Mad About Cars

I sat in a Mini Cooper S the other week and I have to say it wasn’t what I was expecting. Maybe I am used to better quality and comfort in a car as an Audi driver but I was really disappointed by the Mini. I could understand the Mini One being a bit flimsy but when I opened the boot for instance everything felt so plasticy and flimsy. It all felt very fake – and this all tries to make the car lighter for racing and speed. For me though I’d prefer a better built quality car that is a little heavier but doesn’t feel like you’ve put it together yourself from an Ikea flatpack.

I don’t think there is another range where I would love any of the cars a manufacturer has to offer. This is of course for non-sports cars manufacturers. Let’s just think for a minute what Italian car makers Alfa Romeo have on offer. There is the smallest but nippy Mito, the hatchback 147, the saloon 159, the Brera, the GT and the Spider and all of them are fantastic cars in their own way. All cars can be upgraded into luxury versions and they have lots of perks just as standard. The only other car manufacturer where I like all of their models is Audi – the A3 (S3), A4 (S4 & RS4), A5 (S5), A6 (S6, RS6), A8 (S8), TT (TTS) and the RS8.

Recently my beloved Audi A6 broke down on me while camping in Anglesey. I got recovered home and then took a look into what was wrong with the car. So in the meantime while the car is being fixed I am using a Y reg Ford Fiesta that is great. It’s better on economy than my 1.8 turbo Audi and is handy for getting in any tight parking spaces. It’s a much more practical car. But the one thing I miss is the thrust and pace of the Audi. I also miss having a quiet cabin that doesn’t rattle when you go over 70.

Lots of people like to modify their cars to give them that little bit extra in terms of performance and style. People who are really into their cars are constantly on the lookout for impressive new wheels, kits and mod cons to make their car the most powerful and the most impressive to look at. Many even head to meets to show off all the ways they have improved their cars.

Cars aren’t the only vehicles that can be suped up, though. Vans are also suitable for modifications that make them incredibly impressive. Working on the engine of your van can turn it into a real power house and you can add graphics to the bodywork for added style.

Of course, any modifications that you make to your van have to be declared. Your van insurance is likely to change if you make your van more powerful (and if you add expensive extras to it), so you have to let your van insurance company know when you’ve made alterations. If you don’t take this step then you are giving the van insurance company plenty of excuses not to pay out should you need them to in the event of an accident.

Nissan has finally caught up with the electric and hybrid revolution by creating a zero emission electric vehicle. Their rivals, Toyota and Honda have been at the forefront of the hybrid revolution and Nissan have slowly caught up and are now trying to become a significant player in the electric car market with the introduction of the Nissan Leaf. Nissan claim that they are creating the first affordable purpose- designed electric vehicle. The Nissan Leaf is due to go on sale in the UK in March 2011 and Nissan do want people to refer to it as a hybrid but they claim they have created the world’s first mainstream mass market pure electric vehicle.