Steve Cropley
MY WEEK IN CARS
Nothing stands in its way, except maybe the Wrangler
MONDAY
Goodwood to the rescue! For decades I’ve looked to the Geneva motor show to kick-start the Driving Fun season, but now there’s no longer one of those to rely on and who knows when it will be back? Luckily the Duke of Richmond’s famous Sussex estate, with the help of more than a dozen UK-based car sales companies, stepped forward with a superb Goodwood Media Drive Day that not only flagged some important Goodwood landmarks (75th anniversary of Goodwood circuit racing, 30th Festival of Speed) but allowed hacks to play – on road and circuit.
I sampled a Lotus Emira, a Maserati Ghibli, a Ford Mustang (V8) and an Aston DBX 707 – all excellent – but the real curiosity was the Ineos Grenadier. The cabin design and interior quality impressed me, as did the excellent off-road ride (good damping) and the easy torque of the 3.0-litre petrol BMW six. I was surprised, though, by the somewhat antiquated steering (lots of wheel winding; DIY self-centring), especially as I’d tried a quicker-responding Jeep Wrangler the week before. I’m not saying the Jeep is better all round, mind. The pair make perfect rivals.