Carter's Comments:

Massive grip on the road - good/progressive acceleration and wide torque band. DSC too harsh and ready to cut the power, yet switching it off (on the road) requires an experienced driver or a fool. Vague steering and a lack of road 'feel' compromise the drive and it's way too bouncy on track. Great engine note and point to point as quick as a 911 (non turbo) cross country (especially in the wet). Good internal & boot space, finish and build quality. Brakes HOPELESS on track (will fade after 3 laps of spirited driving), but just about perfect for the road. A very good 'all round' road car... but probably not as good as the M5. (The 3 chassis is nothing like as good as the 5 in my opinion - but then it is a lot cheaper.) It's not a track car unless you have money to burn on tyres and brake pads and don't mind being overtaken- the car is about 400kg too heavy. With DSC off on an open airfield or track it's a real hoot doing the back end out bit (and is bloody good at it - as long as you are happy to buy new back tyres each day).

As you may know I had a spat with BMW as the gearbox/flywheel/clutch died on a trackday and BMW refused to cover repairs through the warranty- this was resolved only after Autocar, Auto Express, Top Gear and others championed the cause - I finally got a letter from the boss of BMW GB telling me that BMW would henceforth cover all BM cars for track use. They also paid all my costs and gave me £1000 to shut up (result!).

Verdict: A blimmin' great road car - proper 4 seater - great value for money and decent residuals. Just don't take it on track without upping the brakes. Oh, and in town, nobody lets you out of junctions...... as - remember - you're driving the devil's spawn.

VIDEO - 1.2 mb WMV of the M3 at Bruntingthorpe: (Right Click 'Save Target As): here

Needing a quick point to point proper four seater with a big boot... I bought another in 2005. Interestingly, 6 years after it was introduced 'Evo' (Jan 2006) still think it's the class leader, seeing off the Merc and the new RS4.

BMW M3 E46 (bought December 2005)

(pic below)

Carter's Comments:

It looks right, it is right. As a track toy and fair weather road car it's as as good as they come (Quick Radicals & Arials now proven quicker on the track, but you can't fit five Tesco bags into the boot) - and whenever you're in a Seven, it's like being in the 'Railway Children' - people smile, wave and let you in. (Try that in a Radical.)

Minus points: You need to change the exhaust to get it onto most UK tracks... adding a dustbin sized silencer (see above). It's a bitch to get into in the dry and much MUCH harder if you ever use a roof. It's way too expensive to buy if you load it up with the 'essential' upgraded brakes etc. and will average 8 mpg on track. If you crash on the road, you'll probably die as you are dwarfed by the smallest domestic car. It 'kangaroos' in traffic jams and you get wet all the time. Pass a gritter lorry in winter and you'll still be finding grit in the footwell in summer. The Rover K engine note is so strained at full RPM that you're sure pistons will soon emerge from the bonnet en route to Saturn. Without the windscreen you'll need a skid lid and if you take the doors off you'll get blown apart and deafened by the wind. To get the most from this car you need to 'tinker' with the suspension setup according to surface, temperature and weather. If you're on the wrong tyres in the wet - it's a widow maker.

Plus points: It's very, very, very, very, very quick. Now double that and you're not even getting close. It sounds great, it looks great. Its grip in the dry on sticky tyres is breathtaking (literally), cornering at twice the speed you ever thought possible in a road car. All your passengers will get out and say the same word (which begins with F).

Buy second hand and you'll have cast iron residuals.

Verdict: It's completly stupid - and I really, really miss it.

VIDEO: 1.8 mb WMV at Donington Park with other Sevens (Right Click 'Save Target As): here

Carter's Comments:

This car needs little introduction.

Forget the headline 450 BHP figure - 457.0 ft lbs torque is the key to this car (available with the X50 'power or 'S' upgrade') - until you've done these numbers on road or (preferably) track, you won't understand what it feels like. Drop the clutch from the line and power is sent to all 4 wheels (as the computer and thus the twin turbos realise you mean business) - you change from first to second at about 60 MPH, and the 'push' is equal to the quickest Caterham. Second and third are fairground rides. Change to fourth and fifth and only after 160+ MPH do you start to lose the kick in your back - up to sixth to cruise up to 200 MPH until the rev counter hits max - just wind noise by then, from outside, and any passengers who happen to be along for the ride.

But that is the least of this car's abilities. Unless you are a complete klutz it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to put this car into a ditch (with the computer aids on) - and unlike other cars (M3 etc) - the aids don't get in the way, they just sit quietly in the background, not interfering, just ready to save your life if a deer jumps out or a numpty in a panama hat does something stupid. If you really push, the back end will step out from time to time but only if you react like a complete prat will the aids jump in and affect your speed or line. It really is a great grand tourer with enough fizz to sparkle whenever you fancy.

The grip in wet or dry is simply stunning. There’s real consistency in the way this car loads up and informs you of changes in surface or grip... giving you ample opportunity to react safely. For road the massive brakes are perfect - but the 1500kg+ weight will mean brakes and rear tyres will suffer on track - rear tyres for this car are EXPENSIVE.

Slight niggles:

The cabin is dour and not supercar at all - CD and SAT NAV controls are way too fiddly (ESPECIALLY AT SPEED).

If you are crusing along in 5th or 6th and suddenly want power, the turbos will take a second or so to cut in - it lacks the instant torque of a big normally aspirated engine - but if you are thrashing, then the turbos know in advance that you need the power so are already spinning 'upstream', thus negating any lag.

If you drive it carefully it seems very dull (and you wonder what the fuss was all about). It needs a good thrashing to come alive. There is absolutely no drama about this car (this is either a good thing or a bad thing).

With the std exhaust it sounds complete rubbish (compared with the rest of the 911s and other normally aspirated sports cars)- a third party sports version is available.... but you'll void the warranty.

Verdict: BLISTERINGLY QUICK. Life is too short, but you'll see more of it with one of these (as you'll arrive before you left).

Caviat: You HAVE to be in the right part of the world to own one of these... I moved back to England and sold it immediately. It needs empty roads and I need a licence!

VIDEO: 6 mb WMV across the Highest pass in Britain (Right Click 'Save Target As): here

Carter's Comments:

It's an estate car right? Right... much has been written about this car - most of it right.

...Just a few points I'd add. (Vorsprung durch technik)... I can't argue. Very clever adaptive damping makes it more comfortable than my BM5 tourer - at twice the speed. The V8 Twin Turbo makes the best noise I've ever heard from a road car (apart from the TVR Grif 500) and 190 MPH once you get rid of the silly limiter.

It's very quick in a straight line, it's huge, heavy, well built, sounds great, will transport 5 people and 2 Great Danes safely at autobahn speeds. Its seating, spec, leather, air con, stereo (et al) is all great, the Sat Nav is however, a bit dodgy. The ride is surprisingly good considering the 245/19 tyres. I also think it's a blimmin' great looking car. I'm constantly surprised at how much of a 'head turner' it is.

It does however suffer from LOTS of annoying electrical gremlins.

However, If you need the quickest way to transport a wardrobe from coast to coast - this is it.

From Autocar "There’s only one car that comes close to offering a similar combination of performance with all-wheels driven - Porsche’s 911 Turbo." Personally, I'll take the turbo and send the wardrobe by rail... but life never works out that way, does it. If you need an estate but still want some serious performance this is probably the way to go.

Verdict: I dare not take it on track as it is SO heavy. Perfect for a long distance smooch - It's a very fat 911.

VIDEO: 3.1 mb WMV winter blat through the Lakes (Right Click 'Save Target As): here

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Carter's Comments:

This isn't a 911, and why it was ever compared with one is beyond me.

It is SO different from a 911 that I'm amazed Aston keep making the claim. This is NOT an alternative to the 911. The price just happens to sit between the Carrera and the Turbo.

I hope I've make myself clear on that.

This is a two seater Aston Martin that cossets and purrs (and yes it growls very loud when asked). It looks like it's been dripped from a chocolate mold and it's a pure pleasure to be in and to drive. These things are always subjective, but this car It is without doubt the most beautiful I have ever seen.

It drives stonkingly well too. As you may know, I've done fast and I've done quick, and the Aston is not either in spades, but the low centre of gravity and mid mounted 'everything' (51/49 weight distribution) makes it feel astonishingly planted. To highlight this I'd refer you to the EVO article (May 2006) which compared it 0-100-0 to other cars, where it was slower than the Marcos GT and the Audi RS4 , but was quicker than both round a track. If you chuck it about it is really, really good fun and surprisingly quick round the twisties.

I hate quoting Clarkson but just this once: "Given the choice of a Porsche 911 or a V8 Vantage, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. I’d buy the Aston" He might just have a point. Well I did, so it's not like I'm going to disagree.

Anyway, having got the chance to get a standard version (a cancelled order in the spec I wanted), I just couldn't pass it up, and I have to say that the drive is quite simply - an occasion. I know that sounds crap ... but sorry, it's true. The 996 Turbo was pant wettingly quick, the Vantage just makes you wonder why anyone would rush.

At least now when people ask what I drive, I can say 'a hatchback' (thanks to Jimmy Carr from his >> review << for that gag).

(By the way... This car should not be compared to a Porsche 911). Did I say that already?

more photos here

Carter's Comments:

Having the automotive equivalent to Wellington boots (in the Landie) and a DJ (in the Aston) I felt I needed some jeans and a T shirt as a daily drive. Now living full time in the Highlands a 4x4 was important. I flirted with Scoobies, but just couldn't take that route. I have as much street cred as a housebrick (and I really hate cheap plastic). So VW's small 4Motion looked good on paper at least...

The R32 has a proper engine with a bag of mid range torque, accelleration and top speed (unlike the diesel versions) and the chassis and four wheel drive give surprising amounts of grip (given it's height to width). The seats are comfortable and supportive, the ride is firm but not abrasive. It's quiet when you need it to be and pleasingly vocal when you thrash it. It feels well screwed together and doesn't shout 'look at me' amongst other cars in a car park. It doesn't feel that fast - and outright performance is disappointing, but with decent brakes, communicative steering and a well sorted six speed gearbox, I've been well pleased. However, the box is far too close-range for my type of road car, I'm hardly using second or fourth... but I guess it's aimed at people not bassed on empty Highland roads. Shame - but if you're in the south east, ideal I guess.

It's also pretty sensible. 5 Doors, decent luggage space, ABS, ESC, TC, a shed load of airbags and a 5 star crash test result make it about as safe as you can drive in a small car. Also I can fit a large dog, 2 people and 30 Tesco bags in without bother.

If they could make this car 300kg lighter it would be spectacular... but the heavy 4x4 transmission makes it two people heavier than the GTI. This also affects fuel economy - unless you drive like a saint. Which I ain't. I averaged 28 mpg on a long run - not bad for a 4x4 3.2 ltr petrol, but if they'd made 6th gear more 'leggy' It'd be 35.

Having just driven to London and back (630 miles each way) the R32 didn't miss a beat and I can honestly say that the seats are the most comfortable for a long trip that I've had in any car. The ride is also very relaxing... for an 'own one 4 x 4 car' family, it's a great all rounder, and it's only purchase and running costs that stack up against it.

Recommended...

...unless you want to move pianos, in which case, buy an Audi RS6.

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