Mini-mise your motoring costs with a classic car... 'The Great British Car Journey' tells us: With petrol prices continuing to soar, could swapping your modern motor for a classic car be the answer to bringing your motoring costs down? The Derbyshire-based classic car visitor attraction Great British Car Journey has done the sums and believes an original 1970s 1000cc classic Mini could … [Read more...]
Genesis G70 Shooting Brake – Road Test, plus Genesis Subscription service and new electric models news
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake Luxury Line gets a further airing... In December last year we visited the new South Korean luxury brand’s model line-up reviewing several models including their latest addition – the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake. Now Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) has had the opportunity for a much longer test drive period. Britain is a very lucrative if sometimes … [Read more...]
Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV – Road Test
The Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV R-Design plug-in hybrid electric estate… …put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Style and safety go hand in hand with Volvo, but today you can add success to that shopping list as so many Brits in 2021 bought into the brand’s ownership experience. In a UK new car market which saw just 1% expansion, the Volvo line up increased 4% … [Read more...]
Genesis Range – First Impressions/Brief Road Tests
Kim Henson reports on his brief test drives in a selection of current Genesis models… (Words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim). It is difficult to keep up with the Genesis premium brand story in the U.K, so rapid has been its development from a ‘standing start’ just a few months ago to a range that today offers a variety of ‘luxury’ models, all providing a buying proposition that is … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swace SZ5 – Road Test
Estate of the art… Kim Henson test drives Suzuki’s Swace, in SZ5 form. (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). These days SUVs predominate in the family car market, but for many buyers an estate car has greater appeal in terms of aesthetics and for its arguably more user-friendly combination of passenger and load carrying abilities. A recent newcomer (from November 2020) to … [Read more...]
MG5 EV estate – Road Test
Chris Adamson test drives MG’s all-electric estate car... (All photos, apart from the two individually credited to MG Motor, are by, and copyright, Chris Adamson). Sales of new combustion engine cars are set to be banned in the UK in not so many years meaning that all motor manufacturers are now gearing up for electric only sales – but have you noticed that almost every new electric model … [Read more...]
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate – Road Test
SPEED AND SPACE FROM SKODA’S IMPRESSIVE OCTAVIA vRS ESTATE. By Robin Roberts (and Motoring Milestones). There’s something attractive about being able to cover ground quickly but discretely. This probably explains why specialist police units opt for the Skoda Octavia Estate vRS. It’s quick, very quick in the right hands and is roomy and comfortable for long stints in service. The … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – “VW Type 4 411 and 412”
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Author: Marc Cranswick Published by: Veloce: https://veloce.co.uk/ 184 pages (hardback) UK Price: £35/$60 BUT check Veloce’s website for special offers on their books – currently they advise “Get 35% off until further notice when quoting ‘STAY-INDOORS-AND-READ’!” ISBN: 978-1-787151-22-4 This book’s subtitle is ‘the final rear-engined cars,’ the 411 and … [Read more...]
Jaguar XF Sportbrake – Road Test
Jaguar's XF Sportbrake R-Dynamic SE P250 tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Motoring Milestones). (Photographs from Jaguar and from Robin Roberts). Style and sophistication are embodied in the practical and purposeful Jaguar XF Sportbrake and a serious alternative to SUVs. Introduced in 2017 to widen the appeal of the medium sized XF saloon, it sits alongside the now expanding range … [Read more...]
New Skoda Octavia PHEV – Road Test
Skoda Octavia iV PHEV, SE L plug-in hybrid Estate... ...tried and tested by By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Skoda really is on a charge with its award winning Octavia range. The most successful Skoda ever sold in Britain, with over 500,000 delivered in four generations, has picked up a clutch of awards, notably the latest for its family values as selected by an international … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: Accessible Classics No. 1 – Austin A30/A35 – ‘Enjoying Your Austin’
Are you interested in the Austin A30/A35 models of the 1950s/60s? If the answer is 'yes' you might enjoy this book too... The Austin A30 (initially called the A30 'Seven' to deliberately make connections with the highly succcessful pre-War Austin Sevens) was introduced in October 1951 and was the first all-new compact post-War Austin saloon, featuring a unitary construction body shell (the first … [Read more...]
Latest BMW 5 Series – First Impressions
48 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG – THE BMW 5 SERIES – NOW REFRESHED By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The longest serving model range in the BMW line-up is the 5 Series, launched seven generations ago in 1972. Since the last new models were launched in 2017 over 66,000 of them have been sold in the UK and 600,000 of them globally, now the latest updated 5 Series cars have just gone on … [Read more...]
Skoda Octavia 1.5 petrol estate – Road Test
DRIVEN SKODA’S NEW OCTAVIA ESTATE BUT THIS TIME WITH PETROL POWER... …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The all-new Skoda Octavia range of Hatch and Estate models are well and truly in circulation after the initial COVID-19 lockdown delays, and are making their way to eager UK customers with more versions just announced. The Octavia has been Skoda’s best selling global model range … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Octavia Estate – Road Test
Skoda Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 150TDI – What’s not to like? By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). We live in a 24/7 world, expect everything to work at any time and not let us down. One guide to choosing a good car is looking at what police, ambulance and taxi companies use because they are on the road 24/7 and one of the most prolific of vehicles you’ll see is the … [Read more...]
Toyota Corolla Trek – Road Test
RIGHT CAR RIGHT TIME – THE NEW TOYOTA COROLLA TREK MIGHT BE… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). With staycations forced upon many of us due to the pandemic lockdown on overseas travel, activity holidays in the UK are at record levels whether it involves hotels, B&Bs, caravanning, camping, glamping, boating or hiking. UK sales and rentals of motorhomes, caravans, campers, tents and … [Read more...]
BMW 340i Touring – Road Test
SPACE AND PACE – THE NEW BMW 340i TOURING. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (All interior photographs of the right-hand drive test car by David). BMW has a vast array of model ranges, Saloons, Touring estates, Active and Gran Tourer MPVs, Coupés and Gran Coupés, Convertibles, Sports Cars, SUV X models and an increasing number of current and future ‘I’ all-electric models. Backing up … [Read more...]
Latest Toyota Corolla – Road Test
The British Built Toyota Corolla Design 2.0 Hybrid Touring… …Tried and Tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The world’s best selling car and most successful British-built model, the Toyota Corolla, goes from strength to strength. The Corolla name returned to the Toyota lineup for the 12th generation and replaced the Auris. Toyota has been building cars in Britain since 1992 … [Read more...]
BMC/BL Mini – The Clubman and 1275GT Scenario
Mini Clubman and 1275GT history and development… …Dave Moss describes what happened. In the mid 1960s, agonising began at BMC over how best to update or replace the Mini, which was turning into one of its most successful cars. The decision was ultimately overtaken by the mergers which first created British Motor Holdings and then the British Leyland Motor Corporation – bringing all the BMC … [Read more...]
Classic Clubs Series – No. 1 – Ford Anglia 105E Owners’ Club
Classic Clubs Series – No. 1 – Ford Anglia 105E Owners’ Club Do you own, drive, or are interested in… an Anglia 105E or 123E, or a Prefect 107E? If so, this club is for you… Kim Henson explains… In this new Wheels-Alive series, over time we shall be looking at the multitude of enthusiastic organisations that help their members to keep their classic vehicles (of various makes, models and types) … [Read more...]
Latest Skoda Superb estate car – Road Test
REVISED SKODA SUPERB ESTATE DOES WHAT IT SAYS IN THE TITLE… …proclaims David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Skoda Superb large Estate and its five door Hatchback stablemate models have over the years not only pulled in huge global sales but have received numerous awards and accolades. These have been not just for its D-segment class-leading interior passenger and load space, but for its … [Read more...]
