David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports on the organisation and its work today in helping its members. With around 16.5 million car journeys by five million motorists estimated to have been made during the last UK Bank Holiday period in August, with queues stretching up to 24 miles on the busy M5/M4 motorway interchange at Bristol, a stone’s throw away from the iconic RAC offices tower, … [Read more...]
News & Views
Our take on what’s been happening in the world of motoring
We appreciate that these days there are vast quantities of motoring news items freely available to all, from huge numbers of global sources. It would be impossible to bring them all to you through these pages – so we are not even going to try!
Instead, we will include selected motoring-related stories which we feel will be of interest. Depending on the item, we hope that they will also inform, encourage, entertain and provoke further thought!
Each item will be dated, and as new stories arrive, older posts will be archived chronologically.
The 2019 Great Dorset Steam Fair – the hottest in its history
This year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair, the largest event of its type in the world, was sun-bathed and VERY hot throughout, but enthusiasm was undiminished by the heat, as Kim Henson explains… It is unsurprising that with exceedingly high temperatures each day (well into the 90s Fahrenheit/30s Celsius), some would-be visitors chose to take their families to the Dorset beaches rather than to this … [Read more...]
Skoda Scala – Road Test
The new Skoda Scala SE 115 hp 1.0 litre petrol, manual – more than Rapid… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Skoda Rapid might be a hard act to follow, but the Scala five-door hatchback launched this summer has really overtaken it already. Within weeks of its launch the Skoda Scala started winning awards for its family-friendly practicality and praise for its styling around … [Read more...]
Green Dragon EV Rally 2019 – Results
An electric atmosphere… Robin Roberts reports. Last weekend thousands of shoppers, holidaymakers and sports enthusiasts saw some of the world’s most advanced cars in Swansea, for Britain’s first exclusively low carbon rally. Fuel cell models lined up with a wide range of battery electric vehicles from nearly every manufacturer selling in Britain, to compete in the Green Dragon EV Rally and … [Read more...]
Mini Happy Returns – 60 Years since BMC’s baby was introduced
Small Wonder... Britain's favourite small car of the 1960s and 70s, celebrated by Dave Moss. It was exactly 60 years ago this week, on 26th August 1959, that the Mini was introduced to the world. In this first instalment of a series about the BMC/British Leyland/Rover Minis, Dave describes the background to, and development of, this small but revolutionary car, dubbed 'Wizardry on Wheels' in … [Read more...]
GDEV Rally – Britain’s greenest ever motorsport event
Britain’s greenest-ever rally is taking place in Wales this week... Robin Roberts reports. The Green Dragon EV Rally is exclusively for hydrogen and pure electric cars and is based in Swansea, where Sir William Robert Grove invented the fuel cell in the 1840s. The event also breaks ground as it’s not only the first low carbon rally to be held in Britain, but it also allows any driver with a … [Read more...]
Latest Mitsubishi L200 Pick-up – First Impressions
ON THE RIGHT TRACKS – THE NEW MITSUBISHI 6 SERIES L200 PICK-UP RANGE… …David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports. Arriving in UK Mitsubishi Motors showrooms in time for the new registration plate month of September is the new Series 6 L200 Pick-Up range, where the Double Cab versions are the most popular for business, hard graft and leisure uses. Mitsubishi say the Series 6 is more … [Read more...]
Mini Happy Returns – News and MINI Road Test
60th ANNIVERSARY EDITION MINI AND 10 MILLION MINIS BUILT AND COUNTING. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Photographs by David, and from MINI). The original Alex Issigonis designed British Mini was launched in 1959 under BMC’s Austin and Morris brands priced from £497 to £537. It had an 848cc, 33 hp normally aspirated transversely mounted four cylinder petrol engine and until its … [Read more...]
WiseDriving – Braking Distances Quiz
At any time… how far, in total, would you and your car travel if you need to stop? You should know! Kim Henson slows down and investigates… Whenever you are driving, for any given speed you really do need to know the distance it would take your car to come to a halt, including your ‘thinking’ time and actually operating the brakes to bring the vehicle to a standstill. Indeed this information is … [Read more...]
Bridgestone backs National Tyres’ Staff Development Programme
Bridgestone continues to provide backing for National Tyres’ staff development programme... With training and staff development valued so highly at Bridgestone, what is claimed to be the world’s number one tyre and rubber company is proud to build on its commitment to developing people with National Tyres and Autocare. For a seventh consecutive year, Bridgestone is lending its … [Read more...]
10 Year anniversary of The Motor Ombudsman Vehicle Warranty Products Code
The Motor Ombudsman commemorates 10-year anniversary of the launch of its Vehicle Warranty Products Code. The Motor Industry Code of Practice for Vehicle Warranty Products was launched to the public on 14 July 2009 to drive up standards beyond those required by law for the provision of automotive warranties. It replaced the Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI) Code and extended the level … [Read more...]
Aston Martin DBX – orders can be placed from 18th August
Orders for the Welsh built Aston Martin DBX SUV open next month at the globally important Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, California. Robin Roberts reports... The luxury car maker has received a steady stream of enquiries since it announced the car, which will be assembled at St Athan’s new car plant. In fact, pre-production models have already been completed as part of the training … [Read more...]
News from Mini – and John Cooper Works (JCW) hatch version First Impressions
MINI NEWS AND JOHN COOPER WORKS HATCH FIRST DRIVE VIEWS. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… At last week’s MINI UK media test driving day the BMW Group brand brought along their 60th anniversary Edition Hatch model as well as the revised John Cooper Works (JCW) Hatch version to be sampled. With a 60th anniversary Edition model already scheduled into my forthcoming road test diary … [Read more...]
Halfords Autocentres 2019 Roadworthiness Report – an in-depth analysis of motoring in Britain
Halfords Autocentres 2019 Roadworthiness Report... ...Kim Henson has studied with interest this enlightening document. A very comprehensive new report from Halfords Autocentres (https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/blog/roadworthiness-report) highlights and explains a multitude of facts and figures relating to many aspects of motoring in the UK today. Notably they include accidents, … [Read more...]
Motor Ombudsman wins TyreSafe accolade for winter tyres education campaign
The Motor Ombudsman wins the TyreSafe Online and Social Media award for its winter tyres campaign... The Motor Ombudsman receives the Online and Social Media trophy at TyreSafe’s annual awards ceremony, held at St George’s Park in Staffordshire. The yearly accolades recognise individuals and businesses that have made a significant contribution to raising awareness about tyre safety-related … [Read more...]
Bridgestone prepares to welcome people to its home city
Bridgestone Ready to Welcome the World to its Home City for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone), the world’s largest tyre and rubber company and the only Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner with its global headquarters in Tokyo, is celebrating one year to go until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by inviting the world to follow its journey … [Read more...]
Need more luggage space for holiday trips? A roof box might help…
Choosing a roof box for my car (and fitting it)... Gerald Morgan tells all. Disclaimer This article should NOT be read as giving full advice on using a roof box. It is up to the individual to check the weight limit that can be safely used on their vehicle, and to ensure that the roof bars are correctly and safely attached to the roof of the car, and that the box is attached and packed in … [Read more...]
Inconsiderate acts that make British drivers SO upset…
TOP TEN ACTS THAT MAKE DRIVERS SEE RED? Tailgating, using a mobile phone and not indicating irritate drivers the most. A quarter said they associate BMW as the brand of car most likely to be poorly driven. UK drivers are an irritated bunch according to a new survey on what makes drivers see red when they are on the road. Over 1900 UK drivers told InsuretheGap.com, a specialist … [Read more...]
‘New’ MoT test failure rate…
Green Flag has uncovered the pass and fail rates of motorists under the new MOT tests; Robin Roberts reports... The new tests were brought in a year ago in May 2018 and the research by the breakdown assistance company has established where the most dangerous vehicles are in the UK. Under new MOT regulations, there are new failure and fault categories, as well as stricter limits for … [Read more...]
New Forest McLaren dealership opens – and McLaren GT unveiled
Opening of New Forest McLaren dealership and unveiling of McLaren GT… Chris Adamson reports. (Photographs by Chris and McLaren). Affluent south coast motorists are the target audience for the ninth McLaren dealership to open in Britain as the British sportscar brand heads towards its target of 6,000 world-wide sales by 2024 – last year they sold 4,816 units. McLaren New Forest is located … [Read more...]
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