Nissan GT-R

This is a picture of the glorious new super/sports car from Nissan. It is of course the Nissan GT-R. Over at Top Gear they've got a nice little special on it. It is stated that this is one of the fastest production cars ever made (I doubt this will be in terms of flat-out top speed, but it will certainly be with regard to how it corners and accelerates).

It features a twin-clutch semi-auto gearbox which apparently functions better than almost any other on the market. To my mind, it's unsurprising that the Japanese would come up with something a little special for that.

I don't want to say too much about the car given that I hope to be seeing one on the 12th at the Birmingham Motor Show, but I will say that it looks like two cars I already enjoy looking at (and driving). The first is a Nissan 350Z and the second is the Impreza (not the new hatchback though). Combine the two and in my mind you have something that almost resembles a battle tank. Powerful, mighty and definitely macho.

Stop Staring - Yes It's an Astra

Yeah yeah. So what you're driving an Audi A4 estate. You have the following:

• Four wheel drive
• Better brakes
• A newer engine
• More than likely more horsepower

But you've just been smoked. Why is that? Well, it's because mysteriously, you're tootling along at approximately 50mph in a 70 zone, in what turned out to be very reasonable conditions - albeit it was dark. You have an accelerator. Use it.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - A Car For Christmas

As it's coming up to Christmas, I thought I'd do a little special on what I'd like to own for Christmas. Yes, it's this, the wonderfully beautiful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. It's up there with Eva Longoria isn't it?

So what are the stats like? It is powered by a 450bhp 4.7 litre V8, perfect 50:50 weight distribution and 20 inch wheels. It should be good for 0-62 in 4.5 seconds and around 190 mph if you should be lucky enough to take it on a thrash to an old, disused airfield.

What is really surprising is that there's only going to be 500 of this car made. I'm not sure if I'm disappointed with that or not. Given that it costs about £100,000 even if I won the lottery I'd be unlikely to buy one. It joins the pantheon therefore of cars that are truly extraordinary both in terms of performance and looks.

Vauxhall Astra VXR Nurburgring Edition

Here's the rather wonderful looking Vauxhall Astra VXR Nurburgring Edition. I would love one of these. But wait, how does this VXR special edition differ from the original? Well, it's got white paint, white alloys and more carbon fibre about. However the engine and power (237BHP) remains the same. The true mechanical difference is the Remus Sports Exhaust. VROOM VROOM!

Aston Martin Concept - V12 Vantage RS

Here's the rather lovely looking Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS. It's great isn't it! You could, potentially, name the colour of it as well. Here's what Aston Martin's PR people had to say:

'During the opening of the new Aston Martin Design Studio, Aston Martin Life on 11th December 2007, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, unveiled the new concept V12 Vantage RS to more than 500 VIP guests.

The Aston Martin team invites you to come up with a name for the new colour. If you have a great idea for the new blue, drop us an email with your suggestion to: ampr@astonmartin.com'

So go on, what are you waiting for?

The Haunter of the Dark

Yes, I know it's an H.P. Lovecraft story, but in this particular case, I'm writing about cyclists. Strange title, no? Well actually, it's not. You see, I have a tale of horror of my own to recount. It goes something like this.

Whilst I'm sitting here in the warm, drinking a nice cup of hot chocolate, I can recall when it was approximately 3.30pm - just the other day. Apart from it being a Wednesday, it was pretty average. Not that Wednesdays are unusual you understand. However, it was exceptionally dark indeed.

What does that tell you? That British weather has set in and in earnest. So what can we do? Well nothing beyond making sure your windscreen washers are ready for the rain, sleet et al, and ensure you wrap up rather warm for work. Anyway, back to the tale.

So, five PM came and we left for work, the Blackbird (my car) and I. We drove for a while until we were almost home. Then out of the darkness came the 'haunter'. A bloody cyclist wearing a black top and going unhurriedly down a dual carriageway. WHAT IN GODS' NAME IS GOING ON HERE?!?!

I was, well to put it lightly, unamused. My poor love, recently fitted with new tyres, had to weather the yanking of the wheel as a strove to not hit this idiot. I was torn from my musings of Descartes - and for what? To ensure I didn't mow down some buffoon on his cycle?

Now, I have nothing against bikes or indeed those who use them. However, those who misuse them by doing all manner of jiggery-pokery such as riding in the dark without lights on a poorly lit dual carriageway really should know better. Else they might end up deciding they'd like an extended hospital stay when some doddery old bloke fails to see them in their new Burberry.

Oi You!

What the hell do you think you're doing, driving along at about 25 miles per hour on a bloody 50 road? I'm not being funny, well at least not in a ha ha sense, but you haven't got hazards on (so I can only assume your car is fine) and you're doing half the speed limit. And if your car is fine, mate, I can only assume it's you. You £%^$!

I have nothing at all against going slowly if the conditions dictate it (traffic jams, huge artics in front, slow moving traffic, an accident etc) - this is part and parcel of what has now become busy motoring life. However, if there is no car in front of you and you're doing half the speed limit on a deserted (but lit) country road, motorway or just about anywhere else, you're giving me a massive headache. For no good reason.

This person I'm talking about was driving (I think, it was very dark) a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 - not a Ferrari but it should be a lively little motor in the 16v version. This baffled me even more. Why was the swine going so slowly? So I tried to get a look at the man (see, I am still of the opinion that women tend to be smarter, if not better drivers). As I couldn't get a clean view I did what always grabs attention - a quick light flash. He looked up. He wasn't old, angry looking or crazed. This made me even more mystified as to why we were tootling along so slowly.

I'm not one for road rage and there was hardly a huge queue of cars on the road behind me, so I suppose no real harm was done. However, if it's in off-peak hours that you're driving and you're not up to the legal limit (for no reason) then please keep up the pace. Bear in mind that I have close to 40 miles per day to do in peak traffic so I don't want to be stuck going slowly at 8.30pm because you have decided you want to look out into the dark world as you press lightly on the gas.

Ferrari FXX Evolutione

This is the AMAZING Ferrari FXX Evolutione. Michael Schumacher helped design it and it even goes beyond the legendary capabilities of the Enzo Ferrari. So, let's take a look at the spec:

Engine: Longitudinal, Mid-mounted, 75, naturally-aspirated aluminum V12
Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder with continuously variable timing
Fuel system: Bosch Motronic ME7 Sequential Electronic Injection
Specific Output: 127.75 PS (126 hp/94 kW) per litre
Drive system: RWD w/TCS
Construction: Carbon fiber body over carbon fiber tub with rear alloy subframe
Front brakes: Brembo CCM (carbon-ceramic) discs w/6-pot calipers, power assist ABS
Rear brakes: Brembo CCM (carbon-ceramic) discs w/4-pot calipers, power assist ABS
Front wheels: 483 mm (19 in) x 229 mm (9 in)
Rear wheels: 483 mm (19 in) x 330 mm (13 in)
Steering: Rack and pinion with power assist
Suspension: Double wishbones with push-rod actuated coil-shock units, adaptive dampers, electronic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Wheelbase: 2650 mm (104 in)
Front track: 1660 mm (65 in)
Rear track: 1650 mm (65 in)
Rear view is provided by a mounted video camera viewed on a small inboard screen.
(supplied by www.wikipedia.org)

So what does this tell us? Well, it says that this is arguably one of the fastest cars ever built, but not just in terms of pure straight line performance. This thing is made to eat track in the same way that Americans are keen on their pizza.

Can you have one? Well no. Ferrari has only allowed 30 original FXX cars to be built, and probably an even smaller number will be outfitted with the full FXX Evolutione spec. Nonetheless, to see one would be a dream. I think if I won the lottery my money would be spent on going to watch one of these lap a track time and time again...

New Renault Clio Estate

Renault has announced a new estate version of the popular Clio supermini featuring a luggage capacity of 440 litres. Full details should be available following the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

It's not just a boring old estate car however, as there is a clear 'coupe' curving line design that has been followed, offering good looks as well as a decent amount of space.

Hyundai i30

There's a new medium sized hatchback heading the way of Europe. Korea is investing more than £200m in a new factory in the Cezch Republic to offer the Hyundai i30. This should offer another choice in the Astra and Focus sized market.

All versions of th (1.4, 1.6 petrol and 1.6 and 2.0 litre diesel) will come with ESP, air con, alloy wheels and integrated steering controls. A good selling point should be the top safety ratings in NCAP testing.

Hyundai is sometimes thought of as the cheap alternative to Euro brands but I'd feel comfortable buying one of these for the reliability and range of features. Whether I'd buy this particular model however remains to be seen. I think I'd rather go for the Coupe - a car still in my wish list...

The BTCC 2007

You may have seen the coverage on ITV4 of the BTCC. Whilst Formula One has been very exciting this year, I can't help but feel that the public are missing a trick. These are cars going extremely fast around a track - but these are cars you could realistically own and drive. Wouldn't you rather watch that? It is fast becoming my number one sport to watch and the drama is just brilliant. Why not give it a watch next time it's on?

Motorway Driving

Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. Do not hog the middle lane. That is all.

Obscured Signs

So there I was, below the speed limit but a little faster than I probably should have been going given that I was totally unfamiliar with the road. Out of nowhere, I came to a 'give way' that was signed (apparently) but was also made completely unreadable due to the bushes and overhanging tree branches.

I'm not sure if my car has ABS but it does have good strong new brakes. An older car could well have simply shot through the junction hurtling into the path of another car. Yes, there's a lot of road in the UK, some of which is infrequently travelled. Nonetheless, is that an excuse? This was a dangerous situation that could have easily been avoided if the council had been doing its job. After all, what do we pay road tax for?

Petrol

Here in the UK, there's now a variety of Unleaded available:

Unleaded 95 (Standard
Unleaded Plus 97
Super Unleaded 99
Super Unleaded 102

The numbers relate to the octane rating of the fuel, or rather how resistant the petrol is to early detonation or ignition if you prefer. The higher the rating, the more clean the 'shot' if you will. More powerful cars will perform better with higher octane fuel; even a normal car could well benefit.

The average UK car is rumoured to have a 1.6 litre engine. I'm guessing this is a median rather than a mean figure. Regardless, I have a reasonably nippy 1.8l Vauxhall Astra pumping out 125bhp. I like to keep it in reasonably good form under the hood, even if it is muddy on the outside from my last hiking trip.

As such, I tend to use Unleaded Plus 97. I'm not sure I noticed a massive increase in anything, though I'm fairly convinced the fuel consumption was lower. Maybe I got a few more miles out of it. However, 97 is noticeably more expensive. As such, I've decided to mix octanes (not sure if this is recommended though). I'll let you know how it goes. I might even go crazy and go up to 99, but then I doubt a 1.8l would benefit much from that sort of fuel...

Great Coupes

I thought I'd give you all a list of some great coupes after a somewhat long absence:

Nissan 350Z
BMW M Coupe
Jaguar XKR
Lotus Exige S
Maserati Coupe
Audi TT
Toyota Celica GT
Mazda RX-8 (Five door I know)
Peugeot 407 Coupe V6

Subaru Impreza vs Mitsubishi Evo

MSN has a fantastic new article on the two cars - both of which the latest versions. Apparently the Evo is the more hardcore of the two but I bet you'd still be hard pressed to get either of these car types (even older models) in less than insurance group 17.

On Missing Driving

I've missed driving my car. Call me crazy given that I was in a massively hot country enjoying such delights as lazing around on a beach, but I genuinely missed driving my car.

Now that I'm back, I'm driving it if not every day then probably 6/7 days a week. It has helped me move house, kept me warm when it's cold outside and of course made sure I got to work quickly and safely. As such, please salute my car, Black.

Named after it's colour. Original or what...

Scary Mopeds

Whilst on holiday I had the (mis)fortune of bombing down a road at about 8 in the morning on the back of a moped driven by a rather nice person who gave me a lift. I'll say right now that it is probably one of the seemingly fastest rides I've ever had, but it was scary nonetheless.

Comparatively, a car feels invincible. This is a feeling that is quickly changed when in a crash, but still, I'd bet it feels a lot more safe than being thrown tens of feet from a glorified rollerskate on wheels. Nonetheless, bikes aren't my thing. I'm not quite sure I'd want to repeat it either. It sure was an experience though.

Estate Cars

I was passed by a couple of estate cars today - they were going pretty fast. One of them was an Audi, maybe an S4 variant. I know that estate cars as a rule aren't the prettiest or the most cool looking but this was a case in point - they can have appeal. Of course, the power helped...

Well, here's Clarkson banging on about the Dodge Viper SRT-10. I couldn't not feature it after seeing a Dodge pass me in real life... Absolutely fantastic.

Paris Hilton - A Bad Driver?

Paris Hilton has reportedly been driven screaming back to jail. She's doing some time at the moment as firstly she was on probation for drink-driving but then took the decision to still drive her Bentley without a valid license.

So, not just one but two offences. Drink driving is pretty despicable. Someone at work recently admitted they had 'four or five drinks' and still drove home because they felt fine. Tell me when you don't feel 'fine' after a few drinks? Frankly I think the law as it stands isn't hard enough on drink driving offences. It's pretty obvious that alcohol can have a huge effect even in small doses if you're say stressed or have had a very tiring day (or suffering from lack of sleep, or a whole range of other affects) so why risk it at all?

Paris Hilton also drove without a valid license. I haven't followed the full facts of the case but I'm assuming that this means whilst on probation she was under a driving ban. Whoops, she still drove. As if she can't afford a chauffeur. Well, whatever. I guess her Bentley will just have to be parked for a while. Given how rich she is (coupled with her total disregard for the safety of others) I am hoping that the 45 days in jail does make her think twice before getting behind the wheel of anything faster than a boxcart.

Bike Vs Car

At an undisclosed location on private land (no risk to the public) I was fortunate to have a race against a bike. I'm not sure what the bike was but it was a big cruiser type by BMW. A few things came out of the race:

• Cars will almost certainly never win out against bikes, due to the power vs weight and cornering ability of the bike.
• That is all.

So there we have it. I was well and truly smoked by the bike. The story may have been different if I was in a Lotus or a high-end Caterham but my trusty large hatchback stood no chance whatsoever. Good to see the bike making away at full throttle whilst I waited for the next change up though.

Drop Tops

Yes, I'm very jealous. I would love a car where I can pop the roof down. The weather we've had here in the UK has been pretty good for driving, and damn good for posing of course. Still, I like the stability and space of my bigger-than-average hatchback. Of course given that I'd like a drop top and the weather is good I couldn't not give a list of some I'd like:

• Nissan 350Z Cabriolet
• VW Beetle
  
• Mazda MX-5
• MG TF
• Ferrari F430 Spyder
  

GM Dealers Offering Test Drives...

Of the Competition! Possibly the strangest thing you'll ever see/hear but it's true. As Seth Godin points out this is perfect, exact transparent marketing. If a potential customer can't see why your product is better then why would they buy right? Well this is a great way to highlight the benefits of your product over anyone else's. Much respect to GM.

Maserati MC12

This is, without a doubt, one of the fanciest cars ever. The Maserati MC12. Arguably not as good as an Enzo, but let's talk about this in more detail later. For tonight, let's just admire the beauty of the thing.

Too Fast

So, why go into a roundabout at an approach at like 45mph plus? I mean lets face it, you're already going above the speed limit. I am guessing that these people have forgotten the rule that you MUST GIVE WAY to someone who is already on the roundabout, whether you are off to the right or in front of them!

So there we are, small rant for today. People are driving too fast, even if it's only the cause of 5-7% of accidents. Speed if you like, but do so when it's safe to go over the limit. I doubt doing 75mph on a motorway will really put too much at risk - but going very fast up to a roundabout certainly does.

Audi TT and Nissan 350Z

I@ve got a new article over at Gadzooki about the two cars. I wonder which I'll end up buying...

Halfords - Why Do You Do It?

I go to Halfords every so often. I like to see what is new in, talk to staff who are knowledgeable about cars and see the stupid motors that people have parked outside. But, referring to the eponymous question, why do you do it? Do what I hear you shout from the back! Very simple, have the most annoying, self serving, unhelpful till staff I have come across?

Most of the people working in the Halfords branch I visit are guys. That is not a sexist statement, it's simply fact. Every time I have walked to the till however, I've seen the face of a rather pretty girl. A girl though who has seemingly no idea of customer service. I've originally started this blog with the intention of covering marketing and cars... so let me have more of that here.

Good marketing is a combination of things, but it can be described as thus:

"it consists of the social and managerial processes by which products (goods or services) and value are exchanged in order to fulfill the needs and wants of individuals or groups"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing)

Now bear that in mind. Processes by which goods are valued. I'm quite interested in this process, and I'll soon have chartered status I hope. That's by the by. What is very relevant however is the fact that if at any stage in this two way process of valuation of goods, you're going to automatically devalue your own product if you do not serve me well.

Every other part in the process of marketing was quite well done. From the reasonably well put together website (you don't get a free link because of the service) to the other staff - it was all great. So why did you cock it up at the end of the process? I would quite happily make an official complaint, but much like most consumers I am not willing to put in the effort for the negligible return. So what I'll do instead is go to a specialist or shop using your online store.

Maybe I'll make a complaint in the future if I have to go back. In the meantime, get it sorted out. Consumers will react very quickly to bad service, which in turn tells us something indirectly about the company, if not the product. So Halfords, please get it right next time. Once a mistake can happen, twice - everyone has an off day. Three times though? Well I start shouting about it elsewhere...

Nissan 350Z Cabriolet

Well, I've made it pretty obvious that I am lusting after a Nissan 350Z. In fact, I saw the Cabriolet version, top down of course at a new car showroom. Man, I almost dropped to the floor. Huge wheels, fantastic arches, great rear - oh yes.

So, going back on topic, I saw the most amazing car today on an 05' plate, price tag to match. Why oh why is it so expensive? It certainly looks the part though. I was almost offered a test drive, even when I'd pointed out that I was not buying (or should that be biting) today as I was waiting for some money to come through.

With regard to the actual paint job, that crazy burnt orange that the Nissan 350Z has as a 'flagship' is a bit special but even more so when teamed with the leather interior - of the same colour. It really does look fantastic.

One concern did have for the 350Z in a Cabriolet form was that it might have looked a bit odd - a bit too kei car for my liking. However, I really did think that the body shape was top class. It is true though that the 23k is maybe a bit steep. However, the coupe version should be able to be had for about 16k, though that's an older plate. So there we are anyway, I'd better get saving. Only about 10k to go for the coupe...

Mazda MX-5 Intro Video

Here's a video of the MX-5 - it has a lot of soul as you can see...

Mazda MX-5 - The Drive

Isn't that just as pretty as a picture? Yes, that's an MX-5. Or Mazda Miata if you're American. Anyway, the point is, even with the smallest engine, this car is a great drive. It is a hoot. Front engined, rear wheel drive. Let it slide out baby!

The car pictured is of course a newer edition, what with it lacking the raising headlights and the new alloys. Regardless, even the oldest MX-5's are worth doing up. This is a car that, even with the oldest of models, retains a value above £1,000. This however might change next year. Which is exactly the reason I would buy one.

I could afford a really old MX-5 now on the £1k mark. However, I'd rather wait just a little bit longer. Then I'll get something, hopefully with not INSANE miles, but we'll soon see. I intend to fit new alloy wheels (white ones), salvaged seats, new bits and pieces and of course a fully serviced and uprated engine. I'm hoping to use this as a full mod project but I need the car first. I'm going to take a look soon so I'll give an update with more news when I have something to say on it.

For reference, the MX-5 is a great roadster of classic proportions with a reasonably sized boot for a very small car. Go drive one. You won't look back.

100,000 Miles

We have, bizzarely, been led to believe that when a car reaches this magic number that it is a) worthless and b) will go severely wrong. For the record, that's simply not the case anymore. Engines are fine tuned things and have an excellent lifespan. Equally, bodywork is extremely robust. As long as you look after your car, with some models you'll see 300,000 or more miles. Look out for tips soon on how to do this.

Lotus Elise or Nissan 350Z?

Well, I think both are great. Frankly, I can't decide between either. Neither purchase will be happening tomorrow you understand, but I'm saving my money up, starting in a few weeks time. It has to be then cos I'm spending a few grand moving out and sorting my new place out. So if you have thoughts either way, let me know.

Audi S5

The Audi S5 is a great car. Why is it so good? Apart from being the sports version of the new and cool A5, there are a few other reasons:

• It's fairly exclusive and will go up against cars like the BMW 3 series and the coupe Mercs in the same price band.
• It is a rather tasty coupe.
• You can have a 3.2L V6 engine giving out 265BHP.
• Interior quality is meant to be very tasty indeed.
• Price of around 40k.
  

BMW M3 GTR Warmup

Now to illustrate my last post, let's see how the pros do it. I'm not suggesting you do it like this, after all this is a race car. But it does serve as a wonderful illustration to the point.

Nissan 350Z vs Audi TT Quattro

Here's Tiff Needell using both cars. Frankly, I'd like either but I'd still prefer the 350Z. For one simple reason, and that is it looks far more exciting!

Driving My Not Hot Hatch As If It Was

Yes, my car is a hatchback. It's not a hot hatch though. It still has a good amount of power, but not the upwards-of-160bhp that they seem to be all going towards. Or the scary 6 second 0-60 dash for the Mazda 3 series for instance.

Anyway, there's a few ways in which I try to maximise the fun I have in my car:

• There's a corner I can take to deliberately get a bit of wheelspin. I have used the car in a few different ways so I'm pretty good at controlling it now.
• I know the power ratios so I can get maximum torque or power.

One thing I noticed about my Vauxhall Astra SXI 1.8 today was how well balanced it is. I came out of a corner and pressed on the loud pedal. rather than giving me grief for making the turn-in it was reasonably responsive and held the line. Quite good for such a big car. I was impressed.

I am still quite looking forward to getting my car onto the track and testing the absolute limits of it. I feel that only here can you know your motor completely. Well, it's either that or driving it through some muddy valleys. As it's not an SUV then I think the former is the most appropriate!

Automated Parking Systems

I came across this concept quite recently and I was pretty stunned. I love the idea of just driving onto a metal ramp, getting out and watching the car being whisked to an allocated bay. Very impressive. It means all spaces get properly filled, no-one is parked badly and your car is unlikely to be vandalised given that the criminal would have to be like spiderman to reach it.

Two problems though. First, what if it goes wrong? What is my car is on the way down and it falls, or is squashed by another car? These things can and do go wrong, at least theoretically. As it's the first time I've heard of them though I dunno if they have. Second, what if I don't engage the handbreak well/correctly/if it fails? I've seen some pics of this and some of the cars look pretty high up. Maybe my car would actually squash me!

Anyway, if it means more/cheaper parking in the city centre, then I'm all for it. £1.10 p/h is a complete rip off. Christ, it'll get to the stage where parking meters in town make more per hour than the average person. Well okay, maybe not the average person... But still!

Fiats and First Gear

I've had a Fiat Punto, my folks have had one. Or is that two? Anyway, point is both of them suffered from a very serious problem. Sometimes it just wouldn't shift into first gear. This meant that you'd think it was and it would just do nothing. Other times it would be pretty obvious that it wasn't in fact in gear. Anyway, just a little annoyance that could have been potentially serious!

Driving Fast Through Villages

No - I didn't. So, why did you? You tailgated me dangerously for quite a distance, giving out rude gestures when I slowed down. You sped past me on a corner. You were going about 45 mph as you rounded the bend into the village. You would have killed a child outright.

This is something that really happened to me. I'd been out hiking for a bit, and was on my way home. I was followed dangerously closely by someone driving an older MR2. He's out there now, no doubt speeding again.

I'm still really surprised that, given how much knowledge that people have of how easily cars can kill, that they still go far too fast. Frankly I was saddened by this experience and it took some of the pleasure away from driving, so I may not have too many positive articles for a while.

Top Gear 100

The Top Gear 100 Fastest Cars is a great breakdown. It is not rated strictly on BHP but rather on how fast a car has felt to drive. An interesting one that. Do take a look, see whether you agree. Personally I'm not happy about what's at number one... But then if it is not a Koenigsegg then I wasn't about to be...

Cinquecento Wants You!

Mad mad mad. But absolutely brilliant. This is a picture of the new Fiat 500. I think it's brilliantly cute and I can genuinely see Fiat dealers selling them by the bucketload. Even better than this is the mad Fiat 500 website with various songs, including the bizzare "SEXYYYYY" and others. Go here to see what all the fuss is about.

Pushing Too Hard

Well, I did a run to the countryside recently only to reach a very steep incline. I was in third and I thought the engine power would be enough. Apparently though, I didn't have enough NM of torque. Naturally I switched down a gear, and blam before I knew it to get up the hill I'd redlined it, with a nasty smell of burning reaching the interior.

Quickly I switched down again, let the revs go low and then gradually put on the power. The ozone-y/burnt quality of the smell was disconcerting so immediately when we came to a stop I checked the running temperature, the oil, water and everything else was checked later.

Apparently, I'd just hit the redline and perhaps gone beyond it. Remember, doing this for extended periods in your car can damage it. In my case, it was a split second and then a changedown, after which I let the engine fully cool before giving it a full inspection including valves, belt and cylinders, all of which were fine.

My advice therefore in the future is, if in doubt at the gradient and with little traffic around, stop then head up in first. Unless of course you're driving a big diesel or a supercar, both of which just might have enough torque to carry you up just about anything.

Don't Drive a G Wiz

Why I hear you say? This, a very simple answer. The car will almost certainly severely injure you in a crash, look at how the front compartment invades the driver space. Due to it not being classed as a car (due to some stupid government regulation) it doesn't have to pass N-Cap tests. Oh well. If you buy one, pray you're never in more than a very mild bumper-to-bumper.

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Oh. My. Word. Have you ever seen anything that oozes more class, sophistication and power? I can't see much not to like on that picture, and the Lamborghini Gallardo (Gai-ar-do) Spyder has the performance to match.

• 5L V10 engine
• Mid-engine 4WD
• 0-60 in 4 seconds
• Massive sounding engine
• Looks that make every woman (and man's) head turn in the area

The car costs about £130,000. Yes, that's a lot of money. On the other hand, as usual, if you have to ask it's probably too expensive. Personally, if I had that amount of money for a car I'd pick this over an Aston Martin DB9 - the other favourite. On the other hand, maybe I'd pick a Ferrari F430 before this...

Industrial Estates

A friend of a friend drove to an industrial estate the other night. It was huge and completely empty. It was the ideal thrashing space for his new car, a 2.0 litre sports version. This estate had no people around (so no-one was in danger) and a good few windy routes to hit. He said it was a lot of fun and he'd have to take me there sometime.

Before you get the wrong idea, I'd never endorse dangerous driving. However, people drive on motorways well above the speed limit all the time. So, doing 40 in an industrial estate is very much less likely to injure anyone, and preferable to the enthusiasts who meet at an 'unknown location' to roar their engines.

Either way, this style of driving (urban exploration if you will) makes me think that I need to get a Subaru Impreza or something. I'd imagine that the new WRX would be a lot of fun to take on some country roads. Now, I just need to drive a bit further out of the suburbs...

Morning Drives

Ah, there's nothing better worse than the humdrum driving experience of the morning. I'm talking about the 'still-half-asleep' mode that we're all in. You see people jump into their cars and drive off, neither fast nor slow, but certainly not giving the engine oil a chance to warm (thus giving it just a little bit more wear). More importantly, they all look thoroughly miserable.

I guess that is down to the fact that few of us have a delightful passable experience on the roads. I'm a little lucky with my current assignment - I head away from the busy roads. This means I have the relative luxury of rarely being stuck in a traffic jam, barring on one occasion that I can recall. How about you though? I know I'm in the minority here with my morning drive. It's still hardly stress free but I know it could be a lot worse.

I did read about one guy in Evo Magazine who had a pretty good car and very quiet backroads in which to give it a sound thrashing in the morning. Now to me, that sounds ideal. Get the adrenaline pumping, no-one to hit and a little excitement to start the day. Now, to just get everyone else off the road, or move to the country...

Oi, Sort Your Lights!

No, not a complaint about being blinded by Xenons or foglights (though aren't those piercing rear ones annoying when used unnecessarily?) but rather normal headlights. Why, oh why, Mr Driver, can't you get them adjusted? I am driving along. For your sake, I have a direct control in the car. So I can lower or raise them.

Granted, you might not have such a feature. Fair enough. However, continue shining them into my eyes and I'll have to report you. Your vehicle, as currently set up, WILL cause a crash for someone else. It'll probably be a tenner at a garage to fix, or you could do it yourself. Either way, you need to have them set so that your lights are actually shining where you're going, rather than up into the darkened sky. That is all.

Fast? Why?

I'm quite often annoyed by specs that I see for cars, or indeed cars that I see when I am out and about. If something booms past me, inevitably it'll be going in excess of the speed limit. Now emergency aside, why?

Let's look at this from another angle. Plenty of cars that go quite fast have a limiter set at 155mph. Why? That is more than double the legal speed on any UK road. Frankly, you'll probably never even use that speed on a track (they tend to have corners too y'see). You could go to an aerodrome and fly away. Would you though?

That leaves fast acceleration. Now, that can and is used by lots of people. Races at the lights for instance. I don't go in for that anymore and a lot of people don't once they've been driving a while. If you're in that much of a hurry, then be my guest.

This brings us to why people REALLY buy fast cars. Status. Plain and simple. It's the 'mine's faster than yours' that does it. More to the point, it's a truism. It probably is faster. But you know what, it's only you that's bothered, because on a track I could probably beat you anyway.

You know how to press the 'loud' pedal hard but you DON'T know where an apex of a turn is, what your max torque and power outputs or or probably even how to change your oil and check your pressures without using your in-car gauge. So, sod off. Whilst you're at it, go get caught doing 110mph down the A1.

Morgan Motors

Morgan Motors has been making cars since 1910. By anyone's imagination this is a long, long time. They're based in Worcestershire and they make cars that really hark back to better days. They look classy, sleek and above all stylish in a way that no other cars do any more. The car in the picture is a Morgan Aero 8. Stats include:

4.4L engine
0-60 in less than 5 seconds
Top speed in excess of 160mph

To be fair though, a car like the Morgan Aero 8 is not about stats, it's about style. And I for one would love to be seen driving one.

Five Annoying Things (on the way to work)

A quick one this, but a good one. A few things have annoyed me this week, so let's have them, but in no particular order:

1. If you are driving on a dual carriageway, please do not drive at 40mph when there's nothing wrong with your car and there is no traffic in front of you. I don't care if you're only 17 or 75 - do that every day and I'll report you!
2. There's a sliproad coming on to the carriageway that I drive along most mornings. Please don't just try to smash into other cars to get on there. It's far safer waiting for a gap.
3. If you're in a fast car and your turn-off is coming up, please don't speed up to 100mph and then cross all lanes. This will, in turn, make everyone else cross.
4. People, in general, seem to be safer drivers than the stuff I see on the way home. However, there is still the odd guy who will drive and block the shaded box-junction. Don't do this - you will cause an accident.
5. The box junction as previously mentioned sometimes gets pretty hectic - with traffic really wanting to be all over the place. Please, please, be considerate. If waiting a few more seconds means the car in front gets safely clear, then do so.
   

Fifth Gear Returns

Fifth Gear is back on Ch5 tonight, 8pm. Miss it and miss out!

Lotus Exige S

We haven't had a picture on here in a while so here's a new one. Yes, it's the Lotus Exige S. I really, really want to drive one of these. Here's the stats:

1.8L Supercharged engine
218HP
0-60 in 4.1 seconds
148mph top speed

Shanghai Motor Show

Top Gear has some hiliarious coverage of the Shanghai Motor Show - it is genuinely funny to hear about razor sharp badges that will slice passers by, or almost complete knock-offs making an appearance. One of the things touched on though is the fact that there was a law which meant you couldn't have a private car in China -and this was only five years ago.

Suddenly, we've got one of the biggest emerging markets doing their own thing and creating a huge wave no doubt. Will it be imports or lots of 'Saggy' (a name of a limo) though? Time will tell but China waking up will no doubt have a huge effect on the automotive market. Maybe not a huge effect in terms of design until there is some history... but economically there are big things coming up in the near future.

A Bentley Continental GT - Behind Me!

I was driving into the town centre (something I don't do very often), when just off the sliproad came a car that looked pretty familiar. It was the awesomely powerful, 205mph Bentley Continental GT that came cruising along. The noise from it was amazing and the way it just cruised up with such grace was breathtaking. Truly, it is an amazing car. The exhaust note is music, the interior is plush - it's just a shame the thing is so damn expensive!

Max Chilton

Max Chilton is 16 years old. He just came 17th in F3. Woah. That's one kid who knows how to drive. More importantly though, should he have been allowed in in the first place? Well for sport, it seems that if you're good enough you're old enough. Certainly people would see it as worse that over in Thailand young kids aged only six are getting in the ring to fight Muay Thai.

Driving a potentially lethal motorcar is surely just the same. I guess I have mixed feelings on it, but a hell of a lot of jealousy. Good on you kid. I sure wish I'd had that opportunity at your age. If you prove that you can drive sensibly when you get your road license, then I think the country should stop whinging about it and give you the respect you deserve.

Quiet Drives

Do you ever drive with the radio off, the passenger quiet and only the road/wind noise to distract you? There's definitely a time and a place for it, especially when it's raining. Nothing beats the pitter-patter of the rain on the windshield and the pedal to the floor. Of course all of this would be better when driving a Lotus Exige or something but hey...

Where Would You Go?

Well, I have never really driven that far to be honest. If I was going to though it would be in one of the above, for comfort and style. It is of course a Bentley Continental GT. Very expensive, but very cool and quite rare on British roads.

Where to take it though? Well how about those country lanes up by the Lake District, the route up through Scotland, cutting near the Firth of Forth or through some muddy byways? Not on a motorway surely? There's a few routes I'd like to try and I'll give you more of a lowdown on them when I take a couple this weekend.

The Rolls Royce Motorcar

Rolls Royce has an illustrious history - which began all the way back in 1906. The Drophead and the Phantom are the two last cars - and arguably this brand has had its' day. Nonetheless, for classic collectors the RR will always have a rather special place in our memories.

Expensive Cars

This afternoon I had the pleasure of looking around a couple of showrooms with two of my cousins. I met a lovely older lady who had just made an order on a Porsche Boxster (not sure if it was the S or not, but if you read this do let me know) in red. A good choice. One interesting thing with car colours is that women seem to be a lot more open-minded whereas guys go for black, grey or silver if they're really pushing the boat out.

Regardless, this of course meant I was at a Porsche showroom. As well as Bentley, BMW, Aston Martin and many many others. Of course, the highlight was seeing a few DB9's. Unfortunately I didn't expect to make the visit so I haven't got any pics to show you - I promise I'll get some next time.

I will say though that top end motors on forecourts are bloody expensive. Take the DB9 in question. You're looking at only a few k off the magic £100,000 mark. Even better, the Bentley (might have been a flying spur or GT Continental but not sure) was actually closer to £150,000. This is the sort of place that, I'm sure, doesn't make many sales. But when it does, oh god are they rubbing their hands.

One of my cousins pointed out a discrepancy though. If you can buy an Aston Martin DB9 new for about 100k to 130k (probably also more depending on your options, aftermarket stuff etc) why would you buy one off a forecourt when you can't have the customed kick plates etc? Frankly I'm not sure - beyond the fact that it would mean you wouldn't have to wait for one.

Either way, we were looking at, on the Bentley forecourt at least, more than a cool millions' worth of cars. By any stretch of the imagination that is pretty damn impressive. However, although these cars were great, they didn't steal the show for me. A car that did was available in two places.

This car was the Nissan 350Z. The more I have read about it, the more desperate I've become to have this crazy Japanese, 3.5 litre, V6, two seater, mad drifting beast. Okay, so it is far and away the least practical car I have ever owned, but just go near one. Look at the lines. Look at the stupidly big engine. See the (depending on the model) striped tyres.

Everything about it screams the classic line of - I WANNA GO FAST! More importantly, this car also drifts. Oh boy does it drift. Well anyway, it's still out of my price range for the time being. Next year though, a 350Z will be in the price range... whilst a DB9 still will not. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll be looking at them again next week.

The Ariel Atom

My car of the moment is the Ariel Atom. It is totally flat and in the best incarnation (circa 29k) offers 300bhp, or 600bhp per ton as the car only weighs around 500kilos. It is brilliantly fast, with Top Gear rating it as just under the Enzo on their track. Quite impressive given that it costs less than a tenth of said uber-Ferrari. You can see the video of Clarkson's thoughts here. In a few days I might do some more coverage of the company behind the car.

What a Car!

I haven't had a great picture of a car on here for a couple of posts so here's a damn good one. It's the Peugeot 207 LW. Essentially a proper race car version of the 207. This is not of course the rather tasty RCup 'special' but an even hotter beast that will only find home on a track. And I want one. Well it's either that or an Ariel Atom.

Wheelspin... On a FWD Vehicle

As I've mentioned, my last car was an unruly little beast. An old Fiat Punto Sporting that was quite a hoot to drive and liked to be revved. So much so that on a favourite corner of mine you could stay well below the speed limit and still have the wheels smoking.

My new car doesn't do exactly the same. In fact it's very sensible. But, on the same corner going the opposite way you can wheel spin it. So out I was last night, making sure the wheels didn't get grip. Oh the joy! It did make me feel just a tad jealous of those with a rear wheel drive motor though.

For those of you who have never seen drift series racing or aren't familiar with the physics, lets go through how you do it (for rear wheel drift/spin):

• A limited slip differential is really needed
• Rear slip angle must be greater than front angle
• This amounts to wheels pointing one way, car turning into the other
• So basically, you put on the power, turn in to the turn then as the oversteer begins you can almost go into a correct but as the wheels haven't maintained traction you'll have drift

Of course, there are a huge number of ways in which to induce drift, some of which are covered over at Wikipedia. Remember, when the back end is going that's your oversteer - this can result in a spin out or a successful drive. The other end of this is understeer, when the nose keeps following a more straight-line trajectory than otherwise wanted. Or it can pull you in with the nose, making the slip angle of the front greater than the rear. Either way, you won't find many cars with a significant amount of understeer spinning out.

Don't Watch That, Watch This

This being Michael Vergers doing the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6 minutes 55 seconds. I kid you not. Even more spectacular is that he does it in a production car. Okay, it's in the FEROCIOUS Radical SR8 but then who's counting. Not me that's for sure. Watch him wave to the Merc!

Where Should Top Gear Go?

Clarkson has written a post over at the Top Gear website, asking where Top Gear should go. Problem is, the last series go massive viewers rivalling most other TV but unfortunately was pretty far removed from what could be described as a 'car show'. So what's my take? Well I thought I'd write it here seeing as there's no guarantee my comment would show up there.

Fifth Gear is more appealing to me than the next series of Top Gear right now. The reason for that is whilst the challenges in TG's last series were fun, the celebrity appearances were pretty appalling (not to mention the attitude of some celebs), the challenges were stupid and the cars were... well barely a presence! That being the case, the show really does need a change.

The change should take the programme full circle. A car show once again (gasp!). It is really what it needs. I know it's a flagship for BBC2 but come on, it's become so stupid as to be almost avoidable. BBC Director General, do what you must. Make a decision. Either revert the show and have a lower audience but a much more vocal one, or split the show in two. Develop a new programme which has serious discussion and news on cars (maybe presented by James May) whilst the other can complete twaddle pandering to the masses.

RUF Supercayman

As some might say - oh my car. This is the new RUF supertuned Porsche alike. This is a German tuning factory/manufacturer who takes a Porsche body and does mental things with it. Get the skinny on this dream beast of over 235mph here.

The New Maserati GT

I'm really keen on seeing the new Maser GT in person. More importantly I'd love to own one - and for a simple reason - exclusivity. I've seen anything from race modded Carerras to Bentley Continentals yet I've never seen a Maserati on the road.

It even makes the Aston Martin DB9 I drive past most days seem fairly ordinary. Why is that? The brand of course. Whilst Fiat and Alfa Romeo have more central a stage, Masterati is serving a very specific consumer. This consumer is very rich, discerning and aware of the marque. Marques are funny things you see, meaning different things to different people.

Yet at the top end, the differences are less noticeable. After all, the types of cars that command price tags of 60k plus are either not driven that much (and so just a show item, a symbol of conspicuous consumption) or the mark of a true connoiseur and collector.

The type of person who could name the test driver (Guerino Bertocchi) would probably own a car like this. As such, all of the high end vehicles command respect and not just because of their price tags. The stats too make them the pinnacle of driving, whether it be through experience, technology or luxury.

Whilst Maserati is competing in a very competitive marketplace it still speaks volumes of passion, power and the pleasure of the open road. All of these things and the rare relationship Maserati has with the UK consumer is exactly why I want one.

Newcastle to Alnwick

Duration: 45mins
Main Route: A19, A1

This is quite a nice drive if you go the scenic route or some motorway if you don't. Alnwick is a lovely part of Northumberland with a vibrant town, a treehouse and a huge second hand bookstore - Barter Books. Depending on your approach and route you may find the 50mph single carriageway a bit dull but it is reasonably scenic.

Bear in mind that this route can lead to Berwick/Scotland so it can get a bit busy. Heading on motorway watch the very sharp left in to Alnwick town centre - it can take some by surprise. When in Alnwick, make sure to stay in one of the fantastic b&b's as well as enjoying some local real ales. Top destination!

Eating Food In MY Car

Before you ask, no you may not. To some, a car is merely a way of getting somewhere. Somewhere they already aren't - hence the car. To others, it is a source of pride and joy to which they spend cash and time. My interest lies somewhere in the middle. I really like my car but moreover I am very aware it is a functional device. As it is something I can occupy up to an hour a day or even a few hours at the weekend I need the environment to be comfortable.

This means no food wrappers or crumbs about the place. I used to eat breakfast in my last car and it was tip because of that. I've learnt my lesson (as well as changing jobs). To the gents out there: if a lady sees your car is a complete dive inside (regardless of what it is on the outside) she may think your place, manners and bed are the same. Not exactly the impression you want to give is it?

If you're a girl then sweets and perfume is fine but teddy bears lining the back seat might seem a little odd to a male passenger. Even still I wouldn't mind that provided I wasn't sitting in a sea of crisp packets and standing on empty plastic bottles.

I guess the name of the game here is propriety, as well as what makes you personally most happy. As I've invested a lot in my car then I want to respect the money I put in to get it. So you should too. So if you're ever in it, once again, before you ask, no you may not! Try here for more info. In fact as I haven't found a really good article about it I'll write myself. Watch this space.

Top Gear in the US

Apparently, there's a chance that Clarkson et al will be going Stateside for a series. This annoys me for a number of reasons. One, it will have almost exclusively American vehicles (not that great really) and two some American 'celeb' is bound to reveal the name of THE STIG. Worst of all, what will be left with? Vroom Vroom? The superior Fifth Gear is expected back soon, but who knows when. Come on BBC, do a bit better than this eh and keep the three on UK tv.

Audi TT

Of course the new Audi TT has been out for a while - but I've wanted one for a long time. Years before I could drive and years before the new design in fact. Anyway, enjoy the Roadster above. If you're wanting more info then go to Audi here. Oh, and for the record I'd have the coupe just for the better body rigidity. Check out the awesome magnetic damper system though... Oh my.

Carbage!

This is one of the most famous sections of the Top Gear website - and it's bloody awful. Yet brilliant. People who have crazily modded motors (or those simply with the right to send them to the site) take a snap and then it is uploaded for all to see. Now, I can see why some mod their cars. Better performance for instance.

However, most of these cars here look to have been changed for one reason only - catching the eye. This is in itself not a bad thing, but you've got to wonder why someone would buy a car (looking perfectly ok in the first place) only to change the look completely. Why not just buy something else?

Generally speaking I haven't seen too many dodgy modded motors when out and about, though an park not too far away from here is a regular hunting ground. I'll give you a clue - it's got a cinema and is based at North Shields/Wallsend.

If cars are your passion - then great. Chances are you wouldn't be here reading otherwise. But do you really need spoilers on the back that make your motor look like the VW Polo of Satan? Perhaps not. Look with the mind as well as the heart young padowan and the truth will be revealed! Or, just save up more and get the Impreza you really want...

GM Motors Small Concept

In what has got to be a first, GM Motors has actually opened up their concept cars to the public. There are all small cars designed for the US market (though I could see the Beat on the far left being quite popular here in the UK) and so far it shows - the very American Groove is in the lead. I actually quite like the Trax, the final concept on the far right. It looks a bit like a mini MPV or Jeep and frankly unless you are made of money those Chelsea tractors aren't going to be very appealing for much longer due to new government regulations... Regardless, make sure you vote, it might actually make a difference!

The New Ford Flex (SportHearse)

Yes, the title is a bit of a pun, but only a bit. This is a new seven-seater monster from the biggest of all US car manufacturers - Ford. They have named it the Flex. And to me, it looks like a SportHearse. As in a car for the dead, but blinged up. Strange but true, just look at that thing. Either that, or it is a grotesquely modified Mini. Just drag the wheels closer with your minds eye and reduce the roof. Tell me that isn't the case!

My Current Car

There is my current car - a Vauxhall Astra SXI 1.8 16V. It is sadly missing a mud guard from one side, but never mind. Not a bad amount of BHP for a hatchback (about 125) but not a huge amount of torque as it's quite smooth unless you rev it. No idea of the 0-60 time but I doubt it's spectacular. On the other hand, it is very nice to drive and handles pretty sharply. Not quite the Nissan 350Z that I want though:


Like most cars that look and perfom like this, I have a special place in my heart for the Nissan 350Z - particularly the coupe version. The stats are a bit special:

• 3.5 litre V6
• 155mph (limited)
• 16.9mpg urban fuel consumption (now that I don't like so much ha ha)
• Available with GT pack and with leather seating

Anyway, the next task is to save up enough to afford the insurance for one of these before even contemplating looking at one in 'real life' (too late...).

Bike Speed Limiters

The government is interested in introducing a speed limiter to bikes, as they believe this will lower the accident rate and curb the use of those dastardly mini-motos that are being driven around illegally. Well, lets break this down.

Only 5pc of accidents are caused by excessive speed. That being the case, isn't it a bit stupid to then limit bikes? Bikes are, by their nature, more dangerous than cars. What next though, limit all cars to 70mph as well?

The best advice that can be given is that all road users should have much better education. Teach it in schools, whether people grow up to be a driver/rider or not (statistically at least 2/3 will) and make sure that EVERYONE is aware of the dangers of the road.

For me, this is clearly a government with nothing better to do than annoy yet another group of road users. Why don't they go back to the House and think about issues that really affect us, like why we're taxed twice on Petrol and in such crazily excessive amounts, why alcohol is considered more dangerous than a lot of other drugs and it is freely available, why cigarettes continue to be sold - the list is endless.

My Old Car

This is a picture of my first car. It was a 1.3 litre, 16V Fiat Punto Sporting that simply loved to be revved. It generated a good amount of torque and you could really feel when it was going. Unfortunately it was quite old when I got it, so I had to recently upgrade to a new vehicle. Pictures coming soon.

The Punto was a good car. Older in body shape and used in engine, nonetheless everything worked, including full electrics (windows, air con etc). I'd probably say it wouldn't be the best motorway drive due to some excessive noise, but I did quite a few miles in it and was perfectly happy.

Long Journeys

I quite like driving, but I'm not too sure that I like driving for LONG periods at a time. But we'll see. I've got an interview for somewhere that is a significant distance away and I'll need to work out whether it'll be viable economically (given how damn expensive petrol is, what with us effectively being taxed twice on it) and also wise in terms of the time it will take to get to these offices. Well, I guess I'll find out soon as I'm taking a trip there at the end of the week...

Roundabouts with Weird Junctions and Lights

I had the misfortune to hit a few roundabouts on the way home from seeing 300 (very good by the way) and they were in a bloody awful state. One of them had lights changing AT THE WRONG TIME. Not very good at all. Another one had multiple exit points for various lanes which then converged rather worryingly. Whoever thinks these things up needs to be driven around them a few times to see how badly wrong their designs can go.

Scary Undertaking Drivers

I was a little worried the other evening when I was driving back from a relatives' house. On the inside, on a sliproad in fact, a guy was going maybe double the 30mph, he then crossed in front of me in his modded Subaru Impreza and shot off into the third lane, seemingly oblivious to the speed cameras (or the 50mph sign).

This was one of the most dangerous things I've seen in a while, and it kind of holds up to my theory that the later it gets, the weirder the things are that people do on the road. I guess it comes with the territory, or maybe it's just a case of the nutters getting up at 2pm, having their breakfast or whatever then driving off to score some drugs. Either way, there are places to drive in such a manner and they tend to sealed track days, rather than the average British road.

Insurance

Cars are pretty expensive, whether they are your hobby or just your preferred method of getting from A-B. Regardless, one thing that came up recently was my insurance renewal. Much like everything else these days, it was pretty expensive. Then again, it was roughly how much I expected to pay.

I picked up a leaflet and rang another insurer rather than just accepting the quote given. I was offered all manner of freebies (breakdown cover, a courtesy car etc) for a slightly lower price than given. After saying that the price this new firm had offered was more than my current one. I then rang back my current insurer telling them about the better deal. Fearing I was going to bugger off, they put me through to 'customer retention' - where something very special happened.

First, the special thing was that I was talking to someone in the UK. I have nothing against anybody anywhere, but when we're talking about my personal details I like to be sure that when someone tells me their name that it really is there name - unlike 'John' who was almost certainly not John at all but Chandra in La Hore, India.

The other special thing was that 'customer retention' had amazing powers to not only give me the same deal (after customer service couldn't) but they gave me a bit extra, and were fabulously nice. In fact, if I wasn't 100% sure their call centre is about 3 hours drive away I would have asked the lovely Amy out for a drink sometime. A diet coke of course, so I could drive her around in my car, protected by the insurance she had so wonderfully provided.

I guess the message here is that it pays to shop around, but more importantly firms shouldn't underestimate the value of good customer service. A top flight pro (the likes of which Amy most certainly is) is worth her weight in gold as such service is the best marketing tool of all. Not only that, but the price of the insurance certainly put a smile on my face.