The Good Oil

You may be wondering why Scott Mclaughlin’s new Mustang V8 Supercar looks so different from an actual Mustang. With its droopy snout, bigger windscreen and side glass, slightly squashed body and longer tail you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s not really a Mustang at all. And you’d be right.

New Zealand’s history of designing and mass manufacturing cars is brief to say the least. There was the Trekka and, well, that was it really. However, we did once have a rich history of assembling cars, and some pretty important ones at that. We built up VW Beetles, Fiat 500s (or Bambina in NZ only), Minis, Corollas, even Vespas, and many, many more.

This pint sized supercar has pin-up good looks, goes even better, and has a Toyota engine which means it won’t be as fragile as your typical highly strung supercar. Also, like a supercar, it’s lightweight, fast, noisy, uncomfortable and bags of ridiculous fun. Read on...

We are used to supercars having unique, aggressive styling but the BMW i8 looks like it came from outer space, or the future. Indeed, it is likely that the i8 represents the future of supercars. Gone is the screaming V12 with an insatiable thirst for fossil fuels and in its place lies something that sounds, on paper at least, like it would be more at home in nana’s hatchback. On the road, however... Turners Penrose are selling one of these incredible cars. Read on...

The BMW M3 is a motoring legend and this 2014 F80 M3 lives up to that heady status. From its carbon fibre roof and driveshaft plus aluminium front panels to its twin turbocharged straight six engine and trick 7 speed M-DCT transmission this M3, like those before it, is all about speed. It’s stunningly fast but comfortable, too. Read on...

The Porsche Cayman gets its name from a small alligator that will bite your face off given half a chance. It’s also the name of rubber clog style footwear made by Crocs. Don’t get them mixed up. One is functional, comfortable and fun and the other is ugly footwear. Slip your feet into this one. Read on...

It’s that time of year when you trudge back to work after an all too brief Christmas break. The traffic hasn’t got any better, your inbox is horrifyingly full and your car feels like it has indulged more than you over the break – older, shabbier and less enthusiastic. It might be time for a new car but new cars cost the most. However, a near new car makes sense. Read on...

If your New Year’s resolution was to buy a new car that’s fast then this BMW E60 M5 ticks one of those boxes – the most important one. It’s not new but who cares when it’s this fast? It has a 10 cylinder engine that pumps out 500hp and was the fastest four door sedan in the world when released. It’s also about the price of a new Holden Barina. Read on...

There’s an unwritten rule when buying gifts for the significant other in your life – anything that represents chores is off-limits. Ironing boards, hedge trimmers, vacuum cleaners, weed sprayers, just don’t go there. The same applies when buying them a car as a gift. Don’t get them something dreary to drive to work in, pick up kids from school in or take rubbish to the tip in. Get them something fun, like this Toyota MR-S. Read on...