Monday

Monday: revitalize the Clio

© photo by tommallett, licence: Attribution

Having travelled back up to Leicestershire from London on Sunday night in a diesel VW GolfVolkswagen GolfGermany, 1974 > present7 series
738 versions
1461 photos
4 videos
I was ready for some action on Monday morning. Sadly the first job on the list was to push the Renault Clio 172Renault Clio Renault Spor...France, 2003 > present10 photos
out of the garage where it has been festering for the last six months and give it a new lease of life. New wipers and a battery for the winter should get it through its MOT I reckoned.

I am unsure of my grounding or this stereotype but it came as no surprise to me when I struggled to access, remove and replace the battery in the Renault’s engine bay. However, knuckles skinned and that done I set about remembering why I bought it.

If I don’t say so myself, I bought a rather nice car 18 months ago. It sounds great and has half leather, climate control, xenon headlights and factory fitted satellite navigation to boot…it is the xenon’s that I wouldn’t do without going forward. Needless to say it flew though the MOT and was duly taxed. Later in the week it returned 42mpg on a trip down to London and I’m not questioning why I have an itch to sell it.

Tuesday

Tuesday: a new Elise

© photo by tommallett, licence: Attribution

My first glimpse of the new EliseLotus EliseUnited Kingdom, 1996 > present3 series
27 versions
81 photos
1 video
. The S1Lotus Elise Gen.1United Kingdom, 1996 > 20016 versions
18 photos
is still in the garage but we have been going on about the 190bhp ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
4570 photos
10 videos
engined S2 EliseLotus Elise Gen.2United Kingdom, 2002 > present21 versions
51 photos
1 video
for so long now that when one came up for sale it only seemed right to buy it and get some use out of it.

The theory goes that the S1 Elise could always do with a bit more power and for a longer trip it becomes hard work so that car has been moved down to the coast where it can be used at the weekends and the 111RLotus Elise 111RUnited Kingdom, 2004 > present3 photos
now resides in the midlands.

Having messed about with supercharged Elise’s in the past I had never really warmed to them, but the 111R seems purer somehow. That said, the jury is out on whether it emulates the ultimate fun factor of the original car. Running them side-by-side over the coming months might provide the answer.

Wednesday

A trip over to Cadwell Park circuit is always welcome and I had as much fun going over in the Mazda MX-5Mazda MX-5Japan, 1989 > present4 series
79 versions
377 photos
4 videos
as I did when I got there. What was surprising was what I ended up coming away from the day with the most admiration for.

There was plenty of on-track action from AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
8213 photos
27 videos
with the fabulous sounding R8Audi R8Germany, 2006 > present44 versions
141 photos
1 video
thundering round at lunch and even A8Audi A8Germany, 1994 > present3 series
94 versions
194 photos
’s looking incongruous on track. However, over lunch I ventured out beyond the circuit and onto a slightly makeshift off-road circuit, my steed? An Audi Q3Audi Q3Germany, 2011 > present66 versions
147 photos
.

Cards on the table time: I vehemently disliked Audi’s Q7Audi Q7 Gen.1Germany, 2006 > 201450 versions
115 photos
1 video
when it came out (and am still no great fan) and I thought the Q5Audi Q5 Gen.1Germany, 2008 > 201663 versions
145 photos
was a better effort, but was usurped by the BMW X3BMW X3Germany, 2003 > present3 series
73 versions
122 photos
1 video
. However, I think I’d buy a Q3. It rode well, felt a nice size and is well built. As small 4X4’s go (at least the ones with fancy badges) this one is a treat!

Thursday

Thursday: Audi dominates

© photo by autoviva, licence: Attribution

Another Audi day. This time I popped into Audi West London and was treated to a tour of the top floor enclave. This is an Audi dealership like no other in the UK. It cost nearly £50 million and has two stories of underground car parking and three floors of dealership space above ground. Then it gets interesting!

The fourth and fifth floors are dedicated to meeting space for Audi/VW bigwigs and it is up here where you realize that Audi has plenty of history too.

Of course there are some Group B cars up there, and the recent Le Mans cars but there are also Auto UnionsAuto-UnionGermany, 1932 > 19647 models
11 photos
, HorchHorchGermany, 1904 > 193125 models
73 photos
’s , DKWDKWGermany, 1927 > 196522 models
33 photos
’s and WandererWandererGermany, 1896 > 194519 models
12 photos
’s up there too.

Oh yes, and I borrowed a new Audi A5Audi A5Germany, 2007 > present197 versions
464 photos
2 videos
while I was there and did a few hundred miles. What was it like? It suffices to say that I wasn’t overly impressed with the first generation of A5, at least from a driver’s point of view but this was much better. I would have no qualms in advising someone, assuming they liked the brand and the looks, to go and buy one. It feels much more agile than the pre-facelift car and Audi should be commended.

Friday

Friday: The MG Midget restoration

© photo by tommallett, licence: Attribution

Public transport is in the news left, right and centre at the moment, from Richard Branson getting angry about railway contracts and the Greek taxi drivers going on strike.

I have to say that I have been impressed with London’s transport system since I have lived here. But I should temper that enthusiasm by saying that I also can’t wait to leave it behind! Petrol will seem cheap after traversing the capital’s rail routes and fast as well (at least out of town) once you take into account walking and waiting times.

Even my 1966 MG MidgetMG MidgetUnited Kingdom, 1961 > 19804 series
2 versions
13 photos
will seem like a convenient option this winter…OK, that is a slightly dodgy segway but it gives me a good excuse to talk about that car! It is having a mini-restoration at the moment and will be back on the road shortly and I’ll be writing a bit about it too. In the new year I might also think about replacing it too, with a Porsche 944 S2 2.7. Thoughts?