Astranomical! In the first of a new series on Wheels-Alive, Kim Henson assesses Vauxhall’s family hatchback of the 1990s, in the form of a 1996 Vauxhall Astra F (‘Mark 3’), powered by Isuzu’s fuel-sipping 1.7 litre turbodiesel engine. (All words and photographs by Kim). “Astra from Vauxhall. It’s every car you’ll ever need – or want.” So proclaimed Vauxhall when promoting their 1996 Astra … [Read more...]
Contributors
Lexus GS 300h – Road Test
Hybrid Power – You Know it Makes Sense – Toyota and Lexus Know-how. Lexus GS 300h tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Toyota and Lexus have long been the stalwarts, you could say the pioneers, of using hybrid technology for some of their passenger car ranges to reduce CO2 emissions, improve fuel economy and boost performance. Where they led others now follow. The growth in … [Read more...]
Revised SEAT Leon range – First Impressions
SEAT updates their best-selling Leon line-up of hatchbacks and estates. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In common with other brands in the Volkswagen Group that produce C-segment family cars based on their highly rated MQB platform, namely the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3, SEAT have now rolled out their ‘refreshed’ range of Leon SC three-door coupé, five-door hatchbacks and ST … [Read more...]
Circuit of Wales latest news update…
Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) reports on the current situation regarding the proposed Circuit of Wales... Wales Audit Office said there were "significant shortcomings" in the way £9.3 Million of taxpayers' money was spent on plans for Circuit of Wales at Ebbw Vale. Funding was based on a "flawed" appraisal by Welsh Government, said the public finance watchdog. Welsh … [Read more...]
Volvo V90 D4 AWD Cross Country – Kim’s (brief) First Impressions
Kim Henson briefly samples Volvo’s state-of-the-art V90 D4 AWD Cross Country estate. In line with developments in engineering and computer systems generally, the rapid pace of change in terms of automotive technological innovation is clear when driving any vehicle produced in the last year or two, and especially so in the case of so-called ‘premium’ brands. This generalisation is certainly … [Read more...]
Firestone Music Tour 2017 takes to the road
Keep calm and festival on! Kim Henson tells more... With so many different languages actively used across the continent, music is the one language that has the power to bring together people from different countries and cultures. The Firestone Music Tour gives Firestone the opportunity to connect with music-lovers from across Europe via authentic music experiences. Firestone will be … [Read more...]
Latest Honda Civic – Kim’s First Impressions
Kim Henson samples contrasting examples of the latest (10th generation) Honda Civic… (All words and photos by Kim). Ask any Honda Civic owner, or anyone in the motor trade, or any diagnostic specialist, who has had anything to do with the model, or Hondas in general, and I am convinced that nearly all (if not 100 per cent) of these people will tell you that the Civic is an excellent motor car … [Read more...]
First Stop fast fit network boosted by Hickleys partnership
The First Stop fast fit network is continuing to evolve and expand, courtesy of an innovative approach to new member recruitment… Kim Henson reports. After increasing to a total of 72 centres by the end of 2016, the First Stop network has attracted another new outlet in the form of Hickleys in Taunton, who will now be boasting a tyre offering for motorists to benefit from, for the first … [Read more...]
Latest Hyundai i30 Hatchback – Road Test
The new Hyundai i30 mid-sized hatchback – Bland but not basic, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new third generation Hyundai i30 five door hatchback range went on sale in the UK from 1 March this year and it will be followed by Tourer estate versions due this summer. The two ranges will be similar in terms of engine and specification choices, but a little more expensive – and … [Read more...]
Dave Randle goes ‘Back to Basics’ with his trusty Xantia…
BIT OF A BLOW. Dave Randle explains how it pays NOT to think the worst if an unusual breakdown occurs... So we made space in the schedule and booked up the first caravan holiday of Spring. Not an epic; just far enough away to be off the intermittent communication lines of Romney Marsh and sequestered among the Surrey Hills several times as far above sea level. We’re just getting back into … [Read more...]
Latest Honda Civic – History and First Impressions, plus Honda news
New 10th Generation Honda Civic British-built for global markets. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… News The new 10th generation Honda Civic five door family hatchback is now in production for global markets and it is only being built in the UK at the company’s Swindon factory. Production at the same location will also include the ‘hot’ Civic Type-R, but not a Civic Tourer estate, … [Read more...]
Kia Niro Hybrid – Road Test
Keith Ward test drives Kia’s first hybrid, in the form of the Niro… While accelerating sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) in the UK have eased with the gearing down of Government support grants, reaching 89,000 last year out of a record total of nearly 2.7m cars, they were still up by more than 20 per cent, according to official SMMT trade figures. They include petrol-electric … [Read more...]
New Ford Mondeo – Road Test
Latest Ford Mondeo Vignale 2.0 Powershift auto 4WD... Assessed by Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). When a giant moves it may not be often but everyone takes notice. Ford held onto the Vignale coach-building name for 42 years before applying it to a hand-finished Mondeo which appeared in 2016, and now it’s picking up momentum and will be appearing on more bespoke cars. Ford … [Read more...]
Latest BMW 5 Series Road Test
The new seventh generation BMW 5 Series saloon… Test-driven by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The BMW 5 Series has gone through six generations spanning 45 years and totalling 7.9 million global sales, and its success in longevity and sales terms means it has always been the benchmark range for the executive car sector. The new seventh generation 5 Series Saloon arrived in February, … [Read more...]
‘Need to Know’ Series No 2… BS AU 7 (classic vehicle wiring standard)
‘Need to Know’ Series No 2... BS AU 7 (British classic vehicle wiring standard) – Dave Moss explains all... Note from Kim: Our 'Need to Know' Series aims to provide information about various (and sometimes-overlooked!) aspects of classic car design and construction, to help owners today in better understanding, maintaining and enjoying their vehicles. Watch this space for further articles in … [Read more...]
Renault Grand Scenic seven seater MPV Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the new Renault Grand Scenic seven seater ‘people carrier’… Sales of MPV ‘people carriers’ have in recent years dropped in popularity due to the public’s switch to the now more desirable but less practical people-carrying SUVs and Crossover type vehicles. MPV sales dropped a further 4.3% in the UK last year and 3.1% in Europe. But the industry … [Read more...]
30 Not Out! New Forest classic event makes history – A ‘good news’ story!
On a beautiful spring Sunday in April, two south coast based UK classic car groups made happy history. Kim Henson was there with his camera (as he was in 1987!)… During the past 30 years, so many things in life have changed, and of course world events have been turbulent, but for two separate groups of classic car owners in Dorset and Hampshire respectively, an enduring and tranquil annual event … [Read more...]
Latest Suzuki Swift – First impressions with a different, scientific approach…
New Suzuki makes the running... Applying science to automotive assessment, the inimitable Dave Randle shares his own fascinating thoughts on Suzuki’s newcomer. As a classicist, I naturally turned to Swift for a quote that would do justice to the latest automotive bearer of that name. The best I could come up with was: ‘You’re lucky enough to be different, never change,’ which, while it’s true in … [Read more...]
New Audi A5 Cabriolet and Q5 SUV – First Impressions (plus latest Audi news)
Audi UK reveals a new pair of fives – The new A5 Cabriolet and Q5 SUV. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News After seven consecutive years of record new car sales in the UK Audi has started 2017 with a record three months of sales and a record new ‘17’ registration plate month of March. Having grown their model lines from 17 to 52 across 18 ranges in the last 16 years, more new … [Read more...]
Classic Information (Kim’s Tips) – Think positive during vehicle restoration!
Classic vehicle restoration... Don’t give up! You CAN do it… Kim Henson advises. When trying to restore, recommission or even just re-invigorate a classic car, van or pick-up, to get the vehicle to its rightful place back out on the road where it can be enjoyed, there will almost certainly be times when the scale of the task weighs heavy. Indeed things can build up to the extent that sometimes … [Read more...]
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