Martin Ward - page 4

Every home should have one, a people carrier and general vehicle that will do just about everything. 

Volkswagen have been producing the “T” model vans since 1950, with the original the T1 being built for over 17 years until 1967. The Transporter has always been popular as both a working vehicle and also a leisure vehicle. There have been many variants and body styles of the Transporter from vans, pick-ups, minibuses, camper vans and many more variations. 

The latest version is the T6.1 which was introduced late 2019, this was an improved version of the T6, I guess it wasn’t called the T7 as the modifications and changes were not enough to go from 6 to 7.

There are currently many models to choose from in the T6.1 range including the vans and pick-up, but the people carrier choices are the Kombi, a five seater, crewbus,with two rows of seats. A Shuttle with either eight or nine seats over three rows, then the Caravelle seven seat executive bus, with the second row having two rear facing seats, and a three-seater bench third row.

The T6.1 I had on test from VW UK Press Office was the Kombi Short Wheelbase Highline, which had five seats, then a huge cargo area behind the rear bench seat. This was ideal for getting five people in, with loads of legroom, and headroom, and room for bikes or luggage, so versatile and flexible.

But is it like a van to drive, well actually no it isn’t. Modern day vans from most manufacturers are very car like to drive, with all mod-cons including satellite navigation, air-con, heater and the same safety systems as cars. Gone are the days when the van driver was treated like a second class citizen with no nice features in the cabin.

The Kombi I had was powered by a 2.0-litre TDI Diesel engine that produces 150ps, goes from 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds, a top speed of 113mph (where permitted). During the week I had the VW it averaged around 47mpg, and admittedly I didn’t carry much weight, but if I had, then the fuel consumption would have been much higher. It was fitted with a very smooth 6-speed manual gearbox, which is “dash-mounted” and it easily slides from one gear to the next.

It does look a big thing, who wants a big van for everyday use, but in reality it’s not excessively large, in fact with it having a fairly short bonnet it really is no longer than a large saloon. But the real test is when you park it in a supermarket car park, and it easily fits in between the white lines, and doesn’t stick out at the rear. The downside is it’s height of 1,990mm so is a bit tight if you go into a multi-storey when they generally have a height restriction of 2m, you do need to take extra care.

Having a high seating position, you do feel like King of the World, and you do see things you don’t normally see in a regular car, a great driving position and the front seats with their armrests makes it a very relaxing and comfortable, so nice.

During the time I had the Kombi, there was many a time I felt I could just fill it up with diesel and drive for mile after mile, setting off for Southern Spain would be a very enjoyable experience and I would just love every minute of the long journey.

As brilliant as the Transporter is, and the great drive and the high level of standard equipment, there is just one drawback… the price.. the Transporter is expensive, the cost of the Kombi is £39,000, a big price to pay when new. But on the bright side, they do hold onto their value exceptionally well, but this in turn makes used ones look expensive. But they are very popular and always in demand, and I suspect this will be the case for a long time.

The T6.1 is just a brilliant vehicle.. and.. every home should have one…

The Golf has had one of the best records in the motor trade history, alongside the likes of the Ford Fiesta and BMW 3-Series, where the name has remained the same for many years.

The Golf was originally introduced in 1974, then the MK2 in 1983, MK3 in 1991, MK4 in 1997, MK5 in 2003, MK6 in 2008, MK7 in 2012 and the latest version, the Golf 8, late in 2019. You can look at any Golf from over the years from any distance, and most people will instantaneously recognise it as a Golf, and the “8” is no different.

Many people, on first sight of the latest Golf said, well it’s no different to the MK7, and on initial viewing, it isn’t, but the first thing I did when the Press Test Car arrived was to park it next to my next door neighbours 2-year old Golf. And you can instantly see the differences: every body panel is different, the lights are completely different – much slimmer – and although it looks like a Golf, it is a different and much more modern looking car.

The car I had on test was the Golf Life, powered by a 1.5-litre eTSI that produces 150ps, and coupled to the super-smooth 7-speed DSG auto gearbox. It goes from 0-62mph in a relatively quick 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 139mph where permitted, which is virtually nowhere. It also has VW’s Mild-Hybrid system which uses a 48v lithium-ion battery and 48v belt starter generator in lieu of an alternator and starter. This battery power also acts as a small electric motor to help when pulling away, which saves a small amount of fuel and helps reduce emissions.

The Golf 8 might not be the most modern looking or a car that stands out in a crowd, but it is what lies beneath that is so impressive. It has a new underpinnings, a completely new body and a new interior.

As you get into the car for the first time, the first thing that strikes you is the complete lack of buttons and switches. Some remain on the steering wheel, and the wipers and indicator stalks are there, but everything else has been removed. It is now almost completely touch screen, and touch buttons. The gear lever in the automatic has gone on a diet and shrunk massively in size, from a lever that sticks out like a sore thumb, to a tiny little thing, but size doesn’t matter, as it still works perfectly well.

The 1.5-litre engine has only recently been introduced by VW Group and is proving to be very popular with buyers, the official Combined MPG figure from VW is 49.2mpg, and during the time I had the car, I averaged a very similar figure, sort of proving that the new WLTP test procedure is more accurate than previous testing systems.

The Life model does have a long list of standard specifications and safety features. It has Adaptive Cruise Control, Discover Satellite Navigation, Ambient lighting, keyless start, head-up display, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED front and rear lights, and so much more.

Driving it, is I have to say, quite unremarkable, it is exactly as you would expect from any car or van from the VW Group. Without even sitting in it, you just know how it is going to behave, driving characteristics, comfort, all will be impeccable and work so well, because that’s what VW do,  and there are no surprises, which sometimes is disappointing, you want a bit of a shock, but not in this car.

At night, you can see clearly the new “Puddle-Lights”, and instead of projecting the company Logo from the door mirrors onto the ground, VW have gone with showing what looks like a Golf-ball with the dimples showing, though a friend who saw it thought it looked more like a disco-glitter-ball, maybe he was right? It did a bit!!

The UK list price for the Golf Life 1.5 is £26,390 OTR.

As always, and has always been, if someone buys a Golf, a new one, two years old, ten years old, it doesn’t matter, and they tell their family, friends or work colleagues, everyone will say “good choice, you can’t go wrong with a Golf” and that just about sums up the steadfast Golf.

When the Gran Coupe was delivered, it was parked outside my house, and all I could see was the side profile. I said to the delivery driver, that I was expecting a BMW, she said, it is a BMW. Walking to the front of the car it became blindingly obvious it truly was a BMW, but from the side, it really didn’t look like it.

The Gran Coupe is basically a four-door saloon with a sloping roof, it has a boot as opposed to it being a hatch. A hatch generally costs more to produce and adds weight to the car, two things I suppose BMW wanted to avoid. Also the Gran Coupe will be sold in China and the US, and these countries are not keen on hatchbacks, they prefer the traditional saloon with a boot lid.

The sloping roof does make it look more coupe-like, more sporty, and adds appeal. But it does mean that interior headroom for rear passengers is reduced. It loses around 4cm, or nearly 2-inches compared to the 1-Series, which doesn’t sound much, but the average sized adult, it makes the difference of your head touching the roof or not.

The test car I had was powered by the sweet 220d, and coupled to a silky smooth, typical BMW automatic gearbox. The engine produces 190bhp, and goes from 0-62mph/100kph in an impressive 7.5 seconds.

After many years of BMW telling us, they manufacture “the ultimate driving machine”, and emparting the wisdom that rear wheel drive gives the perfect balance between front and rear, this particular car is front-wheel drive.

There is nothing wrong with front-driven powertrains, and why it has taken BMW this long to realise, is a mystery. How many times have I seen a BMW stuck in half an inch of snow, when everything else is moving along nicely?

Being front wheel drive means there is no transmission tunnel that runs from front to rear and taking up valuable interior space, a great benefit on a compact car. I would have loved to have been in the meeting room when someone actually dared to suggest making a front wheel drive BMW …!

The interior definitely has the upmarket look and feel, and quality you would expect from a high end car. The dash and centre console do look a bit cluttered, filled with knobs, buttons, and it does look a bit busy, there is something going on everywhere.

The 2-Series Gran Coupe shares a lot of the underpinnings with the 1-Series, and the interior is virtually the same, and there is nothing wrong with that.

All Gran Coupes are fitted with Near Actuator Wheel slip limitation (ARB) system. This gently brakes the inside front wheel during cornering to help prevent understeer.

Three engines are available in the range: 318 which has a 3-cylinder petrol, M235i xDrive 4WD petrol and the 220d, so BMW have not over complicated the line up.

Trims are also simple; Sport and M Sport, and for only £2,500 more, the M Sport is the one to have, for all the nice goodies you get, for not a lot of money.

The design is very subjective, by my own experience of driving it for a week, there were a lot of difference of opinions, some absolutely loved it, others weren’t so convinced. One of my neighbours saw it from the side, and said, “I like the look of the Honda”, then he saw the large grille and said, “ah … it’s not a Honda is it?”

The boot has a double floor, so does increase the size quite considerably, since when you open the boot lid initially it looks tiny with the false floor in the upper position – but lower it, and it becomes acceptable.

The list prices for the 220d M Sport in the UK start from £34,560.

The 2-Series Gran Coupe is not to everyone’s taste, its design adds style, but removes practicality. The huge front grille adds to its appeal, and will sell to a limited audience, but will be dismissed by so many others as it just does not offer any flexibility. It is a good looking car nonetheless. 

On the press launch, we were each allocated a car, mine was bright blue, you press the unlock button on the key-fob, walk up to the unlocked car, and with a swagger in your walk go to open the door. After a very embarrassing two minutes looking for the door handle, you have to walk back to the office and ask a member of the McLaren staff how to get in it. They walk back with you, with not quite the swagger you had five minutes ago. They show you the button, quite
obvious when you know where it is.

You climb in, pull the door down, and go to hit the start button. After five minutes looking for it, you can’t. Back to the office to ask, so you need to get out … how do you get out; where’s the door release. A good thing we have mobile phones. “Hello, it’s Martin, I’m in the Blue 720S, and can’t find the start button, oh, and while I’m on … I can’t find the door release handle or button …”

So, off to a good start. After being shown both the start button, and how to get out again, the button was pushed, and it was in the most obvious place, the 4.0-litre V8 engine roared into action, and roar it certainly did.

The press launch was in a rural part of Southern England with plenty of speed humps and cameras, so doing anything daft was well out of the question.

McLaren set up the route we had to take on the very accurate sat-nav, very accurate down to the nearest 2-metres, and we have all learnt over the past few weeks what 2-metres is.

The 720 has lots of carbon fibre and called “Monocage 11” which makes it very light and very rigid with hardly any body movement when accelerating.

Despite sitting so low, there is brilliant all-round vision, it is virtually a all-glass cockpit, almost like a fighter jet.

And talking of a fighter jet, it’s nearly as quick, in fact probably quicker from 0-100kph.

It does this in a staggering 2.9 seconds, and if that wasn’t impressive enough – it goes from 0-300kph in 21.8 seconds. On the test route, there was no way we could test any of the facts and figures. If you did, the road humps would get you into orbit at these outrageous speeds.

The route was only an hour long, so every second in the car was precious, so the slower you went, the longer you were in it, and that was my theory, and I was sticking to it. Other journalists on the launch drove as quickly as they could, when they could, so were back at base in 45 minutes. Not me, Mr Cautious, if it was 30mph, I did 28, if it was 60mph I tootled along at 58mph, much to the annoyance of other road users, particularly White Van Man!

This is certainly a great car, probably the most accomplished supercar I have ever driven. Fantastic steering, so stable, brilliant brakes, yet it is so comfortable – and despite its massive amount of power from that V8 engine that produces a whopping 710bhp – it is so docile, and very drivable in all driving conditions. Going through some small villages, and down country roads it was just so easy, and it never felt as though it wanted to race away, there were no surprises and no hidden quirky technical issues, it was just so nice to drive, a real pleasure. Driving it slowly was more of a test of the car, than driving it quickly and a car you could live with on a day to day basis.

The cost of this high-powered, well equipped and great looking two-seater is around £208,000 back in the UK, but you can easily spend another £20,000 on some essential options.

So after one-hour and five minutes driving very leisurely it was time to take it back and park it in the car park and get out … “now, where is the off button … oh… and how do you get out of it again?!“.

The Morris and Austin Mini Moke were designed originally to be used by the military and go head-to-head against the likes of Land Rover and JEEP. The intention was good, but unfortunately it was a complete disaster for many reasons. The main, crucial one being it did not have enough ground clearance, plus was not originally available with four wheel drive. To overcome this inability to go across rough terrain the manufacturer added another engine in the rear. However, the dye was cast and the Moke very nearly got withdrawn.

Next up, BMC (the manufacturer) decided to try to market it as a utility vehicle to the farming fraternity, but this also failed. It was simply by chance, and maybe a run of good weather that the young up-and-comings in London (who were part of the Carnaby Street Brigade) took a liking to this unusual vehicle. And so the Moke went from being a useless off-roader to a must-have fashion accessory. With the best marketing brains in the industry, the marketing department at BMC did not see that one coming.

The Moke also made regular appearances on the TV programme ‘The Prisoner’ which helped with its popularity and product awareness. It was also seen in James Bond “The Spy Who Loved Me”, and “You Only Live Twice”, plus many more placed appearances in other films and TV.

The Moke first made its appearance in 1964, and went on to sell around 14,000 in the UK. After production stopped at the Longbridge factory, it was then built in Australia and Portugal up to 1993. The Moke is tricky to find in the UK, having either succumbed to rust or been a victim of build-quality. It definitely suits sunnier climes.

The best way to describe the Mini Moke is fun to drive, and I love driving one in Yorkshire, but would be a real joy to drive one here on The Rock…

The Moke is certainly not the best car to drive, it’s not particularly comfortable, it doesn’t have any modern features such as windows, heater, cigarette lighter, air conditioning, radio or Bluetooth, in fact the list of what it doesn’t have, is longer than the things it does.

John, one of my best friends-spent the early part of the 1970’s here in Gibraltar, working for a painting and decorating firm, mainly on Ministry of Defence properties. The company vehicles consisted of a couple of Transits, a Bedford and a Moke which had a flashing light on the bonnet, as they occasionally used it for road line painting. He lived in a workers’ hostel on DTR, and he has fond memories of driving the Mini around the Rock. I doubt that Moke is still in existence now? But would be great if it was.

Originally most Mokes were fitted with an 850cc engine, but many had the larger 998cc fitted later in life as the 850 didn’t have particular longevity. The 0-62mph or 0-100kph is best measured in weeks and not seconds. The fastest I have been in this car is 43mph, which is plenty fast enough for me. 

When the roof is up, there is hardly any wind in the car, your hair doesn’t get blown about and it’s all very calm. But put the roof down and it’s like sitting in a wind tunnel, and you get buffeted about it’s like being on a rollercoaster. I’m sure that when the designers took pencil to paper they didn’t deliberately make it so different with the roof up or down, it was purely by accident that no wind gets in the cabin when the roof is up, quite amazing.

The Moke is like all old cars going up in value year after year, they never seem to go down. There are many reasons for this, but as classic cars get less in numbers, they become more in demand, especially outside of Europe. But with such low interest rates, your money in a good old car could be a decent bet, or investment.

But, if you like the idea of a classic but with much less maintenance, the Moke is being relaunched in Q3 or Q4 2020 subject to regulatory approval. And to bring it bang up to the 21st Century, an electric version is also planned. The original Carnaby Street set would be proud.