Car Articles

GT cars are wonderful in theory. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, I’m referring to Grand Touring vehicles. These are the vehicles that should be able to move you across the countries of Europe with little problem, plenty of comfort and even more style. Alongside this, a GT car should be quick. Really quite quick. After all, you don’t want to get stuck in rural France now do you?

Renault isn’t known normally for GT cars - you could say that’s a shame given that the Laguna GT looks really quite good. Granted, it is perhaps still too mundane for some (if you’ve seen the Alfa Romeo Blackline GT you’ll know what I mean) but nonetheless, the front-end redesign looks stylish and the car has some decent curves.

Fitting into the family saloon segment of the market, the standard Renault Laguna is a car that is really rather dull - that makes it a break away for the company that brings such bizarre designs as the Megane (the only car with a big arse) and the Twingo - the F1 styled variety of which I’m keen to have a go of. So can this lowly start really provide something you’ll be desperate to drive?

Where It Stands
The GT offering is the absolute top of the range for both the tourer (estate body type) and the hatchback (though similarly to the Vauxhall Vectra, it looks more like a saloon than a hatch). Naturally as it is at the top of the tree you’ll get a lot more extra kit for your money. Whether it’s truly worth it depends on what you want.

The Look
Externally, there’s a much larger black mesh front grill to provide a more menacing look. The headlights stand out a lot more with this look, whilst the eighteen-inch alloys are one of the standout features of the car. They really do make a different to the look and feel. Darkened rear lights, twinned chrome exhausts and lots of GT badges round off the look of the car.

Inside
It is really the internals however of the car that will sell it to you (if you’re going to buy). It is just as good (luckily) as the standard Laguna, with added styling in the shape of two tone leather seats and alcantara sports seats that’ll hug you nicely as you’re driving down to Dover. There’s also a three spoke steering wheel that is flat bottomed in true racing style - just another touch that makes the car a little bit special.

Driving Dynamics
But what’s actually changed when moving from a boring saloon/hatch/estate to something a bit more involving like a GT car? I’m always sceptical about a current car being made into a GT, but luckily the Laguna doesn’t disappoint. Renault has used their much-acclaimed Active Drive four-wheel-steering system on the chassis to create a much more involved driving experience. The science behind this is simple but the level of control is much improved - essentially all four wheels will turn, instead of just the front two. You’ll like it a lot.

Performance
A GT badge, as mentioned, should always mean a bit more power. In this regard, the Laguna is no slouch (it’s hardly a supercar either mind you). The time of 0-60 in 7.8 seconds is very reasonable for the petrol, along with a 145mph top speed. These figures are for the 2.0 litre turbo, however you could opt for the diesel that should give you closer to 40mph and similar power.

And Finally…
With the coming of May seeing this car going on general release, it looks like we’re in for a GT time for Spring. Prices start from a not inconceivable £21,050 for the Petrol.

What happens when you take a regular hatchback and make it really, really quite fast?  You get the Vauxhall Astra VXR.  What happens when you then decide to mod the car in honour of one of the most famous race tracks in the world?  You get exactly what is shown above - an Alpine white racer with matching alloys, chequered flag graphics and much more.  This is the Vauxhall Astra VXR Nurburgring Edition.

The Vauxhall Astra VXR has 240PS and 320Nm of torque, which is a lot of power.  This is all channelled through to the front wheels - so you may find it a little happy with the understeer.  Not only that, but if you recall Clarkson’s test drive on Top Gear, you might remember how it was quite happy to decide where it wanted to go through the use of torque steer.

For those who don’t know, this where the sheer force of torque running through the car will pull the steering wheel - in the case of the test car on Top Gear it went to the left.  Great if you’re… um… turning left.  Not so useful if you’re doing anything else really.

In spite of the faults listed above, the Astra VXR is a very useful car, having enough shove to pull you to 60 in only 6.2 seconds - making it one of the fastest hot hatches money can buy.  The 2.0 litre Turbocharged engine is nicely smooth, with continuous power all through the range until you hit about 5,500rpm.  The same really applies to the torque so you can push to almost the top rev range and know you’ll be working the car nicely.

The dynamics of the car are very well balanced - you get a low, flat ride for your money with absolutely brilliant Recaro seats that feature leather side bolsters.  They’ll hug you nicely and provide comfort for a long or short journey.  The overall experience of driving the VXR is that it is a bit of a bruiser.  All the power from the front wheels can make it tough to handle at times, but that power is a wonderful, wonderful thing.  The setup makes it quite characterful to drive too.

Whatever version of the Vauxhall Astra VXR you choose, you’ll get your piano black centre console, your head restraints, the unique gearknob and instrument panel, the multi-CD player, trip computer and keyless entry and start.  All in all, a wonderful package.

So what about the other part of the name then - what’s this Nurburgring all about then?  The Nurburgring is a racing track that was built in the 1920’s and originally had four configurations.  The modern setup is over 20km long (well the Nordschleife is anyway) and is still to this day considered one of the most dangerous and tough circuits anywhere in the world.  So this is where the inspiration for this edition came from then.

The differences, it has to be said, between the standard VXR and the Nurburgring Limited Edition are mainly cosmetic.  The interior leather is slightly different and features ‘Nurburgring’ design on the backrests.  The doors have a carbon-fibre effect and facia inserts and the door sills are custom-spec.

Of course there are a few minor differences though - notably the alloys wheels are race-track in style and are ultra-low profile and high performance.  The exhaust is a Remus and could provide up to 15PS extra power - something that’s an easy way to differentiate this car from the standard, as the sound is different between the two.

Whether it is worth the extra outlay remains to be seen, but as this is one of the hottest hatchbacks on the planet it certainly has me begging for a test drive.  Whilst it might be a big OTT for some, I’d certainly love one.

I’ve thought about this question before because I would like to quantify exactly what makes them special. The area of the car market I’m talking about is the really top end - not the things mind that are just expensive cruisers (such as the Rolls Royce range) but stuff with scary, balls-to-the-wall performance to go with it.

Impracticality
One thing I’ve noted during my search for the ‘essence of supercar’ (it could be a well nice aftershave that, though granted it would have a whiff of the high octane stuff about it) is that the car has to be completely impractical. It has to really offer barely any room at all, whether you’re a passenger (real supercars rarely offer room for more than one of these) or a piece of baggage.

This is one of the reasons why you could call cars such as the Subaru Impreza WRX Sti and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution incredibly impressive and fast - but they aren’t supercars. There’s just too much space, a bit too much ‘well I could help you do the shopping run too’ about them. There’s a place for that, but it’s not as a supercar.

Looks to die for
Supercars, invariably, look different from all other cars on the road. I was recently driving to work and there was a Lamborghini Gallardo driving on the opposite carriageway. It caught my eye and made my stomach feel light. The sheer looks of the thing made me gawk.

A car cannot be called a supercar unless it looks a bit special. I’m not just talking about a bit of carbon fibre as the bonnet either - it must have something that screams ‘I will eat you if you do something I don’t like’. This can be a rear diffuser; a bonnet bulge or intakes that make the car look like it has miniature caverns. Whatever it is, it must catch your eye. Cars that are trying the same trick (but aren’t supercars) will frequently paint their machines in traditional supercar livery such as bright reds and yellows.

Power and performance
A supercar should be super in every way - whether it is the looks or the performance. This being the case, such a machine cannot carry the moniker unless it is flying the flag for pointless, over the top performance. If your current car can do a higher top speed then you’re either rich or kidding yourself.

Cars such as the new Nissan GT-R are genuine sports cars - simply because it will do the 0-60 run in 3.6 seconds. Truly breathtaking. A bit scary as well no doubt. That’s another purpose of a supercar. Unless you’re a racing driver, it should have the ability to make you wet yourself. Repeatedly.

Costs
This really is something particular to supercars (well okay, you’ll suffer some of this if you get a performance car of the non-super variety). The cost of an initial purchase can be just about as high as you want to go, given how much you can customise your chosen vehicle. Your dealer can give you an options list longer than your arm and if you’re a real supercar buyer you’ll tick more than a few.

Cars you might like which won’t make your bank manager cry
These days, there are some cars that you can get for a very reasonable price that are either supercars or have genuine heritage. The Honda NSX is one such car. You can pick one of these bad boys up for just up from £20,000 and you’ll have a high revving V6 howler to your name that will put a lot of other cars on the road to shame.

Whilst some complain about TVR, if you haven’t got the Earth to spend then I’d recommend one. Look for a good model though, as reliability is a known issue (tell me which ’supercar’ doesn’t come with this feature though). I found a TVR Chimaera (4.3 litre convertible monster) for only £8,650 - a real bargain that will go like absolute stink.

My favourite supercar
As a car enthusiast, naturally I have a preference for a vehicle - should I happen to win the lottery or get an inheritance I wasn’t expecting. My choice is for the Ferrari F430. This two-door coupe is a fantastic vehicle. You can get it in manual or ‘F1′ style paddle shift and it’ll go from 0-60 in less than four seconds and will naturally cost you the Earth to run. I found one however for only £100,000.

I guess the point of supercars really is just that - to be super, in the same way that Superman is. They are unattainable. The height of mechanical and automotive genius. They turn heads. Perhaps though the only sign of a true supercar is whether a boy will have a picture of it on his wall. In that case, make mine a Lamborghini Diablo. This analogy highlights perfectly what a supercar represents - emotion, excitement and power all rolled into a beautiful package.

I’ve made no bones about my passion - and that tends to be fast cars.  You may have even gotten a little sick of hearing Lamborghini this or Aston Martin that.  You’ll no doubt be shouting at the screen - much as many do with Top Gear - and saying ‘where are the normal car reviews?’

Well, I’m not about to review the new Kia Picanto for you (even if it is a good car).  Well, I will if I get an invite to test-drive it.  In the meantime though, what I’d like to do is recommend five cars that you’ll love.  You’ll love them because not only are they on the whole very decent at what they do, but also they’ll save you a fortune in insurance.

Whether you’re a new driver or an older person looking to save money, any of these cars will be suitable for you.  Even if you’re the motorist looking to save a few bob, then you won’t go wrong with these.  This is not least because not only are these cars cheap to insure, but they all have relatively small (and economical) engines.  So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the five.

Skoda Fabia
Don’t listen to those who are still telling the same old badge jokes.  In fact, poke them in the eye and tell them they are about ten years behind the times.  Since VW took over Skoda way back in 1991, things have got better and better.  The Fabia is based on the V Polo and is extremely reliable, hardwearing and very safe.  The 1.2 litre Classic is insurance group one - that fact will certainly make your wallet fatter.

Renault Clio
The third generation of the supermini is a modern classic in many ways and the quality certainly goes some way to explaining why you see them just about everywhere.  The way in which the internal space is handled is very clever, meaning that there’s actually quite a bit of room inside.  Going for the 1.2 litre will see you getting almost 50mpg, something that you won’t see from many other engines.

Nissan Micra
Granted, this car will probably be the least popular in this review.  Why is that?  Well, the perky little car is what a huge number of people learn to drive in every year.  Given this fact, I know that I for sure was desperate to distance myself from the Micra - even if my ideal car is a Nissan (a 350Z for the record).  However, the modern Micra is actually a damn good car.  You’ll get keyless entry, parking sensors, air con and many other perks you wouldn’t necessarily expect.  Overall, it’s a really good car and it won’t cost the Earth to run.

Fiat Punto
There is a large number of this particular Italian supermini on the road and for good reason.  It enjoys being revved.  It really is that simple.  Much like James May said in his review of the Fiat 500, these Italian cars are made to be lit up by pushing the revometer until the valves have “jumped up and are dancing on the bonnet”.  I couldn’t agree more - and it is one of the more involving cars here.  Not only that, but even the 1.3 litre sporting will see you managing to get very reasonable insurance quotes.

Ford Fiesta
This is a car that has been around for about 30 years now - which must tell you something.  Granted, there are so many superminis out there now that the Fiesta can look a bit of an oldie (not least because the design has never really been altered that much) but it is a testament to the quality that so many are still going.  The newer and younger models however are really geared for the modern generation and feature such additions as Bluetooth and new-design alloys.  Why get it?  Well the 1.25 litre version is a group two and will give you about 45mpg.  You can chuck it in corners and it’ll give you a smile.  With that in mind, what’s not to love?

Conclusion
You’ll have seen that there’s a trend in these ‘cheap to insure’ cars - and that is the fact that they are pretty much exclusively superminis with small engines.  There’s nothing wrong with that, in fact they can offer a great drive along with frugal performance.  So, for a change, let’s all hail these little metal marvels of money saving.  Make mine a Fabia (VRS edition diesel mind you).

That’s the tenth iteration of the Mitsubishi Evo you’re looking at there - and I’m going to be one of the first people in the North-East of England to test it.  I’m, as you can understand, extremely excited.  What’s all the fuss about?  Well this is a car that’s actually faster than a lot of Lamborghinis and Ferarris, especially when it comes to making the thing turn.  It is super trick and super quick.

A Quick History Lesson
Mitsubishi Motors is the sixth largest Japanese car manufacturer, with a long history dating back to 1917. The motor sport section of the brand debuted back in 1962, with a Mitsubishi 500 Super DeLuxe. It won various accolades and moved into WRC (World Rally Championship).

During the 1980’s Mitsubishi launched the Lancer EX2000 Turbo, which it scored extremely well with. The company went on to have a very successful partnership with Tommi Makinen, resulting in four years of consecutive firsts (1996-1999) in WRC. Thus, the legend of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was born.  It is a car with a true racing heritage and pedigree.

Why The Car Is Popular
Some time ago, Mitsubishi homologated (registered for production for racing) the Evo. What this meant was that apart from the bodywork, the engine had to meet a certain spec. Thus, the 2.0 litre was the maximum size allowed but to gain greater power, a huge turbocharger was fitted. This was matched with a clever four-wheel drive system to glue the car to the road and ensure maximum grip.  As mentioned in the last paragraph, the car stems from rallying.  This road car, much like the Subaru Impreza WRX, isn’t too different from what you’d find tearing around Finland.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
The car is primarily known for speed - primarily in the delivery of huge amounts of acceleration. People who buy the cars are enthusiasts at best and nutters at worst. The new version is no exception. It is very evidently much more aggressive (just look at those intakes, the rear end downforce-creating spoiler and diffuser, plus the huge wheels).

The bodywork and paint are both nicely put together, and the overall image is of a purposeful and squat car ready to storm off.  Interior wise, unfortunately there are still hard (cheap looking) plastics - something I’ve seen on both American and Asian cars but something that I’m also still not fond of.  Then again, it is still by far and away the classiest interior that an Evo has had yet.

The equipment includes Xenon headlights, your Recaro (sports) seats, Bluetooth and MP3 stereo. Unfortunately, it costs more for the sat nav and the hard drive to store your CD’s on. Inside is comfortable and space is good, though the bulkhead and the battery inside for weight distribution take the boot up somewhat.

Performance
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is a car to be driven. Whether you get the FQ300, 330 or 360, you’ll be amazed at the dizzying performance. Even with the ‘basic’ FQ300, you’ll still see it burning up the road, moving from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. More than frantic I’m sure you’ll agree.

This is a car with more acronyms than you can possibly guess at. The six speed auto gearbox will help to propel you along, whilst the Super-All-Wheel-Control should mean that you never have too much of a worry. Frankly, if you have managed to break grip in this car you’ve probably done something incredibly stupid.  The technology means that this is a car that really is made to be driven and driven hard at that.

What Doesn’t It Do Well?
Apart from the interior as mentioned, the real problem with the Mitsubishi is that it remains very much the same. It is an incredible performance saloon that will be quicker than (in any guise) almost any car on the road today. It doesn’t matter which car pulls up at the lights with you - you’ll be able to storm away faster.  You’ll also be crying about the fact that you’ll get about 18mpg.  If that isn’t what you’re looking for then I guess you should really look elsewhere.  Beyond that, there’s not much too much to fault it really.

Conclusion
To put it bluntly, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is a car with a purpose. That purpose is to provide an entertaining and engaging drive capable of extremely high-speed acceleration. You’ll be able to take it on track days and not have to worry about being shown up - even average drivers will perform rather spectacularly. On the other hand, if you baulked at the price, don’t even consider getting one. The service charges and fuel economy will make you cry. For the rest of you though who like your cars - this is one to really go for with all the passion it will provide.

There is an increasing trend for people selling their car on eBay motors, rather than going the traditional route of putting an ad in Auto Trader. Unlike an Auto Trader advert you have much more control over how your advert is displayed on eBay as as been able to display detailed information about your vehicle.

To achieve the best price when selling your car on eBay here’s some profitable tips:

Pictures - lots of ‘em!: Buyers like to see plenty of pictures so they can get an idea of what your car is like. Before you start taking pictures make sure you give the car a good clean, inside and out, so it is looking it’s best. Then take around 20 exterior and interior shots. Cars always look best in the sunshine so look out for the good weather and seize the snapping opportunity! Once you have your pictures choose the best 10-12 and use them in your auction.

Protect your Data: To avoid car cloning, blank your number plate out on the images you display on the auction. Most image manipulation software will have a blur or pixelate feature which is useful for this purpose.

Be honest: There is no gain to be made from describing your car as something it is not. If the auction winner comes to collect the vehicle and discovers they have been mislead, they will simply walk away. If you car has known problems, detail them in the description. A lot of buyers on eBay are in the motor trade and take any problems into account when biding - it won’t make them lose interest.

Low bid price attracts interest: eBay is such a busy site these days that you can take the risk of starting bidding at 1p safe in the knowledge that your car will usually achieve its market price. Sure, for piece of mind you can set a reserve, but a 1p no reserve auction always attracts more interest from bidders.

Answer questions: Once the auction is live you’ll start getting questions from existing and potential bidders. Be sure to answer these questions promptly or bidders interest might switch to another vehicle.

Prepare your documentation: Any service history is a bonus but the most important document to have is the V5 logbook. Without this, you cannot sell your vehicle legally and no purchase will pay for a vehicle that does not have a logbook.

Guest Post from The Van Man who is an expert on Van Hire