Freelance motoring writer and member of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers with a love of cars, motorbikes and running.
I lied about the love of motorbikes. They scare me to death - although I would like to own a Ducati 996 in red which I would just look at but never ride. No, not ever.
THE 2017 Northern Car of the Year is the Suzuki Ignis; it is the second time in four years that the manufacturer has received the award, having also won with the outgoing model Swift Sport in 2014.
The region’s pre-eminent motoring journalists, members of the Northern Group of Motoring Writers, placed the eye-catching Ignis at the top of the poll … Read the rest
FOR those needing a working vehicle that will double as the family transport there has never been more choice and the all-new Nissan Navara NP300 is a pick-up truck that should definitely be on your shortlist.
Nissan produced their first pick-up back in 1935 so they had plenty of experience to draw on when designing the new Navara which is … Read the rest
EVERYONE loves an Alfa Romeo, right? Even a certain Mr. Clarkson reckons you’re not a proper petrol-head until you’ve owned one. So, hands up anyone who has actually bought one . . . thought not.
You see, when it comes to our cars we’re a pretty conservative lot. We are beguiled by beauty but when it comes to laying … Read the rest
THE new BMW 5-Series is so refined and offers such good driving dynamics that it had me convinced that this car could be all things to all people – whether you’re a business user who needs a tax-efficient luxury saloon or a family user who fancies driving something that not only feels special but provides better-than-average space for the whole … Read the rest
The new Kodiaq is Skoda’s first venture into the large SUV market and it’s making quite an impression among those who are looking for a family-friendly Crossover that has plenty of space but isn’t unwieldy around town – it’s actually only 4cm longer than the Skoda Octavia.
The fact that there is a 7-seat option greatly adds to the Kodiaq’s … Read the rest
I REMEMBER driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI for the first time – it was probably around 1983 and the car was a white 1.6-litre Mk.1.
I owned a 9-year-old Triumph Spitfire at the time which I thought was quite nippy but when I put my foot down in my mate’s Golf GTI I couldn’t believe how quickly it ate up … Read the rest
As part of the biggest model offensive in its history, Volkswagen is extending its model range by adding a compact-class crossover: the T-Roc. The new crossover from Volkswagen brings fresh impetus to the compact SUV class. It offers maximum personalisation, innovative digitalisation, perfect connectivity, leading-edge driver assistance systems, dynamic engines and above all modern, expressive design. A car that is … Read the rest
THE Mercedes-Benz GLC is a long-awaited replacement for the Mercedes GLK which appeared in 2008. The old GLK was strictly left-hand-drive only, proving that the mighty M-B didn’t have access to a crystal ball.
Had they been able to look into the future and seen the rise of the SUV, surely they would not have made the mistake of excluding … Read the rest
The new Mazda MX-5 RF arrived the same day that the Jaguar F-Type Convertible was taken back and I couldn’t help but feel that I’d had the the main course before the starter.
However, I soon came to realize that the fizzy little Mazda was more Yo-Sushi! Than Rump N Ribs Steakhouse and the two can’t (and shouldn’t) be compared.… Read the rest
THERE are some cars you look forward to driving more than others.
Unbiased professionalism is all well and good but when you’re presented with something as achingly beautiful as a Jaguar F-Type then it’s all too easy to over-reach for superlatives.
So, in the interests of balance let’s start with a negative observation: The Jaguar F-Type Convertible is utterly gorgeous … Read the rest
