Fourwheelsteer: Motoring Writer

The Jaguar E-type is not short of photogenic details, the tail lamps on the Series 1 were particularly lovely. I also love the way the rain drops have gathered on the curves of this car, which belongs to the Jaguar Heritage Trust. If I were trying again I'd attempt to get the tail lamp more horizontal in the frame.

Busy Times

2011-05-29T07:27:00.001+01:00

Quite a lot has been happening over the last couple of weeks.

Last weekend I was looking at cars with a view to buying one. Runner up in the process was a magnificent 1996 Lexus LS400. Painted very dark green with the slightly tacky option of gold badges the LS was in many ways superb. Smooth, quiet, comfortable you can see how Lexus came from nowhere to become a genuine contender alongside Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes. For me, however, there was a sense that something with more driver involvement would be better. That said, I may go after another LS400 next time I buy a car. As for what I’ve chosen this time, you’ll have to wait and see.

This week I was able to catch up on my quota of new cars for the year. It also allowed me to drive not one but three cars I’ve admired since my childhood. Simply remembering what was what could take a while so bear with me.

Yesterday I finally got round to changing the oil in my bike. Having done oil changes on cars there didn’t seem to be anything to fear by doing the same on the bike. Clearance to remove the drain bolt with my drip tray in place was lacking until I removed the lower side body panel. There is nothing quite like taking your bike apart to appreciate how well it was put together. In particular I was impressed by the design of the captive nuts that should never work loose. Even more impressively, everything went back together as easily as it had come apart and there is now fresh oil inside the engine, good for another couple of thousand miles of riding.

Finally, today I’m off to see some drag racing at Santa Pod. It has been a while since my last taste of quarter mile action and I’m looking forward to it. Pictures will follow, no doubt.

Spotted: Modified Alfa Romeo 145

2011-05-17T06:33:00.001+01:00

What do you do if you’ve got an Alfa 145, some alloy wheels, a tin of gold paint and some Abarth badges? Apparently you apply the alloys, paint and badges to the car and the result can be seen above.

Strangely it doesn’t look as shocking in the photo as it did in the metal. You don’t see many Alfa 145s and the shape has worn petty well. In fact it probably fits into the modern landscape of tall hatchbacks better than it did when the model was introduced.

What puzzled me was replacing the Alfa Romeo badges with Abarth badges. I’ve never understood putting badges on a car to pretend it is something it isn’t.

New bike on the block

2011-04-29T23:05:00.001+01:00

Having decided that the Honda CBR 125R was the bike for me I summoned all my courage (and cash) and did the deal. With over 1,000 miles riding behind me I am confident it was the correct decision.

Getting to know the bike has been great fun. For one thing it seems to have greater reserves of cornering power than I have skill or bravery to go looking for its limits. That’s in the dry, anyway, and I’ve so far avoided any seriously wet weather. It also depends on the tyres being correctly inflated – I had a nasty shock at the end of a long journey where the pressure dropped by about 10psi. Nothing bad happened but it was enough to seriously impair my confidence.

That incident happened on the return leg of an epic trip to Manchester. Travelling by a very scenic route the outward journey took five hours and the (slightly) more direct return trip lasted four. It wasn’t the fastest or most comfortable way to do the journey but it did have a sense of adventure. It also proved that the saddle and riding position were perfectly comfortable for hours at a time.

Just one thing stops the CBR from being perfect; the gearbox contains some rather odd ratios. First and second seem very low, with an uncomfortable jump to third. Third, fourth and fifth are about perfect but sixth is way too high. The slightest gradient or headwind will see speed slipping away, and on a small-engined bike that’s something you can ill afford.

It seems like an odd choice, a sporty 125cc bike is unlikely to be pressed into regular long-distance service. Even on my epic adventure I think I only used sixth once or twice, although as the engine has loosened up the high gear has become slightly more useful. Even so, the bike would be even better with slightly lower overall gearing with even closer ratios.

The engine thrives on revs. Having got to know it you wouldn’t describe it as peaky but there is a clear increase in power above 7,000rpm and then it pulls all the way round to the 11,000rpm redline. The delivery doesn’t even seem to tail off when you hit the red paint although my mechanical sympathy kicks in before the rev limiter. As I’ve already mentioned, the engine definitely pulls more strongly at 1,500 miles than it did at 500 and I wonder how much more power could be liberated from this motor if the law didn’t stipulate a maximum power limit for learner riders.

Of course the quest for more power is easily satisfied once I get my full licence by moving to a bigger bike. I’m looking forward to the day when I can make that move but I know I will always remember this little Honda with great affection.

Trying bikes

2011-04-12T22:25:00.000+01:00

Recently I arranged test rides of a couple of motor bikes with a view to buying one. My main purpose was to try a Honda CBR 125R but also provided the opportunity to acquire some experience of the Yamaha YBR125.

The Yamaha felt very familiar; the upright riding position and comfortable, squashy seat are very similar to the Honda CG125. Modern injection and engine management meant no messing about with chokes and a fuss-free power delivery. The presence of a tachometer made it easy to judge how much power to use in slow riding. It wasn’t terribly exciting but would make a nice little workhorse of a bike.

The Honda CBR was more like a racehorse, with its sporty riding position and appearance. True there isn’t much performance since, like all learner legal bikes, it is limited to 15bhp but it has a feeling of delicacy and precision. All the controls have a lightness and positivity of operation, particularly the featherweight clutch and disk brakes. The handling and ride are about the best I have encountered (in my limited experience). My only complaint was that the riding position felt less comfortable than I expected; putting too much pressure on the hands.

After some deliberation I decided that the Honda was the one to go for. The YBR would be a fine commuter bike but the CBR is nicer to ride. To my mind motorbikes are as much about balance and control – which the Honda has in spades – as power and speed. Furthermore; if I’m using the bike every day then I want the best machine I can buy.

Bike update: bigger is better

2011-03-01T10:23:00.001Z

Making decent progress in working towards my motorcycle licence and learning to ride. Mastering the tricks of clutch control takes some time; the muscles controlling the fingers need to master the sensitivity necessary for low-speed control. At the same time you have to remember the observations on which a motorcyclist’s life depends.

Still, if it was easy there would be no sense of achievement when you get it right.

The importance of good clutch control was stressed before I had my first taste of a big bike. Injudicious use of throttle and clutch could, I was warned, see a bigger bike off the road. That said, treated with due respect, the 500cc Suzuki felt in some respects easier to control.

Consider, for example, the question of mass. A Honda CG125 weighs about 80kg; which isn’t much and the bike could be lighter than the rider. The Suzuki GS500E which I rode was more like 180kg (apparently, I’ve not checked these figures), which puts the combined centre of gravity of rider and cycle lower. The GS might be more than twice the weight of the CG but the engine is four times the size with (roughly four times the power). The Suzuki also has two cylinders to the Honda’s one which seems to make for a smoother power delivery. Finally, there is a tachometer which makes it easier to learn whether you are using enough revs.

About the only downside was a slightly heavier clutch but the weight did nothing to impede feel of the biting point. I like to tink it didn’t take me long to get the hang of slow riding and practicing starting, stopping and steering within the confines of the tarmac pad at the biking school.

Hopefully my next lesson will include some road work on the big bike and it shouldn’t be too long before I can think about taking my test.

Bike Choice

2011-02-27T00:26:00.000Z

I’m looking for a motorbike at the moment. With a CBT under my belt the law says I can ride a bike with an engine of 125cc and (I think) 15bhp but no more. The plan is to use the bike as often as possible to build up road experience as preparation for the Part 2 of the driving test.

There is plenty of choice, even on a limited budget, in terms of the style of motorcycles available. I’m not really a fan of cruiser or off-road style bikes. The feet-forward riding position of the former feels uncomfortable and the latter type feels too tall. Every time I swing my leg over an off-road bike it feels as though my feet barely touch the ground. That effectively leaves my choice as one between commuter-style bikes and the scaled-down sports bikes.

Commuter bikes are machines like Honda’s CG125 (above). As bikes go the CG is probably as basic as they get; one cylinder, no fairing, manual choke, simple instruments and a “sit up and beg” riding position. It also has a reputation for durability and being easy to look after – the basic design has been around for a couple of decades at least. There is always a demand for CG125s – not ideal when you’re buying but handy when it comes to sell. On the debit side, I find the ride bouncy, the engine less than smooth, I really wish a rev counter was fitted and I’m not overly keen on the riding position.

Sports bikes like the Honda CBR 125R have what feels like a much nicer riding position. The handlebars are narrower and angled in a way that (I think) more closely fits the hands natural grip. Having looked at a CBR today I know that it also comes with a tachometer and temperature gauge to supplement the speedometer and fuel gauges. Subjectively, the CBR also seems better finished. Against those factors must be balanced the knowledge that the fairing will impede maintenance to a degree. Also, any damage to those plastic panels may render the bike a write-off. What I don’t know is how the bike feels to ride, but I hope I can arrange a test ride on one to see whether I like it.

The final decision, I suspect, will be a matter of head or heart. Head says get the CG125; it is a sound, basic bike that might not be very exciting but does the job. Heart says the CBR will be more fun. I’m not sure how this will work out.

News Roundup 25 February 2011

2011-02-26T14:56:00.000Z

Last week it was all about the Geneva Motor Show with a heavy green tint. This week, to restore some balance, it is time to celebrate the fast, powerful and (more or less) British.

First came the news of a rejuvenated AC. In the tradition of the small sports car manufacturer AC seems to alternate between periods of great activity and times of total obscurity. Cars like the ME and the modern Ace have been released with a fanfare and then nothing much happens for a decade or so. Now AC is in the news again with a new “Cobra”.

Not that it is called Cobra, or built in Thames Ditton (or Texas or Brooklands) and it doesn’t even have a Ford V8. The substitution of a Chevrolet V8 from the Corvette is in a way appropriate. Back in the mists of time the Cobra was originally intended to have the Chevrolet motor but General Motors would not play ball. Whether purists will accept a German made, Chevrolet powered AC remains to be seen.

Although everyone seems to want the look of the 7 litre Cobra - with the wide, curvaceous wheelarches – I prefer the less bulbous look of the earlier 260/289 small block cars. Maybe the range of classic AC cars to be produced at Brooklands will revive the more subtle shape.

Compared with the big, brash AC to the new Morgan shows just how varied the British sports car can be. The new Three Wheeler represents the Malvern Link company returning to its roots. It is a light, low, simple, three wheel design with a V-twin engine exposed to the elements at the very front, a cabin that looks snug and not much else. The only thing I don’t like is the use of a car gearbox (from Mazda). It is probably a very good gearbox but I think a motorcycle gearbox would be even nicer to use – but it wouldn’t have a reverse gear which would probably be a serious drawback. Anyway, something as low, light and exposed as the Morgan should be enormous fun. I hope, one day, I can find out for myself.

News Roundup 18 February 2011

2011-02-19T14:32:00.000Z

Unless you actively avoid motoring news stories you will probably have noticed that the Geneva Motor Show is nearly upon us. Electric and hybrid vehicles seem to be the big news with just about every manufacturer getting in on the act.

Land Rover seems determined to confuse 4x4-hating environmentalists. The Range_e is a plug-in hybrid turbodiesel with official CO2 emissions of 89g/km – that’s better than a VW Polo Bluemotion. On a full charge there is supposed to be sufficient capacity for 20 miles. Land Rover describes the Range_e as a development vehicle but it must point to a future production model.

Some manufacturers have had hybrid SUVs for a while, Porsche has a hybrid Cayenne and has announced a hybrid Panamera. The 159g/km CO2 figure isn’t as impressive as Land Rover’s but still represents an improvement over the standard car (218g/km for a V6 auto Panamera). The most intriguing concept of Porsche’s hybrids is the ‘Sailing’ feature, another word for coasting that switches the engine off when it is not required at speeds up to 103mph.

A more light-hearted take on the electric vehicle comes from Swiss company Rinspeed. The BamBoo looks like a latter-day Citroen Mehari and comes with a computer display on the front. Some of its features sound wilfully odd, like the inflatable roof and rear seats. The use of bamboo fibres in the cloth of the seats is a nice touch and I like the use of braided plastics for the glovebox lid – it seems like a creative and original use of materials.

If Rinspeed is frivolous Toyota has always treated hybrids seriously. The Japanese giant will showcase its various electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies. There is a Prius+ which is a seven-seat version of the company’s famous hybrid; a Yaris hybrid concept that previews a production model; and the EV, an electric version of the Toyota iQ.

Coincidentally, I’ve had my own taste of hybrid motoring this week. It was time for my car to have its cam-belt replaced, a main dealer only job, and I was offered a loan car. This turned out to be a Honda Insight. It was very smooth, refined and easy to drive with very light controls. But it also felt heavy, although it isn’t, partly because it isn’t particularly quick and also because of the way it feels on twisting roads. For the type of person who buys an Insight a fun driving experience probably isn’t high on the list of priorities. The limited rear visibility, which makes reverse parking a chore, will probably annoy more people – parking sensors should be standard. My greatest annoyance was the eco driving prompt which ‘rewards’ economical driving by making leaves appear on digital plants in the instrument cluster. Now I may not be an expert on plants but I thought it was carbon dioxide that made them grow.

Follow-up to MOT: Citroen CX

2011-02-13T22:45:00.001Z

The garage that looks after my car is a Citroen specialist. While my car was there they also had a 1970s Citroen CX. It looked a lot like the car pictured, right down to the model, registration year and colour.

It has been a while since I last saw a CX and I had forgotten just how stunning it is. Somehow it manages to be both of its time and futuristic. Only in the 1970s could you get away with so many different shades of brown both outside and inside. But look at that interior, the sculpted curves of that dashboard still look great and owe nothing to outdated traditions of woodworking and the carriage trade.

Even better, the CX comes from an age when cars could be different under the skin. Where else would you find springs of nitrogen connected to the suspension by high-pressure hydraulics that provides self levelling and height adjustment? Where else would you find brakes operated from the same high pressure system with a pedal responsive to pressure rather than movement? How about high-geared power steering with speed-dependent assistance and powered self-centring?

The CX might not be as iconic as the DS or 2CV but it still deserves to be celebrated.

Prelude update

2011-02-13T00:12:00.001Z

It has been an eventful week what with one thing and another.

For some time I’ve known that one or two of the bulbs illuminating the instruments have blown. Getting to the bulbs looked challenging enough to delay the job as long as possible. Last week my hand was forced as the final bulb went out.

Driving with the speed and other information only intermittently available when street lighting permitted was a little un-nerving. Driving through an unfamiliar area, full of speed cameras is no fun at the best of times but I was even more cautious than normal.

Back home and in daylight I investigated the location of the bulbs. As is often the case with jobs inside the car – as opposed to under the bonnet – what promised to be easy turned out not to be. On the Prelude there are two screws that secure the bezel around the instrument panel. However, it turns out that this cannot be removed without taking of the steering column shrouding. Eventually I found the parts in question and, with the help of my friendly local Honda dealer, ordered replacements. As the parts weren’t in stock I spent most of the week driving round with the dashboard in pieces.

Now everything is back together, with new bulbs installed. I had forgotten how clear and crisp the Honda’s instruments are at night. Age may be catching up with the Prelude but it is nice to see one area rejuvenated.

The other thing to come up this week was the MOT; I was reasonably confident of a pass but you never know what might be lurking unseen. It would be nice to say that the Prelude passed with a clean bill of health but there was an advisory note about play in the rear suspension and the garage warned that the exhaust isn’t in the best shape. Still, all things considered it isn’t too bad for a car in its 13^th year.

In praise of the DVLA and the Post Office

2011-02-06T21:16:00.000Z

If you have one of the photocard-type driving licences you will have to renew it every ten years. Recently I had to update my photograph as I no longer resemble the fresh-faced fellow pictured. You can supply your own photograph and do it by post or you can go to a main Post Office and do it there.

I chose the second option and have to say that I was impressed by the helpful service from the staff at the main Warwick office. I was told to expect my licence back in fifteen days. Depending on how you interpret that it could mean two or three weeks (if you assume 15 working days). So imagine my surprise when, having been for my photo on the Monday, the new licence arrived in Friday’s post.

The DVLA attracts a lot of criticism for losing post, long delays and a general level of un-helpfulness. The Post Office is famed for queues and not being somewhere you want to go (to be fair there was a monster queue forming as I left the branch). It is nice, however, to be able to report positive experiences of both organisations.

News Roundup 28 January 2011

2011-01-29T00:27:00.002Z

BMW to replace six-cylinder engines with turbocharged fours?

For me BMW is synonymous with six-cylinder engines and, in particular, the inline six. As engine layouts go it has much to commend it in terms of refinement. No V6 can match it for balance – the term used to describe the way an engines internal vibrations do (or do not) cancel each other out. Against that is the difficulty of installing what can be a long engine with adequate space for the crash protection required these days. However BMW has kept faith with its six-cylinder engines when just about everyone else has switched to V6s.

A classic BMW inline six as fitted to the M635CSi

So it was saddening to read BMW’s announcement of a new, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. It has 242bhp and 258lb.ft - more than the company’s ‘smaller’ six-cylinder engines. The new power unit is said to be smaller and lighter than the sixes too, which makes sense. It also makes sense within the context of engine downsizing that is going on across the industry for better mpg and lower CO2 emissions. BMW has already replaced the some V8s with turbocharged straight sixes. On the official mpg and CO2 tests the new engine is bound to be superior, it just seems unlikely that it will sound as good.

Incidentally, it seems that BMW’s model designations no longer enjoy the close relationship with engine size that they once did. For the six-cylinder petrol models (excluding the X versions) the designations and engine capacity are listed below:

BMW 325i – 2,996cc – 218bhp

BMW 335i – 2,979cc – 306bhp

BMW 523i – 2,996cc – 204bhp

BMW 528i – 2,996cc – 258bhp

BMW 535i – 2,979cc – 306bhp

BMW 740i – 2,979cc – 326bhp

Z4 23i – 2,497cc – 204bhp

Z4 30i – 2,996cc – 258bhp

Z4 35i – 2,979cc – 306bhp

Why, for example, is there a 3.0-litre engine in the 325i and a 2.5-litre in the Z4 23i?

Car of the Week: Volkswagen XL1 Super Economy Vehicle

Volkswagen XP1

Launching an economy car in the Middle East is probably a sign of the German sense of humour but Volkswagen chose the Qatar Motor Show to unveil the 313mpg XL1 concept.

It is VW’s third generation economy vehicle and uses an 800cc turbodiesel engine combined with electric motor and 7-speed DSG transmission. It is also attractively streamlined, low, mid-engined and possibly more elegant than anything the company has built in over 20 years.

I think real world economy – as opposed to the artificial combined drive cycle – would be better with an ordinary turbodiesel engine and manual gearbox. Slightly more power and performance would be useful too; the XP1 has around 75bhp split 50:25 between diesel and electric motors. A 0-62mph time of 11.9 seconds is adequate but nothing special (although 30-60mph or 60-90mph times would be useful to know). It also feels like cheating to limit the top speed to 99mph – if the aerodynamics are that good it would be instructive to see how fast you can go on 75bhp.

I could see myself driving something like the XP1 – not something I can say about most concept cars.

News Roundup 21 January 2011

2011-01-21T23:12:00.006Z

Possibly the biggest car news story of the week, if not the most important, was the announcement of the Ferrari FF. Whether in a deliberate or coincidental nod history it is a luxury, high-performance, four-seat hatchback with four-wheel drive – not unlike the Jensen FF from 1966.

Ferrari says its FF stands for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive) so Ferrari FF is actually a tautology. Whatever the name Ferrari claims the all-wheel drive system does not compromise the car’s ‘ideal’ 47:53 front-rear weight distribution. It also refers to the car having a transaxle. As I understand it; that means there must be one drive shaft from the engine in the front to the gearbox at the back and another drive shaft running from the gearbox to the front differential. No-one else has commented on this, it will be interesting to see what the FF looks like under the skin. Hopefully all the car’s secrets will be revealed when it is officially unveiled in Geneva this March.

If you are in the market for Ferrari’s latest offering then the Aston Martin Cygnet probably qualifies as affordable town transport. The compact, Toyota-based Aston costs just over £30,000 and production is due to start in April.

Final news story to catch my eye was the report that discussions are taking place about exempting the oldest historic vehicles from the requirement to pass an annual MOT test. Justification for the move is given that the vehicles in question cover such small mileages and are usually well maintained so the safety impact would be minimal. Of course owners would be expected to maintain their vehicles in roadworthy condition – just as every motorist must.

Car of the Week – Subaru and Toyota RWD Sports Coupé

This week Subaru announced that it would show its Rear-wheel drive sports coupé platform at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring. As you might expect few facts have been revealed ahead of the official unveiling. The only thing we know for certain is that it will use a Subaru trademark flat-four engine.

Actually that’s not quite true; there is a Toyota version - the FT-86 – which has been seen at a couple of motor shows. Apparently the FT is about the same size as a BMW 1-series coupé and has room for four. It is also supposed to be light and power could be anything from 150-350bhp.

If Toyota and Subaru can get the dynamics right, get details right – like the steering, gear change and pedal feel right – and price it affordably and it could be as big a success as the MX5 was for Mazda.

News Roundup 14 January 2011

2011-01-14T21:10:00.000Z

Welcome to 2011 and a new idea for the blog; a news roundup. If I can do it weekly then great but hopefully it will be a regular and frequent source of updates. So, here goes…

Uninsured drivers are a menace on the roads so any measure to crack down on them should be welcomed. However, government initiatives should always be welcomed cautiously. For some time there has been talk of enforcing continuous vehicle insurance and it looks like it will pass into law in the next few months. The idea is that the DVLA and Motor Insurers’ Bureau will work together to identify cars that appear to be uninsured. The registered keeper will be informed of the situation and could face fines or even have the vehicle seized and crushed. Where a SORN declaration has been made there would be no requirement to have insurance.

The problem is that serial uninsured drivers probably don’t bother registering cars in their own name or at their own address. And even if they did, would they pay any attention to a fine delivered by post? I can’t help thinking that the best way to deal with uninsured drivers is to have more police patrols with ANPR stopping uninsured vehicles and, where the driver does not have valid insurance, taking the car on the spot and making the driver and passengers walk home. More “Police: Stop” type programmes on television showing this might get the message across more effectively. Above all, the guiding principle for the government (any government) is that effectively enforcing the legislation you’ve got is better than writing new laws.

Date for the diary

A couple of years ago I want to the Historic Motor Sport Show at the showground in Stonleigh, Warwickshire, as it wasn’t far from home. Full of interesting machinery and people it seemed like an event that deserved to prosper. Now, in the guise of ‘Race Retro’, the event does indeed appear to be doing well and this year’s event takes place on 25th-27th February. Why should you care? For one thing the 1950s Moto Guzzi, 500cc V8 motorcycle will make its UK debut – not just as a static exhibit but it will be fired up so visitors can hear it running. Also running on a special rally stage will be a variety of cars including a Lancia Delta Integrale, Vauxhall Chevette HS and Mercedes 190E Cosworth.

New Car of the Week

Land Rover Defender X-Tech. I have a soft spot for Land Rovers and the silver and black X-Tech Defender limited edition looks almost too cool. If only it were available with a petrol/LPG V8…

Disappointment of the Week

When I saw that Skoda had produced a Fabia to mark 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally I thought it might be a special version of the sporting vRS. Maybe an even hotter vRS, or just given a green and white body/interior like Skoda’s rally cars. Instead the Fabia Monte Carlo is based on the SE and comes with some fairly ordinary engines. I’m sure it is a perfectly fine car and that some clever person with a spreadsheet has calculated that this model will sell better than a limited edition performance variant. But when Skoda has been heavily promoting the performance Fabia you’d think a rally-themed model was just the thing to give it some serious credibility.

Six Appeal at the Motorcycle Show

2010-12-05T22:19:00.000Z

At last year’s Motorcycle Show BMW showed a concept bike with a straight-six engine. This year it gathered together several six-cylinder bikes.

The Honda CBX is something of a favourite of mine.

I don’t think I’d ever seen a Benelli Sei before:

Or a Kawasaki KZ1300

Motorcycle Show Highlights

2010-12-05T01:01:00.000Z

I spent a couple of hours going round the Motorcycle and Scooter show at the NEC.

There was a lot to take in and, as you’d expect, some shocking crowds. At least if you’re interested in learner legal stuff it is quite easy to get at. I quite liked the Kawasaki D Tracker and Suzuki VanVan, they look a bit toy-like but should not intimidate novice riders.

The SYM 125K looked a lot like the old Honda CG125 and also the Yamaha YBR125. At £1,500 or so it looks like good value but I’d rather buy a motorcycle from a company I know.

I also wanted to try a couple of sporting 125s for size. The Yamaha R125 felt a bit small (as did some of the other Yamahas I sat on). I preferred the Honda CBR125.

Of the bigger stuff, the Honda CBR1300 felt good.

My favourite bike remains the Triumph Thruxton. It just feels right; all the controls are just where I want them. So many bikes suffer from bars that are too wide and straight but not this British machine.

An electric car of the year winner? Leaf it out.

2010-11-30T21:51:00.000Z

I wish I’d put money on the Nissan Leaf taking the European Car of the Year prize. Somehow the Nissan always looked like a strong contender simply because its technology is fashionable.

Interestingly, if you look at the voting grid the Leaf was not universally liked with some jurors awarding it either one or no points. In particular the Spanish and most of the Italian panellists seemed unimpressed by battery power.

Sometimes the voting has shown distinct nationalistic bias. This year, however, it wasn’t much in evidence. That said the Dacia Duster was the favourite of the Romanian juror (and also of one of the Belgians).

How would I have voted? Probably the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in first place, it just looks more interesting than the typical Focus, Golf or Astra. The Nissan is interesting but not CotY material.

A few photos from the NEC

2010-11-19T19:12:00.004Z

A crowded NEC isn't the best place for photography so I didn't take many pictures. Here is a selection:

I had never seen a Citroen Bijou before so it was nice to see one; the best thing about car shows is the opportunity to see things you've never seen before. The Bijou was a Slough-built Citroen, based on the 2CV with a glassfibre body. Despite the 'lightweight' body it weighed more than the steel-bodied 2CV. Power, if you can call it that, came from a 425cc flat twin. You didn't know Citroen built cars in Britain? You do now.

This 1930s Ford V8 was very stylish. I think it was a 1934 car with just one or two owners from new. Power would have been 75bhp from a 3.6-litre, sidevalve V8.

Keeping with the transatlantic theme, this Buick was VAST and very brown. You can imagine it packed full of a typical American family and all their holiday (sorry, vacation) luggage.

The emblems on the brushed metal wheel trims were rather neat.

As was the ornate 'Estate Wagon' script, and you get an idea of the fake wood on the body.

More fake wood at the back.

An American Icon, the fins of a 1959 Cadillac convertible.

Finally; something British, although with a Japanese twist: a cutaway Rover 200. It is a little odd to see cars that I can remember being launched now appearing as classics. However, in its time this 200 was well regarded and looked very classy. It also shows that you don't need to own something expensive and impractical to participate in the classic car scene.

Dream come true

2010-11-18T20:11:00.004Z

There is a theory that you should never meet your heroes. It is not a view I share, especially not since meeting one of my four-wheeled heroes at the weekend.

It was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, in silver on alloy wheels; one of only six alloy-bodied, right-hand drive cars built. My ride came about through the Sporting Bears Motor Club, which raises funds for charities by selling off 'Dream Rides' at the Classic Motor Show.

First impression of the Ferrari: it is small; not so much short but low and narrow, especially compared to the Ferrari 599 that was nearby. Inside there is plenty of room; mainly because the gearbox is behind you and there is no massive central console, in fact there is nothing but the essentials. A simple, crackle-finish dashboard with dials for everything you need to monitor; big, well-spaced pedals and a left-food rest; and the gear lever and steering wheel looked well placed.

It might not look impressive inside but it is surprisingly comfortable with decent seats (non-reclining buckets, as I recall) and firm but well controlled ride. It went well too, and sounded great as the red line approached (about 6,500-7,000 I think). But if you're just cruising it is quite civilised. It also seems nicely balanced. Jerry, the owner wasn't hanging the tail out or anything dramatic like that but you could feel how the car could be steered with the throttle. I was also impressed at how, when we returned to the NEC, happy the car was to sit at tickover for several minutes. The water temperature rose a little but other than that there were no signs of temparament.

Add to that a glorious view down the bonnet, with the front wings curving up and a cinemascope windscreen to frame the scene. Although I noticed that there were dints on the passneger-side wing, looks like someone rested their elbows there and left an impression in the aluminium.

The 275 was everything I hoped for, a glorious experience for the eyes and ears. I still grin when I think about it.

From BIMS 2008 Oldies

From Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010

Oh and I've added a few more Ferrari 275 GTB photos, because I can.

Hot Prelude

2010-10-31T15:20:00.001Z

Lately the engine coolant in Fourwheelsteer’s Prelude has been disappearing over time. Although there were no puddles under the car the only explanation I could see was that the system must be leaking from somewhere.

From My Honda

I purchased some Radweld and the instructions suggested that flushing the cooling system with another product by the same company. It could just be clever marketing but I reasoned that a nearly 13-year old cooling system might benefit from cleaning out. Especially as the product suggested it would help with overheating and the Prelude’s engine does get rather hot if stuck in traffic for any length of time.

Draining the Prelude’s cooling system is simple enough; Honda does a good job at making its cars easy to service in my experience. The instructions for the Holts cooling system flush suggested driving 20-30 miles which was just right for driving to my local Honda dealer (friendly and efficient as always) for some genuine coolant. Again, I’m a sucker for marketing but I did hear another Prelude owner extolling the virtues of genuine anti-freeze. Since it is about the same price as generic stuff from Halfords why wouldn’t you go for the OEM stuff?

Back home and after lunch the cooling system was drained, the recommended dosage of Radweld poured in along with the fresh coolant. I also put the cooling system to the test, letting the car tick over until the fans cut in. It is reassuring to know they do, even if the temperature is some way above that of normal running (but still within the bounds of the ‘normal’ portion of the gauge).

Initial investigations show that the level in the radiator hasn’t dropped overnight – hopefully the mystery leak has been fixed.

Moving Motor Museum

2010-10-19T20:10:00.000+01:00

Being a bit of a transport geek I can’t resist either a heritage railway or a motor museum. Over the weekend I visited the Mid-Hants Railway or Watercress Line and the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Much as I love the Beaulieu museum I do wonder if motor museums could learn a thing from the steam railway.

From Beaulieu and Watercress Line

The great thing about these enthusiast-run railways is that you experience the trains running; not just as static exhibits. You get a flavour of what railway travel was like fifty years ago. It would be interesting to see the same model applied to cars.

Imagine a museum where some cars are in use either every day or, at least, at the weekends. The public could see and possibly even ride in old cars. To that end you’d need a short test track. Not a race track but somewhere with a variety of road surfaces, corners and gradients and maybe a long straight. Cars would not be pushed to their limits but I would want to give people an idea of acceleration, ride comfort and cornering; hearing the noise of the engines, the feel and smell of the upholstery.

What cars would go in the collection? You’d want cars that were interesting to look at and travel in.

Considering those factors the first cars I’d source for my collection would be:

From Model T Pictures

Ford Model T – A unique character with its strange controls.

Citroen SM – demonstrate the ride quality and general eccentricity of Citroen.

From BIMS 2008 Oldies

Lamborghini Countach – big on drama and spectacle whether in motion or standing still.

From Warwick Classic and Retro Cars

Mini Cooper – cramped and uncomfortable but fun.

From Gold Cup 2008

Jaguar XJ12/Daimler Double Six – Possibly the smoothest engine ever and a great ride too.

From Gold Cup 2008

Rolls-Royce Corniche – Or any Shadow variant, to sample Rolls-Royce craftsmanship.

From Luton Festival of Transport

Plymouth GTX – Feel the power of a big, American V8 as well as the comedy cornering behaviour of a car designed for straight roads.

What cars would you include?

New cars: Citroen DS3

2010-10-04T22:53:00.002+01:00

Not driven, but a friend has just bought a new DS3 and she’s thrilled with it. I couldn’t resist having a look and it does seem quite nice.

This isn’t it but it is very similar.

I still don’t know what the DS3 has to do with Citroen’s classic DS but it seemed like a perfect excuse to post some pictures of an utterly gorgeous Citroen DS, which I took this summer.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get a picture of the whole car as it was attracting such a crowd. Given that it looks as good as new (or better) I’d say the attention was justified.

More weekend pictures: Detail shots 2

2010-09-29T21:15:00.000+01:00

This BMW was among the Bristol cars; a 502 coupé (I think).

It may seem like an odd interloper but the chassis was related to the one used by Bristol and the earlier, six-cylinder version used the six-cylinder engine from which Bristol’s ‘six’ was developed.

I’m not sure it is pretty but it has presence and the V8 badge on the boot is rather stylish.

More weekend pictures: Detail shots 1

2010-09-26T21:32:00.000+01:00

I don’t lay claim to any great talent as a photographer. However, I do try to find interesting details as it can be boring taking essentially the same pictures over and over again.

This subject is the one-off short-chassis Bristol 406 with coachwork by Zagato. On an aesthetic level I’m not sure the shape works, the front and back ends don’t quite gel but it is an interesting sighting.

The interior looks very spartan but it is certainly purposeful.

Bristol photos from the weekend

2010-09-21T21:56:00.001+01:00

It was the Bristol Owners Club annual Concours d’Elegance this weekend. This year it was held at the Airbus facility (formerly the home of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and still the home of Bristol Cars) in Filton, Bristol. Over 200 Bristol cars from around the world turned up to join the celebrations.

Here is a selection of my favourites from the weekend.

Car and other photos from the weekend

2010-09-21T21:54:00.001+01:00

The main event of the weekend, at least for me, was the Bristol Owners Club annual Concours d’Elegance. This year it was held at the Airbus facility (formerly the home of the Bristol Aeroplane Company) in Filton, Bristol. As well as over 200 Bristol cars there was a selection of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, some classic cars owned by the factory’s motor club and a Lotus Elite (the glassfibre bodies for the final series of Elites was made by Bristol). There were also some aircraft (as you’d expect).

Enjoy the photos.

Inside the MINI Contryman

2010-07-30T22:31:00.000+01:00

Had a chance to take a look at the new MINI Countryman tonight. I’m not a big MINI fan but I did find myself admiring the design.

On the outside the ‘big MINI’ design isn’t the most successful but the interior of the car I sat in was a really nice place to be. I love the use of shape and colour. Even little things like the chrome toggles that control the rear electric windows are a source of joy. The term ‘surprise and delight’ was coined to describe the Countryman’s cabin.

It is nice to see more manufacturers putting effort in to make interiors inviting and attractive.

Cars I’d like to build: Silver Arrows Tribute

2010-07-16T20:44:00.000+01:00

Almost every day I email my friend Si and we come up with a ‘Random Car of the Day’ to discuss. Today's offering was the Mercedes-Benz W196. The exhaust note I heard at Goodwood still hasn’t faded from my memory. In fact the straight-eight engine sounded so amazing it made me wish that someone would build a modern inline eight. Sadly, the packaging and engineering challenges posed by this layout make it unlikely that anyone will revive the concept.

If I were wealthy enough I would build a Caterham-style car with a straight-eight; probably built up from a couple of four-cylinder motor bike engines. The engineering would take a lot of working out and it might not be the fastest or best car of its type but it would be all mine. I'd paint it silver with matt black, cycle-type mudguards, fit aero screens and find some tartain material similar to the cloth used in the 1950s Silver Arrows - a bit naff, maybe, but intended as a tribute to a racing car I admire.

So there you go; today, in my mind, I'm wearing goggles and a leather flying cap whilst blaring down deserted roads with the sound of eight tiny cylinders ringing in my ears.

Goodwood Highlights 4: Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz

2010-07-11T15:37:00.000+01:00

It is a rare treat to see Mercedes racing cars in action. One of the biggest treats was to hear the sound of the gear-driven supercharger on the two SSK models driven up the hill.

I had heard about the high-pitched sound but never previously experienced it. As noises go it is certainly piercing, produced by the straight-cut gears that engage the supercharger when the driver pushes the throttle pedal to the greatest extent of its travel.

The incredible Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix cars of the 1930s were notable by their absence this year (or, if they were there, I missed seeing them).

Instead there was a 1950s W163, less dramatic than the mighty, supercharged eight and twelve-cylinder cars of the pre-war years but possibly more brilliant in their design.

Also present was one of the two 300SLR ‘Ulenhaut’ coupés. It was a development of the open 300SLR that famously won the Mille Miglia. However the disaster at the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour meant that the closed SLR was never driven in competition. What I had forgotten, although I have seen 300SLRs in action at Goodwood before, is just how good the straight-eight engine sounds.

Goodwood Highlights 3: Pegaso Z102

2010-07-10T17:47:00.001+01:00

A what? A Pegaso; an obscure Spanish sports car from the 1950s, designed by a Spaniard who used to work for Alfa Romeo and built by a truck manufacturer.

Under the skin it is very similar to the Grand Prix cars of its day. The engine was a small capacity V8 with two, gear-driven overhead camshafts on each bank of cylinders. Depending on the customer wanted it could have single or multiple carburettors with the option of supercharging too. Power outputs ranged from175 to 300bhp. Drive went to a rear-mounted, five-speed gearbox (no synchromesh) with a back-to-front change pattern.

It used a chassis of square tubes. Front suspension by torsion bars and wishbones. The steering linkage has been described as complicated; but the same could be said of many cars too new for a solid front axle and too old for rack and pinion. For the time de-Dion rear suspension was fairly normal. However, Pegaso used a back-to-front layout with a curved de-Dion tube that passed over the propeller shaft, in front of the gearbox. A pair of substantial radius arms attached to a single pivot point at the back of the gearbox casing provided location.

Although a low-volume product (about 84 Z102s are estimated to have been built) they were apparently assembled to very high standards. The work was done by apprentices, learning their craft and working in surgically-clean conditions.

The Pegaso is the sort of car that some people write about in hushed and reverential tones (if that is possible). Few people have ever seen one, fewer still have driven one but it was interesting that this car received very little attention from the Goodwood crowds. The company never attained the fame of its Italian rivals and the attempt to revive the brand in the 1990s amounted to nothing. It probably doesn’t help that the standard coachwork isn’t very eye-catching; then again some of the special bodies, whilst flamboyant, weren't exactly beautiful.

Even so, it was great to see another car that I’d only ever read about. Where else but Goodwood was that going to happen?

Goodwood Highlights 2: Alfa Romeo 164 Pro Car

2010-07-06T21:00:00.000+01:00

What we have here is not an Alfa Romeo 164. True, it looks like a 164 but I’m pretty sure that only a few components are interchangeable with the car you could buy. According to the internet it is effectively a Brabham F1 car with lightweight body panels to make it look like a production car. Under the skin is a V10 engine of 3.5-litres with 605bhp at 12,100rpm. The engine is mounted where the back seats would be and drives through a six-speed transaxle.

It was conceived for a race series that never took off, but which was intended to support the Formula 1 calendar like the earlier BMW M1 Pro Car series. The theory was that manufacturers would use similar mechanical parts to F1 cars but with bodywork taken from the production car range. However, there was little support from the manufacturers and the series was all but forgotten.

This is another car I remember reading about in one of the many books I either owned or borrowed from the local library. At the time I remember being fascinated by the idea of a car that looked like a saloon but with the performance and handling of a racing car. The fact that a car with such a highly-tuned racing engine would be all but impossible to drive on the road completely escaped me at the time.

Sadly, I didn’t get to hear the Alfa run or see it in action but it is nice to know that it still exists.

Goodwood Highlights 1: Ferrari Pinin

2010-07-05T22:21:00.000+01:00

I was lucky enough to go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend just gone. It is probably the only place where you’ll find so many high value, rare and unusual cars together. This year there were several cars that I’d admired which I’d never seen before.

One of those was the Ferrari Pinin concept. This was a design study for a four-door Ferrari to celebrate Pininfarina’s 50^th anniversary in 1980. It was once suggested as a possible replacement for the Ferrari 400 GT.

From the pictures I saw it looked like the most elegant four-door saloon ever built. Up close it was just as stunning as I imagined; although four days exposure to dust and crowds probably did nothing for the car’s condition.

(Copyright Wouter Melissen)

It does look a bit dated now although the exterior styling has probably stood the test of time better than the interior. Unfortunately I couldn’t take any interior photos but it was very much of its time.

I just wish Ferrari could build cars as stunningly elegant as this today.

The return of Alvis

2010-06-22T23:31:00.000+01:00

Even though Alvis ceased car production in 1967 there are plans to revive the name and bring back one of the company’s pre-war models. Red Triangle, the company formed by ex-Alvis employees to look after spares and servicing for the marque, plans to build a limited run of 4.3-litre cars.

Production of the 4.3-litre model was halted in 1940 as the company (and nation) had higher priorities that required attention. However, there were plans to build more examples of the model.

The cars will be built using the original drawings and the latest CAD/CAM technology. Although the engine will be essentially the same 4.3-litre straight six the plan is to use modern materials, engine management and fuel injection to cut emissions and increase power. Other than that the car should retain the feel and character of the 1930s design.

Maybe this is a new direction for low-volume manufacturers; instead of focussing on high-speeds how about providing decent performance with the tactility and involvement you get from an old car?

I just wanted to say…

2010-06-13T18:40:00.001+01:00

Got a few things on my mind. Excuse the slightly stream-of-consciousness nature of this blog post but I wanted to get my thoughts on ‘paper’ while they were fresh.

Great in theory:
As part of getting my ‘bike licence I need to do the theory and hazard perception part of the driving test. It seemed a bit daunting but having had a look at the DSA interactive DVD on the subject I’m much more confident. Most of the things expected should come naturally to an experienced driver but it hasn’t done any harm to refresh those skills. One of the reasons for learning to ride a motorcycle was to improve my driving; it is nice that I can already see the benefit.

Choose your bike:
Still on the subject of motorcycles; the Get On website suggested I might like to take its interactive mini quiz to see what sort of motorcycle would be best for me. It asked some odd questions, such as how I have my hair cut and what sort of tent I’d use to go camping (suffice it to say that fourwheelsteer does not go camping). The first time I used it the application crashed, second time it came up with ‘adventure sports’ which appear to be bikes on stilts. That didn’t seem right at all so, third time lucky, I tried again and it came up with sports tourers – which look much more promising. What I think I want is a bike with outstanding steering, strong brakes, a decent ride, slick gearbox and a powerful, interesting, nice sounding engine. Although, to be fair, even a humble 125 ‘bike feels amazing if you’re used to cars.

On the road:
Not that cars can’t be good too; I took the Honda over to Luton for the Festival of Transport. Eschewing the obvious route I made my way via places beginning with B; Banbury, Brackley and Buckingham (we’ll ignore Milton Keynes).It was nice to let the car stretch its legs, including a romp up Sun Rising Hill and – on the way home – giving chase to a bright green Ford Focus RS. I don’t think the Ford was taking it easy as it set off out of a village with an audible chirrup from its tyres and I had to work quite hard to keep it in sight. Still, it is nice to know that my old and slightly scruffy Prelude can still move quickly when circumstances allow.

Grinding gears:
One thing that could be improved in the Prelude is the gearbox. It is pretty good but I couldn’t help thinking that with the close-ratio six-speed gearbox from the S2000 it would be even better. For that matter, what price a fast, beautiful, poised, rear-wheel drive Honda coupé?

Another motorcycle adventure

2010-06-01T22:56:00.000+01:00

It was hard to believe but two months passed between completing my CBT and my first ‘proper’ motorbike riding lesson on Friday.

I was a little nervous about climbing back into the saddle but it turns out that riding a motorcycle is a lot like riding a bike (you never forget how). In fact I felt more comfortable and confident than ever.

Even so, it was a relief to begin within the safety of the riding school’s compound practicing some of the exercises that crop up on the motorcycle test. The strangest of these is wheeling the bike backwards from one ‘garage’, defined by four cones, to another parallel space a few feet away. Other exercises included a slalom and figure of eight, both done at low speed – challenging but the key seems to be to look at where you want to go.

On the road I had to work hard to keep up as I was on a little 125 while the instructor and other pupil were on 500cc ‘bikes. Having previously thought Honda’s CG125 to be a bit of a slug it was gratifying to discover that it can move at a decent pace if you are prepared to wind the throttle right open.

Sadly there was no opportunity for jaunts through the country, the rest of the lesson concentrated on a succession of urban junctions. There is a lot to remember, for the novice anyway, in terms of observation, position, signalling, gear selection and cancelling the signal afterwards – no self-cancelling indicators on a motorbike.

But it was all good fun and it looks like there are only a few areas that need work before I can take my test. The next lesson will be in four weeks time.

Coincidental News

2010-05-29T16:14:00.002+01:00

Sometimes two news stories come my way on successive days which are not intentionally linked but which do share a connection. On Thursday I was writing about twenty years of the McLaren F1 and then, on Friday, the Hulme CanAm supercar. For those who don’t see the association; Denny Hulme was a racing driver who drove McLaren’s striking, orange Can Am cars and won the series championship twice (in 1968 and 1970) as well as being New Zealand's only Formula 1 world champion.

Collection of McLaren F1s

One interesting aspect of McLaren’s announcement was that there was no mention of Gordon Murray. Given that I’d always thought of the F1 as Murray’s brainchild it seemed like an odd omission; even allowing for the fact that he left McLaren to work on other projects.

Hulme CanAm

The Hulme was new to me, even though it has been around for a few years as a prototype. Like its namesake it comes from New Zealand and it makes a nod to the Can Am heritage with a 427 cubic inch Chevrolet V8. My biggest criticism is the styling, which adopts the current vogue for the open-wheel look. Somehow this seems wrong; a car that carried the Can Am name and heritage should look like a road going version of those classic racing cars.

Imagine if the Hulme looked more like this!

Life on two wheels

2010-05-27T23:28:00.001+01:00

It would be incorrect to say that I have always been interested in motorbikes. Cars were and probably always will be my first love (after personal relationships, of course) but over the years my interest in ‘bikes has grown. Initially my curiosity was purely abstract – appreciating cycles as engineering exercises. But that approach can only take you so far.

Getting to the point of taking lessons and applying for the crucial licence has taken some time. It was always too dangerous, too time consuming, too confusing or too expensive. Despite the potential objections and obstacles - sometimes it seems that the process has been made deliberately difficult – I was bound to give in sooner or later.

The catalyst was an initiative called “get on” (www.geton.co.uk) which allows novices to take an hour’s free riding instruction without obligation. My hour was spent with Midland School of Motorcycling (http://www.midlandschoolofmotorcycling.co.uk/) picking up the basics of riding.

Some of those basics are quite alien to car drivers; in particular the art of low speed control by slipping the clutch and using plenty of revs. Then there is remembering that your right foot controls the back brake while the fingers on your right hand should gently squeeze the lever for the front brake.

Picking up those essentials stood me in good stead a few weeks later when I completed my Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). For those unfamiliar with the process, this is a day’s instruction which starts off away from the road, revisiting the basics and practicing moving, stopping, steering and changing gear. The bit which filled me with dread was the prospect of the on-road part of the training.

In the end it seemed silly to have come so far and not see the thing through. So, on one of the first really warm days of the year, I took to the roads of South Warwickshire under the watchful eye of my instructor, Paul. You couldn’t ask for a better introduction, riding through beautiful scenery on quiet roads. True you feel more exposed on a ‘bike but you also feel more involved, enjoying a connection with the environment that simply isn’t possible in a car. Tackling town traffic was less fun, there is an awful lot going on around you in a tourist-packed Stratford-upon-Avon and the last thing anyone else cares about is a tyro biker. Even that was, in retrospect, enjoyable but the best part of the ride was the return to base. Given some liberty to open the throttle as wide as I dared (which doesn’t do much on a learner’s 125cc ‘bike) on a flowing A-road was sheer joy. Braking for bends, changing gear as much for the sake of it as the need of it, leaning around corners it was enough to affirm that I need motorcycling in my life.

New A-Team film

2010-05-15T09:08:00.003+01:00

*Warning - non-motoring related post*

Like, I suspect, many people in their early to mid thirties I have fond memories of Saturday tea times watching The A Team. Half an hour of good versus bad with lots of chases, explosions and no bad language or death. Probably the best part of the programme was the opening titles and theme music.

With that in mind I watched the trailer for the new A-Team film, which is clearly inspired by those opening words and chords. Sadly, and inexplicably, the voiceover lacks the punch of the television series - surely cinema is supposed to be bigger, brasher and more powerful than TV. I also hope that the music hasn't been remixed, reimagined or otherwise messed about; it was pretty near perfect for the show and would translate to the big screen without alteration. At the moment I'm worried that the film will prove disappointing. Then again it is probably better than trailers that over-sell the feature they're promoting.

I suppose I'll have to get myself down to the cinema when it goes on general release and find out for myself. If I remember I may even follow up this post with a film review.

Random things I love: Steampunk keyboard/computer

2010-02-24T22:41:00.003Z

Once again, apologies for the lack of updates – blame the pressures of work, or my laziness, or the weather. Or whatever.

Anyway, I had to share this rather magnificent computer keyboard and Victorian-style PC. Which were brought to my attention by my mate Si.

There is something about the whole Steampunk aesthetic which I love. The care and craft that goes in to creating old-fashioned-looking versions of modern appliances shows that even mundane appliances can be turned into something approaching works of art. What is even more impressive is the way so much stuff is made using recycled parts – things reclaimed from the rubbish or charity shops. It shows that recycled does not have to mean ugly or low quality.

I also love the clothing style associated with Steampunk. There is something inside me that loves cravats, waistcoats, pocket watches and so-on.

I’m not sure I could adopt it as a lifestyle but it has definitely woken something in me.

Interesting model strategy from Volkswagen

2009-11-04T23:04:00.001Z

Yesterday VW announced prices for the Scirocco and Golf R models. The surprising thing, for me at least, was that the Golf is the more expensive, more powerful, four-wheel drive version. The Scirocco seems quite reasonably priced at £26,945 whilst the Golf is nearly £30,000 which seems somewhat expensive but I’m sure Volkswagen knows what it is doing.

What puzzles me is why, if front-wheel drive and ‘XDS’ electronic traction control is enough for the 252bhp coupé, the hatchback with only 14bhp more (a 5.56% increase) needs to send power to all four wheels. I’d have given both models the same power and the ability to send power to the back wheels.

Just one thought remains, is Volkswagen planning an even more powerful, four-wheel drive Scirocco? How about a 300bhp, six-cylinder coupé? Well, it is nice to imagine.

Good things

2009-10-15T00:22:00.002+01:00

Here are a few things I’ve seen in the last week that have cheered me up.

First is this concept by Daihatsu.

Called ‘basket’ it is designed, if I recall the press release correctly, for family trips to the vegetable patch. It is such an odd design brief and I feel I should hate it but it is so quirky I’m quite taken with the idea. Although production seems unlikely maybe Daihatsu has designs on the market vacated by the Mini Moke and Citroen Mehari.

Then I saw a retro-styled Honda electric car.

The EV-N is an electric city car with solar panels on the roof and a strong resemblance to the 1960s Honda N360. It has a similar ‘cute’ appeal to the Fiat 500 and MINI and it looks as though it would make a good rival to Toyota’s iQ. Sadly, it seems there are no plans to put it into production. On the other hand I can’t help thinking that it would be even better with a small, high-revving engine in place of the battery drivetrain.

Finally, it isn’t just small cars that appeal.

McLaren’s new supercar didn’t appeal to me when I first saw it, however I was asked to do a news story on the MP4-12C. Familiarising myself with the 12C’s details left me feeling rather more positive towards the new British supercar. Obviously McLaren’s web site would talk-up its latest offering but just looking at some of the components is a reminder that good engineering can be beautiful. I particularly like the carbon tub with its smooth curves.

The Honda and Daihatsu will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show. The McLaren can bee seen at www.mclarenautomotive.com
.

Arrivals and departures

2009-10-05T18:36:00.003+01:00

O.K. Sorry for the lack of updates but things have been pretty busy here. If I'm not at work I'm either writing or at the gym. It is all good but leaves the poor old blog a bit neglected. Since my last update covered part of my search for a new car it seemed logical to resume by saying that I have found one. A 1998 Honda Prelude VTi, a rare manual example. Despite my general enthusiasm for automatic transmissions I think the synchromesh gearbox is the one to have if you're going to buy a Prelude. Given the rumours of problematic auto-boxes the DIY-transmission certainly seems like a safer bet.

So far I am delighted with it. Some minor details feel a little penny pinched compared with my old 1989 Preludes. Things like the lack of seat memory and unlined coin tray suggest that the accountants took their pound of flesh. Somehow fake wood on the centre console is poor compensation for what has been lost. At least the double wishbone suspension and four-wheel steering escaped the axe - a large part of the pleasure of driving the Prelude is down to the way it handles and steers. Unfortunately I can't make a direct comparison with my old Preludes but not only is there an improvement in grip and responsiveness but also the ride is much more comfortable.

Other noticeable improvements over the old Prelude include more performance and surprising smoothness from the V-tec engine. Especially gratifying is the smoother transition between the two cam profiles - the 1992 Prelude I drove, which gave me my first taste of Honda's variable valve timing and lift technology, suffered a noticeable step between the two stages. Despite the improved performance fuel economy seems no worse than my old, automatic Prelude and a 60-litre fuel tank gives more than adequate range - at the expense of a big bill if you have to refill and almost empty tank.

Getting the Prelude meant saying goodbye to my Citroen BX14. Sold to a BX enthusiast I'm happy that it has gone to a good home. I must admit I never bonded with 'Pierre' in the way that I did with the BX I had before, Claude. Funny how both French cars gained nicknames but neither my current Honda nor any of the others received that honour.

Car buying blog

2009-05-09T17:27:00.000+01:00

Just been to have a look at a 4.0-litre Jaguar XJ. It was a Sovereign which means it has all the toys (if that matters) on a J-plate.

What an interesting car. Objectively it ticks all the boxes. Decent performance, refinement, lots of leather, air conditioning that seems to do its job, nice power steering (not over light, despite what the press often said at the time) and the sort of ride and handling mix that puts almost everything else to shame. I took it for a reasonably long drive over roads I knew well and it did everything I could ask without complaint.

And yet doubt remains. Some of it is doubt over the condition of the car I was driving. Nothing too serious, but a bit of rust here and there which you’d want to deal with sooner rather than later and a rather more serious question mark over the ABS warning light. Maybe the sensors just need cleaning (a common enough case on the XJ40) or maybe they need replacing? It all looked like a bit of a gamble.

Final nail in the Jaguar’s coffin has to be the colour. Metallic gold is somewhat more “pub landlord” than “young gentleman”. My search continues.

Been too long

2009-04-27T18:52:00.002+01:00

Well I've been rather neglecting the poor old blog. The problem is a pleasant one, I'm directing most of my effort towards writing for [url]www.carenthusiast.com[/url]. If I could turn out news stories more quickly then I might have more time for bloging but if it is a choice between writing for someone else and writing for myself then I have to put others first.

Hopefully I'll have some more stuff to report soon. I've got some events to go to and a new car to buy. As the saying goes, watch this space.

The next big thing?

2009-01-13T21:59:00.000Z

Matt-finish paint.

Last week I wrote about a special edition of Mercedes’ CLS, which was offered in matt platinum paint. At the time I wondered if it would be the start of a new trend. Now Lamborghini is also offering four matt-effect paint finishes it looks like it could well be the start of a new trend.

It is hard to say how these colours will look in the metal but the Lamborghinis on the Detroit Motor Show stand look pretty stunning. The paint appears to have a sheen, an effect more like a satin paint than a true matt. The Italians don’t say anything about the paint’s practical qualities but the ever logical Germans claim that Mercedes’ matt paint is “highly scratch and dirt resistant”.

What neither firm mentions in its press release is how you’re meant to polish matt paint!

Hopes for 2009

2009-01-01T18:48:00.000Z

Looking forward to the New Year one wish is for sense from the government on speed and speed limits. Given that excessive speed is not the biggest threat to life and limb on the roads the emphasis on speed seems misguided to say the least. There must be a more enlightened approach. Some sort of understanding that on the open road bad driving and inattention are the problems while in urban areas it might make sense to include speed along with not concentrating as the risks. On the open road let’s have Police watching for dangerous behaviour in both marked and unmarked cars but no more camera vans and visible cameras only at known danger spots if speed over the posted limit is the root cause of the problem.

It would certainly make a change from being offered ever more inventive ways to enforce limits.

Weekend part 2

2008-12-06T18:02:00.001Z

While I was down in Somerset I took the trouble to visit the Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford. Established by John Haynes, of workshop manual fame, the collection is wonderfully diverse and covers everything from the dawn of motoring to the present day.

My description could make the museum sound somewhat disorganised and lacking in purpose. It is, in fact, very nicely laid out with cars in sensible thematic groups.

You enter the main part of the museum through the “Red Room”, where every car is painted the same colour. The idea, allegedly, is that by having a lot of cars with near identical paint the visitor can more clearly consider line, form and proportion.

There are bubble cars but about the smallest “proper” cars are things like the Renault 4CV, Fiat 600 and this Honda.

It was nice to see three iconic Citroëns together, a Traction, D-series and SM.

Other double chevron cars included a lovely little 5CV.

As well as the corrugated shed that is the evergreen 2CV.

If you prefer your cars low and impractical there is the utterly gorgeous, early De Tomaso Pantera.

Or if you like luxurious grand tourers there is a Ferrari 400i.

The Ford Cortina is more down-to-earth. In fact this is the most basic 1.3-litre, two-door version of the mark four ‘tina. Funnily enough there is a dark blue car of exactly the same type (2-door, 1.3) local to my home. I wonder how many others there are?

A mark-three Ford Fiesta surely belongs in the car park and not behind a velvet rope. This is one of the experimental Fiestas fitted with a three-cylinder, two stroke engine.

I found this Bristol 403 impossible to resist. Sleek and spacious the Bristol was incredibly advanced for its day, with integrated bumpers mounted on rubber to absorb impacts, bonded in rear window and impressively low aerodynamic drag. With a 100bhp version of the BMW-derived two-litre, six cylinder engine the 403 could exceed 100mph. It could also carry four people, plenty of luggage and had decent ventilation. All of which makes it easy to understand why it was priced to compete with Aston Martins and Bentleys.