August

How long will this latest war last? How long will the Strait of Hormuz be effectively closed? How high will fuel prices rise before we see an end to this situation? We just don’t know. So while looking at switching to an EV right now might seem extreme to some, to others it’ll be a sensible choice given the uncertainty. And for those on a moderate budget there are good choices, like the 2nd generation Nissan Leaf. Read on...

With a war pushing fuel prices to heights not seen for a while, suddenly the prospect of filling up your car or van carries higher levels of dread than it already did. Maybe it’s the final straw to taking the plunge into an EV? Or if an EV is not your thing, just something that’s a little easier on the dinosaur juice? Well this Honda Vamos is tiny but roomy and sips petrol rather than chugging it. 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 footwear. Slip your feet into this one. Read on...

The Jaguar F-Type was meant to be Jaguar’s spiritual successor to the E-Type, one of the greatest looking cars in history. And I think it’s fair to say they succeeded in creating the best looking Jag since the E-Type. But this car, like the E-Type, is more than just a pretty face, and at this sort of money ($34500-$35500) it’s a very tempting proposition. Read on...

Honda may have a reputation for middle of the road cars for retirees but they also have a fast side and some of these fast models are destined for greatness. There’s the NSX, the S2000 and, of course, the Civic and Integra Type Rs. This Civic Type R FN2 was a bit unloved in its day, but it was the last normally aspirated Type R and it’s still the cheapest to buy today. Read on...

Is it a Jaguar or is it a Daimler, and would it matter if a get-away driver turned up to a bank job in the Daimler instead of the bank robbers’ favourite, the lookalike Jag Mk2? After all, to the untrained eye the Daimler 250 V8 looks the same as a Jaguar Mk2. However, while the visual differences are subtle, it’s what’s under the bonnet that really sets them apart. Read on...

In its day this generation of BMW X3 was criticized for having a harsh ride, poor offroad ability, cheap interior materials and lacking in the looks department. However, in the intervening 25+ years the SUV has become an unbelievably popular class of car. Maybe the X3 was misunderstood at the time. Did reviewers focus too much on mudplugging credentials and drive quality? Probably. And the original X3 looks quite handsome today compared to many of its modern counterparts. So is the old X3 worth buying today, and is it a future classic? Read on...

The photos might make this Honda N-WGN look like a fairly normal sized hatchback. But it’s anything but. You see the N-WGN is a Kei car - a Japanese class of car that must fit a tight set of dimensions – which makes a Suzuki Swift seem like a Hummer in comparison. These cars are very rare on our roads but are hugely popular in Japan. In fact the N-WGN’s sibling, the N-Box, is the best selling car in Japan. It’s tiny, cheap to run and can fit 4 passengers in comfort. So why don’t they sell in NZ? Is it because it’s not a Ute or an SUV? Read on...

It’s tiny, you can park it anywhere, it’s easy on petrol and you’d think grid-locked Auckland or Wellington would be awash with them, but they’re not. However, a walk around the inner city streets of somewhere like Rome suggests the Smart car has its place. Maybe this one has a place in your life. Read on...