Bond has obviously used a huge number of different cars in the past, but perhaps the most spectacular are the ones he used Mercedes supplied. Now, this might be a controversial selection – especially considering the more modern films have a huge amount more guns and other kit in them – but my selection as the best ever Bond car goes to… the Mercedes-Benz 250SE used in the 1983 blockbuster Octopussy, starring Roger Daltry as the heroic British MI6 agent.

Even without the need to mention the film, the Mercedes-Benz 250SE is already considered an iconic car, with styling that was well ahead of its time. In fact, there are still many used Mercedes of this type going for huge amounts of money in today’s market. It combines the perfect balance of elegance with a more than ample number of high specifications – essentially meaning that it is the perfect choice for the stylish, yet high-octane, figure of Mr. Bond.

So in the film, the car actually initially belongs to the Soviet Army, but – never able to resist a chase in a sexy new vehicle, Bond steals it and ends up in one of the most exciting car chases you are likely to see in cinema. Firstly the car’s tyres get demolished by a stinger, but undeterred Bond drives with the rims on a railway track, pursuing the fleeing train. The car saw an untimely demise though when being hit by an oncoming train, but its brief appearance was enough to demonstrate all of the great qualities that this vehicle has. At the end of the film it is seen being lifted out of the neighbouring river with a crane – so make sure you never consider buying a used Mercedes-Benz from MI6!

Now there was another Mercedes used in the Bond films that came close to displacing the eventual winner, but the fact that it was not in the film enough was really its demise. The used Mercedes spoken of is the Mercedes W126, which was used in Tomorrow Never Dies by the henchmen of Elliot Carver. I’m sure if Bond had been driving it instead then it would have challenged for the top spot even more, but alas this was not the case. The style and substance of the car would certainly have suited out tuxedo clad hero!

As can be seen, the fact that Mercedes-Benz cars feature so prominently in James Bond films shows that they are cars with both looks and performance. Obviously buying a used Mercedes won’t get you all of the different additions that Bond has on his cars, but is will still be an investment well worth making, especially if the model is a classic from a couple of decades ago. After all, if a Mercedes is good enough for James Bond himself, then a used Mercedes from Inchcape is certainly good enough for everyone else as well! Here’s hoping he jumps into the seat of the next Bond movie as well, then perhaps this list might see a new car taking up the top spot!

However, this is not always the case and some celebrities have car choices are not always what you would expect. We therefore take a look at the top ten most shocking celebrity vehicles:

10. Daniel Radcliffe- Fiat Punto

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was recently identified as being the richest British star under the age of 30 by Heat Magazine, being worth an estimated £50 million. You would therefore expect the 22 year old to be going around in a high performance sports car such as a Ferrari.

However, Radcliffe has opted for the slightly tamer Fiat Punto; a quintessential young drivers car. It seems that the sky high car insurance premiums that are currently afflicting young drivers are enough to put even some of the country’s richest stars off purchasing higher performance vehicles.

9. Patrick Stewart- Jaguar XJS Convertible

The Captain of the Enterprise is a self-confessed Jaguar enthusiast. However, rather than having the most up to date model; Stewart maintains a 1989 Jaguar XJS Convertible which he insists is one of the greatest cars ever made. The current voice of MoneySupermarket car insurance commercials is so enamoured with the vehicle that he has promised to leave it to his son in his will.

The Jaguar XJS is indeed a fine example of British engineering, being powered by a 5.3 litre V12 engine. However, examples of the XJS can now regularly be purchases for under £3,000. You would therefore expect Stewart to have a more contemporary model.

8. Jonathan Ross- Morgan Roadster

Chat show King Jonathan Ross is not exactly known for his fashion sense or styling. It is therefore quite surprising to find out that Ross owns a 2008 Morgan Roadster.

Like all Morgan models, the styling of the vehicle is based on trends from the 1950s, but combines this with the performance of a modern day sports car being powered by a 3 litre Ford V6 engine which enables a top speed of 134mph.It therefore doesn’t come cheap, with models being sold for between £36,000 and £40,000.

However, Ross famously earned a massive £6 million salary while working for the BBC, so it is not as if he can’t afford the expense.

7. Arnold Schwarzenegger- Hummer

You would have expected Schwarzenegger to oftowed the party line while serving as the Governor of California by actively searching for a more environmentally friendly mode of transport. This is after all the state that while under Schwarzenegger’s watch introduced a Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) to help encourage the introduction of electric vehicles.

However, the governor himself didn’t appear to be quite as environmentally minded prior to going to office as owned a fleet of Hummer vehicles worth almost $1 million dollars in total. These heavy weight military style vehicles are not exactly known for their fuel economy, and Schwarzenegger eventually sold off his fleet in 2006 just prior to becoming Governor.

6. Arnold Schwarzenegger- Mercedes Excalibur

While it is easy to understand why action movie hard man Schwarzenegger might be comfortable driving around in a huge military vehicle when he is not attempting to comply with the political ideals of his party; it is slightly more difficult to envisage the Austrian fitting his large frame into a rather delicate and flamboyant cream vintage Mercedes.

However, the Terminator star does own a Mercedes Excalibur which is believed to be worth over £50,000. The Mercedes was believed to be Schwarzenegger’s solution when he was forced to give up his fleet of Hummer’s.

5. Michael Schumacher and James May- Fiat Multipla

You would logically expect the most successful racing driver of all time to have good choice when it comes to buying a road car. Admittedly his choice is rather limited by his exclusive F1 contract, but there was still no excuse to choose a Fiat Multipla when he drove for the Fiat owner Ferrari team. Surely even a Fiat Punto would have been preferable to the Multipla which is a regular feature on lists chronicling the least aesthetically pleasing vehicles of all time.

However, Top Gear Presenter James May is another recognised car expert to have fallen for the Multipla’s alleged charms; a fact which caused May much ridicule from his fellow presenters.

4. Jack Nicholson- Honda FCX Clarity

At the age of 74, Jack Nicholson is still known as the wild man of Hollywood. Being just as famous for his actions off screen as he is for the classic films which he has appeared in, it is perhaps surprising to find out that Nicholson seems to have an environmental conscience.

The ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ star owns a Honda FCX Clarity, which is the first attempt by a major manufacturer to produce a vehicle that relies on hydrogen gas rather than fossil fuels. The hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen in the fuel tank to create a fusion reaction which creates the electric energy needed to power the electric engine. The advantage that Honda believes this concept has over the more common electric plug-in vehicles is that it takes no longer to fill the tank than on a conventional fossil fuelled vehicle; eradicating the need for lengthy recharging periods.

3. George Clooney- Tango

George Clooney is a devoted environmental activist and it therefore comes as no surprise to discover that he owns two electric vehicles. However, one thing which is surprising about this is that the ER star owns the rather odd looking Tango vehicle rather than the mass produced and critical acclaimed Nissan Leaf.

Costing $108,000 each, the Tango is thinner than some motorbikes and takes up just one-quarter of the space provided by the average car parking space. One area where it is superior to the Leaf is in performance; with the Tango capable of 150 miles between charges compared to the Leaf’s 100 milerange. The Tango is also capable of doing 0-60mph in a rather impressive 4 seconds; faster than most conventional family hatchbacks. However, this still doesn’t make up for the cars ‘unique’ appearance.

2. Ricky Hatton- Only Fools and Horses

Ricky  Hatton is known as a bit of a tough guy having won been a former WBA Welterweight champion. However, it appears that he is also a fan of the classic television comedy ‘Only Fools and Horses’.

The Hitman is so devoted to the show that he actually owns one of the Reliant Robins that were used by main characters Del Boy and Rodney during the filming of the classic show which ran from 1981 to 2003.

Hatton commented: “I have always been a fan of Only Fools and Horses, right from my school days. I have every single episode on video or DVD, and I collect memorabilia to go with it – I already have an Only Fools and Horse alarm clock, and signed photos of most of the cast members.”

1. Stephen Fry and Noel Edmonds- London Cab

Stephen Fry famously travelled across America in his black London Cab. This is admittedly a rather unusual choice of vehicle and there is the added problem of those in search of a cab jumping in under the assumption that you are on call.

However, Deal or No Deal Presenter and fellow black cab owner Noel Edmonds has come up with an ingenious solution to prevent this from happening; placing a mannequin in the back seat of the vehicle so that it looks to passes by as if the cab is constantly occupied. Edmonds isn’t a millionaire for nothing you know…

An aftermarket sound system is a flexible way to customize your driving experience. Many different stereos are available on the market today, all of which support various media depending on the driver’s needs. Some accommodate iPods, while others feature auxiliary jacks, USB inputs, or just CDs or cassettes.

Older cars typically only have CD/cassette inputs, so in this case a modification would be required. In some cases you might only need to connect your device through a cable, or you might have to replace the entire stereo. Auxiliary jacks come as standard features in many newer car models. If your car does not have an auxiliary jack, however, an alternative is to purchase an FM transmitter, which uses a free FM frequency to play your own device. Just tune to a clear station, connect to your mp3 player, and you can enjoy your own music.

As far as sound is concerned, most basic aftermarket sound systems consist of a basic head unit which you can install on your own or have installed for a small fee. These devices start at about £50 and can go all the way up to £1,000, depending on the features that you want. The least expensive ones feature basic button and knob controls, whereas more advanced ones feature multi-colored touch screens. For added security, some versions feature removable plates (the part with the controls) so that thieves are deterred from breaking in and stealing the stereo.

If you want to take your music experience a step further, you can also upgrade the speakers in your car and even add subwoofers for optimum bass response and clarity. A basic, small 20cm subwoofer can run about £60 while a top-of-the line 38cm subwoofer can cost ten times as much.

Whether you’re currently in the market for a car, or you simply want to upgrade the sound system in your own vehicle, these are just a few of many options for getting the best sound experience possible.

If you are selling a car that has not been driven in a while, keep in mind that MOT regulations would also be applied to used cars—UK law dictates that if the car’s MOT certificate is expired, it is against the law to drive it anywhere other than to the location at which you have scheduled an MOT test. Some of the basic checks on the MOT tests include the following: steering and suspension, seatbelts, lights, tyres, wheels, brakes, windscreen, horn, mirrors, and exhaust system.

To prevent any problems, keep your car maintained throughout the year and bring it in for repair at the first sign of trouble. If your car does not pass the MOT test, it will need to be retested; in some cases, you can be responsible for a partial or full fee, so it is crucial that the car meets all of the MOT specifications the first time around. The proper maintenance of your car will be one of the biggest selling points to any prospective buyer, as many private sales result in the buyers finding out about mechanical problems after the sale was completed.

Although it is not absolutely necessary for second hand cars to be tested right before selling (so long as the certificate is current so that others can test drive it), it can definitely help with a sale as that would be one less concern for the prospective buyer. The MOT test is not an absolute guarantee of the car’s condition, but obtaining that certification shows that the car is ready for the road, which makes it a convenient option for the buyer, and it will mean that they will not have to worry about a new test for as long as possible.

In the transport industry, making sound business decisions depends on those with whom you enter into business agreements. When an unfamiliar company makes an offer on a load you need to have transported hundreds of kilometres away, it is important that that contractor can do the job quickly and effectively. Ratings and comments from other users on the exchange site can help you to rest assured that you are taking the right offers.

A ratings system measures the previous performance of each company. For example, freight forwarders can determine whether the contractors making offers have performed favourably for other freight forwarders in the past. Shippers can determine whether freight forwarders have been punctual with payment.

The comments system is a more precise system that allows all parties to post any relevant feedback. Here, the companies can go into detail about any specific positive or negative experiences that they feel others should know before doing business with the company in question. This feedback helps not only the site’s users, but also the site’s administrators in blocking access to unreliable subscribers who have not fulfilled their contracts.

Overall, comments and ratings systems on freight exchange sites are valuable tools that can help transport specialists make the most informed decisions so their freight can reach its destination safely and on time. At the same time, they can establish long-lasting business relationships with those who perform well.