AutoStuff

Welcome to my new hub on all things auto. From repair to body care, paint to pretty air fresheners or just a natter about the latest Top Gear episode.

So, it's three races into the new season, and what an exciting season it's turning out to be so far, despite the rain of Malaysia and China.

It's been great to see the resurrection of the Honda team - now known as Brawn GP - and it's good to see Jenson Button winning at last, whilst last year's champion Lewis Hamilton is struggling to keep up with the pace at present - although knowing McLaren and Ferrari, they'll come good in the end and it should make for an exciting season.

And how wonderful it was to see Sebastian Vettel claim victory for himself and Red Bull Racing in Shanghai, it's always good to see one of the underdogs of last season turning into potential championship contenders. But with so many more races left this season, and drivers such as Alonso, Massa and Barrichello still in contention, it should be a very exciting season indeed, updates to come throughout (with a bit of luck)

Top 6 standings (after Round 3)

Button (GBR) - Brawn GP - 21 points

Barrichello (BRA) - Brawn GP -15

Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Racing - 10

Glock (GER) - Toyota - 10

Webber (AUS) - Red Bull Racing - 9.5

Trulli (ITA) - Toyota - 8.5

Now I have to admit, my first thought upon seeing this car on Top Gear was 'souped-up go-kart', but after watching the sheer acceleration mould the face of Jeremy Clarkson to something resembling a scene from the Matrix I was instantly hooked.

Boasting a range of engines - including a super-charged 2.0 litre Ecotec, the Atom can reach speeds of up to 150mph. To those who worship supercars this may not seem like much to begin with, but when you consider the beginnings of this machine - which started life as a student project at Coventry University - it's even more impressive. The vehicle now holds the honour of being the fastest indoor road car, even though it may not hold the indoor speed record.

From it's humble beginnings the Atom has become popular in the mass media, thanks to appearences on motor shows worldwide and also as an unlockable car in many a video game - you can even get yourself a radio controlled Atom (although obviously not to scale)

According to a survey carried out by a leading UK motor group has shown that, despite the rising cost of fuel, the cost of running our cars has actually fallen compared to 20 years ago.

Of those surveyed, over 90% believe we are more reliant on our cars compared to 20 years ago. Indeed, 7 out of ten drivers surveyed said they'd find it difficult to cope without cars.

But whilst the average annual mileage of British drivers has gone down, many believe that gridlock and congestion on the roads will continue to increase.

There are now 19.5m households around the country that own a car - up almost 40% compared to statistics collected in 1988 - and 7 out of 10 Britons now carry a driving licence.

Compared to 20 years ago, cars have become cheaper to both buy and maintain, although the price of the fuel used to run them has increased by over 200% in that period.

However, the survey also highlighted a worrying increase in the numbers of road-rage incidents. Nearly a third of those surveyed said they'd been victims of some form of road rage - suffering both verbal and sometimes physical abuse. Almost half of those surveyed also admitted swearing, gesturing or shouting at other motorists.

According to statistics released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) there has been a significant increase in the number of fraud cases involving car insurance.

More and more of us see increases in our premiums each year as a result of those who make fraudulent claims on their insurance. It is predicted that levels of fraud have seen a 70% increase since four years ago.

As more of us struggle with debt each day, some get desperate and attempt to cash in on insurance policies as a result of deliberate damage and false claims.

Picture the scene, you're out driving or walking through town, then you hear the distinct rumble from the other end of the street. Then alongside you pulls an 'enthusiast' in a souped up car - most likely with some techno or rap music blaring from it - before speeding off, making sure you can hear how superior his engine is to yours.

Car modification can be a bit like Marmite - you either love it or loathe it - some will take it extremely seriously, spending thousands of pounds on modifying their vehicle so they can show it off to their mates (as well as fellow enthusiasts)

For some, modification can be part of the restoration process, adding a new dimension of design to an older car - meaning that old sedan would have a shiny new coat of paint and maybe some go-faster stripes after being restored.

Designs range from custom paint jobs, decals that can be stuck to the outside, alloy wheels that continue to spin when the wheels have stopped and spoilers that can be attached to the back (or tail) of vehicles.