The Good Oil

Mazda’s MX-5 has long been the benchmark in small, fun, reliable ragtop sports cars but there is more than one way to skin a banana and this little mid-engine Toyota MR-S has a different, but no less effective, take on things. It’s available to buy right now. Read on...

Okay, so it’s a Renault and it’s a Megane, the standard version of which is a pretty average car despite the quirky looks. But the Megane RS 225 is an altogether different beast. It’s fast, handles brilliantly and the bang for buck ratio is pretty high with this one being sold by Turners Hamilton. Read on...

The Scirocco is a Mediterranean hot wind emanating from the Sahara desert. It’s also a Volkswagen coupe that’s also hot wind powered – sort of – in the form of a turbocharger AND a supercharger. This example may only have a small engine but it’s quick, strangely attractive and potentially a fantastic bargain. Read on...

Leather upholstery hand stitched by goddesses using thread made from the hair of baby pandas, a boot larger than many Auckland apartments and wood trim made from a walnut tree planted by God himself are just some of the features of this Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. And it’s being sold at Turners Christchurch this week...Read on

Where other Supercars are the equivalent of a gold medallion nestled on a hairy chest, Aston Martins ooze class and just a touch of restraint. They’re hardly ‘understated’ but where an Italian Supercar’s V12 engine screams like a character from a teen horror movie the Aston’s V12 roar has a slight plum in its mouth. And that’s why James Bond drives an Aston and Magnum PI drives a Ferrari. Read on...

A 400hp V8, a top speed of 270kph and 0-100kph in 5.6 seconds, and the comfort of an interior that feels like a classy Italian lounge bar. This 2006 Maserati Quattroporte is an exotic grand tourer for a very un-exotic price. Read on...

Let’s face it, winter is nearly here and if there’s anything that makes a cold winter worse it’s a car that won’t start or breaks down or tries to kill you on a wet road. But you can probably prevent many of these problems without too much fuss...preferably before winter hits proper.

For many of us, buying a brand new car is not an option and a near new car is still beyond the constraints of our current budget. But the thing is, there are many good cars out there for the budget conscious, it’s just a matter of identifying them. So let’s take a look at a cross section of makes and models that can be snagged for $6000 - $8000 that will give you good value for your hard earned money. Of course one person’s value for money will be different to another’s. Some will value reliability and fuel economy above all else, some will sacrifice some running costs for speed and power, while others will seek prestige with loads of fruity extras and be prepared to compromise a little on reliability and economy. So with this in mind here are just a few examples that cover the bases but

This classic 1970 MG Midget is a sad and sorry sight. What looks to have recently been a superb example of this British classic has since had some of its panel work forcefully realigned. Is it curtains for the little nipper or can it be saved? Read on...