SMMT Test Day 2012: Speed dating, part one
Take 140 new cars. Add a number of closed roads and tracks. Throw in some free fuel and then sprinkle on some fine English weather. What have you got? The SMMT Test Day 2012.
If the fact that the SMMT invited me along last year was a surprise, the fact that they repeated the mistake for a second year was nothing short of a miracle. Arriving at the Millbrook Proving Ground and seeing 140 cars, each one with a set of keys in the ignition, you’ll forgive me for feeling a little like a kid in a sweet shop.
I’ve nicknamed the day ‘speed dating with cars’ and you can read last year’s report here. Here in 2012 I’ve attempted to sort the Mint Humbugs from the Lemon Bon Bons and the Werther’s Originals from the Sherbet Dib Dabs. Read more
Three: Darren’s Volkswagen Sharan
Taking a break from writing about his lovely Audi 80, Darren Leslie is back on PetrolBlog with some words on his Volkswagen Sharan. After the recent Ask MajorGav feature on 7-seaters, PetrolBlog will be getting a reputation for practicality and common sense. Blimey.
Three. It’s a harmless enough number in the general scheme of things. Defined as ‘the cardinal number between two and four’ by YourDictionary, it can generally be described as ‘not big’. In fact, I can, off the top of my head, think of many numbers that are bigger, and only two that are smaller. And apparently, three is the magic number. Well, it isn’t when you combine the word three with the word children. Especially where personal transportation is concerned. Read more 
Black Magic VW: Gary’s Volkswagen Santana
When was the last time you saw a Volkswagen Santana? According to How Many Left? there are just seven left on Britain’s roads, making the 4-door saloon quite a rare sight. It was actually no more than a B2 Passat sedan, making the Santana some kind of retro Shatchback hero.
Amazingly, some 194,000 Santanas were produced between 1981 and 1985, before the Santana name was dropped in favour of the Passat saloon. Three years later, in 1988, the B2 Passat was replaced by the B3 and the Santana was banished, in the UK at least, to automotive history. In China the name may live on, but in the UK, you’re more likely to hear Santana on the Ken Bruce show than see one on parked on your local high street. Read more
Richard’s VW Polo GTI: Good Times Imminent?
Another guest blogger on PetrolBlog? This is becoming quite a habit. A good habit of course and at least it stops me flooding the interweb with yet more waffle. This time I’m delighted to welcome Mr Richard Gooding of the rather excellent PoloDriver.com. A Volkswagen fan of many years, Rich Gooding has just taken the first step on the GTI ownership ladder, buying a 2001 Polo GTI. Why did he choose the hot shot Polo and what does an early example of VW’s smaller iconic-badged hatchback offer? Read more
Volkswagen Amarok: the new Fred Dibnah?
I recently received an email from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles suggesting that I might be interested in a little PR-stunt they were involved with. I have to admit that I skimmed through the email on my iPhone and on first viewing I thought they were launching a new range of anoraks. Not being known for my sartorial elegance, I figured they’d written down the wrong email address and were instead looking to get hold of MajorGok or MajorGeorge at Asda. Fashion really isn’t my thing.
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PetrolBlog’s Real World Dream Barn
You may have arrived here following my potentially shocking confession about supercars. If you didn’t, can I politely suggest you have a read of it first?
My super cars aren’t supercars
But having confessed that a lottery win wouldn’t see me searching for a copy of What Supercar? magazine, I thought it only fair to name and shame the contents of my own Real World Dream Barn. Remember, ten cars and a maximum budget of £30k for each. Anything left over can be used for fuel or the inevitable ongoing maintenance and breakdown cover. Read more
Perfect Dub: VW MK1 Scirocco
Has there ever been a Volkwagen that can rival the beautiful simplicity of the MK1 Scirocco? I think not. We we ever see anything like it again? Again, I think not. Read more
A Shatchback to prove GreenCarsRock
Regular readers of PetrolBlog will know that I have an irrational hatred of Shatchbacks. For the uninitiated, a Shatchback is the automotive equivalent of an afterthought – a hatchback which has simply had a cardboard box welded to the boot to turn it into a saloon car. There have been some horrors featured on PetrolBlog, but worse is to come I’m sure. Read more
Volkswagen Passat: Hurry up and W8
I guess I should have seen it coming. No sooner had the Land Rover arrived and my thoughts began turning to the next car to join the stable. Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted with the current line up. The Box of Frogs is fast becoming an invaluable tool for the daily trip to the office and I’m gelling with it to the point that I can’t ever see myself parting with it. It is so small it will probably end up taking up one of the spare rooms. Then there’s the uber Audi, which is now looking forward to a period of semi-retirement and some much needed pampering. Cosmetically and mechanically she needs a light makeover and I’ll probably end up spending more than the car’s actually worth. But that’s what being a petrolhead is being about – rationalism doesn’t come into it. Finally then, the Landie, which is already becoming an essential part of family life. Every family should have one. Read more
Yesterday’s Specials…VW Polo Harlequin
Decisions, decisions. There you are in the dealer showroom, one hand clasping the brochure, the other hand clasping a cup of coffee so hot that it must have been brewed using molten lava. You enjoyed the test drive, you’ve accepted the finance deal and have ticked all the options. There’s only one thing left to do – decide on the colour. Read more
