1 11, 2012

The Mini Countryman updated

By Steve Lumley1 November, 2012Blazing Red, Brilliant Copper, caption, car, countryman, GM, John Cooper Works, John Cooper Works Countryman, LS, mini, Mini Cooper, mini countryman, reliability, SD, seat, speed, Sport, SUV, the Countryman No Comments

It’s been out for nearly two years now and the Mini Countryman is facing a revamp. The car has had mixed success on these shores (led by media stories about its ‘suicide door’) but it has built up a strong […]

30 10, 2012

Dacia’s Duster ‘cleans-up’ the opposition

By Steve Lumley30 October, 2012caption, car, dacia, dacia duster, Europe, ford, impressive rate, India, LS, mini, MoT, price, renault, smart, SUV, UK No Comments

It’s not even on sale yet and already the Dacia Duster is racking up advance orders at an impressive rate. We’ve mentioned this impressive motor here before but since the order books have been opened they have racked up 1,000 […]

12 10, 2012

Volvo’s all-new V40 R-Design

By Steve Lumley12 October, 2012alloy wheels, Belgium, caption, Cross Country, Cruise Control, ford, LED, LS, LV, mini, new volvo v40, price, seat, Sport, steering wheel, TFT, volvo, volvo v40, volvo v40 r-design No Comments

Not everyone loves a Volvo because they are seen as too chunky and expensive to drive. I love Volvos and have experienced just how much punishment they will take having driving a V70 to the end of its life. Now […]

11 10, 2012

Ford develops a new way to save fuel – the bonnet

By Steve Lumley11 October, 2012caption, car, carbon fibre, carbon fibre bonnet, carbon fibre technology, ford, ford focus, LS, MoT, technology No Comments

It sounds strange but true – Ford has developed carbon fibre technology which should save drivers fuel. The carbon fibre reinforced plastic Ford Focus bonnet is constructed from the super-strong material more usually associated with hand built racing vehicles or […]

10 10, 2012

Toyota recalls 138,000 vehicles

By Steve Lumley10 October, 20122008, auris, caption, car, corolla, Customer Relations, LS, PWMS, rav4, toyota, Toyota Rav4, Toyota recall, UK, VIN, VOSA, Yaris No Comments

You may have heard on the news today that Toyota has issued a major recall for its vehicles in the UK. The cars concerned are the Rav4, Yaris, Auris and Corolla. It’s obviously a major setback for the Japanese firm […]

5 10, 2012

Best tow car announced

By Steve Lumley5 October, 2012caption, car, chevrolet, Chevrolet Captiva, LS, price, Safe Towing Guide, speed, Vehicle Excise Duty No Comments

Normally I wouldn’t give the Chevrolet Captiva the time of day – though there are some good saloons in the Chevvy range – but I sat up and took notice because caravaners have given it an award. In the Caravan […]

4 10, 2012

Kia’s new Picanto ‘City’ is prowling the streets

By Steve Lumley4 October, 2012caption, car, City models, electronic stability control, GEM, kia, Kia Originals, Kia Picanto, kia picanto city, London, LS, MoT, price No Comments

It went on sale this week and there’s no doubt you’ll be seeing a few of these City models because they are a bargain buy. Or a better lease deal…it’s your choice. The new motor is part of Kia’s ‘Originals’ […]

3 10, 2012

Lexus CT 200h gets wider

By Steve Lumley3 October, 2012alloy wheels, caption, car, CT, DAB, DVD, lexus, lexus 200h, lexus CT, Lexus CT 200h, LS, price, SE, seat, Sport No Comments

It’s already one of the biggest cars on the road and now Lexus have made the 200h wider and revamped every model in the range. Lexus has also introduced a new entry-point S grade to the range, making the CT […]

25 09, 2012

And Europe’s most reliable car is…

By Steve Lumley25 September, 2012Aston, Bad Renault Espace, Bentley, Bentley Continental, bmw, BMW 7 Series, caption, car, e-class, electrical issues, Europe, Fabia, Good Renault Scenic, Grand Scenic, land rover, leasing company, LS, LV, mercedes, range rover, range rover sport, renault, Renault Espace, renault scenic, skoda, skoda fabia, Sport, suspension issues, the Bentley, volvo, Warranty Direct No Comments

It’s always an issue when coming to buy or lease a new vehicle – will it let me down? And the answer has now been provided by Warranty Direct who have looked at the claim rates for cars aged between […]

21 09, 2012

The new Audi A3

By Steve Lumley21 September, 2012A3 Sportback, audi, audi a3, Audi A3 Sportback, caption, car, model choice, MoT, new audi, new Audi A3, Paris, price, Sport, Sportback, TFSI No Comments

Next week’s Paris motor show is gearing up to be a cracker with lots of new cars being unveiled. Among them will be the new Audi A3 Sportback. The announcement of this practical, five door model comes just a few […]

14 09, 2012

Mini’s new Paceman revealed

By Steve Lumley14 September, 2012caption, car, Cooper Paceman, countryman, coupe, LS, mini, Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper Paceman, mini cooper s paceman, mini paceman, MoT, new Mini Paceman, Paceman, Paris Motor Show, range rover, range rover evoque, speed, Sport, Sports Activity Coupe, the Countryman, The Mini Cooper S Paceman, the Paris Motor Show No Comments

This is the new Mini Paceman – it’s the seventh version of the family and is being hailed as being the world’s first Sports Activity Coupe. I’m not entirely sure what that means but it is intended to be a […]

7 09, 2012

All new Range Rover unveiled

By Steve Lumley7 September, 2012caption, car, diesel engine, diesel engines, fourth generation, fuel economy, land rover, LS, mini, MoT, range rover, Range Rover Autobiography, Range Rover Vogue, SUV, UK No Comments

The new Range Rover will cost a wallet-busting £71,000 and the car firm says they’ve already got six months of orders! To be fair, it’s an impressive piece of car which has been redesigned from the ground up. Among the […]

31 08, 2012

Fiat Panda 4×4

By Steve Lumley31 August, 2012caption, fiat, fiat panda, fiat panda 4x4, LS, mini, MoT, Panda, Paris Motor Show, price No Comments

Fiat are to unveil their new all-wheel drive Panda at next month’s Paris Motor Show. It replaces the current model which is also the only 4×4 in the A sector. The Panda 4×4 first appeared 30 years ago and this […]

24 08, 2012

Alfa adds Sportiva trims to its models

By Steve Lumley24 August, 2012alfa, Alfa Giulietta, Alfa Giulietta Sportiva, Alfa Mito, Alfa MiTo Sportiva, alfa romeo, alloy wheels, caption, car, Giulietta, Giulietta Sportiva, LS, mini, Quadrifoglio Verde, seat, Sport, steering wheel, technology No Comments

Alfa Romeo fans are in for a treat after the car maker announced it was adding Sportiva trims to its Mito and Giuletta ranges. These stylish cars have now been boosted, in my opinion, with a trim that really suits […]