Lincolnshire Echo

Magnificant Megane Tourer ; Renault Used to Have a Great Reputation for Its Estate Cars, Because They Were Longer Than the Equivalent Saloons and Promised Good Load- Carrying, a Factor That Iain Robertson Suggests has Returned with the New Megane St.

Thinking back to the Renault 21 of a few years ago, the estate car variant was in as much demand as any big Citroen or Volvo wagon of the period and it was easy to understand why. A longer wheelbase, the distance between front and rear axle lines, was so much enlarged that new passenger doors were required over the hatch or saloon versions of the car and its load deck was simply humungous, being somewhat over two metres in length.

A Great Fuelfilled Day Out

The Sturton & Stow Motor Sports Club enjoyed an action packed event at Caenby Corner at the weekend. There is racing for all ages with two junior classes for 12-16 year olds, one class of standard mini''s, the other Corsa-engined space-framed specials.

Think Pink for Hiq Race Event

She looks pretty in pink, and Melanie C is urging all motorsport fans to do likewise by dressing in the colour at the next round of the HiQ British Touring Car Championship. The former Spice Girl star has donned the colour in a bid to get everyone else to follow suit at Brands Hatch on Sunday, October 4, to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, HiQ''s official charity for 2009.

Scrappage Scheme Extended

THE car scrappage scheme is to be extended to cover an extra 100,000 cars and vans, the Government has announced. Ministers allocated Pounds 300-million to the scheme, under which motorists receive a Pounds 2,000 discount to trade in cars more than 10-years-old for new models.

Mpvs for the Family Online

CARSITE.co.uk, a pioneering web retailer of ex-fleet cars, now has a range of family-friendly MPVs up for online sale. They range from a 2006 1.6-litre petrol Vauxhall Zafira going for Pounds 5,048 to a similar-plate Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 petrol selling for Pounds 5,090. Both examples given are about a grand cheaper than the prices asked by franchised dealers, says Carsite. WHICH mini-people carrier will lose the least cash over three years and 60,000 miles' use? Citroen's Nemo Multispace...

Keep a Cool Head in Your Car Hunt ; Ray Castle, of Our Online Motoring Partner, Motors.Co.Uk, Weighs in with Some Timely Advice ...

It's a fact - very few of us are rich enough to afford a decent car without a lender's help. And, in the excitement of getting a shiny new motor, it's easy to ignore where the money's actually coming from. So long as it's there, it's tempting to take the first loan you're offered. But stop. Not only will a cool head and a little research save you, potentially, hundreds of pounds, but it could also mean you can afford a far better car than you imagined.

Prepare to Be Amazed by This Golf!

The most powerful and fastest- accelerating Golf ever produced - the Golf R - has been unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Developed by Volkswagen Individual, the special projects wing of Volkswagen, and following on from the Mk IV and Mk V Golf R32 models, the Golf R is equipped with a 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder engine developing 270 PS and four-wheel drive. Not only is the new engine 35 kg lighter and 20 PS more powerful than the 3.2-litre V6 found in the outgoing Golf R32, it's also mor...

Hard to Resist ... ; Further Refinements Make the 2009 Renault Clio Sport Tourer a Hard Car to Resist. Try As We Might, We Could Find Little to Fault in This Versatile Bargain. Roy Woodcock Reports ...

Small cars are the perfect answer to most of today's motoring challenges. Except one. Yes they might be cheap to buy and economical to run, they might thrive in the congested spaces of our urban roads and parking can be a doddle. And, thanks to the wonders of modern design and engineering, they can even accommodate most of our people needs most of the time. But where they fall down big time is space in the boot. Where it really counts, there isn't any! So okay, that last statement might be a ...

The Right Tool for the Job ; Hugely Impressed by Vw's Powerful V10 Touareg, Motoring Editor David Hooper Sticks Up for the Much-Maligned 4x4

IT doesn't matter whether you are an electrician, joiner, surgeon, or DIY fanatic, having the right tool for the job in hand is vital for getting the work done quickly and safely. The same principle is true when it comes to cars. You don't want a Micra if you're going on holiday with five kids and all their luggage - and a low-slung, hard-riding sports car isn't ideal for taking your granny shopping in.

Drip, Drip, Drip of Savings

Rekindling 50 Years of Motoring Memories

I TOOK a trip back in time the other day. Back to almost 50 years ago, in fact - to the day I collected my first car. It happened when I visited a museum and came across an identical model - a beautiful little runner that was the Morris Series E 1939 vintage.

Stop Here for New Kit

Harley-Davidson Rolls Out Four New Models

HARLEY-Davidson is roaring into 2010 with four new motorcycle models. Across six model platforms, Harley-Davidson achieves a fusion of tradition and technology in a motorcycle product line that offers more power, luxury, style, and value.

Darren Bowled Over by Cruiser

CRICKET legend Darren Gough celebrated his 39th birthday in style by taking delivery of a brand new Hyosung GV125c Cruiser as he continues his journey towards becoming a fully fledged motorcyclist as part of the Get On campaign. The former Strictly Come Dancing champion has teamed up with Get On, a groundbreaking nationwide campaign designed to promote motorcycling and scootering, and is fulfilling his lifelong ambition of learning to ride a motorbike. Get On, which is supported with the slog...

'One-Stop Shop' for Suzuki Repair

SUZUKI has launched its All-Makes Servicing and Repair programme across 152 dealers and authorised repairers. The programme, an industry first, has been developed to allow Suzuki dealers to offer multi-brand maintenance and repair within a "one stop shop". Suzuki has teamed up with three leading industry companies - Motaquip, Autodata and MAM. Suzuki GB will provide the logistics to supply its dealers on a next-day basis with access to the comprehensive range of Motaquip parts via its distrib...

Pre-Owned Kawasaki

RECOGNISING the demand within its dealer network for not just new, but also quality pre-owned machines, Kawasaki Motors UK is now offering an industry leading vehicle support scheme branded Kawasaki Select - Used and Approved. Select incorporates many distinctive and valuable features. At its very core is the principle that it is run and supported by Kawasaki and its dealers directly and does not rely on third parties - often the downfall of so many other schemes in terms of quality, response...

Kind of Luxury That Gives a Warm Glow ; with New Engines Combining Impressive Performance and Economy, Motoring Editor David Hooper Takes His Seat in the Theatre That Is Jaguar's Xf ...

RIGHT! Winter's coming so you'd better order a Jaguar XF. Why? Because it comes with a heated steering wheel to keep your hands warm on those cold winter mornings. All right, I admit it, it is actually an optional extra which costs Pounds 230, but as the first chilly mornings started to make themselves felt during the few days I had the car, I was sitting in the lap of luxury. Yes, of course the seats were heated, but I don't think I've ever driven a car with a heated steering wheel before.

Performance and Touch of Style

PEUGEOT'S third generation Speedfight is now on sale with a choice of air-cooled or liquid-cooled engines. More than half a million Speedfight scooters have been sold over the past 14 years and demand for its latest incarnation is expected to be strong. Completely redesigned from the ground up, the Speedfight 3 has a specification to match its freshly restyled bodywork and colour schemes. Enlarged 13" alloy wheels, 32mm upside down hydraulic forks and 215mm Shuricane front disc brake with rad...

Britain's Favourite Cars Are Made Even More Affordable at Nottingham Autopark

THERE is no doubt the scrappage scheme has boosted the sales of new cars, but it is not for everyone. To qualify you must own a vehicle that's at least 10-years-old, you have to have owned it for a minimum period of a year and it has to be covered by a current MoT. Many potential new car buyers, therefore, will not qualify, and with many of the most popular new models under the scrappage scheme being imported from South East Asia, there may be a lengthy wait for a new car as manufacturers str...

Mazda 6 Estate Proves a Very Worthy Class Winner

THE Mazda 6 Estate has proved its towing ability, for the fourth time, in The Caravan Club Towcar Of The Year 2010 awards. Praised for its practicality and excellent towing ability, the judges said: "The Mazda 6 is a very worthy class winner."