Motors and Me

I really should’ve blogged about this earlier for the sake of a few told-you-so’s later on, but here goes: the BMW Z4 is a fantastic-looking car that will become a future design classic . That’s right, you heard it here first. Well, provided the motoring press in your part of the world hasn’t already changed its mind, that is. Yes, despite the fact I’ve yet to see one in the metal, I’m in awe of the car already. I think I heard someone describe its styling recently as looking as if someone had attacked it with a machete and I couldn’t agree more. But what wonderful swordsmanship! I honestly can’t think of a car that’s struck me by its magnificence as much as the Z4. The thing belongs in a design museum, not on a car dealer’s forecourt. Viewed from the side, the proportions have an echo of the Jaguar E-Type ... but it looks better. The rear end, something that many manufacturers seem to have particular difficulty with, is one of the best-executed I’ve seen. The three-quarters vie

Did I mention that I’m in the middle of dusting off my old 7days, 7 cars site? No? Well, I am. Once that’s done, however, it’ll be packed away in little polystyrene wotsits and bubble-wrap and all future car-related content will be appearing here. Don’t you just love rationalisation?

I see evo magazine has taken delivery of a Mini Cooper S for its fast fleet this month. Interestingly — for me at least — they’ve opted for the larger-than-standard 17-inch wheels, having only tested the car on 16’s previously. There’s been plenty of debate about their different handling characteristics on mini2.com , so it’ll be good to see what a bunch of motoring journos makes of them. At least they reckon the bigger rims look the part. :)

Okay, so the supposed September launch of this section never happened. Nor did the October one. It’s unlikely it’ll happen in November either, but I may as well post things into Blogger’s database regardless. Here goes... First off the bat, the arrival of the Cooper S has been brought forward nearly 3 months. It should now be ready to pick up on the 20th January 2003. Hurrah! Secondly, I’ve changed its spec a bit. Out with the air conditioning (it always was an impulse choice anyway) and in with a bodykit! Boy-racerdom, here we come. ;) Thirdly on the Mini front, I’ve decided the car’s really going to need a name. Best so far is Biffa (as in Bacon, of Viz) on the grounds I want the car to look like it’s asking “Did you spill my pint?”. ;) Now for some non-Mini news. I took the Puma out for a drive today. Just a drive, not really going anywhere, despite heading in the direction of Kielder Water. The journey was interrupted many a time to try out the digital camera. Just as the sun w