Parts Master K8245 Idler Arm on 2040-parts.com

Approved mechanics essential for quality service

DRIVERS need to make sure their car is being properly serviced by a qualified mechanic, says the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). To help drives do this, it has launched a government-backed scheme called the Professional Register. While there are around 175,000 people in the UK who call themselves automotive technicians, the IMI says it can only recommend around 27,000 as having the required skills and competence to carry out work to the required standard in their specialism.

One Lap of the Web: a 12-year-old with three Ferraris, burning Porsches and old futuristic cars

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Meet a 12-year-old kid who owns three Ferraris.

Vauxhall GTC Paris concept (2010) first pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 23 September 2010 23:01 This rather lovely red beauty is the Vauxhall GTC Paris concept, and our first look at how 2011’s new three-door Astra will look. But you know that because Vauxhall released the first pictures of this car back in early September – the reason we’re revisiting it is that we’ve now got a chance to glimpse inside the GTC Paris.Vauxhall GTC Paris? So it’s exactly what is says on the tin?That’s right – this is Vauxhall’s latest concept car, and it will be unveiled on 30 September at the 2010 Paris motor show.