Rob’s long term Insignia: the end
Resident guest blogger, Rob Griggs-Taylor is back on PetrolBlog with some final words on his now departed Vauxhall Insignia. Over to you, Rob.
The name Vectra became synonymous over its lifetime with the words ‘lame’ and ‘rubbish’. Despite being popular in terms of numbers sold it was universally panned by the motoring press both in written and audio visual mediums. Vauxhall apparently withdrew all their advertising from BBC publications after a critique par excellence by one well known motoring show, seemingly preferring to pretend that all was well instead of improving the product. Read more 
Golf in sheep’s clothing? Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TSI
It must be tough being a Skoda Octavia vRS. Despite being a genuinely brilliant hot hatch in its own right, it can’t quite seem to shake off the shadow of its brother, the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Face it, the Golf GTI has a badge, a heritage and a level of credibility that the Octavia vRS can only dream of. Whilst the Golf GTI needs no introduction, the Octavia vRS needs a chapter and verse just to get itself noticed.
Yes, it’s fundamentally a Golf GTI in different clothes, but is it about time the Octavia vRS shook off its Primark image and stood on its own two feet? PetrolBlog spent a week in the company of a very blue vRS to find out. Read more
FailCar’s top films for petrolheads
FailCar is undoubtedly at his best when he’s having a good rant. As Carly Simon once said, nobody does it better. But as you will have seen from his cleaning posts, he’s as equally engaging when his blood isn’t at the point of boiling. Here, we find him doing his best impression of Mark Kermode with his pick of the best films for petrolheads. So without further ado about nothing under siege, here’s Mr FailCar.
Much as I do love cars one of my other great loves is film, so it comes as no surprise that when you put the two together you should have a film that I would love. Sadly that’s not entirely true as most of the time when studios try to make a ‘petrolhead’ film they just get it all wrong and I end up getting furious, fast.
Avantime for a party
We’re big fans of the Renault Avantime here on PetrolBlog, so when Rob Griggs-Taylor was invited to the tenth anniversary of the car’s launch, we couldn’t resist popping along. Here’s Rob’s report from the day.
On an overcast and slightly damp day I ambled round the corner of Coventry Transport Museum and was faced with the sight of two rows of Renault Avantimes gathered in front of the building, facing the amazing Whittle Arches. Twenty eight cars along with their owners and friends had gathered to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the car’s launch. Read more
Dawn Raid: Volvo V60 T6 R-Design Polestar
4.28am. That’s the time the alarm was set to go off. But it didn’t get a chance to, because at 4.24 I awoke and by 4.25 I was out of bed and getting dressed. Even my alarm clock gets a day off on a Sunday.
Funny how during the week, the alarm is greeted with a swift smack on the snooze button as I savour every second in bed. But with the thought of a Dawn Raid ahead of me, things are different. By 5am, I was in the car and heading for the Shell garage at Sourton Down. As the highest point on the A30, I thought it would make a suitable point for the start of my pre-breakfast challenge. Read more
Old Gold Top Gear: Renault 19 and 21
It’s been two weeks since the last episode of PetrolBlog’s Old Gold Top Gear, so to make up for lost time, this week’s video features not one, but two Renaults. Not only that, but you’re also treated to an appearance from William Woollard and Chris Goffey. Call it an early Easter present from PetrolBlog. Read more
PetrolBlog looks at: Mantis Foaming Wheel Cleaner
PetrolBlog is probably best known for automotive waffle and bunk. A few thousand words on a given subject and everyone is happy. At least, I hope so anyway.
In its two years of existence, PetrolBlog hasn’t tended to get too involved with video content. For one thing, my mere presence on screen would be enough to break the interweb. Forever. Secondly, I simply don’t have the equipment to do a decent job. So kids everywhere can rest easy in the knowledge that I won’t be appearing on a screen near you anytime soon.
Jaguar Land Rover: The overlooked
PetrolBlog is usually your chosen repository for automotive waffle and bunk so we were slightly surprised to receive an invitation from the nice people at Jaguar Land Rover to experience its range.
Never ones to turn down the opportunity to try something new we sent Rob Griggs-Taylor to the National Motor Heritage Centre at Gaydon on a slightly overcast day, where a mouth-watering range of cars were lined up for his convenience. Makes a change from Skoda Favorits and Shatchbacks, eh?
PetrolBlog Fleet update: March 2012
I’ve been planning a PetrolBlog Fleet update for a little while, but for some reason I never seem to get around to doing it. But following quite a busy month for the Fleet, I figured there’s no time like the present to kick things off. So, pinch and a punch, first day of the month… Read more
Dawn Refuelling: Run to the Castle
A few weeks ago, PetrolBlog introduced the Pentillie Festival of Speed. It’s fair to say we’re getting quite excited about it. The prospect of a hillclimb, retro and classic cars, 4×4 driving and even a few supercars is enough to excite any petrolhead. But having spoken to the team behind the event this week, I know there’s going to be so much more. PetrolBlog is even planning one or two surprises of its own. Read more
First Drive: Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCT
Alfa Romeo has high hopes for its new TCT semi-automatic transmission. So high in fact, that it chose the International Space Innovation Centre* near Didcot in Oxfordshire as the venue at which to launch the new Giulietta TCT. If you’re aiming high, why not reach for the sky and go beyond? But then there’s a buoyant mood around the Alfa Romeo camp right now, not least because the manufacturer enjoyed a solid 2011, including its highest yearly new registration figure since 2002. And of the 11,563 cars registered, some 7,113 were Giuliettas. No doubt Uma Thurman had a part to play in that. Read more
PetrolBlog looks at: The A-Z of 21st Century Cars
It’s sad to think that future generations may not turn to books and magazines for their automotive fix. Today’s petrolheads are just as likely to use a smartphone app than to wander down to Waterstones when the latest concept cars are unveiled at Geneva. Yes, it’s progress and yes, we’ve never had it so good. But for me, you can’t replace a good book or a magazine. They just feel more compelling. They also represent a moment in time that a smartphone app or website simply cannot replicate. Read more
Old Gold Top Gear: Skoda Favorit
Following on from last week’s Yugo, it’s the turn of Skoda to make an appearance on Old Gold Top Gear. But not just any old Skoda. This is the Skoda that signalled the end of ‘old Skoda’ and heralded the dawn of a new era, not least because it was the first front-wheel drive car from the manufacturer.
What’s more, the Favorit represents the last hurrah for Skoda before the takeover by Volkswagen. They had some help too, with none other than Porsche having a hand in the car’s suspension, Bertone taking car of the styling and Ricardo tweaking the engine. Admittedly, the Favorit is no Miura, Stratos or X1/9, but I think the design is charming. I just love the unashamedly angular and boxy design, it feels very ’80s. In fact, give it a multicoloured paint job, à la Polo Harlequin, and it could pass for a Rubik’s Cube on wheels. Read more
PetrolBlog Car of the Year 2011
Perhaps I underestimated the scale of the task in choosing a winner of the PetrolBlog Car of the Year 2011? But having dreamt up the new PetrolBlog Score as a way of benchmarking the cars in question, I then had the less than enviable task of compiling the list of candidates. Yes, I know it’s now mid-March, making PetrolBlog the last website in the world to announce its car of the year from 2011, but at least I’ve had time to give it the overnight test. Or several overnight tests. Read more
Old Gold Top Gear: Yugo Sana
This week it’s the turn of the Yugo Sana to make an appearance on PetrolBlog’s Old Gold Top Gear. I fully appreciate there’s probably a generation of PetrolBlog readers who will have no idea what a Yugo Sana is. It’s hardly surprising when you consider that it endured a relatively short life in the UK and was eventually killed off when its importer, Zastava GB, was put out of business by the Yugoslav conflicts. Read more
Rob writes: No animals were harmed
Resident guest blogger extraordinaire, Rob Griggs-Taylor has bought a new car. And where better than PetrolBlog to tell the world all about it. Over to you, Rob.
Since the time of Adam man has been a hunter. To provide food for himself and his family the man would roam armed with spears, clubs and axes, searching for animals to kill and drag home. The more exotic the animal, the more admiration from the others in the tribe. A bear would be great, or a lion perhaps. Something exotic and cool. Read more
PetrolBlog’s Geneva Unconventional: Part Three
Time for part three of PetrolBlog’s look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the Geneva Motor Show 2012.
This update features the best wheels at the show, a gloriously green concept from Suzuki, some bags, some helmets and a lovely surprise from Lancia.
Apologies in advance, this update contains no Ferrari, Lamborghini or Aston Martin images. Sorry. Read more
PetrolBlog’s Geneva Unconventional: Part Two
Time for part two of PetrolBlog’s Geneva Unconventional – searching out the good, the bad and the ugly of the Geneva Motor Show 2012.
If you missed part one, you can find it here. If not, read on for the next ten awards.
Warning, this update contains images of the Fiat 500L, which some readers may find distressing. Read more
FailCar’s Geneva trip: Lights fantastic
FailCar has been to Geneva and has been writing copy ever since. The seasoned pro that he is, FailCar flew in and out of Geneva in one day, therefore negating the need for tedious stuff such as trains and hotels. But in true PetrolBlog style, he has a different take on the motor show, choosing to focus on the array of lights on display. Follow FailCar on twitter @FailCar.
While I was at the show I noticed one of the top industry designers hastily snapping pictures of a couple of car lights. I won’t say who he is but he used to do Volvo stuff and has a funny beard. Read more
Old Gold Top Gear: Citroën ZX
Sorry, sorry, sorry. The trip to Geneva has completely thrown me off course and Thursday has rolled around quicker than I’d expected. This means you’ve been forced to read two updates from PetrolBlog today, with the first Geneva Unconventional appearing earlier and now this, the regular Old Gold Top Gear slot.
