People-carrier
Skoda Yeti
May 25th
With the recent winters that the UK has experienced, are we going to see a huge demand for 4 x 4s? From the many conversations I’ve had with women responsible for getting their kids here, there and everywhere, their thoughts are definitely turning that way. Yet there is a reluctance for the traditional monsters we see in Chelsea and a desire for a useable family car that isn’t too heavy on the gas, but can get you out of trouble and gives a feeling of safety.
The Skoda Yeti could be the answer. It’s such a pleasing car on so many different levels. While zooming around town (as the 1.8 petrol TSi does) it’s hard to believe that this easy to drive and manoeuvrable car can actually cope with very rough and unpredictable terrain. While it vaguely has the looks of a four-wheel drive in a cheeky, urban type of way, it certainly doesn’t scream at your 4 x 4 coming through, move over or else!
Fiat Doblo – love the sliding doors
May 5th
One of my neighbours has an old Fiat Doblo van. He’s an occasional painter and decorator but seems to spend most of his time titillating his own home rather that driving around painting other people’s. Very neat and tidy though. So this was my mental image of the Doblo – a working vehicle for messy things, like pots of paint. And once such an image has planted itself inside your head, it’s very hard to shift.
But step inside the passenger version of the new Fiat Doblo, and the image changes to family outings and adventures done in comfort and a certain amount of style. With no worries about the car being ruined with muddy wellies and bikes, due to it’s van-like utilitarian interior, children can be returned home filthy after a secret seven-type of adventure.
Fiat describe it as an honest, credible car with great driving characteristics. Despite the name, this is a brand new car. No up-gardes, no facelift and no collaboration – it’s all Fiat. It has a new Chassis, engine, suspension and transmission and while five seats come as standard, for those adventures, seven seats are available.
Dating a Honda FR-V
Feb 6th
Cars are like relationships. Here’s your choice:
Fast and furious: Thrills that run the risk of breaking down pretty quickly, parts strewn along the road and perhaps a long spell in the garage afterwards. Or dull, dependable partners that don’t provide those heights of excitement but who’ll always get you there in the end. And they’ll keep on doing it year after year. Great.
But then there’s the clever bloke that nobody really appreciates when you first meet him at the party.
Quiet, understated and perhaps not the best-looking guy in the room – all too easy to ignore at first glance. But you get chatting and he turns out to be really quite funny, and that cleverness is very useful. You might leave the party with the handsome tyrant, but when you find out later (thoroughly exhausted) from a friend that your clever, interesting acquaintance has left the country for a job abroad you feel more than a pang of heartache. You wish you’d made more of your time together and make a resolution not to squander missed opportunities…
Peugeot 3008
Jan 28th
What a day full of surprises. Firstly my childen actually behave despite my usual manic behaviour when a trip is imminent. Secondly, I actually arrive on time to the launch of Peugeot’s new 3008, which isn’t a MPV, SUV or a hatch, but seems to have all their good qualities, such as space without being a tank, rugged looks without being offensive and yet still drives like a Peugeot should. This, I’m reliably informed is a ‘crossover’, which I thought was something else entirely…
Land Rover Discovery
Jan 25th
Big Bold and Beautiful
I do love Land Rover Discoverys – big and powerful, exuding style and money. We followed closely behind one after going to the dump – a favourite pastime of mine, not just because I love the fact it’s so organised and clean, but just that feeling of getting rid of stuff which will be used again, albeit in a different form… More >