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THE MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS OF GEM MOTORING ASSIST
GOODMOTORING
ROAD SAFETY І CAR REVIEWS І DISCOUNTS І FEATURES І YOUR LETTERS
SPRING 2015
WIN
a two-night
break on the
Isle of Wight
CARS ACROSS THE
CAUSEWAY
Check the tide and explore these
fascinating coastal crossings
Henry harris hits
the high roads
Celebrated chef takes
a gastronomic motorbike
tour across the Swiss Alps
SPECIAL REPORT: SAFER CYCLING IN LONDON
Recommend
a friend...
Refer your friends & family to one of GEM’s Breakdown Services
and every time one of them joins, you’ll receive a £20 M&S voucher.
Here’s what you need to do:
1 Tell your friends and family about our award winning Breakdown Cover
2 Visit motoringassist.com/eraf1009 and enter yours and your friends’ details
(please note, you will need to know the email address of the person you are recommending)
Or call 01342 825676 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)
3 When your friend joins our breakdown cover we will send you your £20 M&S voucher.
Find us on Twitter (@motoringassist) & Facebook (gemmotoringassist)
REC
GEM B OMMEND
COVER REAKDOW
N
AND RE
CEIVE A
£20
VOUCH
E
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Voted No. 1 for overall service – five years running
Terms & conditions: This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. GEM Motoring Assist have the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time and without prior notice. We will only use your friends’
email addresses in conjunction with this ‘Refer a Friend’ offer. By entering friends’ email addresses you are confirming that you have obtained their consent for this. Please only suggest friends who you believe will be
interested in GEM Motoring Assist Breakdown Cover. Gift vouchers only issued once new member joins. This offer is not available to members upgrading their policies. No cash alternatives available. Voucher will be sent out
approximately 28 days after the membership policy start date. Please note this offer is only open to GEM Motoring Assist Members.
Welcome tO THE SPRING EDITION!
WHAT’S COOKING in this edition? We welcome TV chef Rosemary Shrager, who
shares some of her kitchen and driving secrets in a most entertaining interview. We
also hope you will enjoy a little taste of Switzerland, courtesy of London chef (and
motorcyclist) Henry Harris, who found time in between conquering some of Europe’s
most challenging mountain passes to drop into eateries in Montreux, Mendriso,
Lucerne and Lausanne. I’m not sure I envy his motorcycling but I would certainly be
tempted to visit one or two of the restaurants he discovered.
Cycling safety has been a ‘hot topic’ for some while, and we warmly welcome retired
diplomat John Everard with his scholarly review of cycling in London (page 16). On our
behalf he has taken a careful look at safety data - and also puts forward his views on
what can be done to improve safety on the roads of the capital.
Our competition prize in this edition is lovely: a two-night break for two on the Isle of
Wight, with return ferry transport included, a good pub meal and admission to several
of the island’s attractions. Take a look (it’s on page 14) and make sure you get your
entry in.
We peer into the future with a look at hydrogen fuel cells, and
we offer some straightforward tips if you’re helping to guide a
teenager through the process of learning to drive. There really is
something for everyone - so please do enjoy the Spring edition.
David Williams, MBE
Chief Executive
ALL ABOUT GOODMOTORING MAGAZINE
GOOD MOTORING is
the magazine for members
of GEM Motoring Assist.
Editor: James Luckhurst
[email protected]
Road test editor:
David Motton
Proofreader:
Roger Rushton
[email protected]
Advertising enquiries:
David Breary, Creative
Publishing Services
[email protected]
getting in
touch with
goodmotoring:
useful
contact
numbers
Good Motoring is published by
GEM Motoring Assist.
© GEM Motoring Assist 2015
Good Motoring is the property
of GEM Motoring Assist. All rights
reserved. The views expressed in
this magazine do not necessarily
reflect the views of GEM Motoring
Assist.
GEM does not accept any
responsibility for errors or omissions.
Good Motoring is distributed
quarterly via Royal Mail to members
of GEM Motoring Assist worldwide.
For questions and comments
relating to GEM membership, Good
Motoring subscriptions and editorial,
contact GEM Motoring Assist.
Complaints policy: We
hope you never experience
any problems relating to the
contents of Good Motoring.
GEM Motoring Assist can
accept no responsibility
for problems arising from
advertisements with Good
Motoring. In the first
instance, complaints and
correspondence relating to
advertisements should be
directed to the advertiser
concerned. Should you not
reach a satisfactory conclusion
within a reasonable period of
time, please contact us by post
or email.
Write to: Good Motoring, GEM Motoring Assist,
Station Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5EN
Telephone: 01342 825676
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.motoringassist.com
0500 295 472
for 24-hour Emergency Breakdown
0845 370 0945
for 24-hour Accident Management Service
01342 825676
for all other matters (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm)
MEDICINE AND
NEW LEGISLATION
New drug drive legislation
is in force from 2 March 2015 in
England and Wales. So if you take
medicines and aren’t sure if you
are safe to drive, please check with
your pharmacist or doctor. The new
law sets limits at very low levels
for drugs commonly associated
with illegal use, but there are also
eight prescription drugs that are
included within the new law. The
Government is advising drivers who
are taking prescribed medication
at high doses to carry evidence
with them, such as prescriptions
slips, in order to minimise any
inconvenience should they be asked
to take a test by the police.
Cover image: Alan Wakely drives a
Fiat 500 Trekker across the causeway at
Lindisfarne. Pic: Gemma Marriner
41
3
CONTENTS
Spring 2015
ON THE
COVER
CAR ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY...
There is a tide in the affairs of Alan Wakely - well, there are
five tides, to be perfectly accurate. Alan professes a fascination
with the islands you reach by walking or driving across
causeways. Then they flood and become quite impassable.
Join him for hair-raising crossings and other coastal derringdo as the tide repeatedly threatens to wash Big Alan and his
little Fiat clean away. Well, perhaps not quite...
Page 28
THE
SPRING
EDITION
A TWO-WHEEL ALPINE EPIC
London chef Henry Harris wanted a few days away from
his busy Knightsbridge kitchen. So he leapt on his BMW
motorbike for a romp across Switzerland’s higher places. He
encountered challenging roads, lovely hotels, ladies riding
Ducati Streetfighters... and some smelly cheese.
Page 38
CYCLING IN
LONDON
There are around
600,000 cycle journeys
made every day in
the capital. But what
progress has been made
towards safer journeys?
What more needs
to be done, and by
whom? John Everard,
a retired diplomat and
avid cyclist, presents a
scholarly review of the
latest statistics.
Page 16
A NEW LOOK AT THE LAKES
Things at the Brimstone Hotel run rather differently from
your typical establishment. There is no check-in desk; when
you arrive you are met by one of the hotel’s hosts. Should you
need anything (such as having your log fire started for you
or a turndown service) then just pick up the phone and your
host sorts these out for you. Andy Turner reports.
Page 32
PIER REVIEW
David Williams spent a weekend at the Pier Hotel in Harwich.
As well as taking the opportunity to explore the local area,
he jumped at the chance to sample the seafood at the Hotel’s
Harbourside Restaurant and Ha’Penny Brasserie. Did he like
what he found? Would he go back?
Page 36
4
www.motoringassist.com
CONTENTS
Spring 2015
TRIPLE TEST
Readers Geoff and Louise Turner
scratch their heads as they decide
how to treat themselves to a
summer of top-down, wind-in-thehair adventure.
Page 50
WIN A TWO-NIGHT BREAK
ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT
including accommodation, dinner ferry travel,
entry to Osborne (pictured) and other attractions.
Page 14
MUSIC FOR YOUR
ROAD JOURNEYS
ROAD TEST
David Motton puts the new Land
Rover Discovery Sport through its
paces in Iceland.
Page 52
INFLATION REACHES
A NEW HIGH
A load of (for once, it’s compressed
rather than hot) air from our
product tester David Stokes.
Page 44
www.motoringassist.com
GREA
PRIZET
...
FUTURE
ENERGY
Could hydrogen
be the answer, asks
reporter David
Williams.
Page 48
Have you ever tried to find a song
that celebrates, without irony, the
experience of driving on the UK’s
roads? It seems we don’t get our
kicks on the A66.
Nick Kelley investigates.
Page 26
ALSO INSIDE
Your letters....................................................6&7
My GEM member benefits.........................8&9
Discounts from Brecon Cottages..................10
GEM Road Safety Charity news...................21
Prepare for the driving test............................22
TV Chef Rosemary Shrager............................24
On the Road.................................................47-65
Nissan GT-R roars ahead..............................59
Toyota Land Cruiser in action.......................60
Check out the new Ford Mondeo.................64
News update.....................................................66
5
your letters
Feedback
Dipped lights
As driver of more than 50 years’ experience, I am
becoming more and more concerned about the
failure, by the UK Motorway Traffic Authorities,
to tackle the blatant disregard, by foreign drivers,
of the UK traffic rules applying to headlamp
alignment/adjustment.
I travel in France on a regular basis, and see
how the foreign authorities deal with this issue.
It is impossible to take a crossing on any of the
ferries or Eurotunnel without being bombarded
by posters, signs and literature, warning that we
must fit headlamp deflectors to ensure that our
headlights do not dazzle other drivers.
And yet, these same operators do nothing to
warn foreign drivers coming in to our country of
the same legal requirement.
I guess that one day, when a dazzled driver
swerves off the motorway or across the
carriageway and dies in the subsequent crash,
someone might think about doing something.
But probably not.
Arthur Bell
Making a case for LPG
Good Motoring is often referring to fuel economy
measures and battery powered cars but I have
yet to see mention of LPG. With prices as low
as 51p per litre and more than 1100 LPG filling
stations around the country, it is too good an
option to ignore. Depending on your mileage, the
cost of the conversion can be covered in a year or
two and the car’s resale value will be increased.
I had my Subaru Outback converted eight
years ago and I’ve never looked back. Even here
in the Yorkshire Dales I can fill up for 58p a litre.
When was the last time anyone paid this price
for petrol? Mileage on gas is about 80% that of
petrol but it still works out at around half the
price. LPG prices are falling along with petrol
and diesel but it’s the lower fuel duty which
makes it so attractive. The only disadvantage is
the space taken up by the extra fuel tank, usually
fitted in the spare wheel well.
Roger Bush
Driver vision
Paul Caddick’s ‘Can You See The Light?’ sums
up the Government’s attitude even today. They
6
[email protected]
more or less reject anything helpful if it won’t
gain votes. This arrogant attitude has been there
for decades - votes come before safety. To sum
up; I was at a meeting when the reverse park
exercise was being discussed to introduce it into
the driving test. The Ministry men stated it was
‘not practicable’. This is Civil Service speak for
‘we don’t want to’. Being required to do it via
the EU was the best thing since sliced bread.
John Dowell
Paul Caddick raises some interesting points
in his article (last edition). However, he omits
to mention the testing of those of us who have
diabetes, especially those who have been
diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. Since I was
diagnosed with retinopathy some 30 odd years
ago, I have had to renew my licence every three
years. To qualify, on each occasion, I have had to
undergo a Visual Field Test. A very high score is
required and, at the age of 87, I was successful
in my most recent test. My licence expires in
September 2016 when I will be 90, but I have
decided that it is time to give up.
Peter Neaves
I cannot agree more with the opinions of Paul
Caddick. As a 78-year-old, I am appalled by the
ignorant attitude towards eyesight, and hearing
come to that, of some of my contemporaries.
A few years ago my sister had the unnerving
experience of being a passenger in a car on a
busy A-road where the driver was asking his
wife to read the green direction signs. Some
drivers just will not admit they have inadequate
eyesight. Any driver aged over 70, when the
licence is restricted to three years, should have
to provide evidence of a recent eye test. Surely it
would not be that difficult for DVLA to request
in a licence renewal.
Tom Cannon
Fog lights off
In your article on driving safely in winter
weather it is good to see that you remind drivers
to turn them off when visibility improves. Surely,
if driving with consideration for other drivers,
it should also include turning them off when in
a queue or flow of traffic. There is little worse
“
Some drivers
just will
not admit
they have
inadequate
eyesight...
”
www.motoringassist.com
your letters
than sitting in a queue to the traffic lights with
the driver in front thinking you can’t see past the
end of the bonnet.
Neille Gladwin
Conquer Obscurity - response
Donald Scarfe writes of his frustration with
the typical analogue speedometers in virtually
every car. A quick search revealed that such
instruments are readily available. Opting for a
GPS digital speedometer from Demon Tweaks
(£70), I fitted it to my Honda Jazz in about 30
seconds. The result was brilliant. The read-out
appears just above the upper rim of the steering
wheel, a ‘head up’ display which means eyes
stay on the road.
Jack Johnson
Head-up displays in cars are nothing new. My
car is 23 years old - a Pontiac Bonneville from
1992. General Motors have fitted them to a
variety of their American products over the past
20-odd years. It has always mystified me how it
has taken so long for other manufacturers to start
adopting them, and it amuses me that firms like
BMW are now marketing them like they’re an
innovation.
Simon Green
Missing Morgans?
As a member of GEM for eight years plus, I
read a few of the (as always) interesting articles
last night in the latest edition. While reading
the article about the ‘Magic of the Malverns’, I
was surprised not to read about one of the main
places of national interest in Malvern, namely the
Morgan car factory. I am an owner and thought
that reading this type of magazine it might have
been mentioned.
Steve Rennie
We twice wrote to Morgan to ask if we could
arrange a tour which would then be covered in
the article. We never heard anything back. Ed.
Road markings
I recently wrote to my MP, John Glen (Salisbury)
about the lack of white sidelines on A-roads in
Wiltshire. Neighbouring counties of Dorset and
Hampshire provide white lines. I believe they
are a huge safety factor at night and in poor
visibility. I would be very interested to know
other opinions on this matter, not least that each
County Highway Authority can act as it sees fit,
even to providing no road markings at all (which
of course none do). This is hardly impressive in
www.motoringassist.com
this day and age of congested fast-moving traffic
covering large areas of the country through many
different counties. Surely best practice (whatever
this is deemed to be) should be made consistent
throughout the whole country and not be left to
county committees?
Jonathan Varcoe
Satnav position
I am writing to you about the dashboard layout
of cars with built in satnav. My brother-in-law
has just bought a new Nissan Note. In my
opinion the satnav is too far down the centre
console, as it has two large air vents above it,
which means if you look at it, you take your eyes
off the road.
I have a satnav which I mount on top of the
dash just to the left of my straight ahead sight
line. To look at it I only have to glance to the left,
not even as much as I do to look in the left hand
mirror.
I think that all built in satnavs should be
at the very top of the centre console, and on
safety grounds this should be taken up with car
makers.
William Trump
Making
contact:
We welcome
your letters and
we do our best
to publish as
many of them
as we can. Do
please keep any
letter meant for
publication to a
maximum length
of 200 words.
Please don’t send
any membership
enquiries to the
editor, as there
may be a delay in
our response.
Lesson cancelled
As I was just reading​my copy of Good Motoring
I wondered again why driving lessons are so
often cancelled due to bad weather. Surely
the best way to learn to drive in bad weather,
including snow, is with a qualified teacher at
your side, not some time after passing the test?
Roslyn Tummon
Skinny spare
I recently had reason to use my breakdown
cover. On Boxing Day, we travelled from
Northumberland to Dereham. Having come
off the A1 at Newark, we pulled over in a safe
place for a rest. When we were ready to leave,
we discovered we had a puncture thanks to a
pothole. We called GEM for assistance and a
recovery agent was with us in 15 minutes. He did
an excellent job. As our car has a mini spare, the
garage told us that 50mph was the limit to drive.
This we did, however we also asked how far
could we travel on the mini spare? We were told
as far as required, but according to the handbook
it says only 50 miles.
As we had much further to travel we were
concerned. Other opinions would be welcomed.
But with regard to the service we received from
GEM, it was prompt and excellent.
Don Kennedy
YOUR
VISION
FOR THE
FUTURE
Our Autumn
2015 edition
will celebrate 80
years of Good
Motoring, and
we’re inviting you
to submit a short
article with your
thoughts on the
future of road
transport. See
page 21 for all
the details.
7
My
GEM
HOW’S MY DRIVING?
WE RECKON regular voluntary
driving assessments represent a great
way to improve skill and reduce
risk. If it has been a while since you
had an independent assessment of
your driving, then let us invite you
to organise a driving assessment for
yourself, just as Valerie Singleton
(pictured below) did recently. The hourlong GEM Driver Assessment, costing
£50, is offered in conjunction with
the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents. You will be assessed in
your own car, on the types of road
you use most, by a highly experienced
advanced driving instructor. But the
emphasis is on an informal learning
opportunity, and there’s no element of
test, therefore nothing to pass or fail.
Call the GEM office on 01342 825676
for more details, or take a look at
motoringassist.com/driver-assessment
Save money on
holiday this year
Now’s a great time to be putting the finishing
touches to your holiday plans. So make sure you take
advantage of lots of great offers and services from
GEM Motoring Assist. See below for great ways we
and our partners can help you save money and ensure
you have a wonderful and trouble-free break:
Discounts on airport parking and hotels: save 15% at
participating car parks and hotels. Treat yourself to a
night near the airport, and save all the stress that goes
with an early-morning dash for a flight. Call APH on
0844 871 7521, quoting GEM, or visit aph.com/gem
Top quality European breakdown cover: save 10% on
the comprehensive Euro Plus car breakdown policy
offered by P J Hayman, which includes 24-hour cover for
roadside assistance, recovery and repatriation. See their
advertisement on p58.
Enjoy luxury for less at the airport: save 10% when
you book to use one of the private airport lounges
offered by APH. Enjoy complimentary refreshments
and newspapers in an exclusive setting before your
flight. Details from APH as above.
Save 10% on travel insurance: the Travel Plus policy
offered by our partner P J Hayman is backed up by highly
experienced professionals who will advise on what’s best
for your needs when you’re planning a trip. See their
advertisement on p27.
The right cover for your caravan or motorhome: we
believe our partner, Shield, offers quality and value,
whether you need to insure your trailer tent, caravan,
motorhome, static caravan or tent. Call 01277 243010,
quoting GEM, or visit motoringassist.com/shield
Exclusive discounts on car hire: GEM has an exclusive
arrangement with Flexible Autos to offer you discounts of
up to 15% on car rental worldwide. Call 0800 25 45 101
and quote GEM Motoring Assist. See the Flexible Autos
advertisement on page 66.
YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THE BENEFITS OF GEM MEMBERSHIP
COMPETITION WINNERS
Our congratulations go to Graham Peterson
from Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, who won the
off-road driving competition in the Winter edition.
He was one of many hundreds of members who
correctly identified driving instructor Selwyn
Kendrick. Also in the last edition, we invited you
to identify the location of a Toyota Verso picture.
This was Llanstephan Bridge in Powys (pictured
below), and the lucky winner was Samuel McQuigg
of Wolverhampton, West Midlands. Finally, there
was an opportunity to win a combined airport
parking and hotel prize from our friends at APH.
The winner of this competition was Daniel Lister
of Maidenhead in Berkshire. Don’t miss the
opportunity to win a short break for two in the
Isle of Wight in this edition. All the details can be
found on page 14.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR
THE GEM AGM
YOU ARE very welcome to join us for the GEM Motoring Assist Annual
General Meeting, which takes place at the Felbridge Hotel, London Road,
East Grinstead, West Sussex, on Wednesday 6 May, starting at 12 noon.
Do please let us know in advance if you would like to attend. We will be
pleased to serve light refreshments after the meeting.You can confirm
your attendance by calling us on 01342 825676.
TECHNICAL TROUBLE?
Don’t scratch your head with a technical problem relating to your
car, as we may well be able to help you. First of all, do take a look at our
expanding web library of technical advice and you may well find the answer.
From pre-MOT test home checks to diesel particulate filters, and from
car tuning to chipped windscreens, the chances are you’ll find exactly what
you’re looking for.Visit motoringassist.com/car-maintenance
If you can’t find an answer, then there’s an opportunity for you to submit
your question to our technical team. Or you can call 01342 825676 (lines
open Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm).
GEM’s Accident Management Service
As a GEM member, you’re entitled to our FREE
Accident Management Service, with a range of
helpful benefits. Call the office (01342 825676,
Mon-Fri, 9-5) and we’ll put a copy of the leaflet
in the post for you, or you can download it from
motoringassist.com/ams
ME AND MY MAG
CONGRATULATIONS TO Stephen Ives of Ashton-under-Lyne who is
pictured here with the Winter 2014 edition of Good Motoring, and wins the
£50 prize for this edition.
“For this picture we were in Churchill, a town in the Latrobe Valley, in the
State of Victoria,” he told us. “The area was originally named Hazelwood but
was renamed following Sir Winston Churchill’s death in 1965.
“Churchill has an outstanding landmark, a tall square ‘golden’ tower. It was
not designed with any intention of replicating Churchill’s cigar, but that’s
how it has become known locally these days.”
Do make sure you take this edition of Good Motoring with you if you’re
heading off somewhere exotic, or doing something interesting - and send a
photo to [email protected] for possible publication.Who knows next time in this slot it could be you with the Spring edition. Remember, we
pay £50 to the sender of the winning entry.
Since publishing the winning picture of mother and son in the last edition, we
have been asked to point out that the mother’s name was in fact Pamela Shaw
Johnston, and not Charlie Shaw as previously advised.
SAVE!
10%
Our friends in
the beautiful
Brecon Beacons
have selected
three fabulous
properties
where GEM
members can
save 10% on
off-peak breaks
during 2015
Exclusive savings
with Brecon Cottages
WE’RE DELIGHTED to tell you about an
excellent offer from Brecon Cottages, giving you
as a GEM member the chance to save 10 per cent
on any off-peak breaks you book at three of their
properties during 2015.
Liz Daniel is owner of Brecon Cottages, and
she’s proud of the collection of hand picked
holiday cottages, barns, manor houses and town
houses around the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The three properties where you can save 10%
(subject to availability) are as follows:
Woodridge Barn is definitely the editor’s
choice. We reviewed it a couple of years ago in
Good Motoring and it’s a fabulous property in an
amazing rural location set above the Wye Valley.
Sympathetically re-built using the original Welsh
stone, tiles and beams, it sleeps up to 10 people in
four bedrooms and even has its own cinema. For
eating out, try the Wheelwright Arms in Erwood
for good home-cooked food.
If you would prefer a smaller property, take
a look at Groves Cottage, a pretty terraced
cottage in the village of Talybont with a sunny
balcony, enclosed garden and views over the Usk
Valley. There is mountain biking on The Taff Trail
and walks to the four local pubs, shop and café.
Finally, Danyfan is a wonderful holiday cottage
in the foothills of Pen y Fan, the highest peak
in south Wales. With five bedrooms and four
bathrooms, it sleeps 10 (plus pull-out bed and
cots), and is fantastically equipped for families and
groups. Just 2 miles from the centre of Brecon, it
is perfectly located for a great holiday.
You can find more details, prices and
availability on all three properties by
calling 01874 676446 (quote GEM to get
your discount). You can also take a look
online at breconcottages.com
Certain exclusions apply.
10
Pics (c/w from left):
Danyfan Cottage; the
door into Groves Cottage;
kitchen at Woodridge Barn;
front view of Danyfan;
exterior shot of Woodridge
Barn; the woodburner at
Groves Cottage; weather
forecast on the Woodridge
Barn cinema.
www.motoringassist.com
Point of view
I’m pleased to inform you...
In a rare expression of goodwill, Paul Caddick offers a collective pat on the
back for the drivers of the UK and the test they all have to take
Russia
announced
this year that
transsexuals,
fetishists,
voyeurs and
compulsive
thieves would
no longer
qualify for
licences...
Despite what you may have been
led to believe by the media, politicians or
even by your own eyes, most methods
of measuring the standard of driving in
the UK show we are doing pretty well.
In fact we are generally ranked second in
the world, with only Sweden marginally
ahead of us. Of course, as people like to
say, ‘lies, damned lies and statistics’, and
you can look at the figures and thousands
of pages of data from a myriad of sources
in so many ways that you can often get
them to say what you want. However, in
the top line of commonly compared stats
(casualties per head of population, vehicle
numbers and length of road network) we
can pat ourselves on the back.
Now I’m not wanting to sound
complacent, far from it, I believe there is
much that can be done to improve things
further, and I am infuriated daily by
actions and inactions I see on the road by
drivers, riders and pedestrians, especially
in the gloom of the past winter, but let’s
leave that for a different day. Sometimes
it’s as important to feast on the good as it
is to dissect the bad!
The UK driving test is a part of the
success story, and another groundbreaking British institution that continues
to set the standard for the rest of the
world. While it has recently come under
scrutiny for perhaps not being tough
enough, with government ministers
proposing a Green Paper on the subject
(before misplacing it), particularly when
more than a fifth of deaths on British
roads involving drivers aged 17-24, the
fact remains that the UK driving test is
still regarded by most international road
safety professionals as probably the most
difficult, comprehensive and successful
of its kind in the world. Still, the DVSA
is about to begin trials of a new test that
involves more ‘independent style’ driving
by candidates, a move welcomed across
the board. It will require candidates to
show how they can drive independently
without prompts, to re-join traffic flow,
reverse out of a parking bay and even
use a satnav. Whether it’s enough, or too
much, it shows that the system continues to
look for sensible evolutions that represent
modern driving, and that has to be a good
thing.
Take the Next Left Turn
Looking around the world, the variations
in training and testing are huge, though
there seems to be no guaranteed formula
for success. Much of Europe has evolved
its training and testing of new drivers,
and there have been some astonishing
improvements over recent years,
particularly in those recently joining the EU
from what was the Soviet Union. Although
there is no EU set test, it has worked to
encourage a better sharing of ideas and set a
level of expectation across the community.
Russia was actually one of the first
countries to create a driver’s licence – in
1900 by the Saint Petersburg authorities.
In reality there weren’t many motorised
vehicles in the country then, and the
revolution hampered growth for some time.
A more organised and standardised system
was introduced in 1936 that remained fairly
unchanged throughout the communist era.
Today you must be 16 years of age, possess
a ‘certificate of mental fitness’ and not have
a history of substance abuse.
At the beginning of this year, Russian
authorities announced that transsexual and
transgender people, fetishists, exhibitionists
and voyeurs, as well as pathological
gamblers and compulsive thieves would no
longer qualify for licences.
As to the process of obtaining a licence,
you also have a multiple choice theory test,
basic manual test and an obstacle course.
Judging by the plethora of videos on
YouTube, and the fact that nearly every
driver uses a dashboard camera because of
the level of car crime and carnage, it seems
the autocratic, authoritarian regime, past
and present, has failed to create too many
safe, law abiding drivers.
In Brazil, you also have to pass a
psychological exam before obtaining a
licence. Considering the level of >>
11
Point of view
>> ‘car-jacking’ in the country, it’s probably
to check your decision to get behind the
wheel is a rational one
Learners are also taught ‘defensive driving
techniques’, which aren’t just about driving
safely, but how to escape from a potentially
life threatening confrontational situation –
all a little reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto,
though I don’t think we can blame computer
games for this one. Mind you, with the UK
recently being named as the ‘road rage’
capital of the world in 2014, maybe this
aspect of their test is something we should
think about introducing.
Theory doesn’t always reflect practical
reality; the Spanish Highway Code is said
to be the most in-depth in Europe, with
three times as many rules as in the UK.
Despite this, Spain has one of the highest
mortality rates in Europe. The fact that the
practical driving test is described as a ‘group
excursion’, where the instructor sits in the
passenger seat and the examiner in the back,
usually with another candidate, probably
doesn’t help, even if successful candidates
are limited to a maximum speed of 80 kmh
for the first year.
China also asks some very interesting, and
difficult, theory questions, including what
It’s the law:
Odd rules to
remember
when you’ve
passed the
test in other
countries:
n In Russia, it’s illegal
to drive a dirty car.
n In Switzerland, it’s
against the law to wash
your car on a Sunday.
n In Alaska, you must
not tie your dog to the
roof of your car.
n Driving ‘topless’ is
illegal in Thailand (for
men and women).
n In the Philippines,
drivers with number
plates ending in 1 or
2 cannot drive on
Mondays.
you should do if your car falls into water.
According to the official answer you should
put a plastic bag over your head and ‘close
the neck tightly’.
Turn Around at the Next
Convenient Opportunity
In some countries it may be easier to pass
your driving test, but it’s often reflected
in high national crash rates. For example,
although you have to wait until you are 18
or older to take your driving test in Pakistan,
the test consists of a theory paper and a
short practical assessment, both of which
can be taken on the same day, the practical
consisting of driving through a short course
of cones. It means an 80% pass rate, but
also 16 road crash deaths in every 100,000
inhabitants.
Even more worryingly, in Mexico you do
not even need to take a driving test if you
are over the age of 18. In fact, all you need
to do is simply buy a licence for 626 pesos
(equivalent to £28).
Global improvements to testing are
necessarily taking place as the number of
cars on the planet continues to increase
dramatically, particularly in the developing
world. Nevertheless, a strict system does not
guarantee greater road safety success, and
often leads to corruption and bribery
The starting age to obtain your licence in
South Africa is 18, and you can lose points
for not checking beneath the car for leaks
and not using the hand brake silently every
time you stop. If you roll backwards, it’s an
automatic fail. Even stricter are Japan’s road
tests, with people failing for ‘not staying
left enough in the left lane’ or ‘not bending
down low enough when checking for cats or
children before getting into the car’.
Carry on Straight Ahead
So while we like to moan and complain in
this country, all part of the national character,
when it’s put into perspective we often have
a lot to be grateful for, and there’s still plenty
to celebrate. GM
Calling all Triumph 1300 owners...
IT WAS CAR magazine’s ‘Car of the Year’ in
1965 and now the Triumph 1300 is 50 years
old. Time to celebrate, say the members of the
Triumph Dolomite Club. So in conjunction with
the Coventry MotoFest, they’re looking to gather
50 surviving examples together on 30 and 31 May
this year. There’s a static display planned, as well
as a cavalcade of 1300s around the Coventry Ring
Road. If you’re an owner wishing to take part,
email [email protected] or
call 08700 111737. You can also write to the Club
at Suite 920, Kemp House, 152 City Road, London,
EC1V 2NX.
12
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Good Motoring competition
Win a fabulous
Isle of Wight break
Fancy an
adventure?
Then head
for the Isle of
Wight and
enjoy this
generous and
exciting prize
of a two-night
break for two!
14
The Isle of Wight is the island located just off the
south coast of England in the English Channel,
separated from the mainland by the Solent. It
is diamond-shaped and just 23 miles wide. But
despite its relatively small size, the Isle of Wight is
said to have more attractions per square mile than
anywhere else in the UK - and with Chale Bay Farm
as your base you can reach most of them in less
than 30 minutes by car.
Our lucky winner (plus companion) will enjoy two
nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at Chale
Bay Farm (chalebayfarm.co.uk), a beautiful, awardwinning, luxury guesthouse nestling amid rolling
fields with stunning sea views on the south-west
of the Isle of Wight (pictured top right). Situated in
26 beautiful acres on the Isle of Wight’s Heritage
Coast in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with
panoramic sea views to the Needles and the chalk
cliffs of Tennyson Down, Chale Bay Farm provides an
idyllic and tranquil setting for your break, but at the
same time is within easy reach of the whole Island
and all of its attractions.
During your stay, you’ll be treated to dinner for
two on one evening at the Taverners Pub in Godshill,
a real country pub that is popular with locals and
visitors alike.
The history of Godshill is tied up with the Worsley
family of Appuldurcombe, once the grandest house
on the Isle of Wight. It has a chequered history
that includes a tale that scandalised 18th century
high society. A new BBC2 television drama –
entitled The Lady in Red – will bring the audacious
details of Lady Worsley’s catastrophic marriage and
subsequent divorce from Sir Richard Worsley of
www.motoringassist.com
About the prize
Enter!
now
Visitisleofwight.co.uk and GEM
Motoring Assist are offering a twonight bed and breakfast break for two
people at Chale Bay Farm, with return
ferry travel courtesy of Red Funnel
Isle of Wight Ferries, dinner at the
Taverners, Godshill (prize winner pays
for drinks) and admissions as stated.
Enter now...
Just answer this one question:
Which stretch of water lies between
the Isle of Wight and the mainland?
Send an email to us at
[email protected]
with your answer. Please also include
your GEM membership number.The
closing date is 30 April 2015. You can
also enter by post to the usual address.
Important...
Ensure you put Isle of Wight Competition in
the subject line of your email.
If you choose another title, or
leave it blank, then your entry
will not be counted.
Ts and Cs Summary
This prize will be subject to availability.There
is no cash alternative. Some high season dates
not available. Multiple entries will be destroyed.
For a full list of terms and conditions, send a
stamped, addressed envelope to GEM at the
address quoted on page 3.
For more information, take a look at www.visitisleofwight.co.uk
Appuldurcombe House in 1775 to life on screen.
The chief glory of Godshill is its church perched
high above the village. According to legend its
original builders laid the foundations in a more easily
accessible flat site, but every morning the stones
were found to have been transferred to the hilltop.
The builders finally gave in and built the church
on its commanding knoll. Round its gate clusters
another group of picturesque cottages.
We’ll provide passes for Osborne and Carisbrooke
Castle (english-heritage.org.uk) and the Dimbola
Museum and Galleries (dimbola.co.uk). At Osborne,
you can take an intimate glimpse into the family life
of Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Enjoy walks to
explore the estate, gardens and beach, and discover
the house Queen Victoria loved to call home.
This year a spectacular banqueting table
www.motoringassist.com
setting will recreate the state dinners held in the
magnificent Indian Durbar Room at Osborne - and
the Indian gifts given to Queen Victoria will be redisplayed in new purpose-built cases.
At the heart of the island’s history, Carisbrooke
Castle has donkeys, a museum and tranquil garden.
You can be a knight or princess for the day within
the castle walls.
Dimbola was the home of the celebrated Victorian
photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. It is now a
museum and gallery dedicated to her life and work,
which also showcases contemporary exhibitions
from photographers around the globe.
We think this all adds up to a very tempting
short break - with great ideas for where to go and
what to do, as well as the opportunity to relax and
explore the sunny Isle of Wight at your own pace.
Getting there
We’re grateful to
Red Funnel Isle
of Wight Ferries
(redfunnel.co.uk)
who will be getting
you to and from
the island. Red
Funnel’s fleet of
car ferries operates
the route to the Isle
of Wight between
Southampton
Docks and East
Cowes. The
crossing takes 5560 minutes.
15
Safer streets
for cyclists
What progress has been made towards
safer journeys for cyclists in London? What
more needs to be done, and by whom?
John Everard makes a scholarly appraisal
of the statistics and presents his vision for
safer, more pleasant journeys in the capital
16
London depends on cyclists to keep
moving. They make 600,000 journeys per
day in the capital, and Transport for London
(TfL) notes that around a quarter of all rushhour journeys are now by bicycle. If these
cyclists instead drove cars then large parts
of London would grind to a halt. Moreover,
cycle lanes are cheaper to lay and need
fewer repairs than do heavily trafficked
highways. Bicycles do not pollute the air
like motor vehicles. And, despite pollution,
cycling in London is healthy exercise – part
of an answer to our obesity epidemic. It is
in everyone’s interest to get more and more
people out of their cars in London and onto
bicycles.
I have cycled in London for around thirty
years. When I first started I was often the
www. www.motoringassist.com
Road safety
Pics: clockwise from top
left: cyclists occupying
the forward stop line
at traffic lights; a
dead-end cycle track;
tourists in Hyde Park;
a single cyclist on a
tired stretch of road;
(right) a cyclist pulls up
for the photographer
outside London’s Law
Courts; cyclists and
moped rider turn right
at a central London
junction; poor car
positioning blocks
cycle lanes. (Pics:
Jamain Gordon and
londoncyclist.co.uk)
www.motoringassist.com
only cyclist on the road. Drivers glared at
me – they seemed to feel that I was invading
their space. In those days there were hardly
any cycle lanes, no advance stop lines and
precious few cycling facilities of any other
kind. I often arrived at work with my nerves
jangling.
How things have changed! Cycling in
London now feels much safer. I can now
almost cross the city either on cycle lanes,
the best of which are physically separated
from motorised traffic, or on lanes where
use is shared with pedestrians. And there
are so many more cyclists. According to TfL
there are more than twice as many cyclists in
London now than there were ten years ago.
This too makes cycling safer because, for
reasons that are still debated, the more >>
17
Road safety
>> cyclists there are, the lower the chances
that any one cyclist will come to harm. TfL
records that, although the number of cyclists
has doubled, fewer cyclists were killed in
London in 2013 than ten years earlier.
So we have made progress. But experience
elsewhere shows that there is still plenty
of scope to increase cycling in London.
The proportion of commuters who cycle in
London is still lower than in many other UK
cities, and other European cities – notably
those in the Netherlands – have much, much
better cycling provision than does London.
The results are striking. An established
cycling culture, and a sense that cycling is
safe, mean that 60% of all journeys in central
Amsterdam are made by bicycle.
I think that there are things that the
authorities, cyclists and motorists can do to
make cycling in London still safer.
City Hall needs to turn words into action.
The Mayor has promised extensive new
cycling infrastructure, including a “Crossrail
for bikes” - a fully segregated east-west
route across London, and a network of
“Quietways” in outer London. The death
of six cyclists in London over two weeks
in November 2013, which enraged the
cycling community, seems to have prompted
the Mayor to reaffirm his commitment to
these improvements, but he now needs to
implement these plans. Also, we need more
safe parking for bicycles. Although a cycle
hoop that can accommodate two bicycles
takes up just one fifth of a car’s parking space
and is cheap to install (about £34), hoops are
still scarce in parts of London, especially in
the City.
Cyclists need to obey the rules of the road
like everybody else. They should not jump
traffic lights, or ride on the pavement unless
signs authorise this. They should use lights at
night (during the recent Operation Safeway
the Metropolitan Police fined more cyclists for
violating this rule than for any other cause).
But Metropolitan Police records show
that in the great majority of those collisions
between motorists and cyclists in which
someone (usually the cyclist) is killed or
seriously injured, it is the motorist, not
the cyclist, who causes the accident. There
are particular problems with lorries, and
especially with lorries at junctions. Although
lorries are only about 5% of London traffic
they are involved in half of all the collisions
that kill cyclists. It is shocking that these
deaths are often caused because the driver
simply could not see the cyclist, and even
more shocking that this is often because the
arrangement of mirrors on many London
18
lorries creates dangerous blind spots so that
cyclists (and pedestrians) near the lorry
are invisible to the driver. Elsewhere in
Europe lorries are required to fit mirrors that
eliminate these blind spots, a requirement
that is only just now being extended to lorries
in London.
Motorists can also help make cycling in
London, safer simply by respecting the
Highway Code. It is sad that some motorists
seem to ignore cycle lanes by either driving
or parking in them. Also, the “Bicycle Boxes”
behind advance stop lines are there because
it is safer for cyclists to move off ahead of
other traffic, but cyclists cannot use them
if they are occupied by motor vehicles.
But perhaps the greatest contribution that
motorists can make to cycling safety is to be
conscious of cyclists and to give them road
space. There is an urban myth that cyclists
are supposed to hug the left edge of the road,
but in fact the Highway Code does not say
this. On the contrary, article 67 asks cyclists to
“leave plenty of room when passing parked
vehicles” (which in my experience is about
half the time I am cycling).
Cyclists have as much legal and moral right
to use London’s roads as do drivers. I have
been shouted at by some drivers who believe
that, because cyclists do not pay Road Tax,
they have no right to use the roads. Road
Tax was abolished in 1937 and replaced by
Vehicle Excise Duty. This exempts ultra-low
emissions vehicles, so that even if bicycles
were assessed for this duty they would be
exempt. But in any case the great majority
of London’s roads are paid for by London
boroughs from the Council Tax that we all
pay, motorists and cyclists alike.
London’s roads can be crowded. But I
firmly believe that with a little courtesy, with
proper respect for the Highway Code, and
with sensible adjustments to traffic flows,
moving around our capital could be both
safer and more pleasant for all of us. GM
John Everard
is a retired
British
diplomat
whose career
included
serving as
the British ambassador
to North Korea. He holds
BA and MA degrees in
Chinese from Emmanuel
College, Cambridge.
An avid cyclist and
volunteer, he enjoys
biking whenever he has
the opportunity.
“
The greatest
contribution
motorists
can make
to cycling
safety is to
be conscious
of cyclists
and give
them road
space...
”
www. www.motoringassist.com
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Road Safety Charity
Martin Cooke commended for
his contribution to road safety
Martin Cooke, Chairman of
The Board of Trustees for the GEM
Road Safety Charity (pictured,
centre), has received a national
award for his long term dedication
to Road Safety from AIRSO
(Association of Industrial Road
Safety Officers). The presentation
was made by Tim Stevenson OBE,
Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire
(pictured, left).
Martin Cooke served for 32 years
as a Sussex Police officer, 25 of
which were in the traffic branch
where he dealt with the awful
consequences of poor driving and
riding. He then spent time with
both East and West Sussex County Councils’ road safety teams before being appointed driver training
manager for the whole of the Sussex Police Force area. He was responsible for training all drivers and
riders that took part in driver improvement courses. His love of motorcycles also led him to spend
many personal hours giving help and advice to riders and to organising advanced riding groups.
GEM chief executive David Williams MBE (pictured above, right) paid tribute to Martin and said,
“ Martin’s contribution to GEM has been outstanding and we have greatly benefited from his
dedication, knowledge and hard work. His award is a recognition of a working lifetime dedicated to
preventing death and injury on our roads, and is much deserved.”
Share your vision for
future road safety
The GEM Road Safety Charity will be marking the 80th
anniversary of Good Motoring magazine with assistance
toward the publication of a special Autumn edition. This
will be larger than the usual Good Motoring, and will
contain the thoughts and reflections of a number of wellknown people from the world of transport policy, vehicle
manufacture and road safety, all focused on road transport
in the next 80 years.
We would like to encourage you to consider sending us
a few words based on your own vision for the future. Is
it a future we can anticipate with excitement, as vehicles
become more and more intelligent, more economical and
less likely to crash? Or are we staring at forthcoming
decades with fear and trepidation, as roads across the
planet choke with traffic, carbon emissions soar and
congestion becomes a nightmare for anyone living in a
town or city?
Different groups have different views, but we want
to know how you see the future. If you’d like your
contribution to be considered, please email a short article
(maximum 200 words) to [email protected] by
Thursday 30 April 2015. Please ensure you put ‘anniversary
edition’ in the subject of your email, and do please also
declare any conflicts of interest relevant to what you
submit.
We’ll consider all suitable submissions at an editorial
meeting in the early summer.
www.motoringassist.com
BLUE LIGHT
AWARE
TAKE A look at Blue
Light Aware, a short
video produced with
support from the GEM
Road Safety Charity,
which provides useful
advice on what to do if
there’s an emergency
services vehicle coming
towards you on the road.
Emergency crews rely
on the help of other
road users when they’re
on a ‘blue light’ journey,
so by understanding
their needs, you will be
contributing to a safer
road environment and
you might also be helping
to save a life. View the
video online now at
bluelightaware.org.uk
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Learning to drive
Get your teenager
through the driving test
Maria McCarthy has some advice designed to reduce the stress parents can
experience when their children reach 17 and want to get behind the wheel
Money matters
consolidate what they’ve been taught. Clocking up more
hours at the wheel will also increase their confidence and
expose them to a greater range of driving conditions.
However, the prospect of sitting beside a learner-driver child
can seriously unnerve some parents. If you feel like this,
then there’s no point in forcing yourself to take your teen out
for practice drives as it will just be upsetting for both of you.
But maybe other family members or friends could help
out? Anyone supervising a learner driver needs to be over 21
and to have held a driving licence for the type of car they’ll
be using (manual or automatic) for at least three years.
You’ll also need to sort out suitable insurance. If your
teenager is learning to drive in the family car then contact
your insurance company and arrange to have them put on as
a named driver. L plates (L or D plates in Wales) will need to
be displayed at the front and rear of the vehicle when they’re
at the wheel. When it comes to deciding which aspect of
their driving they should be practising, it’s best to liaise with
the learner’s driving instructor, who will know what they
need to work on.
Of course, it’s important for parents to realise that the
driving test has changed a lot in the last 20 years, and that
driving instructors will be teaching the skills in the most
up-to-date way. Often parents try to be helpful by teaching
the learner their own driving techniques, but this will only
confuse them. Instead it’s best to focus on letting them
practise what they’ve been taught in their lessons.
to practise. But it’s a good idea to budget for between 35 and
50 hours, meaning a total tuition bill of between £1000 and
£1400. The provisional licence costs £50, a theory test fee
drops to £25 from October, and the practical test costs £62.
The test itself
It’s a good idea to have a frank discussion about finances
before your teenager even applies for a provisional licence.
Discuss the extent to which you’ll be able to help pay for
lessons and how much he or she should plan on contributing
from a part-time job or birthday money. Learning to drive is
a costly business, and it’s important to have a realistic idea
of the sums involved beforehand. Otherwise you can get into
a situation where the teenager is making progress but has
to take a break from lessons because of cash-flow problems.
Then the whole process will become more expensive because
of lost momentum.
How many lessons your child needs will depend on
natural aptitude and whether or not there’s the opportunity
Finding the right instructor
The first step is to check that any potential candidate is a
fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). They
can be identified by the green octagonal badge on their
windscreen. A pink badge means the instructor is still a
trainee.
Then ask your friends and family members for personal
recommendations, and follow up with additional research.
Call potential instructors for a chat to get a feel for them
and their approach. And get your teenager to talk to them
as well. If the instructor is someone they feel they can get on
with, that’s really going to help the learning process.
Practice makes perfect
It’s always a good idea for learners to practise between
lessons if possible as it gives them the opportunity to
22
Exams are nerve-racking at the best of times, but driving
tests can feel particularly harrowing. So be supportive, as
teenagers will not only be afraid of letting you down, they
will also feel under pressure from friends.
A reputable driving instructor won’t put students forward
for the test unless they’ve reached the correct standard. So if
they fail, it’s likely because nerves got the better of them on
the day. Being encouraging about their future prospects will
give them the best chance of success next time.
Beyond the test
It pays to book additional training after the test, particularly
so that your son or daughter can become familiar with safe,
confident motorway driving.
You will need to let your insurer know about the move
from provisional to full licence status. Adding an 18-year-old
to your policy will cost several hundred pounds, but there
are discounts if you agree to use some sort of telematics
device that monitors and records how he or she drives. We’ll
review additional training opportunities in the next edition.
www.motoringassist.com
A D V E R T O R I A L
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Mainland Britain has a maritime climate
Polar Maritime Air Mass
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which can change rapidly, making our
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Sea Wet, cold air brings
Wet, cold air brings snow
More and more people are looking at a type of
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in winter
electric heating, although relatively new to
Britain, has been developed, mostly in Germany,
Polar Continental Air Mass
over the last 60 years.
NW
From: Central Europe
The weather in central Germany and northern
Hot air brings dry summers.
Cold air brings snow in winter.
Europe is different to Britain and can be classed
as mainly ‘continental’. This means they endure
NE
long freezing periods where night time
temperatures can average -20˚C!
To counter this, electricity plans in Germany
include daily 15 hour ‘low’ rate plans which are
priced at approximately 16 pence per kilowatt
hour. With long continual cold spells there is
little need for rapid control changes caused by
SE
the several weather patterns that can be
experienced in England, Wales and Scotland
SW
in just one single day. So heaters designed in
Germany for northern and central Europe can be
cumbersome and slow to heat up because it is
not necessary for them to deal with our fast
Tropical Maritime Air Mass
Tropical Continental Air Mass
From: Atlantic
From: North Africa
changing, maritime weather.
Warm, moist air brings cloud
Hot, dry air brings hot weather
Five years ago, Sunflow set out to improve on
rain and mild weather.
in summer.
the best of the German technology and
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From initial consultation right through to completion, you will
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British
Standards
Institution
Tested
In conversation
Rosemary Shrager
in the kitchen and at the wheel
Chef, teacher, author and reality television star Rosemary Shrager is a
bundle of joy who can’t stop talking or laughing. Maxine Ashford caught
up for a chat at her cookery school in Tunbridge Wells
What car are you driving at the moment?
I’m driving a Mitsubishi Outlander which
I love. I’ll tell you why - first of all the
comfort with the lovely cruise control that
works so easily. But mostly there’s so much
room inside it. Whenever I have to go to
do these exhibitions and displays I have so
many books with me so I need all the space
that the vehicle offers. It works for me. But I
wish it would park for me!
What’s in the glovebox and on the stereo?
Ah, that would be telling (she throws back
her head and roars with laughter). At the
moment there are probably some CDs. Oh
my favourites are things like Mamma Mia
and Neil Diamond. I’m always singing out
loud as I drive - I’m a great singer.
Who taught you to drive and did you pass
first time? Were there any dilemmas while
learning?
My father taught me and also I had 40
driving lessons but I passed first time - I
don’t know how. During one lesson I hit a
couple of bollards, plus on another one I
hit some electrical men in a tent on the side
of the road. They were okay, but I knocked
down the tent.
Would you describe yourself as a good
driver and do others think you are a good
driver? Are you a good passenger?
Well, I think I’m good but my children
certainly don’t. I’m really cautious these
days. I used to love speed - I wanted to be
a racing car driver when I was young. I’m
a bit of a fast bird actually, but I must tell
you today that in my dotage years, I’m a
little bit more cautious. And also I’ve got six
points on my licence and I don’t want to get
any more thank you. It wasn’t fair - I was
actually going at 58mph through a 50mph
24
A household
name...
With six books
already produced
and a seventh on sale
next year, Rosemary
is a true household
name with regular
appearances on
television; but where
did all the fame
begin?
She explained: “I
wonder myself how
it all happened. I
think it’s because
I’m such a character
and people saw my
personality was a
bit off the wall and
they maybe thought
it would make good
telly.
And it certainly
seems running her
own cookery school
in Tunbridge Wells is
a dream come true.
“I have run cookery
schools for 17 years,
but this is the first
one that is mine. It’s
been running for 18
months now and
it’s going very well
indeed. I’m loving it,”
she said.
zone so I thought it was jolly unfair.
I’m a terrible back seat driver - the worst.
I’ll tell you something - I’ve just come back
from Italy with my son, daughter-in-law
and children. I was so bad nagging about
the speed, directions and driving on the
wrong side of the road that my son Tom
threatened to leave me in the middle of a
motorway. I was bad, I was awful.
Do you get road rage?
I get annoyed and road rage. I shout at
other drivers but never gesticulate - I’m
not that sort of person. I just look and glare
but the only problem I have these days is
that my name is on the doors of the car. So
I have to be a little cautious or somebody
might tweet saying Rosemary made the
most ghastly face at me.
What was your first car?
It was a Morris Minor and I painted it
bright electric blue by hand. My father
bought it for me when I passed my test and
I sold it for £24.
Best car journey to date?
In fact it’s a journey that I still love doing.
It’s driving through Skye to the Outer
Hebrides. There are very few cars as I
always go at a good time. The views are
magnificent and when I make that drive I
put loud classical music on the CD player as
if I’m in a dream. I’m living a fantasy when
I’m driving that route and I take loads of
pictures of the car and scenery - the car is
always in the photos!
Who would be your perfect driving
companion and where would you go?
It would have to be somebody who could
laugh with me. My son Tom actually
because we come from the same pea pods.
www.motoringassist.com
Consequently our humour is the same and I know I
can have a good giggle and he would share it with me.
I would still take my Outlander though out of any car
because it’s so practical.
They say great drivers must be patient - are chefs
patient people?
No!
So looking back, why did you become a chef?
Initially I was going to be an interior designer. I became
a chef because I loved it - it was all I loved. I wasn’t
any good at being an interior designer anyway. I
just wanted to cook and I’ve turned my hobby into a
profession.
What do you most enjoy about teaching cookery?
I love teaching more than anything else. I love being
bossy, playing a game and acting but also it’s not just an
act, it’s the way I teach - always with a smile.
What’s your worst teaching experience to date?
I’ve had some pretty bad pupils over the years. They
do stupid things like burning themselves when I’ve
warned them to be careful - they are just not listening.
What’s your favourite meal and who would be your
perfect dinner guest?
Chicken and potato pie. Oh my four grandchildren as
they love my food so much.
GET ME OUT OF HERE
Rosemary Shrager decided to leave the sanctity of her East
Sussex home to brave the elements and humiliation that go
hand-in-hand with ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Outta Here.
And it seems the main reason for agreeing to a stint in the
jungle was because she is such a big fan of the show.
She said: ”I always watch it. It was the right time to do it
and it’s quite a privilege to be asked to be a contestant.”
Rosemary had to undergo some tough challenges, but
admits the hardest of them all was her introduction to the
jungle and adjusting to the routine. “It was fun. It was very
hard, harder than I thought. The worst thing I had to do was
spend eight hours locked away with pop icon Limahl on the
first night, with cockroaches and rats. That was horrible. The
other contestants didn’t think we’d stay but we did.”
So would Rosemary, who finished sixth in the show, sign
up to any other reality shows? It seems highly unlikely.
“That’s it I think. I would never do ‘Strictly’ and never ever
Big Brother. I’ve made that promise to my children.”
19
In-car listening
My songs for the road
If you’re unsure about what music to choose on car journeys, then Nick Kelley may
be able to help with his exploration of driving-themed chart hits to suit all moods
WE ALL LOVE making playlists for the
car, or better still having them made for us;
every service station has a rack of overpriced
‘Drivetime’ CDs. When you consider that the
average Briton now spends three whole years of
their life behind the wheel, you can appreciate
why we might crave a little musical diversion.
But have you ever tried to find a song that
celebrates, without irony, the experience of
driving on the UK’s roads? It seems we don’t get
our kicks on the A66…
It’s different in the USA. I would argue that
America’s two greatest contributions to human
progress in the twentieth century were massproduced automobiles and mass-produced
popular music. The birth of rock and roll in the
States coincided with the heyday of automobile
design, and in the early days the average
American songwriter was just as infatuated
with his car as with the girl in the passenger
seat. Mustang Sally, Little Deuce Coupé, Pink
Cadillac and Riding Along in my Automobile
all fed into the American dream – young,
affluent men with big cars, burning cheap gas
by the gallon. Even the many casualties were
immortalised in songs such as The Leader of
the Pack and Tell Laura I Love Her, forming
26
a morbidly melodramatic genre that became
known as the Teenage Tragedy Song.
We were making some lovely cars in Britain
at the time, but where are the hymns of praise to
the Aston Martin, the Mini, or the Hillman Imp?
When, years later, Madness sang about Driving
in My Car (a 1959 Morris Minor as it happens)
they chose to mock its parochial ordinariness
(‘It’s not quite a Jaguar’).
Automobiles tend to be used more
metaphorically in British songs. You can bet that
if the Beach Boys had written Drive My Car,
they would have specified make and model – but
for The Beatles it’s all about the subordinate
relationship between chauffeur and aspiring
actress. Gary Numan’s pulsating masterpiece,
Cars, has a chilling lack of sentimentality. For
Gary, driving is very much a solitary activity –
you can’t imagine a man who sings ‘Here in my
car/I feel safest of all/ I can lock all my doors’,
casually picking up a girl and driving her home.
As with cars, so with the roads we drive on.
America is unfathomably vast, and yet the
distances travelled are easily shrugged off.
Gene Pitney sang about being ‘only 24 hours
from Tulsa’ – can you imagine a British singer
being so blasé about a whole day’s drive? The
“
For the
Beatles, it’s
all about the
subordinate
relationship
between
chauffeur
and aspiring
actress...
”
www.motoringassist.com
Proclaimers might blithely set out to walk 500
miles and 500 more, but they would surely
baulk at going by car. When British bands try to
emulate the great American road songs of escape
and freedom, the results are often deliberately
comical. The fact remains that you can’t
actually go all that far on a UK highway (you
can certainly spend a long time in traffic, but’s
that’s not quite the same). So when 1980s onehit-wonders It’s Immaterial sing about Driving
Away From Home, the journey down the M62 is
a paltry 39 miles, or 45 minutes (you’ve got to
admire the pre-satnav precision).
Even when you’re going nowhere in an
American car on an American road, the journey
is thrilling. Bruce Springsteen is the master
of bittersweet anthems of not-quite-escaping.
In Thunder Road, these two lanes will take us
anywhere – you somehow know the young
lovers will never reach the promised land, but
the excitement of that windswept journey is
palpable. Racing in the Street has one of the
most thrilling opening lines for any petrolhead:
‘I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a 396’ (in
layman’s terms, a great big engine). No matter
that the singer seems to have wasted his life; he
still loves his car.
Of course there is congestion on the US
highway, but for the American songwriter it’s
just a temporary impediment. Jimi Hendrix
crammed so many car-based innuendos into his
Crosstown Traffic that it sounds tortured (‘All
you do is slow me down, and I’m trying to get
on the other side of town’). But no-one listens to
Hendrix for the lyrics.
For the British songwriter, however, a traffic
jam is an existential nightmare. Chris Rea’s
Road to Hell, penned in 1989, after enduring
three years of apocalyptic snarl-ups on the M25,
is terrifying if you listen closely enough to the
words: ‘the perverted fear of violence chokes
the smile on every face’. (This, of course, was
the beginning of the 1990s phenomenon of
‘road rage’, which provided the title for a lovely
indie anthem by Catatonia.) Even in his wistful
festive ditty, Driving Home for Christmas, Rea
is stymied by the traffic: ‘top to toe in tail lights,
I’ve got red lights on the run’.
Paul McCartney’s beautifully plaintive The
Long and Winding Road, about a journey he
made frequently along the remote B842 on the
Kintyre peninsula, is about as close as you’ll get
to affection for a British road in song. But it’s
too melancholy and fragile to make it onto your
drivetime playlist – it’s likely to leave you ‘full
of tears’ in a layby.
If you disregard 2-4-6-8 Motorway (which
I do – it’s a shouty counting song), just about
the only irony-free paean to the UK motoring
experience I can find is The Divine Comedy’s
glorious National Express. It has the bouncy
rhythm of a charabanc, mordantly witty lyrics,
and, fittingly, its tempo is perfect for gently
cruising past coaches on the M6 motorway. GM
Exploring the coast
Car across
the causeway
Check the tide times and venture over to explore one or more of the country’s
tidal islands. Alan Wakely notched up five in a recent coastal tour
A great many people are fascinated by
islands. I am, and perhaps you are too. We have
many islands, of many sizes, around our coast.
Visiting some by car can be quite a fuss; however
the slower pace of life seems to hark back
appealingly to years gone by.
Other islands have partly lost this appeal
because bridges have replaced ferries at some
point in their history. Walney and Hayling
Islands for example, in Cumbria and Hampshire
respectively, are two that have been joined
to the mainland for many years. As a result
some, arguably most, of their particular island
character has gone. They are still worth visiting
but they are not really separate. More recently
high level bridges have been built to both
Sheppey and Skye. There was a lower-level
bridge to Sheppey before this, with a roadway
(and railway alongside) that could be raised to
allow shipping down the Swale channel. This
happened several times a day, so there was still
something a bit insular about Sheppey – but
barely so now. Unsurprisingly, there was much
local opposition to the building of the Skye
bridge precisely because people were worried
that the island might lose some of its special
character once the ferries disappeared.
But have you realised that we have some
“semi-islands” too? That’s not an official term.
Technically they are called “tidal islands”
because they can be reached part of the time
on dry land by walking or driving across a
causeway, which is flooded and impassable
at other times. This helps them to retain their
island atmosphere, and I have been looking at
some of them - specifically those which can be
reached by car, across a causeway. Most of them
I visited over four days using a Fiat 500 Trekker,
which covered 1200+ miles with ease, and in
comfort. But the real advantage was that the car
sits high off the road, which is a good idea if you
are splashing through salt water.
Lindisfarne
If you think of British causeway roads that flood
at high tide, Lindisfarne, or Holy Island as it is
28
“
Technically
they are
called ‘tidal
islands’
because
they can
be reached
part of the
time on
dry land
across a
causeway...
”
www. www.motoringassist.com
also known, is likely to come to mind first. It is off
the spectacular Northumberland coast, about 12
miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. You turn off
the A1 near Beal and run down gradually through
the village and across the main East Coast railway
line to the water’s edge, where if you have timed
your visit wrongly, you will join a queue of traffic
waiting for the tide to recede.
The causeway is a mile or so long, with what
looks like an old-fashioned signal box halfway
along, which is actually a refuge for anyone who
gets stuck in rising water. Mind you, it is very
spartan, and anyone forced to spend four hours or
so in it will get very cold and hungry, while they
watch their car being ruined by salt water. Time
your journey correctly (or be patient) however,
www.motoringassist.com
and the island rewards a visit. Only delivery
vehicles, service buses and residents’ cars are
allowed on the village roads, so you have to walk
from the car park, but it is not far to the shops and
cafes. The castle is out on a point, and rather more
of a stroll, but the wide views of the mainland
coastline are absolutely glorious.
Lindisfarne has long been a place of Christian
pilgrimage, associated with various saints and
with the Venerable Bede who produced the first
“English” Bible (hardly in English; it was really in
Anglo-Saxon because this was before the Norman
conquest), so the parish church and the adjacent
ruined abbey are also on the itinerary of many
visitors. Life on the island is governed by the tide
times – for example, secondary school >>
Facing page: Lindisfarne
has long been a place of
Christian worship.
This page, from top:
the causeway at Lindisfarne
can seem a desolate place;
crossing the causeway at
Roa; on the causeway at
Lindisfarne.
Lindisfarne pics: Gemma
Marriner; Roa pic: Zoe
Batchelor
29
Across the causeway
>> children have to go to the mainland, where
they work eccentric hours depending upon when
they can get to and from their homes.
Roa
I’m sure the residents won’t mind me saying that
Roa is a bit of a curiosity. It is a little island which
falls within the borough of Barrow-in-Furness,
reached by a causeway road that only floods with
the highest tides. It is almost entirely built over,
though so small that there can’t be more than 100
or so houses plus a few shops, a car park, a pub, a
fish restaurant and the remains of a castle.
The reason for visiting is less the island itself
than the views from it. To the north is a wonderful
panorama of the Southern Fells of the Lake
District. To the south one can see Piel Island with
its ruined castle, and the expanse of Morecambe
Bay with Blackpool Tower in the distance.
Foulness
The causeway to Foulness, on the Essex coast near
Shoeburyness, is called the Broomway. Nominally
30
it is open to vehicles, but it is actually flooded
more than it is not. Furthermore, it is unmarked
nowadays, and runs partially over quicksand.
Notices tell you that it is highly dangerous to cross
on foot, let alone with a vehicle. The risk is made
worse by the fact that you might well be liable
to arrest for trespass, because the whole island is
MoD controlled.
For the last 90 or so years there has also been
a bridge over to Foulness, but even this has a
guardhouse and gates. Extraordinarily, about
200 people live on the island, and even more
oddly there is a museum. The opening hours
are restricted to four per month in summer only.
Those are the only times the general public is
allowed access to the island – which of course
explains why trying to use the causeway at other
times might lead to all sorts of trouble.
Pics, top row: crossing the
causeway at Lindisfarne (pic:
Gemma Marriner).
Second row: houseboats
on Mersea Island; that
all-important warning on
the Lindisfarne causeway;
Alberto Semprini lived on
Mersea; the rather forbidding
sight of Foulness causeway at
low tide.
Third row: the causeway
at Portland runs parallel to
Chesil Beach: last vehicle
over the Mersea causeway
before the tide sweeps in; a
broad sweeping view of the
causeway at Roa.
Portland
The Isle of Portland is on many holiday itineraries.
It is the home of Portland stone, used in many
of London’s major buildings, like St Paul’s
www. www.motoringassist.com
Cathedral. Portland Bill, the highest point on the island, rises
high above sea level with a lighthouse at the coastward end,
and there are wonderful sea views towards Bournemouth in
one direction and along Chesil Beach and the Jurassic Coast
around Lyme Regis in the other. There is both a bridge and a
causeway, but these are not separate routes onto the island as
at Foulness. Rather, the main A354 road onto Portland crosses
a narrow channel at the southern tip of Weymouth on a short
bridge, and then becomes a causeway along the very end of
Chesil Beach. This doesn’t flood very often – only usually when
high tides and storms coincide – but it can lead to occasions
when it is possible to cross the bridge, only to be thwarted by a
flooded causeway on the island side.
Mersea
Mersea is perhaps the causeway visit that I would most
recommend. Mersea Island is in Essex, about 13 miles south
of Colchester, on the estuary of the Blackwater. The causeway,
known as the Strood, forms part of the B1025, which is thus the
only classified road in England that seawater floods regularly.
This it does at most high tides, although not always to the
extent that it becomes impassable to traffic. However, if you
are planning a visit, a look at the tide tables is still a really good
idea. After all, there is a periodic “round the island” yacht race,
which wouldn’t work too well unless there was a considerable
depth of water covering the road.
Surprisingly, for many years the road was closed to all traffic
except buses. They stood higher off the road than modern buses
do, and carried on regardless; but I cannot imagine that the
dousing of seawater (that sometimes even came over the open
platform) can have done the vehicles much good.
There are two settlements on the island – East and West
Mersea. Of these West Mersea is a small seaside town that is a
wonderful unspoiled backwater to visit, and which grew up
around the oyster beds that have been producing shellfish at
least since the Romans settled at Colchester. There are lovely
estuarial views, not to mention splendid seafood restaurants
along the Hard, a road along the foreshore where a series of
picturesque houseboats lies moored, one or two of which are
startlingly on stilts above the water line. There is a story that
one of them even had a grand piano on board. It was owned
by Alberto Semprini, a concert pianist who, when practising,
surprised people strolling home along the Hard after a fish
supper, when they suddenly heard piano music from a boat.
Another version of the story is that the pianist lived on the
houseboat, but kept the piano in a shed sandwiched between
a builder’s yard and the mortuary. The idea of a Chopin waltz
wafting from such a place is more than a little disconcerting.
Apart from the small town of West Mersea, the island is
entirely rural and very peaceful. Being on the east coast it is
blessed with warm, dry summers, so it is no surprise to find a
vineyard near East Mersea village, where the produce can be
both sampled and bought.
Writer’s postscript
The list of islands above is a bit subjective, of course. One or
two others have roads across the causeway but are in private
ownership – and several more are reached across causeways
that are for the use of pedestrians and/or tractors only. All the
places I visited have their own distinctive characters, often
associated with their history, which make them well worth the
cross-causeway journey to explore.
Alan Wakely
www.motoringassist.com
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31
Splashing out is such fun
Andy Turner and his wife Gabrielle head to the Lakes
for some five-star treatment at The Brimstone Hotel
A TRIP TO the Lake District is always a special
event; combining this with one of the area’s
best hotels makes for an unforgettable weekend
away. We spent two nights at the Brimstone
Hotel in the impossibly beautiful Langdale
Valley that sits below the imposing skyline
of the famous Langdale Pikes. The hotel is
located in the heart of the Lake District, about
a 30-minute drive from the M6 and four miles
from Ambleside. It’s a superb area for any kind
of outdoor activity throughout the year.
The hotel sits within the stunning and
impeccably manicured Langdale Estate. The
estate is surrounded by streams and woodland,
and dotted with massive milestones and other
reminders of its history as a 19th century
gunpowder works. It comprises a range of
32
facilities that include the hotel itself, timeshares,
restaurants, a spa and a leisure complex. As a
guest in the hotel, and if you can force yourself
to leave your room (more on that later), then
you have access to a swimming pool, gym,
tennis courts, sauna and a Jacuzzi, along with
four bars and restaurants - all of which are just
steps from the hotel.
Things at the Brimstone run rather differently
from your typical hotel. There is no check-in
desk; when you arrive you are met by one of
the hotel’s hosts. You will be shown to your
room and its highlights will be explained.
Should you need anything (such as having
your log fire started for you or a turndown
service) then just pick up the phone and your
host sorts these out for you.
www.motoringassist.com
British break
“
We arrived
late and
hungry and
stocked up
on salmon
sandwiches,
local beer
and some
fruit...
”
Pics, facing page:
(top) The suites have
electrically operated
curtains and retractable
patio doors; (below) looking
down from the upstairs
level; an enormous bath in
one of the suites; the walk-in
rain shower upstairs.
Pics this page:
(right) a romp in the hills
close to the Brimstone;
(below) the Reading Room
is the hotel’s only communal
area, where you can help
yourself to complimentary
snacks and drinks.
The whole weekend we were there, we only
ran into two hosts, both lovely and attentive but
giving us our space at the same time. This made
it a unique experience, odd perhaps at first, but
fully appreciated by the end of the weekend.
When we first arrived, we were shown the
Reading Room, the hotel’s only communal
area, that you can visit anytime throughout the
day or night and find complimentary (good)
coffee, sandwiches, pastries, cheese, scones
and jam, fruit, bottled water, beer and wine.
We arrived late and hungry the first night and
stocked up on salmon sandwiches, local beer
and some fruit. The Reading Room, as with all
areas of the hotel, is plush, with deep carpets,
lovely furniture and photographs of the Lake
District scattered around.
On to the room, and we stayed in one of
the mezzanine suites, two loft-style storeys
of extremely high-end and high-tech luxury.
Downstairs has two couches, a full bath hidden
behind a sliding door in the wall, a wellstocked bar with everything from local beer to
Cristal champagne, a wood-burning fireplace,
loo, flat screen TV, and access to a large deck via
electrically-operated curtains and retractable
patio doors that bring the outside world in.
Upstairs boasts a huge bed, another flat
screen TV, and access to a beautiful white tiled
bathroom with a walk-in rain shower. There
are details everywhere: lights with settings
from perky to sexy to tinkle; a stereo with mp3
connections; a small leather case full of regular
essentials..Clearly, whoever designed these
rooms thought of everything and this means
you really do get the five star treatment you’re
paying for. It’s easy to consider not leaving
the room at all, and one of our highlights
was having breakfast in the room (highly
recommended) and then lying on the couch
by a roaring fire with the doors fully open to
listen and smell the typical Lake District drizzle
outside.
You also have access to the facilities of the
estate where there is a decent gym and pool,
plus a spa with the usual treatments. It’s
worth noting that these are in a separate area
from the hotel and shared by the other hotel
and timeshares on the estate. They are family
friendly and can be a little jarring after the
tranquillity of the hotel. There is also a variety
of restaurants to choose from on the site. We
had a wonderful breakfast and dinner at the
two AA Rosette Purdey’s restaurant. Breakfast
is a full-on buffet, although you can order items
such as poached smoked haddock or pancakes
from the kitchen. Perfect if you are about to do
a full day hike as we did. Dinner is a little more
formal, but still relaxed and unstuffy. We had a
really lovely meal in a beautiful garden setting
and tried the scallops and warm oak-smoked
salmon to start, followed by stone bass with an
oyster beignet and wild mushroom risotto.
Portions are generous, but if you can fit it in,
we would recommend the custard slice with
poached pear for desert – a work of art on the
plate and a great end to the evening. It’s worth
pointing out that the staff in the restaurant were
friendly and attentive, and their easy attitude
added to what was a really lovely evening.
The Brimstone is well located, luxurious,
and indulgent, but best of all, laid back and
relaxing. Neither of us wanted to leave and I
can’t imagine a better way to splash out in the
Lake District. GM
About The Brimstone
The Brimstone Hotel is located within the award-winning 35-acre
Langdale Estate, a beautiful naturally wooded haven in Great Langdale
close to Ambleside in Cumbria. Previously a gunpowder factory, it’s a
high-end boutique hotel with just 16 rooms, and with on-site access to
restaurants, a spa and leisure facilities. It even has its own boot room in
case you forget any of your outdoor clothes. Rooms start at £250 but
if you book 30-days ahead you can get a discount of 20% reducing this
to £200. Full details can be found at brimstonehotel.co.uk
33
34
www.motoringassist.com
Best of British
Herts is trumps at
Sopwell House
Roger and Michelle Brooks manage some serious
relaxation in elegant Hertfordshire surrounds
“
Many
visitors come
to the hotel
just to take
afternoon
tea, so
popular has
it become.
”
Nestling in green and pleasant
Hertfordshire countryside just north
of London, the Sopwell House Hotel is
conveniently situated some five miles from
Junction 22 of the M25 motorway, on the edge
of the historic Roman town of Verulamium,
better known to us as St Albans.
Arriving at the hotel, we were struck by
the tranquil surroundings of the beautiful
white Georgian house. The hotel is made up
of the main house with extensions, which
include conservatory, cocktail bar, Roman
style garden terrace, brasserie, fine dining
restaurant and of course the wonderful spa
and pool area.
The food at the hotel was excellent and
reasonably priced, with a selection of good
beers and wines. Afternoon tea is a speciality
at the hotel – taken in the quiet cocktail
bar adjoining the library. It felt refined and
welcoming, with comfortable sofas and
armchairs. Many visitors come to the hotel
just to take afternoon tea, so popular has it
become.
The bedrooms are tastefully decorated and
equipped for all the usual needs; comfortable
beds, TVs with Sky channels, modern
bathrooms with excellent showers and, most
important, tea and coffee.
There are some 12 acres of wood, parkland
and garden to enjoy. My green-fingered wife
was pleased to see staff out at seven in the
morning watering the many flower beds and
Spa treats at Sopwell House
Tranquil, soothing and serene – those are the three words that best
describe the newly-refurbished Spa at Sopwell House, where there’s
an excellent array of facials, massages, wraps and scrubs. There’s a
contemporary Japanese influence to the design, with warm, natural
materials adding to the ambience.
What you’ll pay:
Bed and breakfast for two in a double room costs from £134 in April
and May. A one night Spa Break costs from £139pp and includes threecourse dinner and two 25-minute treatments.
Call 01727 864477 or visit sopwellhouse.co.uk
hanging baskets.
The Spa, with its highly modern facilities, is
a true joy. On entering the Spa area, helpful
staff provide soft comfortable robes and
towels and explain the whole experience.
The clean and well-equipped changing
rooms, with easy-to-use secure lockers, lead
through the shower area to the high quality
sauna, steam room, warm bench and jacuzzi.
Just beyond is the excellent pool, which is a
delight, as it is possible to swim for exercise
and not just bathe. Comfortable, adjustable
loungers line the pool inside, enjoying the
warming sun through the large glazed spa
walls, with more loungers situated just
outside in the sheltered south-facing terrace
and secluded garden.
Body treatments are available by the staff.
Body massage is a great treat and something
to be highly recommended for enhancing the
complete relaxing and calming experience.
For those who wish to work out (I felt no
need), there is a modern and well equipped
gym available.
From the hotel, you are less than two miles
from the centre of St Albans, an ancient
Roman settlement which now stands
out as a lovely English cathedral city. Its
colourful 2,000 year history can be seen in the
Roman remains and the beautiful medieval
architecture, dominated by the 900-year-old
abbey. Despite the quaint feel to the High
Street, facilities are right up-to-date with
much to keep everyone entertained. There
are markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays,
plenty of shops from high street chains to
independent gems, museums, theatre, cafés,
bars and restaurants, and other nearby
attractions.
Sopwell House Hotel has a good reputation
far and wide and our visit confirmed this.
For a relaxing and enjoyable weekend in an
excellent country hotel that is close to good
road links and having many good things to
do inside and on the doorstep, there should
be no hesitation in choosing this hotel for a
great short break to recharge the batteries.
35
Best of British
A weekend with
no Pier pressure
Looking for a wonderfully relaxing break with great food?
Book in to the Pier Hotel in Harwich, says David Williams
It was the famous London & North
Eastern Railway poster from the late 1920s
that promoted the port of Harwich as the
departure point for ferry passengers to
continental Europe.
Although it is still possible to depart
for Holland, Denmark and Germany
from Harwich, this little Essex seaside
town offers so much more than just an
embarkation point. Indeed for those
interested in maritime history, there is
much to learn about a port that has made a
significant contribution both to sea warfare
and trade for several hundred years. For
36
most of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries
Harwich provided the only safe anchorage
between the Thames and the Humber
and can also boast of being the birth place
of Christopher Jones, the Captain of the
Mayflower on its pilgrim voyage to the
‘New World’.
The Harwich Maritime Heritage Trail
offers 19 different locations to view around
the town, while details of Christopher
Jones can be found in the small museum on
Harwich’s ‘Ha’Penny Pier’.
Opposite the famous Pier is The Pier
Hotel. Originally built in the mid-19th
“
Harwich
provided
the only safe
anchorage
between the
Thames and
Humber...
”
www.motoringassist.com
Best of British
century to accommodate passengers
embarking on steam ships to the continent,
it commands a unique place on the
Harwich waterfront and has stunning
views over the busy harbour, the estuaries
of the rivers Orwell and Stour, and the
bustling port of Felixstowe.
The large passenger ferries and the huge
cruise ships that use the port of Harwich
cause onlookers to stare, but it is the hustle
and bustle of local yachts and small craft
that make the sights so typical of an English
seaside resort.
The Pier Hotel is at the hub of all this
maritime activity and was purchased by
the Milsom family in 1978. It has become
as famous for top quality food as their
Le Talbooth restaurant which is just 15
miles upstream in ‘Constable’ country at
Dedham.
The Pier Hotel was built in a Venetian
style and has an eye catching blue and
white frontage that is immediately
recognised by those approaching Harwich
from the sea. Needless to say, fish lovers
are in for a real treat at The Pier. Locally
caught seafood features on the menus of
the ground floor Ha’Penny Brasserie, and
in the upstairs Harbourside
Restaurant.
The Brasserie offers a
relaxed family dining
atmosphere where plain
wooden tables include note
pads and pencils which
diners use to write their
choices, taken from a large
menu chalked onto a wall
board. Traditional fish
and chips remains a very
popular choice, although
the menu has a wide variety
of locally sourced fish and
meat dishes, all at reasonable
prices. The potted shrimps,
with a variety of fresh baked
breads, washed down with
some delicious East Anglian
fruit cordial, provided the
perfect lunch-time snack.
The more formal
Harbourside Restaurant,
with its views across the
harbour, also has a wide
range of locally caught
seafood on offer (the skate
with capers was simply
divine).
There are additional
dishes, cooked and served in
a first class manner that has
become synonymous with
Milsom establishments.
Booking for the Brasserie
is not required but for the Harbourside it
is essential as The Pier hotel is now a much
sought-after location for romantic evenings,
special occasions and fine dining. The
restaurant staff are particularly friendly
and knowledgeable and were able to advise
on the perfect wine accompaniment for
our meals. The wine cellars at Milsom’s are
especially noteworthy.
The Pier has 14 comfortable bedrooms,
some of which have the added benefit of
beautiful sea views. There is something
very special and relaxing about opening the
curtains to the sound, sight and smells of a
seaside resort.
For travellers looking for an invigorating
seaside destination, or those wanting
to study seafaring history or to enjoy
first class seafood, the Pier Hotel and its
restaurants are the perfect combination,
neatly proving that Harwich is most
definitely not just for the Continent.
Room prices start from £125 in April, with
breakfast. Dine and stay packages are
available. Visit milsomhotels.com or call
01255 241212.
37
Drive to the Alps
Henry goes
Heidi high!
London chef Henry Harris wanted a few days away from the
kitchen. So he leapt on his BMW motorbike for a trip that
combined challenging roads, lovely hotels and great food
After too long in the saddle, the descent
into Switzerland finally began. A few miles of
sweeping curves down to a border crossing and
then a journey on smaller roads at a gentle pace,
observing the speed limit towards Montreux.
I went around the ring road of Lausanne and
headed into Montreux as twilight approached.
The satnav became a little confused at this point
as I climbed from the lakeside up to my hotel.
38
It took me around the back of the property and
into the side of the mountain, suggesting a 32%
gradient road as the best route. I decided I knew
better on a well loaded BMW.
At last... at 8.45 at night, having left West
London at 4.30 that morning, I rode through the
gates of the Hotel Victoria (victoria-glion.ch):
beautiful, classic and splendid. Someone came
out to welcome me and to help with my luggage.
Riding tip
Take a look at
myswitzerland.com
which offers details and
photographs for
nine motorbike
touring
routes.
www.motoringassist.com
The high road
I walked up to reception, thinking more a of a
cold refreshing beer than anything else... only to
discover that I had no reservation. I was ready
to sit on the floor and refuse to move and in fact
never get on my bike again.
The receptionist could not have been more
charming and helpful. “Don’t worry, Mr Harris,
you will have a room,” was all I heard. Minutes
later I walked into a room with large balcony
www.motoringassist.com
windows that had the most stunning view of
Lake Geneva as the sun went down. I discarded
my leathers, changed and headed downstairs.
I walked along the road to stretch my legs
and popped into the Café de Jaman for my cold
beer and supper. I enjoy dining alone from time
to time. After a couple of beers, I tucked in to a
restorative and very large bowl of pasta dressed
with local ham, cream and cheese. Comfort >>
Main pic: there were a
few more gentle straight
and level stretches, too.
Right, from top:
Ducati and BMW handle
very differently on the
tight bends; the Spreuerbrücke in Lucerne; a
well-earned pasta dinner.
39
Drive to the Alps
Ride the high road
>> food without equal. When I arrived back
in my room, it scarcely took seconds for me
to fall asleep.
Muesli, bread, cheese, ham and fruit made
up a good sound breakfast to keep me bright
and alert for the day. I admit I was nervous
at the thought of my first Alpine pass on two
wheels. First, a little bit of Swiss motorway
then smaller roads toward the Col du Grand
Saint Bernard, well known to anyone who
has watched The Italian Job.
Past the sign to Verbier and the ascent
started. There were hardly any cars, but
some very fit cyclists taking the same route.
These roads require a very different style
of riding and, I sense, a lot of practice to be
ridden well. I applied myself to turning in
when there was a big drop, or no barriers in
some places.
All the time, everyone seemed to be going
past me, but for me, Arrive alive was the
plan.
The weather became cold and misty, so
I stopped to add layers and to watch the
cyclists I had passed earlier pedal onwards
and upwards, past big banks of snow. I was
immensely relieved when I made it to the
top and could look down over the icy lake
and the unmanned border post into Italy.
More moments of nerves followed, as I
thought about having to ride down through
the sweeping curves and tight switchbacks.
The roads were almost deserted, so I
was able to focus on learning new skills.
Some while later, and at the bottom of the
mountain, I stopped to stretch and reflect on
how I had enjoyed it.
Satnav guided me to my next hotel, in
Mendrisio, and I stepped happily into my
lovely little terraced room. I enjoyed a
beautiful plate of local salamis and cured
meats with very good bread. I had the
chance to rest for an hour before meeting
Jasmin Haslimeier from Ticino Turismo. She
turned up on a Ducati Streetfighter to guide
me up to the Muggio Valley.
On the way we stopped to meet a
cheesemaker, Marialuce Valtolini, who takes
milk from dairy herds in the Valley and
makes a stunning cheese called Zincarlin.
Aged in stone caves that have a natural cold
airflow through the rocks, the cheeses are
washed regularly with a local wine and salt
and turn from a delicate soft curd to a sharp
pungent cheese that packs a real punch.
Sadly for us it doesn’t get as far as the UK,
but Marialuce gave me a cheese to take away
and try later.
Heading up into the Valley, it was like
going back to school. Jasmin has been riding
these mountain roads ever since she first
climbed on a motorbike. She was swift and
confident. Whilst following at a distance,
every move started to become more fluid
and enjoyable as I followed her line more
proficiently. As we climbed higher, we
found ourselves on roads barely a car’s
www.motoringassist.com
width, with looser surfaces. I did proceed
with a greater degree of caution.
From a technical point of view, my longer
wheelbased K1200R Sport lacked the agility
of the Streetfighter and I did start to notice
that the sportier V twins were always the
bikes that disappeared into the distance first.
Ticino is very Italian and the locals I met
are fiercely proud of this and their unique
Swiss heritage. Food and wine too. The
countryside, pastures and mountains are
beautiful.
Back at base, Jasmin took me to a local
grotto, not a cave but what the local Ticinese
restaurants are often called. Grotto Bundi
is owned by Stefano Romelli. Like some
of the dishes of Northern Italy, the food is
hearty and warming. Polenta is a key part
of the meal. Local salamis and hams made
another great starter. Then Stefano bought
a succession of different dishes for me to
try: wild mushroom ragout; stewed rustic
sausages and braised beef that melted into
itself. A plate of grilled onions was worth the
journey alone.
As in any good restaurant the wine is as
important as the food. Stefano introduced
me to a local white merlot. Virtually unheard
of outside the region, Bianco Rovere is >>
Facing page: the
Ticino region of
Switzerland is famous for
its range of salami and
ham products.
Above: Mrs Valtolini
presents a rack of
Zincarlin cheeses; the
80-metre high Foroglio
Waterfall in Ticino’s
Bavona Valley; flowers
adorn the Chapel Bridge
in Luzern.
Riding tip
I did my trip in June,
so I made sure I had
as much lightweight
gear as I could. But I
also packed warmer
gloves and a fleece,
as well as rain jacket
and trousers, as
weather at high
altitude could be
unpredictable
and pretty
chilly at
times.
41
Drive to the Alps
>> made by local wine maker Guido Brivio.
Creamy with a good mineral finish, it was an
excellent way to start the meal with the cured
meats. After that we followed on with a glass
of Guido Brivio’s red merlot.
I had brought the previously mentioned
Zincarlin with me to taste. Its spice and
unique flavour finished the meal off perfectly.
I lamented that I wasn’t going to be able to
bring the cheese home with me to share with
the family. Stefano disappeared with it and
returned it in a vacuum packed pouch. As long
as I kept it in the minibar fridge of my hotels
for the next few days it should make it, he told
me.
At breakfast, I showed my day’s route to the
hotel manager, Patrick. It turned out he does
a lot of riding and whilst he liked my planned
route, he suggested his favourite Alpine
passes. I headed off and was soon sweeping
along the edge of a spectacular lake, pleased
with the change of route.
As I approached the Gotthard Pass, I stopped
for coffee and a gasoza (a fizzy drink that is
popular in this Ticino part of Switzerland and
is truly refreshing). Patrick had recommended
the Susten Pass as his favourite, but it wasn’t
on my list. A personal recommendation is
always welcome, so with a few tweaks to the
Garmin, I headed up the Gotthard Pass with
Susten next on the list.
By the time I made it down the other side,
I was heading towards the trio of Furka,
Grimsel and Susten passes. Equally dramatic
scenery, very technical roads that really do
drop away down the sides of the mountain. A
clear head and concentration are vital. There
really is no room for errors, ever, at all.
The Furka Pass was incredibly technical and
those sheer high drops did at times spook me
a little. Also when you get over and down
to the bottom, the only choice you have is
to go straight up and over the Grimsel Pass
on the other side. Rest is so important here.
Whilst it might be only 15 to 20 minutes to go
up and a similar time to go down, the level
of concentration is such that it can tire you
very quickly, especially when the roads are so
unfamiliar. I always had plenty of water with
me to keep hydrated. This is so important for
staying focused. Of all the passes that I took
on, Susten was the most enjoyable that day. A
great surface, stunning scenery and, as I was
becoming more familiar with the techniques
42
Top: Church of Brienz, Lake Brienz. Above, from left: the clock tower in Luzern’s old town; a high section of Swiss road - this one with barriers; dinner at Nix’s.
needed, I found everything started to feel
more relaxed and fluid.
After Susten I realised I was famished. I went
into Meirigen, home of the Reichenbach Falls,
and found a lovely mountainside restaurant
where I sat on the terrace and had a large rosti,
topped with melted raclette cheese and good
ham. Rösti, the classic Swiss grated potato
cake with a little seasoning, is both filling and
comforting. It was just what was needed to see
me on my way to Lucerne.
After some motorway miles and a few
long tunnels I arrived at the Hotel WildenMann (wilden-mann.ch) in the heart of the
old town. Genteel and quiet, it didn’t seem
to be the type of hotel that would welcome a
pannier-carrying leather-clad biker. But, just as
Fact file
Henry Harris’s tour was organised by
Switzerland Tourism (myswitzerland.com or
call freephone 00800 100 200 30). Check the
website for a selection of tours. The Grand
Tour (myswitzerland.com/grandtour) is a
self-driving route for cars or motorcycles
that goes 1,000 miles through four language
regions, over five Alpine passes, to 11
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as
through two biospheres and along 22 lakes.
Henry Harris
is one of
the UK’s
finest chefs.
Until January
2015 he was
Chef Patron
of Racine in London’s
Knightsbridge. Prior to
that, he was Executive
Chef at Harvey Nicholls’
Fifth Floor restaurant.
A regular contributor
to national newspapers
on food matters, Henry
also finds time to indulge
his enthusiasm for
motorcycling.
Touring tip
Bearing in mind my
priority of arriving
alive, I did not fall foul
of the traffic police.
But I saw several
riders whose wallets
had been lightened as
a result of going too
fast. So be warned
and take
it easy.
www.motoringassist.com
everywhere else, the welcome was genuinely warm. I went
for a walk over the bridge into the other half of the town
and sat at a bar on the river’s edge.
Dinner was, on recommendation, at Nix’s
(nixinderlaterne.ch). The place is run by a young cook,
with local ingredients and a great team of waitresses. I
sat outside and enjoyed a terrine of freshwater fish and
girolle mushrooms that was very elegant in such casual
surroundings. Then a veal chop and sweetbreads, finished
with a delicate tomato sauce whose cooking was so well
judged and seasoned. A glass of red and some local
cheeses to finish. I couldn’t have asked for more.
As I sat there, planning my route for the next day, I
realised that this was what a motorcycling trip could be
and should be. So completely removed from the stereotype
of the simplest of hotels, chip-garnished meals and too
much beer. When you are having a long and exhausting
day, it is so nice to have good comforts.
So the next morning I left Lucerne and had decided that
a route down to Interlaken and across the western heart
of Switzerland could be interesting. I was due to stay in
Lausanne that night and I wanted to make sure I arrived
in good time to enjoy myself there for a late afternoon and
evening.
I headed across country towards Jaun, for no other
reason than one of the smaller roads looked like it had a lot
of corners. I headed up the Jaunpass with no idea of what
to expect. It proved to be my favourite of the trip. Shorter,
yes, not as technical, but riding up all those twists and
turns through the pastures full of summer grass and wild
flowers, it all just clicked.
I then made my way to Lausanne. It was a gloriously
sunny afternoon and my hotel, the Château d’Ouchy
(chateaudouchy.ch), sits on the edge of Lake Geneva. This
4 star 12th century building is far from ancient in style
and service. The ground floor is a large, cool and airy
space. The bedrooms are so very well appointed: a huge
comfortable bed, tall ceilings and French windows with
views over the lake, a long bath to soak in and a shower
big enough to invite a friend. My only regret at this point
was knowing I had an early departure the next day and
not enough time to explore Lausanne more.
I was heading to Nandanam, (nandanam.ch) an Indian
restaurant serving Keralan-influenced dishes cooked by an
old friend who once worked for me, Suku Karikkinkattil.
Close to the railway station, Nandanam appears to be a
casual bistro, and it is, but with some remarkable cooking.
Suku does not compromise his heritage and cooks with
real pride and passion. A braised lamb dish loaded with
ginger and aromatic spices was worth the journey alone.
Go there!
A return to the hotel and a last drink on the terrace and
then it was off to bed.
My first morning and breakfast at the Hotel Victoria
was with a stunning view down and across Lake Geneva.
My last breakfast at 7am at Château d’Ouchy was on the
edge of the lake. I had the dining room to myself as who
wants to get up at the weekend so early? Fresh pastries
and a cooked breakfast. I refuelled myself before checking
out and heading the 550 miles to Calais. It was another
glorious morning for the ride back home, but I would
happily have stayed longer at the Château.
When I arrived home and opened my panniers there
was the Zincarlin, a little flatter than it should be but once
released from the pouch and plated up alongside a glass of
red it was a real treat. GM
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deals on
car insurance
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33
Tried and tested
Tyre inflators
A soft or flat tyre can really spoil your
day. Digging out the old foot pump
is tiring, and if you are getting on a
bit like me, then it’s also likely to be
downright painful. Far better just to
plug the pump into your car’s 12-volt
socket and keep your eye on the gauge.
When you’re buying, check the
inflator has a long enough cable to
reach all four wheels. Make sure it can
inflate to the pressure required for your
vehicle (some campervans and van
tyres need a higher pressure).
The analogue gauges are just for
guidance and it’s recommended that
for an accurate pressure reading you
use a proper tyre gauge. Also, don’t
run these inflators for more than 10
minutes at a time.
Anyway, I flattened a tyre six times to
see how quickly and efficiently it could
be re-inflated by these different pieces
of kit.
Sealey MAC2300
Halfords 239082
Guide Price: £50.71
Buy at: Amazon (includes
postage)
Powered by: 12v socket
Time taken to inflate: 3’18”
Guide Price: £34.99
Buy at: Halfords
Powered by: 12v socket
Time taken to inflate: 3’23”
Sophisticated inflator
with an automatic
cut-off. Just set it to
the pressure you
want and when it
gets there it’ll stop
inflating; so no
over-inflation. Do
verify the reading
it gives with another
tyre gauge. Equipped with a
worklight and a LCD digital tyre
pressure gauge. Halfords claim a
three minute inflation for ordinary
car tyres.
A big, heavy-duty
inflator with a 4-metre
power cord and a
900mm air hose. The
maximum working
pressure is 200psi/14
bar (approx). There’s
an analogue gauge on
the top of the carrying
handle, no working light
and I must say the MAC2300
feels plasticky. But it’s quick.
STOKES’ VERDICT:
STOKES’ VERDICT:
Testing by
David Stokes
Clarke International CSS1
Guide Price: £35.98
Buy at: Your Local Machine Mart
Powered by: Rechargeable
Time taken to inflate: 5’05”
A very comprehensive inflator able to inflate
tyres to 18 bar/260psi. Equipped with an
adjustable torch and there’s a small LED
worklight on the inflator’s side. If you find
your mobile/iPad/iPod flat then you can charge
it from the USB socket found on the other side of
the worklight. A large analogue pressure gauge
is at the rear of the carrying handle.
THE Stokes
star buy
Draper 27633
Guide Price: £12.47
Buy at: Amazon (free postage)
Powered by: 12v socket
Time taken to inflate: 7’00”
A small, low cost multi-functional
compressor with pressure dial (guide
only). For the inflating of tyres,
dinghies and sports equipment.
Powered by socket. Supplied with 12v
plug on 2.7 metres long (approx.) lead,
three inflating adaptor nozzles. No
gizmos, lights,
torches or
USB sockets.
It’s a real
cheapie - so
small it will
even fit into
some glove
lockers.
STOKES’ VERDICT:
44
STOKES’ VERDICT:
Sealey MAC01
Guide Price: £33.93
Buy at: Amazon (free postage)
Powered by: 12v socket
Time taken to inflate: 6’ 30”
Halfords 239074
Guide Price: £54.99
Buy at: Halfords
Powered by: 12v socket and is
rechargeable + mains
Time taken to inflate 2’17”
A very neat inflator with a 3.3
-metre cord and a 600mm
air hose; has a worklight
so you can see in the
dark. It will pump up to
8 bar/120psi. Sports an
analogue pressure gauge,
an on/off button and a
switch for the light with
three settings: off, on and
flash that could just save your
life. The MAC01 is covered in a
rubberised coating giving good
grip.
A very sophisticated
inflator and the most
expensive in this
line-up. Halfords
claims a three
minute inflation
for the average car
tyre. Can inflate
to a maximum of 8
bar/120psi and, like Clarke’s
offering, can inflate cordlessly.
STOKES’ VERDICT:
STOKES’ VERDICT:
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GOODMOTORING
Spring 2015
ONTHEROAD
IT’S ALL CHANGE AT LAND ROVER...
...TOYOTA LAND CRUISER STRUTS ITS STUFF IN THE SNOW
There are big changes coming at Land Rover, and the new
Discovery Sport is just the start. Land Rover’s new seven-seater
replaces the Freelander and marks the beginning of a family of
models bearing the Discovery name. Find out what we think
of Land Rover’s latest model on page 52. Good Motoring has
also been driving important new cars from Ford, Vauxhall and
Volkswagen, too. The latest Mondeo and Passat both mark
worthwhile improvements over their predecessors, while as Sue
Baker discovers on page 54, the new Corsa is more than just an
ideal car for new drivers.
Three sunny soft tops p50
Vauxhall Corsa p54
DAVID MOTTON
Road Test Editor
David serves as a juror
for the prestigious UK
Car of the Year Awards.
Vauxhall Astra GTC p59
Read our car reviews online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
The go-anywhere
Toyota Land Cruiser p60
BMW i8 p65
Hydrogen cars p48
www.motoringassist.com
47
Future energy:
is hydrogen the answer?
David J R Williams takes a closer look at the fuel
that’s odourless, exceptionally clean and non-toxic...
yet is still effectively unavailable in the UK
Hydrogen has been used to power buses,
golf carts, ships, trains and canal boats - even
to launch shuttles into space. Now, amidst
mounting environmental concerns over the
pollution caused by fossil fuels, the chemical
element is being hailed as the answer to the
world’s energy-hungry motoring needs too.
Only recently however, after years of research
and vast investment by the motor industry, have
a few lucky motorists in the UK been getting
their hands on viable, (almost) affordable
hydrogen-powered vehicles.
After successfully testing a fleet of hydrogenpowered cars in London last year, Hyundai
recently delivered six ix35 Hydrogen Fuel Cell
vehicles to UK corporate customers. The stylish
48
ix35 is claimed to be able to cover around 350
miles on a single tankful of hydrogen - which is
converted to electricity via an on-board fuel cell.
Currently, the hydrogen-powered ix35 can
only be leased, but the Korean firm says that
as volumes of the vehicle increase, it will sell
it through ‘conventional channels’ at around
£28,000.
In a further development, Honda and Toyota
used the Los Angeles Auto Show to launch their
own hydrogen fuel cell cars in the closing weeks
of 2014.
First, in 2015, will be the Toyota ‘Mirai’ which means ‘Future’. A four-door saloon that
lives up to its name with a futuristic-looking
nose incorporating giant air vents, it went on
“
Only a few
motorists in
the UK have
been getting
their hands
on hydrogen
vehicles...
”
www.motoringassist.com
Fuel update
Your H briefing:
n Hydrogen is a
chemical element with
the symbol H and
atomic number 1.
n With just one
proton and one
electron, it is the most
common element,
making up 75% of the
mass of the entire
universe.
n While hydrogen fills
stars and gas planets,
here on Earth it is
rarely in a naturally
free state. Rather,
it’s bonded to other
elements. For example,
when combined with
oxygen, it forms water
- H2O.
n Hydrogen gas is
colourless, odourless,
tasteless and non-toxic.
n Hydrogen gas
was first produced
artificially in the 16th
century.
n When hydrogen
burns, it reacts with
the oxygen in the air to
create heat.This heat is
then used for energy.
n Hydrogen is an
excellent fuel for many
reasons It is carbonfree, extremely clean,
lighter than air, safe to
produce and safe to
store.
sale in Japan at the end of 2014 and will arrive
in the US and Europe (including the UK) later
this year.
Costing £63,000 (including 20 per cent VAT
and before any Government grants), the Mirai
will have a range of around 300 miles, accelerate
to 60mph in nine seconds and take five minutes
to refuel the 60-litre twin
hydrogen tanks.
Honda, which has been
teasing motorists and
journalists alike for years
with its sleek but largely
unavailable Clarity model
(leased in tiny numbers and
produced at considerable
cost to Honda) revealed
its strikingly-styled FCV,
which goes on sale in 2016.
Building on the Clarity, it has
a completely redesigned fuel
stack, produces more than
135bhp and is powered by
hydrogen stored in a single
tank that can be refilled in
around three minutes, giving
a claimed 435-mile range.
Both the Mirai and the FCV will feature ‘power
exporters’, allowing the vehicles to power
external electrical devices; or even an entire
house.
Other manufacturers investigating
hydrogen propulsion include Daimler AG, the
Volkswagen Group, Ford, BMW, Nissan and
General Motors, so expect developments from
these firms too.
The wider hydrogen movement gained
a boost in October when business minister
Matthew Hancock announced an £11 million
package of funding to prepare the UK for the
roll-out of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The money will help establish an initial
network of up to 15 hydrogen refuelling stations
by the end of 2015 and include £2 million of
funding for public sector hydrogen vehicles.
“We want to make the United Kingdom
one of the best places in the world to design,
manufacture and sell ultra-low emission
vehicles,” said Mr Hancock.
In a further boost to the public acceptance
of hydrogen, Patrick Cox, former European
Parliament President, chose the Michelin
Challenge Bibendum technology conference in
Chengdu, China, to reaffirm the EU’s plans to
boost supply infrastructure across Europe.
“We are looking at strengthening something
still in the pre-commercial phase,” Mr Cox
told Good Motoring. “There
are big gaps in the planned
supply network and they
need to be filled; our next
step at the EU is to turn the
patchwork into a genuine
integrated network.”
In London, British firm
ITM has £2.8 million plans
to open three hydrogen
refuelling stations in as-yet
un-named locations. It will
use ‘grid balancing’ stations
that harness off-peak surplus
electric power from the grid
to create hydrogen.
In a separate development
a solar-powered hydrogen
production and filling station
facility capable of producing 20 tonnes of
hydrogen a year has been opened at Honda’s
Swindon factory.
Hyundai told Good Motoring: “We expect the
refuelling infrastructure to grow significantly
over the next 24 months, following the
Government’s £11 million hydrogen investment
announcement. Looking at future take-up
over the next 10 years, Hyundai is committed
to series-producing 1000 ix35 Fuel Cells up to
2017 and starting mass production of hydrogen
vehicles thereafter. Our view is that the pace
of infrastructure investment across the UK will
dictate the future market for these vehicles.”
Further impetus is coming from Japan, which
plans to have 100 hydrogen stations running
within the next year and 1,000 by 2025. Andy
Eastlake, managing director of the Low Carbon
Vehicle Partnership, said: “The vehicles that are
coming in are stimulating public debate - and
the uptake of hydrogen stations.
“We only have six or so publicly accessible
refuelling stations in the UK now so there’s a
way to go, but hydrogen in the UK is making
great strides. It’s a very well co-ordinated
project with a proper long-term plan as to how
it will be rolled out.”
Creating and distributing sufficient hydrogen
is one of the greatest challenges. “We must be
careful to match the provision of hydrogen
vehicles with provision of the fuel,” says
Eastlake. “Much of it is produced by industry
at the moment, although we have firms like
ITM producing it locally. What is important
now is sustained strategic support from the
Government, so that we keep up with the
Japanese, Germans and Americans in this
exciting area.” GM
49
Pics: Harry Turner, R Sowersby
Reader test
Go soft in the sunshine
Bring on the summer, with all the pleasure of soft-top motoring that
goes with it. Reader Geoff Turner put three models to the test
Summer is coming fast, and if it’s anything
like the one we had in 2014, then buying a
roadster or a convertible appeals to many of
us. A roadster is typically a small, two-seater
sports car without a fixed roof (as opposed to
a convertible, which is a four-seater without
a fixed roof). They’re built with the joy of
driving in mind and this could well be your
starting requirement. With this in mind, we
took three of the best and gave them to Geoff
and Louise Turner from Berkshire, a couple
currently in the market for such a car.
Geoff, 50, an entrepreneur and Louise, 45,
a specialist teacher, explained: “Now our
children are grown up and off to university,
we have less of a need for the family car
50
and really wanted something for us - a car
for enjoying the summers and having some
top-down fun. I’m likely to keep the roof off
year round – basically whenever I’m not at
risk of hypothermia. We’re looking first and
foremost for a car we both love to drive.”
As for the kind of car they are looking for,
Louise says, “For us, it’s not so much about
the cost, the brand or the image of the car, but
we’d like something we’re both comfortable
in and one that has room for weekend
luggage.”
We chose three cars that offer a great option
in each price bracket: the Mazda MX-5, the
entry-level Porsche Boxster and the top-ofthe-range Jaguar F-Type V8 S.
“
We’ve had
convertibles
in the past
and always
loved them...
”
www.motoringassist.com
Reader test
Geoff’s verdict
Mazda MX-5
Roadster Coupé 2.0i
Sport Tech Nav
Price as tested: £23,815
Performance: 0-60 in 7.9
seconds
Economy: 36.2mpg
combined
Insurance: Group 26E
Tax: Band I £225
Porsche Boxster
Price as tested: £54,880
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7
seconds
Economy: 35.8mpg
combined
Insurance: Group 40
Tax: Band J £265
Jaguar F-Type V8S
Price as tested: £85,795
Performance: 0-60 in 4.2
seconds
Economy: 25.5mpg
combined
Insurance: Group 50
Tax: Band M £1,090
Summary
What did one week
with each car reveal to
Geoff and Louise? “This
experience has been
incredibly enjoyable,” they
told us. They discounted
the Mazda due to its size
but were stuck between
the Jaguar and the Porsche.
“We later tried the V6
F-Type at a dealership and
loved it,” Geoff said. “But for
us it has to be the Porsche it’s just amazing – beautiful
to look at, immensely fun
to drive at any speed and
in any situation, and much
more practical than we ever
expected.”
Will they be buying one?
“Yes!” they said together.
“We’ve already taken
the Boxster S out for a
test drive and had the
opportunity to drive a GTS.
In the end, the entry level
makes the most financial
sense. It’s fantastic value for
money and we can’t wait
to enjoy the summer in our
new one.”
confessed Porsche fans, and we’ve been
lucky enough to have owned three 911s
over the years. But we have never really
considered a Boxster.”
We provided the base model with
Porsche’s 2.7-litre, six cylinder, 265hp engine
fitted with an optional seven-speed PDK
gearbox (at £1,922). Options can add up
quickly on a Porsche and the test model had
an eye watering £16,600 of additional items.
“Out of the three cars, this was the most
engaging and entertaining to drive at any
Mazda MX-5
speed – even pottering around country
The MX-5 celebrated its 25th anniversary in roads we felt like we were in a race car,” said
2014 and is the world’s best-selling twoGeoff.
seater sports car. Its good value and good
Louise wanted to make sure it worked
looks make it a strong proposition for Geoff for both of them.”Having storage areas in
and Louise.
the nose and tail made the Porsche much
“Having a small sports car with the roof
more practical that I expected. We tried our
down during a week like this was fantastic,” luggage and managed to get everything in,
Louise told us. We gave them the 2.0-litre
and the cabin itself felt really spacious.”
160ps Roadster Coupé, with hardtop roof
Back to the driving experience. “The
that comes down in just 12 seconds. It
options added up on this test model but we
stores between the cabin and the boot so
would definitely choose the PDK gearbox
still allows access to 150 litres. Louise said,
and the sports exhaust – they totally
“There just wasn’t enough space in the cabin transform the car,” concluded Geoff.
or the boot for us to consider this.”
It’s the smallest of the three cars but is still
big enough for a six-footer like Geoff to get
behind the wheel. “I was surprised I could
fit into the Mazda, although it was a bit of a
squeeze.
“I loved the way it reminded me of an
old Spitfire to drive. It sounded good, too,
but as much as I wanted to, and as much as
I enjoyed driving it, I just couldn’t connect
with the car.”
“I do know many people with MX-5s and
everyone raves about them. I can see why,
but it’s just not for me. I really enjoyed it but Jaguar F-Type V8S
“We were really excited about the F-Type;
it just wasn’t ‘grown up’ or practical enough
for us, although the fuel and running costs
we assumed that this would be the one
definitely did appeal.”
for us,” said Geoff. “The F-Type has an
unmistakable presence and you can’t help
but look at it and smile. It’s the kind of
car you look back at when you walk away
from it, and you can see the old E-Type in
the design. But what I was most looking
forward to was that exhaust note.
“The sounds that come out of this car are
amazing and I love it. But as great as it was
on straight roads, it was less exciting and
definitely more scary on country roads.
Much to our surprise, it was less engaging
that the Porsche. I’m really torn between
this and the Porsche because I love so much
about this car and also the idea of owning
Porsche Boxster
something less common.”
The Porsche Boxster is now in its third
Louise was less enthusiastic. “It felt heavy,
generation (the 981), which was launched in and I found this hard to get used to. Inside
2012. The name Boxster is a combination of
felt snug but everything was beautifully
‘Roadster’ and ‘Boxer’, with Boxer referring finished. The boot seemed small, given the
to the vehicle’s engine. “We’re both selfoverall size of the car,” she said. GM
Overall score: 4 out of 5
51
road test
What is it?
How safe is it?
Who should buy it?
The Discovery Sport replaces the
Freelander, and is the first of a new
family of Land Rovers bearing the
Discovery name. It’s a rival for the
Audi Q5 and BMW X3.
Very. The Discovery Sport has
been awarded a five-star rating
by Euro NCAP and comes with
a comprehensive list of high-tech
safety aids as standard.
Anyone looking for a mid-sized
4x4, especially if they need seven
seats. However, it’s pricier than
the old Freelander so you’ll need
deep pockets.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Driving and performance
Our test drive took place in Iceland, driving
across snow and ice and through strong
winds and blizzards. The Discovery Sport
coped very well with such extreme weather,
although the studded ice tyres fitted to the test
cars have to take some of the credit.
In truth, the conditions were far removed
from typical UK driving but it’s clear that the
Discovery Sport drives differently to the old
Freelander. It’s more agile with less lean when
cornering, but this hasn’t been achieved at the
price of an uncomfortable ride. The Discovery
Sport’s suspension may not be as forgiving
as the Freelander’s around town, but it feels
smooth and well controlled at higher speeds.
Every Discovery Sport comes with Land
Rover’s Terrain Response system. This alters
the car’s throttle, steering, stability control
and differential settings to cope best with
whatever ground is being tackled. With a
wading depth of 600mm and short front and
rear overhangs, the Discovery Sport should
take you further into the wilds than just about
any rival.
Whether off-road or on tarmac, the
Discovery Sport’s engine packs plenty of
punch. The 2.2-litre SD4 is familiar from the
Freelander and the Range Rover Evoque,
and delivers 187bhp and 310lb ft of torque.
That’s enough muscle for the nine-speed
automatic model to accelerate from 0-60mph
in 8.4 seconds (the six-speed manual takes 1.4
seconds longer).
Rev the engine hard and it can sound a little
strained, but with such a strong mid-range
there’s really little need. At cruising speeds the
engine is subdued and quiet, and there’s little
wind noise, either.
For now the 2.2-litre diesel is the only engine
available, but a front-wheel-drive eD4 model
with a new engine will arrive later in 2015.
Although not officially confirmed, expect 4x4
versions with this new, more efficient engine
to be added to the range, too.
“
”
At cruising
speeds the
engine is
subdued...
Safety
Equipment
Costs
The Discovery Sport has earned a
five-star rating from Euro NCAP,
with strong scores for adult and
child protection, high-tech safety
systems and pedestrian protection.
One of the more unusual features is
the pedestrian airbag which deploys
from the base of the windscreen
when sensors detect a collision
with someone on foot. There is also
Autonomous Emergency Braking and
Trailer Stability Assist.
There are four trim levels; SE, SE Tech,
HSE and HSE Luxury. Even the entrylevel SE has part-leather upholstery,
climate control, heated front seats, an
eight-inch colour touchscreen, cruise
control and a ten-speaker stereo with
Bluetooth audio streaming. At the top
of the range, HSE Luxury comes with
a heated steering wheel, heated and
cooled leather seats, ten-way electric
adjustment with memory for the
driver’s seat and Park Assist.
There has been quite a price hike
compared with the old Freelander,
which started from £27,765. The entrylevel Discovery Sport costs £32,395,
although that should drop to below
£30,000 when the two-wheel-drive
model arrives later in 2015. Economy
and emissions will improve with
the new engine. For now, official
combined economy of 46mpg for
manual cars and 44.9mpg for autos is
easily bettered by a number of rivals.
52
www.motoringassist.com
Space and practicality
Thanks to space-efficient multi-link rear
suspension, Land Rover has found room for
seven seats in a car that’s shorter than most
five-seat rivals.
Land Rover describes the Discovery Sport
as a ‘5+2’, an admission that space in the third
row is rather tight. However, the middle row
slides forward on runners by as much as 16cm,
so if passengers in these seats are happy to
compromise then adults can be reasonably
comfortable in the third row for short trips.
Most owners will keep seats six and seven for
occasional use, in which case the centre bench
can be pushed all the way back. Land Rover
says there’s 8.6cm more knee room than in the
old Freelander.
Boot space has also improved. With the third
row folded away the capacity varies between
479 and 689 litres, depending on the position
of the middle seats. Up front, the driver and
front seat passenger have plenty of room and a
commanding view out.
Test: David Motton
Verdict and figures
Price: £42,995
Performance: 0-60mph in 8.4
seconds
Economy: 44.9mpg combined
Insurance: Group 31
Tax: Band H (£290 first year)
(Figures for the 2.2 SD4 HSE
Luxury Auto)
WE SAY: The Discovery Sport is stylish and impressively practical to boot.
www.motoringassist.com
53
Fiat 500X
Test: Sue Baker
Driving and performance
The 500X is well-mannered and friendly to drive, with tidy
handling and decent performance. It may not be the slickest
or sportiest car of its type, but it is civilised with good safety
credentials and makes practical family transport. Road holding
is good, it feels quite grippy on the bends, and there is really
not much body roll.
It feels quite reassuringly stiff and leans a little less on
the corners than some of its lofty rivals. The handling
characteristics are neutral and it is reasonable fun to drive on
a twisty country road. The choice of engines includes a 1.4
petrol and either 1.6 or 2.0-litre diesels. All do a very adequate
job of hauling a car that weighs under one and a half tonnes.
Safety
Costs
The 500X has yet to be crash
tested by Euro NCAP, but is
expected to achieve five stars,
as already awarded to the Fiat
500 and 500L. Six airbags and
several electronic safety aids
are standard, such as stability
control, Dynamic Steering
Torque, traction control, hill
start assist and a collision antiroll system. Options include
adaptive cruise control, blind
spot assistance and emergency
braking assistance.
Fuel consumption across the
range varies from 47.1 to
68.9mpg on the combined
cycle, and CO2 output is from
109 to 147g/km.
Space
You expect a cabin like that
of the dinky Fiat 500, plus a
bit extra. But it feels much
roomier than that, with no
shortage of space inside.
Equipment
Even the Pop version has remote central locking, all round
electric windows, a height adjustable driver’s seat, air
conditioning, and cruise control. Pop Star trim includes
automatic climate control, cornering front fog lamps, rear
parking sensors, and a five-inch screen infotainment centre with
Bluetooth connectivity. The range-topping 500X Cross Plus has
four-wheel-drive and internal niceties such as ambient lighting.
Overall verdict
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
WE SAY: at £19,095 (as tested), it’s morphed
bigger, looks good and drives nicely.
WE SAY: at £14,095, this best-yet Corsa is a
chummy drive and economical.
Vauxhall Corsa
Driving and performance
The Corsa has always been friendly to drive with good
manoeuvrability, which is why it has long been a popular driving
school car for learners, and well-liked as a first car for the newly
qualified. This latest Corsa has been re-engineered for crisper
responses and to make it more engaging behind the wheel, aimed
at closing the gap on its arch-rival, the Ford Fiesta. As a result, the
baby Vauxhall’s driving calibre has been upgraded and the Corsa
has a noticeably crisper, more pert feel from the driving seat. The
car is quite rewarding to drive on a twisty B-road, where it is
grippy on the corners. There is a bit of body roll on tight bends,
but not too much. This is not one of those small cars that lurches
about uncomfortably, it has a taut chassis and feels secure.
Safety
Costs
It is a bit disappointing that
the new generation Corsa
can only manage a four-star
NCAP rating, with a 79 per
cent score for adult occupant
protection and 77 per cent
for child protection. For
comparison, a rival Ford
Fiesta is a five-star car. The
Corsa does come equipped
with airbags, front seatbelt
pre-tensioners and two Isofix
tethers as standard kit.
If you want to keep costs as
low as possible, the optimum
version of the Corsa is the
three-door with a 1.3 CDTi
diesel engine.
Space
Its overall length is modest
but it is very adequately
equipped with leg space and
headroom in the cabin.
Equipment
Every Corsa comes equipped with a multi-function steering
wheel, cruise control, stability control, electric door mirrors,
CD player, USB connection and LED daytime running lights. All
but the lowest spec cars have air conditioning. Features such as
lane departure warning and front collision alerts are options.
Overall verdict
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
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road test
What is it?
How safe is it?
Who should buy it?
The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is the
petrol-electric hybrid version of the
Audi A3 five-door. It promises hothatch performance but with excellent
economy and very low emissions.
There should be no worries over safety.
The e-tron has been tested by Euro
NCAP and achieved five stars, and
there’s a long list of safety equipment
fitted as standard.
The e-tron makes most sense for
company car drivers who will pay
very little in Benefit-In-Kind taxation,
thanks to the Audi’s exceptionally low
carbon dioxide emissions.
Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
Driving and performance
Some hybrids and electric cars make a big show
of being different. Not the A3 e-tron. Whereas a
BMW i3 has necks swivelling wherever it goes,
the e-tron looks just like any other A3, which
could be an advantage if you’d rather not be
stared at every time you stop at the lights.
From the driving seat, though, you’re left in no
doubt that the e-tron is a very different machine.
It’s powered by a 150PS 1.4 TSI petrol engine
and a 75kw electric motor. The power units
operate in one of four different modes.
In EV mode the e-tron relies on electric power
alone, travelling in hushed quiet and capable
of speeds up to 80mph. The claimed range is 31
miles on electricity (580 miles overall). Hybrid
hold mode preserves the battery’s charge for
later use, the idea being you can switch to
pure-electric running when you reach a town
or city, minimising pollution in built-up areas.
Charge mode uses the petrol engine to top up
the charge. Hybrid auto mode uses a mixture of
petrol and electric power, engaging the electric
“
... the power
units operate
in one of four
different
modes...
”
motor whenever possible.
When both power sources are put to work the
A3 e-tron really shifts, reaching 62mph in just
7.6 seconds according to Audi’s figures. Even
when relying on electric power alone the A3
easily keeps up with the ebb and flow of traffic.
The electric motor is quiet, as you’d expect, and
the 1.4-litre engine is refined, too. Wind noise
is also minimal, although there’s a surprising
volume of road noise on coarsely surfaced roads.
It’s especially noticeable when running in EV
mode as the car is otherwise so quiet.
The extra weight (more than 200kg) of the
e-tron version is mostly well disguised. Only
when pushed really hard does the e-tron feel a
little less light on its feet than a standard A3. The
ride is on the firm side, especially at low speeds,
but it’s certainly not harsh.
Safety
Equipment
Costs
The A3 e-tron has a long list of safety
kit included in the asking price, such
as secondary collision brake assist
which automatically applies the brakes
to prevent or reduce the severity of
any further impacts. Safety experts at
Euro NCAP have put the e-tron to the
test and have awarded the car a fivestar rating, just like the standard A3.
However, it’s a shame over-shoulder
visibility isn’t better.
You get a decent level of equipment,
although so you should when spending
so much money on a relatively
small car. LED headlights, satellite
navigation, Audi connect internetbased services, Bluetooth connectivity,
a DAB digital radio, dual-zone climate
control, an eight-speaker stereo,
voice control for telephone and radio
functions and 17-inch alloy wheels are
all included in the price.
For a private buyer, the price tag is stiff.
However, for a company car driver
it costs next to nothing in tax thanks
to emissions of just 37g/km, putting
the e-tron in the 5 per cent bracket for
Benefit-In-Kind taxation. Officially, the
car achieves 176.6mpg on the combined
cycle, but you’ll need to charge the
car often to get near that. A full charge
takes around four hours from a
domestic power source.
56
www.motoringassist.com
Space and practicality
Verdict and figures
Price: £29,950*
Performance: 0-62mph in 7.6
seconds
Economy: 176.6mpg combined
Insurance: Group 29E
Tax: Band A(£0)
*After £5,000 government grant
Review: David Motton
Hybrid cars based on existing models tend
to be less practical than the conventionally
powered original – the battery and motor have
to be squeezed in somewhere, and boot space
often suffers as a result. The e-tron’s boot has a
280-litre capacity, which is 100 litres less than a
regular Sportback’s. The weekly shop shouldn’t
be a problem but a family holiday might.
If more luggage space is needed, folding the rear
seats gives 1,120 litres for your bags.
Passenger space hasn’t been compromised,
though. The A3 Sportback closely matches the
Volkswagen Golf for head and legroom, which is
no surprise given the cars are built on the same
underpinnings. Those travelling in the front
have plenty of room to stretch out, but rearseat space is acceptable rather than generous. If
practicality is a priority there’s no shortage of
larger, roomier cars you could spend £30k on,
including another petrol-electric hybrid – the
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
WE SAY: The e-tron makes sense for company car drivers, less so for private buyers.
www.motoringassist.com
57
Driving and performance
There are a few surprises with the GT-R; the first being just
how huge it is. It looks like it could swallow a VW Golf whole,
and it weighs a lot, too - at 1,740kg. This leads to surprise
number two, and the fact that at this size and weight, it can
make 0 to 62mph in 2.8 seconds, and from there race all
the way to 196mph. Putting that in perspective, it’s quicker
than a Ferrari 458 or a McLaren MP4-12C. Experiencing it
on a test track is breathtaking. But this 550PS 3.8-litre twinturbocharged V6 beast can be a sedate and capable (albeit
unlikely) daily driver. Although it doesn’t feel or drive as
elegantly as a Porsche 911, still it performs admirably. Surprise
number three was the amount of attention it received.
Safety
Costs
There’s no Euro NCAP rating
but the car has a decent
amount of safety equipment.
Traction control, electronic
stability and tyre pressure
monitoring come as standard.
Also there’s Nissan’s advanced
airbag system with dualstage front airbags, seatbelt
pretensioners and an energy
absorbing steering column.
The massive four-wheel disc
brakes will stop you from
60mph in about 2.5 seconds.
The GT-R is well priced,
especially considering the
standard kit, so for under
£80,000 you get pretty much
everything you need.
Space
Practicality isn’t a word you
associate with supercars
but the GT-R scores
extremely well again, when
put in context with its rivals.
Equipment
As with many Japanese cars, the GT-R comes packed with
equipment, the most interesting being a centre display
(designed by Polyphony Digital, the same people responsible
for the massively popular Gran Turismo video game). Here you
can view and customise just about everything on the car, from
cornering acceleration, braking and steering information to
g-force and stopwatch data.
Overall verdict
WE SAY: available from £19,055, the Astra is
a ‘warm hatch’ that’s great to drive.
Vauxhall Astra GTC
Driving and performance
A car that means business and delivers satisfying performance
- certainly beyond our requirements. Quite simply, it’s great
looking and good to drive. If you’re in the market for a more
blistering turn of speed (and many are), then a VW Scirocco or a
Ford Focus ST will deliver something more appropriate.
We drove the 1.6-litre (200PS) direct injection turbo-charged
Astra on a variety of roads. Handling was supple and tight; road
holding was excellent through several sets of Welsh bends.
Stability Control was on hand as a safety aid, but at no point did
we ever come close to the limits of the car’s capability. The firm
ride seemed just right.
Safety
Costs
No issues here. The GTC
scored the maximum five
stars in recent Euro NCAP
testing (the adult occupant
score was 91%). There’s the
usual line-up of airbags (front,
curtain and side impact)
to help cushion the blow if
you’re involved in a collision.
Stability control is standard
on all models.
Vauxhall claims a combined
economy of 42.2mph. Even
with my light right foot, the
computer showed I couldn’t
even manage 30. Ouch.
Test: Andy Turner
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
WE SAY: the Nissan GT-R costs from £78,020
and offers a visceral driving experience.
Space
The three-door Astra is fine
in the front and spacious
in the back. Headroom is
surprisingly good.
Equipment
On the inside, the criticism is that there’s too much equipment.
Lots of dials and buttons, many of them too small for our
liking. Choose Sport trim and you get air-conditioning as
standard, along with digital (DAB) radio and alloy wheels.
The more expensive SRi specification includes automatic
windscreen wipers and lights, as well as xenon headlamps.
Overall verdict
Read our reviews online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
59
Test: James Luckhurst, pic: Abby Luckhurst
Nissan GT-R
road test
What is it?
How safe is it?
Who should buy it?
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a tough,
capable and capacious go-anywhere
seven-seater that feels at home on the
high-hedged lanes of the countryside
but more than holds its own on longer
motorway journeys, too.
The version we tested boasts an extra
rear view mirror for keeping an eye
on back seat passengers. There’s also
a blind spot warning, Lane Change
Assist, 4-wheel Active Height Control
and a dashboard reversing camera.
Anyone who won’t baulk at the
inevitably high cost of buying, running
and refuelling something this big. Also,
if you’re looking specifically for offroad capability, then this deserves to be
a strong contender.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Driving and performance
Once upon a time, the Land Cruiser was a
capable but basic go-anywhere vehicle. Today’s
version retains all the capability (with a number
of features added to enhance its performance
and safety in this regard), but takes account of
the fact that we want to climb mountains and
ford streams in greater comfort. Or probably
closer to the truth is the fact that some buyers
believe in big, and they’re more likely to be in
transit from affluent neighbourhood to school,
gym or retail park than across the Sahara, the
sub-Arctic or - in our case - rural mid Wales.
Something as big as the Toyota Land Cruiser
definitely benefits from a nice light foot to
make the fuel go further. Its four-cylinder,
three-litre diesel engine is controlled by a
five-speed automatic gearbox. Power delivery
is smooth and consistent; acceleration is
adequate, but not especially responsive; we
have driven sprightlier rivals.
The high-up position makes for confidence
on rural roads, where visibility can so often be
compromised by hedges, trees and foliage.
Although we didn’t formally venture off
road during the period of test, we had plenty
of opportunity to assess the Land Cruiser’s
capability on ice and snow. Grip was excellent,
assisted no doubt by the on-board wizardry
which includes Multi Terrain Monitors. The
low ratio gearbox (with a central differential
lock) came into its own on the higher mountain
roads that would have been inaccessible to
anything less capable. Further evidence of its
sure-footedness came from some of the steeper
stretches we covered. The Land Cruiser found
its way slowly but capably, not once putting a
foot out of place.
If bigger is better for you, then give it a try.
But, unless you’re going to spend most of your
time in its favoured off-road terrain, you are
likely to find the wallowy nature of the ride
and the imprecise steering a bit too much,
especially when compared to British and
German SUV rivals.
“
... further
evidence
of its surefootedness
came from
some of
the steeper
stretches...
”
Safety
Equipment
Costs
Low predicted sales volumes mean
there’s no Euro NCAP crash test rating
for the Land Cruiser. However, there’s
simple science behind the notion that
‘the big guy wins’ - and something
as big as this is going to offer a lot of
protection to occupants in the event of
a collision. This is backed up by seven
airbags, stability control and active front
head restraints. Our model included a
Safety Pack (£1360), with adaptive cruise
control and pre-crash safety system.
The entry-level Land Cruiser LC3
offers Bluetooth connectivity as well
as alloy wheels and climate control.
Adding further gadgets and toys soon
pushes the price up. Our range-topping
LC5 included satnav, discreet lighting
to door sills, leather seats, driver’s
knee airbag, DVD player and reversing
camera, as well as parking sensors and
rain sensing windscreen wipers. Loads
of kit - but if you’re paying £50k-plus,
it’s no more than you would expect.
Go for the basic LC3 three-door model
and you’ll pay £32,765, which we think
is reasonable-ish. The five-door version
costs £37,015, and could well be the best
choice if you’re interested in strength
and off-road capability. If luxury is
more the determining factor, then the
LC4 comes in at £47,465 and the LC5
is £52,915. At this level, the LC5 makes
more sense because it offers some extra
off-road safety features that are not
included in the less expensive models.
60
www.motoringassist.com
Space and practicality
It’s a big vehicle so there’s loads of space - it
stands to reason. Driver, front seat passenger
and occupants of the second row will have
nothing to moan about. The two electrically
powered folding seats that make up the
third row also just about pass muster for
average-sized adults; taller folks would feel
uncomfortable quickly.
Do without the use of the last two seats
and you have a capacious boot of 1,151 litres.
Visualise that by thinking of all the week’s
shopping for a family, or four big suitcases, or
several sacks of animal feed... without strain.
However, the high position of the boot floor
may cause some strain through the need to be
lifting higher than you might be used to.
The tailgate is massive. It certainly looks
impressive when you haul it open, but don’t get
in its way when a strong gust of wind manages
to close it (we did and it hurt). Also, don’t
assume access to the back will be easy if you’re
parking in tight spots (we did and it’s not).
Verdict and figures
Test: James Luckhurst; Pics: Abby Luckhurst
Price: £55,410 (as tested)
Performance: 0-60mph in 11.0
seconds
Economy: 34.9mpg combined
Insurance: Group 34E
Tax: Band K (£285 first year)
(Figures for the Land Cruiser
Invincible Auto)
WE SAY: a luxury, practical beast... great off-road but wallowy on the highway.
www.motoringassist.com
61
road test
What is it?
How safe is it?
Who should buy it?
Over the last 41 years the Volkswagen
Passat has proved ever-popular with
business drivers. The latest eighthgeneration model is all-new and offers
better styling, improved technology
and an increase in efficiency.
The Volkswagen Passat boasts a whole
host of class-leading innovations
including Emergency Assist, which
detects a medical emergency if the
driver becomes ill, and as a result the
car brakes and alerts following drivers.
Business drivers and fleet managers
up and down the land will be eagerly
waiting to get their hands on the new
VW Passat. And there is even a model
specifically developed with businesses
in mind.
Volkswagen Passat
Driving and performance
The eighth-generation Passat has evolved and
improved in every department. The car will
initially be available as a saloon or estate with a
choice of diesel engines (these currently account
for 99 per cent of sales) ranging from a 120PS
1.6-litre, through two 2.0-litre units with 150PS
and 190PS respectively, to a range-topping
2.0-litre bi-turbo with 240PS, a DSG gearbox and
4MOTION all-wheel-drive.
However, later this year a plug-in hybrid
model will join the range, along with a 1.6-litre
diesel BlueMotion model and an Alltrack
version of the estate. The Passat now has a
longer wheelbase, lower centre of gravity and
improved weight distribution – all factors
that are transferred to the car’s handling and
driving dynamics in a very positive way. Also,
the 85kg weight loss results in a more agile
and responsive performance with plenty of
composure when tackling tight bends.
As the majority of Passat sales will be to fleet
buyers and VW believes the most popular
“
... the Passat
now has
a longer
wheelbase
and lower
centre of
gravity...
”
model will be the estate in SE Business trim
powered by the 150PS 2.0 TDI with a six-speed
manual gearbox, this is the model we focused on
for our test drive.
Acceleration was smooth and responsive with
a constant supply of power on tap, making
sharp bursts of pace easily achievable. The
Passat is livelier than previous models and has
a more vibrant feel to it. In the past critics have
claimed it doesn’t live up to the dynamism of
its German counterparts, but this could be the
turning point. All-round visibility is excellent
and the cabin remains quiet even when the
engine is pushed hard. Even the creases in
bumpy roads are ironed out by the efficient
damper and suspension system which ensures a
cushioned ride.
A test in the saloon model powered by the 1.6
120PS engine and the estate with a 2.0 190PS
powertrain also impressed in their own ways
with the entry-level saloon offering an ideal
option for anyone with less cash to outlay.
Safety
Equipment
Costs
All models are fully loaded with safety
specifications. As well as the Emergency
Assist which senses a medical
emergency in the driver, the Passat also
features City Emergency Braking that
now detects pedestrians as well as other
vehicles along with a number of more
instantly recognisable systems. The
optional Trailer Assist system makes
light work of manoeuvring a trailer
into a parking bay. The Passat has been
awarded five Euro NCAP stars.
All five trim levels are richly equipped
and feature a 6.5-inch central
touchscreen which includes DAB
radio and Bluetooth. From SE Business
upwards satellite navigation is also
fitted as standard. Another worthwhile
system is the Driver Profile Selection
which alters the car’s behaviour. There
are five settings with ‘sport’ tightening
up the vehicle’s dynamics and ‘eco’
helping to achieve a more frugal result
fuel efficiency-wise.
There is a Passat to suit all tastes and
budgets, with prices starting from
£22,215 and rising to £37,035. As with
most vehicles these are just the starting
prices and as soon as you introduce
additional packs and improved trim,
the pennies quickly add up. But the
fleet market will be impressed with
the average 14 per cent improvement
in fuel efficiency and the reduction in
carbon emissions will see benefits in
company car tax bands, too.
62
www.motoringassist.com
Space and practicality
Verdict and figures
Price: £26,665 (plus £3,310 extras)
Performance: 0-62mph in 8.9
seconds
Economy: 68.9mpg combined
Insurance: Group 19
Tax: Band B (£0 first year)
Figures for the Passat 2.0 TDI 150PS
Estate SE Business (manual)
Review: Maxine Ashford
The new Passat looks sharper but still maintains
its sleek, athletic poise and despite a reduction
in length of just 2mm, passenger and luggage
space has been increased considerably. The
saloon boot now has a capacity of 586 litres (an
increase of 21 litres) and the estate is up by a
whopping 47 litres to 650 litres or 1,780 litres
with rear seats folded flat.
On estate models the rear seats can be lowered
in an instant via a lever in the boot, and on
saloon models useful storage hooks pull down
in the boot to help keep shopping bags in an
upright position.
All occupants are treated to plenty of leg,
head and elbow room with ample space for two
passengers in the back – three at a squeeze.
Design-wise the Passat’s interior is clear and
precise in its layout with the slim dashboard
accentuated by the innovative air vent that
stretches the entire width of the interior, only
interrupted by instruments and the analogue
clock in the centre of the dash.
WE SAY: the Passat should please existing clients while drumming up new trade.
www.motoringassist.com
63
Ford Mondeo
Since the first generation launched in 1993, every Mondeo has
been able to put a smile on its driver’s face. The new car is no
exception.You’re always aware of the Mondeo’s considerable
size (it’s some 90mm longer than the old model) and the
steering feels light and offers less feedback than the old car’s,
but the Mondeo corners with little lean and bags of grip. What
really impresses is that the new Mondeo retains most of the
model’s verve while being considerably more comfortable and
refined. Ride comfort is excellent: there’s firm control of body
movements at high speeds. We’d advise against choosing the
optional 19-inch alloys, though, as some of the supple feel on
smaller wheels is lost.
Safety
Costs
There’s a whole host of
safety kit available. One of
the most innovative features
is inflatable rear seat belts (a
£175 option), which expand
in an accident to spread the
forces applied to a passenger’s
body over a greater area,
reducing internal injuries. Euro
NCAP has put the Mondeo
to the test; it scored the
maximum five stars. However,
thick rear pillars hamper your
vision when reversing.
If the official figures can
be believed, the Mondeo
achieves some pretty
spectacular fuel economy.
Prices start from £20,795.
Space
Up front there’s lots of room.
However, while the dash is
solidly finished it can’t match
the upmarket look and feel of
the new Passat’s (see p62).
Equipment
Even entry-level Studio cars come with an 8-inch touchscreen,
Sync 2 (which allows voice control of some functions), 16-inch
alloys, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and a digital
radio. Additions on Zetec models include a heated front
windscreen and electric front and rear windows, front fog
lamps and powered folding mirrors. Titanium spec cars have
17-inch alloy wheels and satnav.
Overall verdict
Test: David Motton
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
WE SAY: the new Mondeo is more grown up
and refined, but still enjoyable to drive.
WE SAY: the £47,500 Touareg is a good 4x4,
but it’s up against some tough rivals.
Volkswagen Touareg
Driving and performance
With 262PS (or 258bhp in old money), the Touareg’s beefier
engine improves upon the old car’s 245PS. That’s not enough for
a night-and-day difference in acceleration, but it is a worthwhile
extra slug of muscle. Even from low revs the engine is strong
enough to have this two-tonne 4x4 really shifting, and if you tow
a caravan, horsebox or trailer, the V6 is easily up to the job.
Despite being so tall and weighing so much, the Touareg rides
and handles well. The optional air suspension allows the driver
to choose between Sport, Comfort and Normal modes, although
arguably the suspension’s self-levelling function and manual
height adjustment of the rear of the car are more useful.
Safety
Costs
Euro NCAP hasn’t tested
the Touareg in its current
form, but most recent VWs
have scored five stars. Every
Touareg comes packed with
safety kit, including curtain
airbags for both rows and
Automatic Post-Collision
Braking System. A Driver
Alert system, which monitors
drivers and warns if they are
becoming tired, is also fitted
to every Touareg.
Prices start from £43,000.
We would question whether
resale values will match
those of rivals with more
prestigious badges.
Space
Acres of room, but we miss
the seven-seat option, which
is usual on a 4x4 of this size
and price.
Equipment
Most buyers are expected to plump for the top-spec R-Line,
which comes with 20-inch alloys, lowered sports suspension,
LED running lights and a panoramic sunroof. Just 2% are likely
to choose the Escape model. The entry-level SE model has
19-inch alloys, satellite navigation with an 8-inch touchscreen, a
digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and leather upholstery.
Overall verdict
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
Test: Maxine Ashford
Driving and performance
Jeep Renegade
For a car 4.2 metres long – the same as a Renault Clio – the
first thing that strikes you is the Renegade appears larger than
you’d expect, from the outside and from the decently high
driving position. Unlike Jeeps of old, the Renegade eschews
soft suspension for off-road ability and comfort for a more
European feel. The diminutive SUV will happily tackle twisty
roads with minimal body roll and plenty of grip, particularly
in the higher specification and higher powered 4x4 models,
although even the front-drive cars have good levels of grip.
However, the lighter two-wheel-drive versions seem to be on
the stiffer side, and therefore jiggly, in terms of ride comfort.
WE SAY: the BMW i8 takes the plug-in driving
experience to a whole new level.
BMW i8
Driving and performance
Safety
Costs
Euro NCAP has just awarded
the Renegade five stars,
and its safetyt line-up looks
exceedingly good. Six airbags
are standard, as are a host
of electronic driver aids
including both a city safe
system and an anti-rollover
system. The only small
downside is the large A-pillars
which contain the curtain
airbags but also block vision in
some sweeping corners. The
dashboard is very clear.
The CO2 emissions (starting
at 120g/km) and fuel
economy aren’t quite up to
scratch. Both the Mini and
Yeti are a shade better.
Space
You can easily fit four adults
on board with plenty of leg
and headroom for the rearseat occupants. There’s also
an okay-sized boot.
Equipment
Entry-level Sport models come with air conditioning, DAB
radio with touchscreen and Bluetooth, an electric parking
brake, 16-inch alloy wheels and remote central locking.
Longitude adds 17-inch wheels, a six-speaker audio system,
roof rails and front fog lamps. Limited spec adds 18-inch
alloys, chromed exhaust tip, Forward Collision Mitigation, and
steering wheel, leather, privacy glass and rear parking sensors.
Overall verdict
Test: Tristan Young
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
WE SAY: with a starting price well under £20k,
Jeep has captured the essence of a small SUV.
The i8 is BMW’s second i model and that means it’s very
different from traditional vehicles. In fact, it is a plug-in hybrid
sports car powered by a compact turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol
engine which works in tandem with a 96kW/131hp electric
motor. But any doubters who think hybrid means sluggish need
look at the i8’s performance capabilities and think again. That’s
because the car can sprint to 62mph in just 4.4 seconds and
tops out at an electronically-limited 155mph.
The driver can easily switch between three different driving
modes - Comfort, Eco Pro and Sport - plus there is an eDrive
setting for pure electric driving.
Safety
Costs
The BMW i8 features
a tough carbon fibre
reinforced plastic body
that is lightweight without
compromising on safety.
Front, side and curtain airbags
are also fitted as standard and
in addition, the i8 features
several driver assistance
systems. If a person or
obstacle is detected, the city
collision warning decelerates
the car.
A few optional extras on
the test car bumped up the
asking price from £99,845 to
a whopping £105,880, but we
are in supercar territory...
Space
Rear legroom is incredibly
limited and getting in and out
could pose a few problems
for the less flexible.
Equipment
The i8 is richly equipped. Techno treats include a DAB radio,
head-up display, enhanced Bluetooth with USB connection and
voice control, a pitch-perfect Harman Kardon sound system,
heated premium leather seats, satnav, a leather instrument
panel, cruise control and lots more. There is only one actual
trim level although there are numerous colour options.
Overall verdict
Read our full review online at motoringassist.com/car-reviews
65
Test: Maxine Ashford
Driving and performance
Last words
Road casualties are up... as predicted
Figures show deaths and serious injuries for all types of road
user have increased for the year ending September 2014
EVERYONE IN the road safety community
was expecting a rise in the number of people
killed and seriously injured on UK roads.
Figures released just before this edition
went to press show that deaths and serious
injuries on UK roads increased by 4% in the
year ending September 2014, with deaths up
by 1%. In total, 1,730 people were killed and
22,630 seriously injured on UK roads in the
year, up from 1,711 deaths and 21,728 serious
injuries in the previous year.
Casualties of all severities are also up by 5%,
from 184,087 to 192,910.
Child deaths and serious injuries rose by
3% to 2,060, with cyclist deaths and serious
injuries up 8% to 3,500. Casualties of all
severities increased by 6% to 16,640.
GEM chief executive David Williams MBE
was very disappointed, but not surprised.
“The past decades saw excellent reductions
in the numbers of people killed and seriously
injured on our roads. More recently, we have
witnessed three years without any fall. Now
this appreciable rise gives us the clearest
indication yet that government cuts to road
safety units, the reduction of traffic policing
and the sidelining of so much road safety
education cannot be without consequences.
“Doubtless we will hear, as we have so often
heard, that the UK has some of the safest
roads in the world. But to say that is to avoid
the issue entirely.
“It will be a legacy of this government that
our roads are less safe - particularly for the
most vulnerable of our road users - than they
used to be. That is something the government
should be ashamed of.
“As we count down the days to the General
Election, we join with other road safety
organisations to urge politicians to put safety
first. Let’s understand the dangers we face,
let’s work out the emerging threats to our
safety and let’s have the courage and common
sense to deal with them.”
It will be a
legacy of this
government
that our roads
in 2015 are less
safe, and that
is something to
be ashamed of.
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