Very Daisy Duke - 31 March 2026
About this episode
Alan and Andrew kick off with FCA redress details for car finance misselling, noting higher average payouts but fewer eligible claimants (excluding many 0% deals and certain dealer-manufacturer exclusive setups). JLR news follows: a new Tata executive strategy chief, plus production pauses from supplier parts issues. UK grants aim to accelerate electric van charging and vehicle uptake. Sony/Honda’s EV joint venture is scrapped, while VW recalls MEB-platform EVs over battery module non-compliance. The UK collector scene gets a Bring a Trailer look, then new-car news covers the Dacia Striker. Later segments spotlight tiny European EV concepts, concept-car wedges, and a Moab/Jeep Safari-themed roundup.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed the details for the redress scheme, following finance mis-selling to car buyers. Less people will be eligible to claim, as somehow they have deemed that dealer direct to manufacturer finance was not liable to the same issues as was found to be open to abuse. However, the average payout will be higher than expected, at £829. For more on this, click the Autocar article link here.
JLR FIND A NEW STRATEGY CHIEFTata exec, Balaje Rajan, has become the chief strategy officer for JLR. This move indicates a tighter alignment with between the companies. We can expect more platform sharing plus electrification and software development being closer aligned. You can read more about this, by click the Autocar India article link here.
JLR HALTS PRODUCTION AT SOLIHULLJLR has halted production at the Solihull plant, due to a problem with their supply chain, specifically one supplier. We do not know who the supplier is, nor what the part is. This pausing of production dovetails into a planned shutdown over the Easter period. Click this Business Maters article link here, to read more.
£1B FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP E-LORRIES AND E-VANSThe UK Government rolled out two initiatives to help the transition to zero emission lorries and vans. First is the Zero Emissions Truck and Van Grant, with the second being the Depot Charging Scheme. The aim is to assist with two of the major blocks for companies switching, costs to buy and lack of infrastructure. For more details, click this EV Powered article link here.
AFEELA CANCELLED BY HONDA AND SONYThe joint-venture between Honda and Sony, called Afeela, has been cancelled following Honda’s decision to can their 0 Series EVs. This is no real surprise as the project was going to use a lot of the 0 Series technology and platform. If you wish to read more, click this Top Gear article link here.
VW TO RECALL NEARLY 100,000 EVS WORLD WIDEThe German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has stated that the VW Group must recall 94,031 ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo, plus Cupra Born vehicles, globally, built between 7 February 2022 and 23 August 2024. The vehicle batteries do not meet the agreed specification and might produce reduced driving range as well as there being a risk of fire. Click this electrive article link for more information.
BRING A TRAILER COMING TO THE UKThe US auction site, Bring a Trailer, is coming to the UK. Last year the company $1.7 billion in sales and now sees this as the right time to bring their way of doing things to the UK classics market. For more on this story, click this link to a Motoring Research article.
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCASTNEW NEW CAR NEWS -Dacia StrikerDacia has revealed what we are told is an estate, but it is not, its a crossover. Going up against the likes of the Skoda Octavia, it is aligned with the Bigster. Details are very thin on the ground, including what the interior looks like. Click this Autocar article to see more about this handsome looking car.
Jeep Easter Safari ConceptsThat time of year has rolled around again where Jeep go off on an Easter Safari, in Moab Desert, with their tricked out cars. Always a treat to see what they have come up with, this year is no different. Click this Carscoops article to see more.
Mika MinoThe Miko Mino is designed with the core philosophy of small and light. A collaboration between friend of the show Nir Kahn and Robin Hall, they are pursuing this core axiom with lazer focus. To find out more about this idea, click here for an EV Powered exclusive article.
LUNCHTIME READ: THE AUTOMOBILE AS AN APPLIANCEDriven to Write provide the article we are recommending you read whilst enjoying your lunch this week. Often it is said, on this show, how cars are becoming appliances to most, but what if that idea was the basis for a concept that was explored? Find out more, by clicking this link here.
LIST OF THE WEEK: THE 20 GREATEST WEDGESWe all like concept cars, but one way to make them much cooler is for one to be wedge shaped. Well, Top Gear are not content with that, how about 20 wedge shaped concept cars? Click this link to check out your options.
AND FINALLY: HOW DIRTY IS THE A1?Listener’s discretion is needed with this week’s recommendation. Auto Shenanigins is asking the question many of us have wondered, why are there so many adult stores on the A1? Click this YouTube link to find out.
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
"...the Financial Conduct Authority has finally decided to explain the details of the redress compensation scheme..."
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK regulator that oversees financial services, including consumer credit and car finance. When the FCA issues guidance or decisions like this, it can directly affect how lenders and brokers handle complaints and compensation.
redress compensation scheme
"...the Financial Conduct Authority has finally decided to explain the details of the redress compensation scheme for the finance misselling of four car buyers."
A redress scheme is basically a way for people to get compensation if they were treated unfairly. Here, it’s about car finance deals being sold in a way that may not have been properly explained or fair.
A redress compensation scheme is a formal process where customers who were harmed by wrongdoing can claim money back. In this case, it relates to finance misselling, meaning lenders or brokers may have presented car finance deals in a misleading or unfair way.
finance misselling
"...redress compensation scheme for the finance misselling of four car buyers."
Finance misselling means someone may have been sold a car finance deal that wasn’t explained properly or wasn’t right for them. If regulators find it was unfair, customers can sometimes claim compensation.
Finance misselling refers to selling a car finance product in a misleading, unfair, or non-compliant way. It often involves problems like incorrect affordability checks, unclear terms, or steering customers into products that weren’t suitable.
eligible to claim
"...they have cut the number of people eligible to claim from 14.2 million down to 12.1 million."
This is the number of people who qualify to apply for compensation. The FCA is saying fewer people will be eligible than originally expected.
“Eligible to claim” refers to how many customers qualify for compensation under the FCA’s redress scheme. The episode notes the FCA reduced eligibility from 14.2 million to 12.1 million, narrowing who can receive payments.
0% finance contract
"...they are saying that if somebody was on a 0% finance contract, they don't really have a claim to say they weren't fairly treated."
0% finance means you don’t pay interest on the amount you borrow for the car. The point here is that if you’re not paying interest, the FCA thinks there may be less harm to compensate.
A 0% finance contract is a type of car finance where the customer pays no interest, so the cost is typically just the principal amount. The discussion suggests the FCA views these deals as having less basis for redress because the customer isn’t paying extra interest.
JLR
"there have been news announcements over the last little while about new appointments at JLR. And one of the key ones that's come through is Balaji Rajan has been appointed the Group Chief Strategy Officer at JLR."
JLR means Jaguar Land Rover. It’s the company that makes Jaguar and Land Rover cars. They’re talking about a leadership change and what it might mean for future cars.
JLR stands for Jaguar Land Rover, the parent company behind the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. In this segment, the hosts discuss a new executive appointment at JLR and what it could mean for how the company operates and plans products.
paywall
"It's behind a payway. It's part of their paywall bit of the AutoCar business, [311.2s] not the free bit."
A paywall is a website barrier that blocks articles unless you pay or subscribe. It’s common for car news sites that want to get paid for their reporting.
A paywall is a subscription or access barrier that prevents readers from viewing content for free. In automotive media, paywalls often apply to detailed reporting, analysis, or industry news that requires revenue to produce.
Patreon
"Don't forget to subscribe to our Patreon, everyone. That's why we have to point out that [327.0s] stuff costs money."
Patreon is a way to support a creator with monthly payments. If you subscribe, you may get extra content or help keep the show running.
Patreon is a membership platform where listeners support creators with recurring payments. For podcasts, it’s often used to fund production costs and access to premium content.
supply chains
"Yes. The other thing about this, by the way, supply chains. Did we learn nothing from COVID and the Ever Given and all of these things where everyone was like, oh no, we need to bring our supply chains closer to home?"
Supply chains are the routes and steps that get parts and materials to car factories. If they get disrupted, cars and parts can become harder to get or more expensive.
The episode is tying vehicle/parts availability to global supply chains. When supply chains get disrupted, it can affect production schedules and the availability of vehicles and components.
electric van transition
"Next up though, good stuff. The electric van transition is going on here in the UK. The UK government is driving the electric van transition with £1 billion worth of grants."
The electric van transition means more delivery and service vans are switching to electric power. It’s not just about the van itself—charging and costs matter too.
This describes the shift from diesel or petrol vans to battery-electric vans, driven by regulation and incentives. It’s a major change for commercial fleets because it affects both vehicle cost and daily operating logistics.
charging infrastructure
"up to a million pounds each, really, or 70% cost when they're installing charging infrastructure for vans, coaches, and EHGVs as well. Expect it with grants a bit like that. I noticed it's happening already with good service, but expect to start to see things on charging infrastructure up here along more motorways"
Charging infrastructure just means the places where you can plug in an electric car. In this segment, they’re talking about adding more chargers along major roads so EVs can travel more easily.
Charging infrastructure refers to the network of electric-vehicle charging stations installed in public places like motorway service areas and along major road corridors. The discussion here is about how governments and service-station operators are funding and rolling out chargers to support EV travel at scale.
General Motors
"General Motors really, I think we mentioned them, we mentioned them before anyway, before we started recording. And their electric vehicles, you know, they've got the challenge..."
General Motors is being used as an example of a company adjusting its EV plans. If certain EV models aren’t selling, they may cut back production of related versions too.
General Motors is discussed as another major automaker facing EV demand and production challenges. The hosts mention that if some models or chassis variants aren’t selling well, GM may need to reduce production across the broader lineup.
Volkswagen Group
"Recall news, everyone. The Volkswagen Group has to"
The Volkswagen Group is the company that owns multiple car brands. If the group is involved in a recall, it can impact more than one brand or type of car.
The Volkswagen Group is the parent company behind brands like Volkswagen and others in its portfolio. The hosts are about to discuss recall-related developments involving the group, which matters because recalls can affect multiple brands and models built on shared platforms.
preventative recall
"This is completely preventative and has been found through general testing. Now, this has not been found because there's been an incident out in the real world."
A preventative recall is done to stop a problem before it causes harm. In this case, they found the risk during testing, not because something bad already happened to people.
A preventative recall is issued to address a potential defect before it causes real-world incidents. The transcript emphasizes that this recall was found through testing rather than because of injuries or confirmed fires in the field.
Bring a Trailer
"No, the thing about bring a trailer is that it's synonymous across the internet for online car auctions and online car auctions of unusual things, really. And it was one of the first, it was established in 2007, again, in the US..."
Bring a Trailer is a website where car enthusiasts buy and sell cars online. It’s especially known for interesting or rare cars, and people often use it because the listings and audience are very car-focused.
Bring a Trailer is an online auction site best known for enthusiast cars and unusual listings. In the UK discussion, the hosts are comparing it to other local auction platforms and asking what unique value it adds beyond the standard auction experience.
online car auctions
"No, the thing about bring a trailer is that it's synonymous across the internet for online car auctions and online car auctions of unusual things, really. And it was one of the first..."
Online car auctions let sellers list vehicles digitally and buyers bid remotely, often with standardized listing formats and photo/video requirements. The hosts are discussing how auction platforms differentiate themselves through branding, photography, and listing quality rather than just the auction mechanics.
professional photographs
"Five, 10 years ago, offering to take professional photographs helped write the description in a way that will sell and that sort of thing would have been innovative."
Good photos matter a lot in online car selling. They help buyers feel more confident about what the car really looks like, and these days most sites offer some level of photo support.
Professional photographs are a key part of online auction listings because they reduce buyer uncertainty and improve click-through and bidding confidence. The hosts argue that this used to be a differentiator but is now common across platforms.
Bonhams
"And the one that by Bonham's, or by the big auction house, does it as well. We know people will write for them as well."
Bonhams is a well-known auction company. They also auction collectible items, including cars, and they may help with how the car is presented to attract buyers.
Bonhams is a major auction house that also runs classic and collectible vehicle auctions. In this segment, it’s referenced as another UK player that provides professional writing/photography support to help listings sell.
final sale price (percentage fee)
"...it's 239 pounds. And then on top of that, it's 5% final sale price, up to 5,000 pounds for the sale."
Instead of charging a flat amount, some auction sites take a percentage of what the car sells for. That percentage can also be capped, so the fee doesn’t keep growing forever.
Some auction platforms charge a percentage of the final sale price rather than (or in addition to) a flat listing fee. The segment highlights a 5% fee up to a cap, which changes the economics for higher-priced cars.
listing fee
"...they're going in at a costing cost from 79 pounds to list your car, if you want, on demand photography, it's 239 pounds."
A listing fee is the amount you pay to put your car up for auction. It’s separate from any extra services like better photos.
A listing fee is what it costs to post a car for auction, separate from any photography add-ons or final-value commissions. The hosts quote a range for Bring a Trailer’s UK listing and photography options to compare total seller cost.
seller fees
"But, you know, right at the minute, seller fees are all being waived. And it's basically half price for the photography option."
Seller fees are the costs the auction website charges you when you sell a car. They can be a fixed listing fee, a percentage of the sale price, or both.
Seller fees are the charges an auction platform takes from the sale, often calculated as a percentage of the final price plus listing costs. Here, the hosts discuss how Bring a Trailer’s UK pricing (including waived fees and discounted photography) affects seller cost.
LPG version
"Some markets will get an LPG version, unlikely to reach the UK. We don't really do LPG here."
LPG is an alternative fuel to petrol. Some countries offer cars that can run on it, but the hosts say the UK probably won’t get that option.
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is an alternative fuel that can reduce running costs in markets where it’s widely available. The segment notes some markets will get an LPG variant, but the UK is unlikely to receive it.
economies of scale
"...it's probably going to be as much as identical to the Bigster as likely because remember economies of scale and remember that DateShare have to do things in a certain way to offer the cars at the price points they do."
If a company makes lots of the same parts, each one costs less. That’s why one model can be cheaper—because it shares engineering and manufacturing with other cars.
Economies of scale means the cost per unit drops when a company builds more of the same platform or components. In car terms, sharing parts and production processes across models helps keep pricing lower.
Easter Jeep safari at Moab
"...and then we can all gaze fondly across the pond to where Jeep have fettled with some of their models to then go off for a safari into the desert, which we talk about every year. Yeah, Easter Jeep safari at Moab."
The Easter Jeep Safari is a yearly Jeep off-road event held in Moab, Utah. People bring special builds and new gear made for trails and desert driving.
The Easter Jeep Safari is an annual off-road event in Moab, Utah, where Jeep enthusiasts and builders showcase concept vehicles and trail-ready modifications. It’s a major platform for new accessories and off-road-focused engineering.
Resto mod
"Oh, all right then. The XJ pioneer concept. So it is a Resto mod, okay, and it's a Resto mod. It's a Resto mod of the XJ Cherokee, specifically a three door one."
A restomod is an older car that’s been refreshed with newer tech. It tries to keep the classic style, but make it drive and live with like a modern car.
A restomod is a classic car that’s been updated with modern engineering, drivetrains, or comfort features while keeping the original look. The goal is to preserve the vintage vibe but improve usability and reliability.
sealed beam headlamps
"So you get the chrome grille. You get the sealed beam headlamps and all of that kind of stuff."
Sealed-beam headlights are an older type of headlight design where the bulb is built into the whole headlight unit. They’re common on classic cars and help keep the original look.
Sealed beam headlamps are older-style headlights where the bulb and reflector are sealed into a single unit. They’re often used as a visual cue for classic-era authenticity on restomods.
two inch suspension lift
"...there's a two inch suspension left, rock rails, 17 inch wheels, 33 inch altering tires, and the inside is very 1980s."
A suspension lift raises the car so it sits higher. A two-inch lift usually helps it clear obstacles and makes room for bigger off-road tires.
A suspension lift raises the vehicle’s ride height by changing suspension components. A “two inch” lift typically improves ground clearance for off-road use and allows larger tires.
roll cage
"So there's no side windows, but there is the doors. You can see that there's obviously a roll cage in there."
A roll cage is a reinforced structure—usually metal—that helps protect occupants during rollovers or hard off-road impacts. In off-road builds and concepts, it also signals that the vehicle is intended to handle rough terrain and higher stresses than a stock SUV.
electrification
"None of these have any form of electrification. They are all in the current North American Stellantis mold... not doing anything electrified."
Electrification means using electricity to help drive the car—like a hybrid or a fully electric vehicle. The point here is that these cars don’t use any electric system at all.
The speaker is talking about whether a vehicle lineup uses electric powertrains (hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or full EVs). Here, they’re saying these cars have no electrification, even though they’re still “cool” conceptually.
500 mile range
"You do not need something that can do 500 mile range. Blooming difficult to do that. Because that's enormous. It's not helping anyone and it costs a fortune."
“500 mile range” refers to long-distance EV battery capability, often marketed as a key selling point. The speaker argues that such extreme range is unnecessary for many drivers and increases cost and complexity without improving everyday use.
petrol tank
"The size of the petrol tank. People are selling cars based on the size of the petrol tank."
A petrol tank is where the fuel is stored. If a company advertises a bigger tank, they’re basically saying you can drive farther before you need to stop for fuel.
The size of a car’s petrol tank is often used as a proxy for range and convenience. Marketing that leans on tank size is trying to sell “how far you can go” rather than performance or driving feel.
circular economy
"...we will be going back with the circular economy going back to that sort of thinking a lot."
A circular economy is about using resources again and again instead of throwing things away. In cars, that can mean designing parts so they can be reused, repaired, or recycled more easily.
A circular economy aims to keep products and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling. The segment links it to the EcoBasic/VSS mindset—designing cars with end-of-life and resource reuse in mind.
London Motor Show
"“I saw it at the London Motor Show that year… It must have been on the Fiat stand at the London Motor Show…”"
The London Motor Show is a major UK auto event where manufacturers and concept-car builders display new vehicles and prototypes. Mentioning it helps listeners place the discussion in a specific time period and context for automotive design trends.
1980 concept car vibe
"It's that sort of vibe about it. Oh, it is. And it's a 1980 concept as well. But this is so, I mean, it could not be more 1980s French."
They’re saying the car looks like it belongs to the 1980s. Concept cars often show off the style and imagination of the time they were designed.
The speakers frame the vehicle as a “1980 concept,” emphasizing how concept cars often capture the aesthetic of their era. In this case, they’re highlighting a distinctly 1980s French design language—bold materials, dramatic styling, and a sci-fi feel.
pop up lights
"I have a toy one of these. That's why I have a soft spot for it with pop up lights."
Pop-up lights are headlights that hide in the car’s body and pop up when you turn them on. They were common on older sports cars and look very “classic futuristic.”
“Pop up lights” are headlamps that pivot or slide up from the body when activated. They were especially popular on 1970s–1990s sports cars because they let designers keep a lower, cleaner front profile while still providing full headlight coverage.
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