's mansion. Some politicians have complained that the city council had not been briefed about the heir's plans. Local Green leader Ingeborg Haller has led the protest criticising what she called a "back-door deal" that was handled in a "very intransparent" way. "Salzburg is Most read in Motors She said any kind of "special treatment for the super-rich" was unacceptable. In response to criticism, a court-certified expert was appointed by the incumbent Social Democratic mayor, Bernhard Auinger. Hollywood legend Steve McQueen's Porsche which starred in iconic film is going up for auction at an eye-watering price According to the expert's report made public, the compensation paid by Porsche was deemed "appropriate". Porsche bought the historic villa located near a Capuchin monastery on the forested hill in 2020. The mansion, which is currently under renovation, once belonged to Austria's famed Jewish writer Stefan Zweig. Zweig lived there for 15 years and penned several well-known works there before fleeing to Britain during the rise of Nazism. The city council is expected to decide in mid-May whether or not to let the project go ahead as planned. It would have to approve a zoning plan change for the garage. Wolfgang is the grandson of Austrian-born Ferdinand Porsche, who founded the car company. He acts as the chairman of Porsche's supervisory board. A spokesman for Wolfgang Porsche declined to comment on what he called a "private matter" with no connection to the Porsche company, a subsidiary of the German car giant Volkswagen. 6 A steep and narrow road that can turn icy currently leads up to Porsche's mansion Credit: Google Maps 6 The mansion once belonged to Austria's famed Jewish writer Stefan Zweig Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 Wolfgang acts as the chairman of Porsche's supervisory board Credit: Alamy
