Flash Drives

In only its second year, DRIVEit is the UK’s leading dedicated light commercial vehicle exhibition and driving event that’s free, live and interactive.  Based at the world-famous Bruntingthorpe proving ground in Leicestershire, visitors can test drive any of the vehicles on show, and with over 6 miles of test tracks you can give them a true and proper going over.  As ...

Now in its 12th year, Mercedes-Benz’s VanExperience Live was held for the first time at the brilliant Millbrook Testing Facility near Milton Keynes, which as always, proved to be an excellent venue. VanExperience Live takes place for more than 1,900 invited van operators and goes far beyond any normal test drive. It’s a unique opportunity to assess how Mercedes-Benz vans perform ...

I grew up in a home where after coming from nothing, my Dad’s dream was to own a Rolls Royce. After business success he bought his first, a Silver Shadow in the early eighties. This was replaced with a Silver Shadow II in around 1986 and this car remains in the family, still loved by my Dad. As such, I ...

Initial Ponderings Over the last 12 months or so I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with the Mazda6 Tourer, the CX-5 and the nimble Mazda2, and with each vehicle being a genuine joy to drive, I can honestly conclude that I’m becoming a quite a fan of the marque. They’re not just fun to live with either, with Mazda’s ...

“It has a foot operated parking brake, don’t forget to release it” said the Lexus press representative as I climbed into the dark red sleek machine. Seat adjusted, wheel in position and now let’s press the fun button and bring the beast to life. As the 5.0l V8 comes to life it’s vocal announcement is subtle, but enough to ensure ...

Mention the Discovery Sport whilst talking to a handful of die hard Land Rover enthusiasts and you’ll get the same response as when the Evoque was first introduced: ‘It’s not a proper Land Rover..’ etc.  Of course it isn’t a proper Land Rover, the Discovery Sport is more fuel efficient, safer, handles the road better, and is arguably better off ...

Over the past couple of years I’ve thoroughly enjoyed driving various versions of the  Jaguar F-Type, from the convertible to the Coupe.  Today however was a good day, the sun was shining and in front of us sat a gleaming white V8-R, 550ps AWD Supercharged convertible sex machine. (Too much? I don’t think so). After we lowered the roof with ...

If you read my road test last year on the outgoing Grand Vitara (click here), you’ll know that I fell for it in a big way, but time stands still for no 4×4, and after 27 years it was time for a change. The new, fourth generation Vitara is as stylish and robust as ever, offering the usual value for ...

It’s always interesting reading other peoples reviews of a car that you’ve just driven, sometimes I’m like, ‘Yeah, I agree with that.’ Other times I’m gawping in dismay at what appears pure ignorance, and with the Wrangler it was certainly the latter as one reviewer actually called it a pointless vehicle and only gave it 3/10.  Now, being a long ...

I always remember glancing at X-Trails of old and thinking that they looked a bit odd, a bit awkward looking, and in my opinion not very pretty. These days however, Nissan have done a fine job and created a sleeker and more modern design, giving it a similar look to the Qashqai, its smaller sibling. On the downside, it does ...