Edition 1 - July 2015

You can’t afford to let winter get you down. And it can be the optimal time to get out and do those things you’ve been meaning to. Everything’s open and everyone’s at home.

Here are five ideas to enjoy (and energise) your winter weekends.

1. Immerse yourself in something you’ve never done before, like dance classes. Hey, why not? Dust off those dancing shoes (or runners) and indulge in some fancy footwork. What’s more, you’ll stay toasty indoors, get your heart pumping and release all of those happy endorphins. Check out free classes offered by local community centres and studios.

2. Go to the football/footy, even if you think you dislike sport and discover the spectator’s secret of being in the moment. You can’t think of work or anything much at all while following a game.

3. The parks, gardens, reserves or riverbanks you pass are beckoning. Now is the time of year to actually wander around them. There’s no threat of sunburn, heat exhaustion or insect bites – just the risk of building a healthy appetite.

4. Take advantage of free trials at gyms, yoga places and fitness centres. In fact you could try a different one every weekend, so keen are they to woo you in as numbers fall with the thermometer. Theoretically you’ll end up fitter and richer.

5. Do the duty visits but try not to see it as an obligation. Not only mum or dad but also the old aunt or school teacher who still sends you cards. They’ll be home. They’ll be thrilled to see you. You’ll be making others happier. And that’s the best way to get the warmest feeling of all.

Just when your greatest desire is to hibernate, reality casts a cold light. Holidays are slated for Christmas, at least a thousand days away, and work is at its most intense. It’s a busy time of year, which makes any down time precious.

It’s an alarming statistic, only 18% of all drivers give their car a proper once over before embarking on their journeys. This leaves all drivers potentially at risk, even if it’s just the risk of being delayed from reaching their destination. Tedious emergency car repairs should play no part of the weekend road trip itinerary.

Tyres play a crucial part in your vehicle’s overall picture and are quite often overlooked. Here’s why they shouldn’t.

> They’re the only link between your car and the road.> Tyres carry the overall weight of your car and at times that can be more than 50 times their actual weight.> They bear the brunt of steering, acceleration and braking and absorb every obstacle on the road.

So before you head off on your next journey be sure to take heed of the following message.

“Just a few minutes checking tyre pressures and looking out for general wear and tear can help ensure everyone’s safety on the road” says roadside technician Mark Longmire.

Your local garage or tyre shop should be more than happy to give advice if you’re unsure about anything.

(Source: michelin.com.au)

TYRE POWER

SUVs are ever growing in popularity in Australia and manufacturers are responding with some exciting launches in the next few months.

FleetPartners and Performance Drive have selected five top choices for the sports utility vehicle enthusiast.

1. Jeep Renegade Expected to start in the mid-$20,000 range, the Renegade is Jeep’s most compact contemporary model to date but the design is tough and beefy, evoking Jeeps

of yore with superb attention to detail throughout.

2. Citroen C4CactusOne of the most interesting and daring SUVs slated for release, the Cactus marks a return to quirky innovation for the French automaker. It has outrageous exterior styling and unconventional interior. Think funky. And it tips the scales at under a tonne.

3. HavalChina’s Haval, which has grand ambitions to become the world’s biggest SUV maker by the end of the decade, will launch three models in Australia this year in three sizes. It’s one to watch.

4. Jaguar F-PaceIt said it never would but now it has, albeit belatedly. Jaguar, a company steeped in tradition, is aiming at the Porsche Macan and Audi Q5 with its first SUV, the F-Pace. The F-Pace has been revealed in concept form only but Jaguar says to expect best-in-class interior room, precise handling and cutting-edge technology.

5. Ford EverestAn SUV derivative of the successful Ranger, the seven-seat Everest is being seen as the replacement for the Territory, which wraps up production next year. It’s a fine handling, well-mannered road car as well as a capable off-roader. It will be built in Thailand and China.

CAR REVIEWS

A $200 Visa gift card could be all yours if you recommend a colleague to sign up for a FleetPartners novated lease.

And you won’t be the only one to benefit. You novate, we donate. The Fred Hollows Foundation will receive $200 for every new signed novated lease until the end of July.

REFER A COLLEAGUE AND A $200 VISA GIFT CARD COULD BE ALL YOURS

1.This offer ends 1st December 2015 and is subject to availability. 2. Any individual (who must be an existing customer of FleetPartners) who refers another acknowledges and agrees that they have received the referral’s permission to provide FleetPartners with their name and contact details for this purpose. 3. FleetPartners reserves the right to determine eligibility and to disqualify at its absolute discretion. Such decision will be final. 4 FleetPartners reserves the right to terminate this promotion or modify its terms and conditions at any time, and without notice.

You’ll enjoy great rental deals*, whichever

way you look at it.No two drivers rental needs are the same. You might

be a frequent road-tripper who’s looking for low insurance excess or someone who just wants the

best rate possible. Whatever your needs, our short-term rental partner Europcar have you covered.

Book at europcar.com.au or call 1300 555 242 and quote the code that best suits you.

Visit fleetpartners.com.au to find out more.

LOW EXCESS CODE:

52254201Everyday great rates

whatever the season with low Damage Waiver Fee.

EUROPCAR SPECIALS CODE:

52412571Find a special deal and get a further 15% off.

These promotional codes are reusable and valid all year round, simply choose the promotion that provides you the best value.

* Conditions apply.

There’s something James Bond about it. Or maybe Maxwell Smart? Smartwatches are now able to control the functions of a car.

Not just any car. In fact, just one car – the Volvo. And the watch can’t drive it. Not yet anyway.

Volvo, long known for its fine Swedish technology, has just released an update of its ‘’On Call’’ system that allows smartwatches to control what it describes as ‘’everyday elements’’.

“You can set heater timings for those cold and frosty mornings or cool down your car in hot weather, check your fuel level and mileage or time to your next service,” says Volvo.

“It even helps you to locate your car in a crowded parking garage.”Volvo’s On Call system only comes as standard in Canada, the US and Brazil.

TECHY TALK

IN THE KNOW

‘Tell us your best winter experience in less than 25 words. The two entrants that provide the best response (as judged by FleetPartners) will win an Apple iWatch.’

COMPETITIONWIN AN APPLE iWATCH

Click here to enter competition

We have a new portal, myCar, meaning that every aspect of your novated lease can be done online. If your organisation has signed up for myCar, you can quote, order, review and manage your lease and view current budgets. It’s easy and it’s efficient.

If you are after a short-term rental vehicle at any time of year, you can take advantage of our deals with Europcar providing the best rate with an extra 15 per cent off specials or the choice of a low excess.

Check with your company policy, but you may be eligible to take out an additional novated lease with FleetPartners, this can be for a partner or a family member. Contact us to find out more.

FleetPartners serves you by making all aspects of novated leasing easy. Fuss-free. You benefit by saving time and money while enjoying a great vehicle.

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Simply click here to fill out our survey.

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