Kia Soul review – a playful Soulmate
There are certain brandished around words that for some inexplicable reason I deem as ‘modern’, and to me ‘Soulmate’ is one of them. It’s an all encompassing term that seems to be widely overused and particularly rife in romantic situations. But apparently the term is not so modern after all. ‘Soul mate’ was first recorded […]
A $20 Lifesaver – Ride Forever
As you may or may not know, my learning to ride a motorcycle has been a long and often arduous mission. Being slightly elevated in years has made me cautious and considerate of my brittle bones. That being said, when I have taken the Yamaha out of the garage (sunny days only) I have learned […]
BMW 318 review – When alright is, actually Alright
BMW 318 review New Zealand It was around the turn of the millennium that the BMW 318i badge first rolled off the production line. It sported the good looks and some/most of the drivability of the series and quickly became viewed as the entry point to the BMW range (Series 1 & 2 were possibly […]
My disappointment with the Lexus IS 300h
A short while ago, I attended the launch of Lexus’s new IS range. Located at Bruce McLaren racetrack in Taupo, it was a great event that got me behind the wheel of the new improved IS cars as we conducted various exercises and whizzed around the track with 200t’s and F-Sports. However, I didn’t get […]
Felice 70th Anniversario Ferrari
It was on 12th March 1947 that Enzo Ferrari headed out of his modest factory and onto to the Via Abertone Inferiore in his 125 S. With a smile on his face as wide as the gates he had just driven through; he began testing the car’s V12 around the glorious mountainous roads of Maranello […]
Mazda MX-5 RF Review – Be careful what you wish for
When it comes to reviewing convertible cars, Mazda seem to have a hotline with the weather bureau. Regardless of what the google app seems to say, normally when I pick up the keys to their MX-5 the sun shines and the top goes down. Now don’t get me wrong, being subjected to a big dose […]
Toyota C-HR review – Outgoing personality
Millennials have been branded self-absorbed, self-important and even selfish but I’m not so sure it’s all their issue. In this heavily polluted ‘white noise’ digital world there is a battle to be heard and things like selfies and viral ‘home made/ self-exploitation videos are simply just another personality arm. At their recent new car launch, […]
New Audi A & S5 Review – a Karaka of a car
On a soggy and dreary Monday morning a group of us were bussed to Karaka for the local launch of a new car. The combination of time, day and weather may sound like I wasn’t looking forward to this event, however that couldn’t be further from the truth. As we arrived at Te HiHi, there […]
Tiptoe through the tulips – Learning to Rally Drive.
I picked up a bug when Hyundai got me to ride shotgun with Hayden Paddon, the Rally bug. I guess that the thrill (and tinge of fear) of travelling at excessive speed over loose surfaces has been there since first getting behind the wheel in old blighty but Hayden brought it to the fore and […]
Abarth 124 Spider review – Web of Desire
Alright; so the title is a little ‘Mills and Boonish’ but nevertheless; when I was young (a couple of years ago) there happened to be a Fiat 124 in our neighbourhood that I yearned after. Dressed in blue, this Italian designed (2+2) convertible was a stand out vehicle amongst the relatively bland and cars that […]