MINI: The true and secret history of the making of a Motor-Car
"In May 1959, the first Mini was produced on an assembly line at Cowley, near Oxford. It would take a team of supremely talented designers, draftsmen, engineers and production-line workers to build a car that was unique in appearance and construction. They would clash frequently over an uncomfortable and unsafe prototype, and the public had to be convinced to buy a car that let in two inches of water when it rained. But somehow the Mini became an icon."What we thought:
It's nice to learn something new about your favourite car, and I found Simon Garfield's new book which is told by those who made it a really interesting narrative.
To sum up, there's not much about the MINI itself, buy other MINI books for that. What you do get, is a fascinating idea of the development, politics and marketing that went into producing current and Classic Minis. A must for anyone with an interest in the Motor Industry.
Reviewed by Martyn June 2009.
Maximum Mini - The essential book of cars based on the original Mini
"This book focuses solely on the cars derived from the classic Mini. Small GTs, sports cars, roadsters and fun cars: Mini derivatives that changed the specialist motoring market completely in the early sixties, and new designs kept it busy for nearly four decades. From the well known Mini Marcos and Unipower GT that raced at Le Mans, to the very obscure but as exciting Coldwell GT or Sarcon Scarab, almost 60 cars are thoroughly researched, described and photographed in this book."What we thought:
Jeroen Booij's book is the first to focus solely on the cars derived from the classic Mini. Everything from small GTs to fun cars is covered in this fascinating book, all models are well-researched and written plus there are over 500 colour pictures.
To sum up, If you're a Classic Mini fan, you need to own this book. Order your copy now!
Reviewed by Martyn June 2009.
Mini -The Essential Buyer' Guide
"This compact and practical book offers a step-by-step guide to help any prospective buyer avoid expensive mistakes and end up with the best Mini possible for their money. Using over 100 clear colour photographs and easy to follow, jargon-free text, the car's notorious rot spots, common bodges and mechanical defects are examined in detail, along with auction advice, relative values and the realities of living with this 20th century icon. A few pounds spent on this book could save you thousands!"What we thought:
Has the Mini's 50th birthday made inspired you to own one of Issigonis's finest? Well, you are going to need this handy pocket-sized book. Part of the popular Veloce series, author Mark Paxton clearly knows plenty about the Classic Mini. The content is informative, yet easy to read and there's plenty of colour pictures. Overall, this book seems great value for money.
To sum up, i'd advise anyone seriously considering buying a Mini to get hold of a copy of this book first.
Reviewed by Martyn June 2009.
Ford Escort RS1800 - Rally Giant
"The Ford Escort MK2 was a worthy successor to the original Mk I and became Ford's most successful-ever rally car. This book provides a compact and authoritative history of where, how and why it became so important to the sport. Full details of all 'works' Escort Mk 2s to go rallying, with driver and personality profiles, and detailed car evolution."What we thought:
The next book in the series by Robson has 120-odd pages of well-written and researched text. There are also a large number of period colour and black and white pictures. There also a number of sidebar digressions around the subject matter that are informative.
To sum up, like the Audi Quattro book of the same series, if you're a fan of this car you really should buy this book. There's all the information you'll ever need on the Ford team, the cars and driver's that's easy to follow and is well written.
Reviewed by Martyn July 2008.
British Touring Car Racing in Camera
"The British Touring Car Championship is 50 this year. As a celebration, Haynes has released this book by prolific motoring historian Graham Robson. More than a superb collection of photographs, this book gives detailed analysis of the development of this 'tin-top' sport.What we thought:
Graham Robson has the right credentials to write this book, after all he watched his first race back in 1955! Latest in the 'in Camera' series, this book is meticulously researched and has the added attraction of interesting black and white and colour prints.
Sadly, it seems that Robson has relied too much on early PR shots. As such many of the images are closely cropped, meaning the finished images sometimes lack atmosphere. Personally, I'd have preferred more photos of the 70s, 80s and 90s. This is not to say that there are none from this era, but I do feel there's more information and images from latter years of the BTCC.
To sum up, if you're a BTCC fan this is a must-have. There's loads of information that's easy to digest, the images are evocative and of good quality. I just wish there was more of the old cars and less of the new.
Reviewed by Martyn June 2008.
Land Rover 60 years of Adventure
"The original Land Rover was unveiled in 1948 and 60 years on the utilitarian Defender is instantly recognisable as its descendant. This book tells the full story of all Land Rover models through a wealth of colour images, many previously unpublished, with spectacular photography of Land Rovers in action around the world, from Iceland to Australia and all points in between, including adventures and expeditions such as the Camel Trophy and G4 Challenge. There is also a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Land Rover's Solihull production line."What we thought:
Author Nick Dimbleby is a professional photographer who has undertaken considerable work for Land Rover over the past seven years, but as a Land Rover enthusiast has been photographing the vehicles for 20 years. As such, there are loads of colour images in this book, many of which I hadn't seen before.
Overall this book is a great insight into the Land Rover brand and the models they have produced over the last 60 years, but also the company under its various owners.
Reviewed by Martyn June 2008.
Automoblox toy cars
"Award-winning Automoblox combines classic car and truck toys with a groundbreaking mix-and-match wooden block construction system. Automoblox encourages early age inventive skills and inspires creative confidence in parents and children."What we thought:
Produced by Patrick Callelo, a renowned industrial designer, the model cars are a simple construction system that allows kids to design their own cars. The Automoblox play system, took five years to perfect, and the removable connectors mean that the wooden body parts and wheels can be exchanged using a shape and colour system unique to each of the six different models.
The quality of the German beachwood body is excellent, which is reflected in the £22.99 price. The interchangable parts are well made, the detailing excellent and the bright, modern colour schemes will appeal to the target buyer.
Each car has its own individual 17-digit VIN number, like the real thing and a minature "owner's manual" is included. There's also the opportunity to join an owners club, which should hold childrens interest.
Reviewed by Martyn May 2008.
MODNWLD T-Shirts
"Welcome to the launch of MODNWLD clothing - where cotton is the canvas and cars & kitsch are the creative ingredients. You are looking at the first collection of T-shirts available from MODNWLD, and we promise this array of garmentry will swell over the coming weeks. We've got new unseen designs scrawled all over the garage and toilet walls, so stay tuned to see MODNWLD."What we thought:
MODNWLD is the brainchild of Fifth Gear TV presenter Jonny Smith and his mate Mike, who've come together in their love of cars to produce threads for petrol heads. The result is a special collection paying homage to the art of steering from the rear - drifting.
The quality of the T-shirts is top notch, and all the designs are fashionable rather than nerdy. We particularly liked the special detailing, including the MODNWLD logo in the front right hand corner and each T-shirt gets a unique statement on the back of the neck.
Our favourites include the 'drift technique', 'car pervert' and the 'Drift Wars' designs. MODNWLD are new to the market, and are offering something genuinely different. Yet at £20 for all designs. If you're looking for some car-inspired clothing or for a quality present for a car-obsessive, these T-shirts are well worth a look.
Reviewed by Martyn May 2008.
New Mini Performance Manual
"Since its launch in 2001, the New Mini has been a spectacular sales success in all its major markets, carving out its own identity in a marketplace full of increasingly bland small hatchbacks. It is a car that still turns heads, and has inspired a burgeoning aftermarket tuning and accessory industry, leading to the availability of a wide range of both official and aftermarket tuning packages. Written in down-to-earth language, this extensively illustrated manual is a practical enthusiast's guide to realistic Mini tuning, providing advice on how to make the best of the options available."What we thought:
Author Tim Mundy is well-known and respected in Mini circles, and this book is well researched, with loads of relevant colour pictures of all new MINI models. New MINIs have been on sale since 2001, with many early cars out of warranty and have second or third owners. What the book does well is explain all the performance and styling options from mild to wild and make it easy to understand.
Unfortunately you do feel that Mundy did much of the research for this book before the John Cooper Works brand was bought by BMW/MINI, and I question the relevance of a whole chapter on fitting a Works kit to a Cooper S. And if you think you've seen some of the other pictures before, you'd be right as they were in Mundy's other book You & Your New MINI.
Overall, it's a useful book with loads of information which could help make your new MINI faster. If you own or are considering buying a MINI, I think its well worth a look.
Reviewed by Martyn March 2008.
the little book of smart by Paul Jackson
"In the little book of smart, author and smart fanatic Paul Jackson guides us through the history of the brand, its highs and lows, its successes and failures, and on to today - with the very latest fortwo line-up promising major sales worldwide and, of course, helping to pave the way for a future for smart in the USA. It's a fascinating tale, told succinctly and in an entertaining style, and complemented by full colour photography throughout."What we thought:
Well researched, with plenty of colour pictures of various Smart models. There's nothing little about the amount of information that Smart Fan, Paul Jackson has squeezed into this book. Unlike other books on the Smart brand, this focuses on both the successes and failures of the brand and there's also a section on the new Smart fortwo which was only launched in the UK last year.
Disappointments are few, but I do wonder whether Jackson has relied too heavily on the Smart UK press office? At least 90% of the pictures I had seen before and some of the text reads like it has been lifted straight from a release. And if you think you've seen some of the other pictures by Paul Guinness before, you'd be right as they were in his book The Smart Story.
Overall, it's a little book with big amount information. If you own or are considering buying a Smart, I think its well worth a look, especially at the £7.99 price.
Reviewed by Martyn February 2008
Autoglym Aqua Wax
"Aqua Wax is specially formulated to impart a brilliant smear-free finish on ALL exterior surfaces, even when the vehicle is wet. The immediate benefit is that there is no need to dry the car between washing and polishing. Aqua Wax is suitable for all paint types including metallics, as well as rubber, plastic and glass."What we thought:
After the perfect shine but don't have the time for it to dry completely before applying the polish? Then Autoglym's new Aqua Wax is just what you need. I must admit I was sceptical before I tried this product; spraying liquid car wax onto a wet car has to be a recipe for disaster. But, after washing the test car with a good quality shampoo and lightly drying with a chamois I liberally spayed on the Aqua Wax I and can report excellent results. Using the micro fibre cloth supplied, I simply buffed the paintwork to a high-quality shine. The test car looked excellent and the results were achieved in half the time it normally takes. Downsides? Well, it's not a cheap product (expect to pay around £12) and I didn't achieve a totally smear-free finish but overall I was very impressed - it even smells nice too.
Reviewed by Martyn January 2008
Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner
"Safely dissolves brake dust from chrome, polished aluminium and anodised wheels. A special blend of biodegradable surfactants, solvents, and alkalis provides a balanced acid-free formulation which rapidly dissolves brake dust, corrosion and traffic film from the most intricate and elaborate wheel designs."What we thought:
Another new product from Autoglym is the Custom Wheel Cleaner. Some alloy wheel finishes can be damaged by using acid-based alloy wheel cleaner, but this product is acid-free so the lacquer shouldn't be damaged. To use effectively, I sprayed the foam directly on to each wheel and left it for a minute. Then using an alloy wheel brush, I agitated the ground-in brake dust. The wheels we were cleaning to test this product hadn't been cleaned for some time and unfortunately I was unable to remove all the black brake deposits off the lacquer. However, overall I'd recommend this product as the finish is as good as other similar products on the market and the price is similar to harsher rivals.
Reviewed by Martyn January 2008
Autoglym Aqua-Dry Synthetic leather
"Autoglym Aqua-Dry is a synthetic leather with a unique structure which actually outperforms natural chamois leathers. It is super absorbent, easier to wring out, faster to use, longer lasting and less expensive. Regularly washing your vehicle with Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner, followed by a quick wipe with an Aqua-Dry, preserves the smooth glossy finish imparted by Autoglym Super Resin Polish.It also gives you the bonus of sparkling windows."
What we thought:
Until I tried an Aqua-Dry Synthetic leather I thought real leather chamois was "King". How wrong I was! Not only does the Aqua-Dry chamois provide a streak-free finish to washed paintwork, but because it's a synthetic product, it doesn't rot like the real thing. The Autoglym Aqua-Dry Synthetic leather certainly makes drying a wet car less of chore, provides better results and is longer lasting. I'm a convert!
Reviewed by Martyn January 2008
HP iPAQ RX5935
HP claim that with the iPAQ RX5935 "you can travel with style and get more done on the move..."The HP iPAQ RX5935 is designed with pocket PC fans and driver's in mind. Basically a pocket PC with a built-in GPS receiver, its landscape design is attractive, the polished silver finish feels high quality, it's easy to operate and the 3.5" colour screen is clear. Boasting the best GPS navigation software available, the iPAQ RX5935 is pre-installed with TomTom Navigator 6 maps, software and an Integrated SiRFstarIII GPS receiver. Particularly useful is the integrated SiRF Star III module, which is fast, accurate and establishes your position in a short while. All the maps are easily updateable too; just plug the unit into a computer.
What we thought:
The iPAQ RX5935 looks great. The unit itself is easily portable as it fits easily into pockets and comes with a leather case - useful as it's sure to be attractive to thieves. Yet, despite its size this navigation system also boasts 2 GB internal memory, plus an SD slot that gives real scope for movies and music.
The unit itself is fairly easy to navigate; programming a simple route using the TomTom software didn't take long - but this was as long as I had the correct address or post code. Searching for addresses on the unit involves a number of menus and can take time - plan any route in advance!
The back-lit screen was very bright and easy to read, it was also helpful that the screen adjusted to light conditions. The maps and arrows are also finished in bright colours, making it easy to determine where you are at just a glance of the screen.
When in navigation mode it gave you clear information regarding timing of the next instruction which I thought was a particularly helpful driving aid.
The directions to destinations were very clear, though I thought that the female voice was hard to hear even though I'd turned off the car stereo.
Reviewed by Martyn - July 2007.
Acer c-500 Series Pocket PC Travel Companion
Acer claim "the c'500 Series offers the best GPS technology available to guarantee efficient and reliable navigation..."The Acer C510 is designed with mobile users and road warriors in mind, it's light and compact, has good functionality and a clear 2.8" colour screen. Boasting the best GPS navigation technology available, the C510 is pre-installed with Navteq maps, software and a SirfStar GPS receiver. Particularly useful is the (PTP) Powerful Trip Planning feature which can intelligently organise the route noting places to stop, petrol stations and places of interest - all of which can be updated via the internet.
What we thought:
The C510 is very user-friendly. The unit itself is compact, almost pocket-sized in its dimensions - a popular choice as portable sat-navs are becoming an increasing attraction to thieves! Yet, despite its compact dimensions the C510 has all the features you'd expect of a modern portable navigation system.
The Navteq software is fairly easy to navigate; programming a simple route took just minutes. I only experienced one problem with the C510's navigation, when the system became confused with the starting address and froze. I tried to replicate the fault later in the loan, but experienced no other problems.
The back-lit screen was very easy to read, very helpful as much of the test was conducted at night. Another helpful feature is the directional arrows and maps which are finished in bright colours.
When in navigation mode it gave you clear information regarding timing of the next instruction which I thought was a particularly helpful driving aid.
The directions to destinations were very clear, though the voice was rather hard to hear even with the car stereo turned right down.
Reviewed by Martyn - April 2007.
Magellan RoadMate 6000T (Sat Nav)
"Like all the devices in the Magellan series, the Magellan RoadMate 6000T also sports a high stylized design and is extremely compact. However the Magellan 6000T stands apart form its siblings as it's the only one to offer hands-free calling with Bluetooth enabled phones. Apart from a real-time traffic receiver, the 6000 also includes photo viewer and can simultaneously receive turn-by-turn route guidance while enjoying MP3 and WMA music files from an SD or MMC memory card."What we thought:
It's really easy to use and is packed full of amazing functions. I love it when the alarm bells ring as I approach the many speed cameras on the M42! It also tells you about regular traffic cameras, but that did get a bit too annoying when driving along the motorway.
It's really good for directing you to a destination and very easy to enter into the system. When you're driving along you can zoom in and out of the may on the screen by some large + and - buttons that sit on the top of the unit. The voice is also clear and gives you plenty of warning before you need to make a turn. If you make a wrong turn it re-assesses the route really quickly and starts to direct you from there pretty much straight away.
it also features an integrated receiver for LIVE traffic incident reports AND Bluetooth wireless technology for making hands-free phone calls with your Bluetooth-enabled phone - very handy.
It comes pre-loaded with UK and Eropean road maps and you can update them online.
It also has a built-in music player, picture viewer and rechargeable battery enable you to enjoy entertainment en-route to your destination, even when you don't have access to power. I love it and wouldn't go back to a cheaper model.
Road Angel Navigator 6000
"The newest product in the Road Angel range offering the very best in Satellite Navigation (Sat Nav) and GPS speed camera detection/protection all in one product. With the unique Road Angel full screen Driver Safety System and award winning database of Accident Blackspots and Safety Cameras to ensure a trouble free journey."We tested the Road Angel Navigator 6000 satnav system against the tomtom on a 500 mile trip. Both systems picked the same route and distance.
What we liked:
- Once set up it was reliable and worked well
- It has good camera recognition/spotting
- It's user-friendly and straightforward to use
- Good portability as it's a handy pocket-size
What we weren't keen on:
- Annoying click when scrolling through menus (although even the Garmin has this).
- The screen colours were a bit garish and there was no obvious way to change these.
- The menu and searching aren't quite as logical as a TomTom.
- The mount for the windscreen was a bit fiddly to fit but once there it was easy to use.
- Quite a bit of the display is taken up by the time/speed information.
- It's a shame it doesn't come with a carrying case to make the most of its portability.
Overall: We liked the Road Angel Navigator 6000 - it's good value for money, it does the job and has good speed camera recognition.
Reviewed November 2006
Corgi iCar
"Corgi has combined its leading position in toy cars with the latest technology phenomenon to produce this year's must have MP3 accessory. Just plug in and play to watch the iCar rock."What we liked: An cool and original product that is new to the market. Satisfies those with a love of cars and of music because it is essentially iPod speakers.
What we weren't so keen on: Once we had looked at it for a few minutes the novelty of it had worn off and the noise the mechanisms made to enable the car to move sometimes drowned out the effect of the music. Having said that it would make a great gift for a older child or younger teenager.
Reviewed October 2006
