GB
  
You are currently viewing the United Kingdom version of the site.
Would you like to switch to your local site?
6 MIN READ TIME

YOUR VIEWS

WRITE TO autocar@haymarket.com

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Simple pleasures

Having read Kris Culmer’s appraisal of his Toyota Land Cruiser (Our Cars, 10 May), I feel the need to share my recent experiences.

I’m fortunate enough to own several vehicles that might be considered the ‘best’ examples of their type: an L460 Range Rover, an L663 Land Rover Defender and a Mk7 Volkswagen Golf R, among others.

My parents have recently found that they no longer require the services of the 2005 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 E that has served as the go-to runaround transport for several members of the family and a dog for 18 years. I’ve been charged with selling it, but I’m finding it more appealing by the day. A manual gearbox, less than 60bhp, key entry for the (failing) central locking and wind-up windows now seem less effort than the screens required to be navigated in supposedly more advanced cars.

WIN

Letter of the week wins this ValetPRO exterior protection and maintenance kit worth £48

Perhaps it’s an age thing that you get to a point where you delight in simplicity and a better ride. I can relate to Steve Cropley’s mourning at the departure of his beloved Citroën Berlingo and am thinking the Polo may have to remain with me as a reminder of when less may actually have been more.

Unlock this article and much more with
You can enjoy:
Enjoy this edition in full
Instant access to 600+ titles
Thousands of back issues
No contract or commitment
Try for 99p
SUBSCRIBE NOW
30 day trial, then just £9.99 / month. Cancel anytime. New subscribers only.


Learn more
Pocketmags Plus
Pocketmags Plus

This article is from...


View Issues
Autocar
24-May-2023
VIEW IN STORE

Other Articles in this Issue


THIS WEEK
YOUR WISH FOR A MAGIC CARPET RIDE IS GRANTED
AUTOCAR HAS A long tradition of pitting the
NEWS
Four-wheel-drive 593bhp i5 is star of new 5 Series
BMW’s new saloon will hit the UK in October in EV and petrol forms; PHEVs to follow
BMW creates Z4 shooting brake for Villa d’Este
BMW HAS RESURRECTED the spirit of the original
New-look Corsa eyes top UK sales
Facelift for popular hatchback brings electric and hybrid gains
Stellantis fires UK warning shot
STELLANTIS HAS WARNED it may close its UK
No cheaper EV in Vauxhall’s upmarket push
VAUXHALL HAS NO plans to offer an entry-level
Caterham EVs get Goodwood debut
Two 322bhp electric Seven prototypes are now testing and will appear at the Festival of Speed
Fallout over Tesla’s LHD decision
UK Model S and X cars will now be left-hand drive only, surprising buyers and dealers
Honda well placed for more success
Trio of on-trend new crossovers set to arrive as business is thriving, says UK car boss
EVERY WEEK
Revised Touareg to hit UK this October
THE FACELIFTED Volkswagen Touareg has been revealed ahead
HOW TINY CARBON TUBES CUT CARBON EMISSIONS
Nawastitch unleashes more of the potential of carbonfibre
SECRET SOURCE OUR INDUSTRY INSIDER
IT IS EASY to think that car companies
Matt Prior
TESTER’S NOTES
Steve Cropley
MY WEEK IN CARS
Damien Smith
RACING LINES
An unlikely source of automotive innovation
The Autocar ON THIS DAY IN 1958 Okamura
British privateer team takes surprise win in Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix is today largely a
Austin-Healey goes small
Small British company Healey’s 1000 roadster impressed BMC
Financial disaster for Ford
OKAMURA SALOTTO In 1955, Ford saw opportunity in
SLIDESHOW
Oddball fast cars you’ve (probably) forgotten all about
TESTED
ABARTH 500E
TESTED 16.5.23, BALOCCO, ITALY ON SALE SUMMER PRICE £38,195
XPENG G9
Another nascent Chinese EV maker comes to Europe. Déjà vu or something new?
XPENG P7
TESTED 18.5.23, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS ON SALE NOW (EUROPE)
VOLKSWAGEN ID 3
TESTED 17.5.23, STUTTGART, GERMANY ON SALE NOW
DACIA JOGGER HYBRID 140
TESTED 15.5.23, HERTFORDSHIRE ON SALE NOW 
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Updates for Merc’s big-selling hatchback bring greater performance and efficiency
FEATURES
RIDE AND JOY
Has ride comfort, one of the most important aspects of any luxury car, regressed over the years? Matt Saunders tests the theor y in five of the smoothest operators from past and present
HANGING WITH THE WUHAN CLAN
Geely’s massive investment in Lotus has included building a £1.2bn plant in China that will bring its new-look cars to life. Mike Duff takes a tour
IS IT TIME TO BUY AN EV?
With new and used prices tumbling, electric motoring looks like being in reach for many more car buyers. John Evans analyses the maturing second-hand market
LITTLE AND LARGE
The Little Car Company makes half-size replicas of old racers – and not just for show. Matt Prior attends the inauguration of the adult and child championship
OUR CARS
VOLKSWAGEN MULTIVAN
The T7’s done 9k miles and has the scars to prove it. But do we love it regardless?
RANGE ROVER
When you collect your new Range Rover, this really is the way to do it
ORA FUNKY CAT
Just one teensy part can stop a whole machine from working
DEALS
COS YOU’RE WORTH IT
CULT HERO MERCEDES 190E 2.3-16 AND 2.5-16
James Ruppert
KICKING TYRES
ROAD TEST INDEX
The latest and greatest rated as only Autocar knows
NEW CARS A TO Z
For full reviews of every car listed here, visit our website, autocar.co.uk
Chat
X
Pocketmags Support