Tried and tested - Motoring - Tiscali Shopping

Whether you're looking for a satellite navigation system or a Bluetooth headset, read our motoring reviews below before you splash the cash.

"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 thingcar 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.
 

"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.
 

"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.
 

"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
 

"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
  £12

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