Throughout the company’s history, Citroën has been known for producing innovative and fascinating vehicles. Well, here’s one that not everyone may be aware of… The firm is currently celebrating 45 years since the introduction (on 16th May 1968) of its now rarely encountered Méhari. This diminutive but versatile and useful vehicle was built for utility and pleasure, and was unpretentious when … [Read more...]
Contributors
Beaulieu Spring Autojumble ‘Fun In The Sun’
The 20th annual Beaulieu Spring Autojumble, sponsored by ‘Practical Classics’ magazine and held over the weekend of 18th and 19th May, attracted myriads of fascinating stalls (a record number of 1,069) and thousands of enthusiastic people (a best-ever figure of 16,507, including stallholders). The weather was good for this year’s event, helping visitors to navigate easily their way through the … [Read more...]
30 years of the Nissan Micra
Can you believe it? Surely it can’t already be 30 years since the Nissan Micra was launched in the U.K? Well, it is. Throughout four generations, the model has been known and liked for its dependability and low running costs. To help celebrate three decades of the model, Nissan has introduced a range of special ‘30’ themed offers for owners… So, for all Micra drivers with more than three … [Read more...]
Satisfied Skoda Owners
For the second year running, Skoda’s Czech-built five door ‘cross-over’ Yeti has been named as the ‘Most Satisfying Car to Own’, in the Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Owners’ feedback provided an overall satisfaction rating of 92.65 per cent. The Yeti wasn’t alone in terms of Skoda accolades, for a total of three of the company’s models were placed in the top six for … [Read more...]
Bristol Classic Car Show
What a Show at Shepton Mallet! Enthusiasts attending the Footman James 34th Bristol Classic Car Show, held these days at the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, were treated to a wonderful display of approximately 200 classic cars and 65 owners’ clubs, plus a wide array of autojumble stands for those seeking components for their project vehicles. In addition, for those seeking ‘new’ … [Read more...]
Chrysler 300C
If you are in the market for a large luxury saloon your choice is normally restricted to the big four from Germany, Lexus from Japan or Jaguar from Britain – that is unless you have a taste for transatlantic indulgence. Tracing its heritage back to the Yank Tanks of the 50s, the Chrysler 300C is a big front engine rear-wheel drive barge of a vehicle that last appeared in UK showroom three years … [Read more...]
Goodwood 2013 preview
If you have ever visited Goodwood for any of its highly popular classic motor sport related events, you’ll want to go again, and if you have never yet taken the plunge, it’s wise to book early! Kim Henson reports from this year’s press preview event… The Goodwood motor racing circuit was made famous in the 1950s/60s by the exciting races which took place there, with the top drivers of that … [Read more...]
Electric Volkswagen e-up!
Volkswagen has announced its first fully electric production vehicle, the four seater ‘e-up!’. The e-up! Will be powered by an 82PS motor, which will enable the car to reach 62 mph from rest within 14 seconds, and it is said that it will have a range between charges of 150 km (about 100 miles). Its battery can be recharged to up to 80 per cent of its storage capacity with half an hour. The … [Read more...]
Honda Jazz – Don’t you just love it?
In a recent survey (of 40,000 drivers with 47,000 cars), carried out by consumer organisation ‘Which?’, the first generation Honda Jazz has been rated as Britain’s most satisfying supermini to own. The externally diminutive but internally spacious and versatile Jazz notched up a score of 91 per cent overall, being rated as a ‘reliable, practical and cheap to run’ car, and saying that it was a … [Read more...]
Hyundai Fuel Cell Vehicle Production Line
Hyundai has become the world’s first car manufacturer to begin assembly line production of zero-emissions, hydrogen powered cars (for fleet use). The historic ix35 models emerging from the line each incorporate a fuel cell powered by hydrogen. The hydrogen is converted by a fuel stack into electricity, which powers an electric motor to propel the vehicle. Emissions? Just water! This … [Read more...]
Land Rover Freelander 2
by Chris Adamson Land Rover has given the Freelander 2, the second best selling model in its range after Evoque, what is describes as a premium overhaul – but, at first, you are going to find it difficult to tell the new from the old. Most of the effort has gone into sprucing up the cabin and taking away some of the clutter, so the first thing you notice is a brand new centre console on the … [Read more...]
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Chris Adamson reports... Since the demise of the X Type Estate, Jaguar has been deficient in terms of a large load carrier, something they have now rectified with the arrival of the exciting new five-door version of the XF saloon. Because this is Jaguar and it has heritage to call on, they badge their elegant XF estate as the Sportbrake and just as the name suggests it oozes style by the … [Read more...]
New Mazda6
by Chris Adamson In the highly competitive executive saloon market Mazda has traditionally fitted between the prestige and mainstream brands – but with its new Mazda6 it manages to encompass both. The new third generation Mazda6 has the functionality and practical features of a Ford Mondeo alongside the technology, specification and style normally associated with a BMW 3 Series. And on top … [Read more...]
Help your engine survive
“Looking after the oil in your engine is the single most important step you can take to ensure trouble-free running and long-term survival of the motor”. It is true that the operating clearances within modern engines are closer than in days gone by, so in theory they should use less oil. However, it is also true that oil sump capacities in recent cars are smaller than in their predecessors, and … [Read more...]
Keep it clean (Washing your car)
When a car is washed (usually infrequently), many people use the minimum possible amount of water, and some start by scrubbing thick mud from the lower parts of the vehicle. This results in the sponge or cloth becoming impregnated with grit, which can then be spread around the rest of the vehicle, including the glass. While there is no need to use a hose (and the large quantities of water that … [Read more...]
Fuel’s Gold?
It is no surprise to hard-pressed motorists that real difficulties are being caused to both private motorists and businesses, due to the current extreme and artificially high prices of fuel. According to a poll carried out recently by FairFuel UK (which is campaigning for more affordable petrol and diesel prices in Britain), the impact of current fuel prices is significantly adverse, across the … [Read more...]
Classic car tax concession
Way back in the 1990s, the government changed the road tax rules so that vehicles over 25 years old qualified for a zero rate of road fund licence (‘Vehicle Excise Duty’). This helped owners who, in general, covered relatively few miles in their older cars, and helped to encourage the preservation of ‘modern classics’. The exemption was sensibly applied on a ‘rolling’ basis, so that as vehicles … [Read more...]
Dacia Sandero and Duster
Cheap and Cheerful? Kim Henson tries two models from the Dacia line-up. Readers with long memories may remember the brief foray of Dacia into the UK market, back in the 1980s. At that time the cars sold here were inexpensive variants based on the Renault 12 of the 1970s. (Despite their low prices, they sold in low numbers here; for many buyers concerns about build quality, reliability and … [Read more...]
100 Years of Car Making at Oxford
Today BMW MINIs are produced at ‘Plant Oxford’, but vehicle production started there over 100 years ago, on 28th March 1913, when the first car built at the site, a Bullnose Morris Oxford, emerged. Oxford was home to the well-respected Morris company (started by William Morris) for many years. To date, nearly 11,700,000 cars have been produced at the Oxford site. In addition to the 2,250,000 … [Read more...]
Seat Leon (third generation)
Kim Henson samples the angular newcomer from Seat… Ever since 1998, Seat’s Leon (the company’s first ‘C’ sector model to be produced under Volkswagen ownership) has been liked and respected as a competent hatchback incorporating sporting characteristics, while retaining everyday practicality for family use. Britain is the largest export market for the Leon, and increasing … [Read more...]