Inside Track: In the car park

Sorry CJ, you're taking the Ford

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:44:22 GMT

Dan Trent writes:
Well, not that sorry really when the Ford in question is a Focus ST Mountune. Full roadtest coming soon but without wishing too give away the punchline too much we like. A lot.

Anyway, CJ had designs on the Passat we’d just had delivered. But unfortunately for him I’d had to nip out to the car park to shuffle it out of the way so Peter could get his Citroen long termer out. And even moving this VW 20 metres across the car park had me determined not to give up the keys without a fight.

Why the excitement over a Passat? Well, this is the 296bhp R36 version. Which to my mind harks back to the golden age of discreet Autobahn über saloons in the early 1990s. These days the outside lane pecking order is well established, with even relatively discreet ‘S’ Audis and their S line brethren now joining M Sport BMWs and ruded up Mercs in the premiere league of fast lane hustlers. Which gives me (yet another) chance to wheel out my favourite German word: überholprestige – the philosophy of overtaking status! I love the fact they’ve got a specific word for it…

It’s a subtle thing though. True überholprestige derives from understated menace, not shouty bodykits and bonnet scoops. Sorry hot hatch whizzkids and you lot in your Imprezas and Evos – you ain’t got it. Think S-Class with xenons ablaze and you’re closer to what it’s all about. But I digress. This R36 Passat is a proper old-skool German performance saloon, in the mould of greats like the Mercedes E500, E34 BMW M5 and Audi RS2. And I think it’s fabulous. CJ’s finally wrestled the keys from my grasp too and disappeared for the weekend so we’ll see what he makes of it when he gets back.

Dan

90s German autobahn meisters hall of fame:

Mercedes E500

BMW M5 (E34)

Audi RS2

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Missing: Mini John Cooper Works grille, presumed stolen!

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:31:14 GMT

Nick Eaton writes:
So I arrive for my first day of work experience at Motoring Research excited about the prospect of shooting the new Mini John Cooper Works only to find out that someone has stolen the grille!

A good start then. I've been working at MSN Cars in London for just over a week now and as a treat they decided to let me out of the office for a day and sent me to Harpenden with the promise of getting up close and familiar with some actual cars themselves. However, what I am in fact familiarising myself with is what a Mini John Cooper Works looks like without a lower front grille.

Naturally we've been doing everything we can to recover the stolen item. Dan has been restlessly searching on eBay, and BMW can expect a call from us any moment to inquire how much it would cost us to replace. We'll also be touring the streets of Harpenden to see if the thief has struck again. Or perhaps it was part a personal vendetta against us?

Failing all other solutions maybe we'll just go round to Top Gear and steal the grille off their Mini John Cooper Works. It's a dog-eat-dog world after all. Just ask Lehman Brothers. Alternatively, if you have a Mini John Cooper Works and would like to sell us the front grille then please contact us asap.

Nick

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New Ibiza interlude

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:34:21 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

Nearly two months into my Ibiza ownership, and what should roll into the car park, but a new one? Had I jumped too soon? Well, no, because of SEAT’s odd decision to delay diesel Ibizas until next month. The new range is, for now, petrol-only. Even so, with news of the new Ecomotive announced, I was definitely up for a 500-mile charge in the current best-seller of the range, the 1.4 SE. Of which there was no missing. Vividly painted, it most certainly was.

Without spoiling the forthcoming road test, or mentioning the gutless 1.4-litre engine, here’s some things that, once the colour had got out the way, jumped out at me:

Looks: Not everyone in the office does, but I like the strake-tastic lines, plus the oddly retro look to the rear. Small lights, deep tailgate glass, curvingly raked screen… for some reason, it reminds me of 1970s Golf MkIs and Fiat 127s. Contrast that with comments of ‘insubstantiality’ in the office. Nothing beats a bit of controversy.

Interior: Much better quality, there are still hard plastics but they seem less frank now. Detailing like the instrument pod and steering wheel is lovely, and the button pack next to the gearlever is neat. You can even fill it with heated seat buttons. Heavens.

Likes: At night, it’s just like an Audi – all the controls glow red, and the dials glow vivid white. Fitting, given how SEAT is officially aligned with Audi in the VW organisation. The ‘free’ cornering foglights, illuminating the road when turning into low-speed corners, are neat. The damped ‘thunk’ when closing a door sounds high-quality.

Dislikes: The column stalks are stock VW, but feel wobblier than they would on a VW – and the click of the rear wash-wipe is low-rent. The stereo, while sounding good, is a confusing pain to use. The dreaded digital fuel gauge gives only a vague idea of what’s actually in the tank.

Oddities: Why are the door openings so narrow? As Dan’s knee will attest (it drew blood!!), why does the edge of the dash stick out so much? Why are the sunvisors not wider, so they actually block sunlight when flipped round to the side glass? What’s made SEAT trade steering wheel stereo remotes for a Peugeot-style fingertip remote? Couldn’t the interior doorhandle be a bit less shiny?

Overalls: I was a bit nonplussed when driving the Ibiza at first. Nice light gearchange (indeed, Japanese-oiled, and very fast), direct but soulless steering, gutless engine (oops – promised I wouldn’t mention it…) – yes, perfectly competent, but all a bit dull. However, with miles, the quality of the underpinnings (as in, specc’d to a high standard) started to show. Pedals have real solidity and accuracy. The steering is stable. The ride, initially irritable, is actually very composed and assuring at speed, as is the steering, while it inspires wide-track confidence in corners. Mainly, though, it feels bulletproof and Germanic, well up for being flung around for 150,000 miles.

I wasn’t blown away with lust and passion for it, as I was with the new Fiesta, but I was still impressed, once it had time to grow on me. Particularly when, back in the office, I checked the price. Just over £10k for this exact car? Now that’s a heck of a lot of car for the money.

If only it hadn’t spoiled getting back into my own car so… more to follow on this!

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Get creative: it's not all white any more

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:17:20 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

I'm getting bored with white. It was the in colour at the Geneva Motor Show three years ago now, time for a change. The new Volkswagen Scirocco that arrived in our car park this morning is white, and it doesn't really work. And the Scirocco is one of the cars of 2008 - not to mention an interesting shape.

So what's next? Really bright stuff, I reckon. The dub looks great in the Viper Green launch colour, for example. But how brave should you be, exactly...

I was glancing through the Audi TT brochure while putting together the fuel efficient performance cars top ten that went up last week. And check this out:

Optional colours for the TTS include Solar Orange and Imola Yellow. That would be brave. Especially in combination with the interior illustrated on the brochure's next page:

No-one's going to mad enough to risk their resale values most likely. But what with the new Ford Fiesta looking all pretty in pink, I predict our roads are going to be a lot more colourful very soon.

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Links:

The Hot Fiesta Colour

Scirocco blows us back in time

Excess all areas: the Audi TTS

First drive: Audi TTS (2008 onwards model)

First Drive: Volkswagen Scirocco (2008 onwards model)

Top Ten: fuel efficient performance cars

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Mopping up

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:38:30 GMT

Dan Trent writes:
Cleaning up press cars ahead of a photoshoot is all part of the job but actually mopping one out? That's a new one! But of course, this isn't your typical press car. It is the rudest van in the west, the Sport X version of the Mercedes Vito. And having just got back from a 1500-mile hack to the French alps we've really bonded!

I've been on the receiving end of some serious van envy wherever I've taken it too,from nods of approval from fellow van drivers on the motorways to two holidaying English plumbers wandering over and grilling me on every last detail. The Brabus bodykit and wheels went down well, ditto the searing red paintwork. And when they heard about the 3-litre V6 diesel engine (a version of the motor in the S320 CDI no less) and hot hatch baiting 8.3-second 0-62mph time I could have sold it twice over on the spot!

A van of this calibre demands rather more pride in its upkeep than your typical rusty old Transit though. Hence the need to break out the mop and bucket to prepare it for the photos having unloaded the five bikes it carried across to France in such fine style. A Merc is a Merc, even if it is a van and the muddy floor was clashing awfully with the luxurious leather upholstery!

Dan

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Hell is a Defender SVX

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:18:16 GMT

Peter Burgess writes:
This is a picture of the Land Rover Defender SVX in the office car park. As far as I am concerned that’s where it can stay. I took it home for the first time last night, and now I am grateful I didn’t take it the previous weekend. I was going to but I needed space for a couple of hundred bottles of wine and there was no chance in the SVX. Despite no rear seats, the spare wheel is carried inside and the floor is super high to this model. I used the Vauxhall Agila instead, which coped admirably. Something wrong there, surely.

The SVX is a convertible. Or rather it has a fabric roof which you’d need a week to remove, probably a month to replace. The much vaunted stereo is one of those dreadful Clarion units that defy logic and can’t be operated without a magnifying glass. But the worst thing is the ride. The suspension seems to do very little suspending but it does delight at jarring your vertebrae at every possible opportunity. It’s the worst in living memory. This Defender makes the same statement as walking around with a pit bull on a lead. Except instead of a bloody leg, you’ll end up with a dislocated spine.

Peter

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And now for something completely different...

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:26:42 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

Boohoo, a man just took away the Lotus. But look what I've got to drive home in instead! Is it possible to find two such contrasting vehicles?! I'll be betting my journey home will be at a rather more sedate pace than the ride in. But the Land Rover is certainly easier to get in and out of. And I may well seek out the road less travelled in an attempt to use it in the way its makers intended. More on this tomorrow. Hopefully.

Anyway, I couldn't waste the opportunity to get a shot of these two quintessentially British - and yet completely disparate - vehicles together in one place.

Dan

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How low can you go?

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:08:34 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

Off to the Nürburgring this weekend and I’ve had my weapon of choice delivered – a Lotus Exige S with the 243bhp Performance Pack fitted. It also includes Yokohama AO48 street legal trackday rubber which would be brilliant if only the forecast didn’t include snow. I’m in denial about this and will try and put it at the back of my mind and instead enjoy a chuckle at my Eurotunnel reservation that specifies ‘car low’ on my booking sheet.

They ain’t kidding it’s low – at 1170mm it’s not much over a metre tall and entry and exit is like posting yourself through a letter box. Elegant it ain’t, but then I guess I didn’t go to finishing school. Anyway, I don’t forsee any problems fitting under the height restrictors. I just hope I’ve got enough ride height not to beach myself on the ramp that leads onto the train…

Dan

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The Adventures of SpongeDan ClioFan

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:14:33 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

The title of the previous post could just as easily be applied to Dan's new Clio - which you probably spotted in the background - albeit for entirely different reasons.

In case you were wondering, up until about an hour ago it was still wearing its Yorkshire road grime with pride. The self-inflicted dirt message rather giving the game away:

Cleaning the little oik really is going to be a time consuming business.

How long, I wonder, before Dan considers outsourcing the work? Applications to dan_at...

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Links:

In the car park: seriously, who buys a car in this colour?

Guess what - the Clio needs another clean

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

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In the car park: seriously, who buys a car in this colour?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:55:59 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

Since everyone around here already seems to think I'm obsessed with colours, I thought I'd post this:

Yes, that's right: a metallic brown supermini. Although technically the shade is down in the press pack as Maroon, that's probably just to save hurting its feelings.

And it you're thinking this car looks vaguely familiar, you'd be right.

For despite the Subaru badges...

...and resurrection of the old Justy name plate...

...this car is little more than a rebumpered Daihatsu Sirion.

Not that there is anything wrong with that particularly. As spacious, no-nonsense family transport that doesn't cost very much, these cars are surprisingly handy.

Still. Metallic brown?

Full Subaru Justy road test soon.

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Links:

Sho' got the blues

Image of the week: FAB Design - or is that just the name of the company?

Geneva: colour me bad?

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Sho’ got the blues

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:39:23 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

CJ’s post-Geneva colour obsession shows no sign of abating – his excitement at the colour coordination displayed by this week’s collection of press cars being just one more example! Camera in hand I headed off to the car park to snap our true blue fleet which, while sharing the same hue, couldn’t be more diverse. We’ve got diesel hatchbacks in the shape of Richard’s 308 long termer and the ‘eco’ Audi A3 TDI, a city banker-spec 911 Turbo cab (Tiptronic, inevitably), a family friendly Mazda 5 and, of course, an STI Impreza in trademark WRC blue.

Indeed, looking once again at Geneva it seems blue IS the new silver as far as the industry is concerned, what with Bluetec, Bluemotion and several variations on the theme lurking on various stands on the show floor.

So, you heard it here first. Blue is the new white is the new silver is the new black. Got that?

Dan

Link:

CJ's Geneva blog report

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In the car park: it's technicolour, baby

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:14:01 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

Dan snapped some pictures of our car park yesterday, inspired no doubt by the cheerful range of hues we have amongst this week's fleet.

Isn't he arty?

As you can see it gets pretty crowded here. Fortunately, the other businesses that share our building are not only used to us, but also incredibly tolerant. Rest assured however, that in this instance, the only cars we're blocking in are our own...

From left to right in the picture above (or grey to white, if you prefer), that's a BMW X5 3.0sd (the quick one, in other words), an Audi A5 2.7TDI (jaw dropping engine refinement, less impressive chassis and economy), that Porsche Cayenne GTS again, and the Renault Clio Cup. Full roadtests on all, soon.

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Links:

Our car park: C63 AMG and Mini Clubman

Clio Cup in the mood for mash?

Notes from the road: a tale of two GTS

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