Motoring News
Today, 18 September 2015Where will you find the worst drivers in Europe?
You may think Britain's drivers are some of the worst in Europe, but a simple holiday to Belgium could prove you wrong
I’ve been sworn at in enough different languages to know that, deep down, fundamentally none of us on this planet is all that different.But I’ve also been tailgated enough times through Belgium to know that where you come from makes a difference to what you’re like as a driver.Last week I drove 3200 miles across Europe, in a Land Rover Defender, which gave me ?ample opportunity to see other drivers from a slow-moving vehicle – like a fat referee struggling in the melee of a football match. And it set me wondering: where exactly will you find Europe’s worst drivers?Aforementioned Belgium? Perhaps. I’m quite serious about the tailgating. You can be in France one minute, where lane discipline is almost as exemplary as an autoroute’s road surface. The next moment you’re in Belgium and it’s an evens bet which you’ll see first: a windscreen so large in your rear-view mirror that you can read warning notices printed on the sun visors, or a pothole the size of a 1932 Austin Seven.Curiously, though, it’s not an aggressive tailgate like you’d find on the Hammersmith Flyover in London. Belgian drivers are just waiting, closely, often while towing a trailer, most likely for another traffic jam to begin.The French version of tailgating is slightly more assertive. It’s probably accompanied by a left-hand indicator, things used in three-minute spells or not at all, impatiently suggesting that, really, you’ve passed that Dutch caravan now and it’s time to pull to the right. It works. Dedication to
read moreNew Mini Cooper S versus used Volkswagen Golf GTI - comparison
Can the decision on which hot hatchback to buy really so clear cut? We line up two of the best to find out
Twenty grand for a hot hatch. Easy decision, no? Buy a Ford Fiesta ST and pocket some change. But there’s something the Blue Oval can’t deliver, and that’s premium appeal. ‘Premium’ may be a winceworthy word around these parts, but few are totally immune to its lure. So in a bid to have our cake and eat it, we’ve chosen two rapid hatches that add a layer of gloss to their go.And it’s a story of little(ish) and large. Today’s Mini is far from petite, but our Volcanic Orange Cooper S is still a full 418mm shorter than the used Volkswagen Golf GTI against which it is pitched here. With three doors, the 189bhp Mini retails at £18,840.Our specced-up example costs £24,415, but choose the popular Chili Pack (highlights: 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone air-con, half-leather seats, switchable driving modes) instead of our car’s optional extras and the price comes to £20,740.For £20,799, you can buy an early (read 2013) Mk7 Golf GTI with 15,000 miles on the clock – comfortably within its three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. With two more doors than the Mini. And a dual-clutch automatic gearbox, adaptive damping, parking sensors and 18in wheels. Not to mention the Performance Pack that adds 10bhp for a 227bhp total, an electronically activated limited-slip differential and uprated brakes. Our Mini does have adaptive damping (a £375 option), but still, little David had better bring his slingshot for this battle.<
read moreNew versus used cars - which is best?
A used Ferrari for the price of a new BMW? Used Jaguar or new Peugeot? And that’s just the half of it. We line up four ‘new vs used’ contests, from £20k to £95k
Patience is a virtue. That shiny new performance car you drooled over in our road test a few years ago may have been agonisingly unattainable back then, but while you’ve been busy living your life, it might have gently edged into your price range thanks to the irresistible force of depreciation.If this feature was purely about bang for your buck, it’d be a clean sweep for our four used cars. They all outgun their new rivals in the power stakes. But it’s not that simple. The latest tech, freshest styling and lower running costs could easily tempt you back towards the new car instead in each contest here.We’ve come to a Cold War airfield to sort this one out. Time to reach for the big red button… We'll be putting each of our 'new versus used' tests live over the next four days, so stay tuned to this page.Test one - New Mini Cooper S versus used Volkswagen Golf GTIGet the latest car news, reviews and galleries from Autocar direct to your inbox every week. Enter your email address below:
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