Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway, situated in the southwest of Scotland, is a picturesque region known for its stunning landscapes and rich history. With a population of approximately 148,000, it is a thriving area that attracts both locals and visitors alike.
The most popular cars in Dumfries and Galloway
When it comes to car ownership in Dumfries and Galloway, the data collected reveals some interesting trends. Topping the list as the most popular car in the region is the Ford Focus, a reliable and practical choice for residents. Following closely behind are the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, and the Nissan Qashqai.
In addition to these popular choices, it is worth noting that Dumfries and Galloway residents also show a preference for larger vehicles such as SUVs and 4x4s. This can be attributed to the region's rural nature and the need for vehicles that can handle the diverse terrain and weather conditions.
Vehicle numbers in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway boasts a significant number of licensed vehicles, with approximately 90,000 cars registered in the region. This reflects the reliance on private transportation and the importance of having access to reliable car maintenance services.
Postcodes and suburbs in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is divided into several postcodes and suburbs, each with its own unique charm. Some notable areas include DG1 (Dumfries town center, Georgetown, and Locharbriggs), DG7 (Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, and Gatehouse of Fleet), DG10 (Moffat and Beattock), and DG16 (Annan, Eastriggs, and Gretna). These diverse neighborhoods contribute to the vibrant automotive landscape of Dumfries and Galloway.
As a car maintenance platform catering to the needs of Dumfries and Galloway residents, we understand the importance of providing top-quality services to keep their vehicles running smoothly. Whether it's regular maintenance, MOT testing, or repairs, our platform connects car owners with trusted professionals who are well-versed in the specific requirements of Dumfries and Galloway's automotive landscape. We strive to ensure that residents have access to reliable and efficient car maintenance services, allowing them to enjoy their journeys through the stunning landscapes of Dumfries and Galloway with peace of mind.
Smart
Smart is a German automotive brand, established 25 years ago in 1994.
The company is a division of the automotive corporation Daimler AG and operated under the ownership of Mercedes-Benz.
How popular is Smart in the United Kingdom?
Smart isnt’ the most popular brand in the UK, most likely due to appealing primarily to parking-challenged city-dwellers; there are only 96k of their vehicles on the roads of the UK today.
Showing steady growth, however, since their introduction to the UK market in 2003, the trend would suggest that we’re likely to see more of these eccentric looking tiny cars as time goes by.
Smart: Quirky little microcars and subcompacts
Owned by Mercedes-Benz, Smart cars fit into the market you’d expect on first glance. They’re a fun and funky little city car; they’re solid, middle of the road machines, designed to be as versatile as they look.
A Smart car will never fool anyone that it’s a hi-end, luxury vehicle. There’s plenty of glossy plastic and groovy fabrics, yet in the cockpit, you’ll find up-to-the-minute touchscreen media options at the controls. They do come at an inflated price for the small city car market, but by nature of their unique design—there’s nothing quite like them.
Smart cars are cheap to run—but not so cheap to buy
Your Smart ForFour will be more expensive by comparison than its rivals: the Fiat 500, Skoda Citigo, Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10—yet it’s rather hard to pitch the Fortwo against anything because there isn’t anything on the market quite so small. Only the Renault Twizy comes to mind, and that’s barely a car at all.
Once you’ve got one though, your Smart car will cost next to nothing to run with their tiny wheels and low weight. The electric models perform even better with a fuel equivalent of 87mpg.
Smart’s reliability and reputation
Smart didn’t feature as one of the brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018 that we’ve been using to draw comparisons of reliability against other marques—but checking the user reviews gathered by the AA it would appear that most owners have very few problems and that their reliability scores are generally high.
Recent Smart recalls and reliability issues
Various recalls have been made on Smart models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.
14/10/2017 – Smart ForTwo, Smart ForFour (2017)
The strength of the left front steering knuckle may be insufficient
29/09/2017 – Smart ForTwo, Smart ForFour (2014–2015)
As a result of the weakening of the braking rope wrench adjustment knob, the hand brake lever travel could be prolonged gradually
24/06/2016 – Smart ForFour (2014–2015)
The anchorage for the rear seat backrest may not be sufficiently resistant
10/06/2016 – Smart ForTwo (2014–2015)
At high vehicle speed, combined with strong wind, the plastic front service hatch can detach from the vehicle and fall into traffic
05/06/2015 – Smart ForTwo (2014)
The steering mechanism screws used for some vehicles may break
All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.