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 ...
I don’t normally give cars nicknames. With the Zed, however, I’m tempted to call it The Tank. Not because of its size or muscularity, but as an abbreviation of sensory deprivation tank. Yep, that’s right — and it’s not a good thing. The test-drive concerns I had about the 350Z being too comfortable a car are still with me. Except now, I’ve translated that nebulous feeling of unease into a sense that it simply doesn’t provide enough feedback. Journeys at night and in wet weather can be absolutely exhausting. I find myself trying to heighten my senses to the tiniest cues coming through the steering wheel, chassis and pedals. Often I’ll end up leaning forward in my seat, as if listening to a quiet friend in a noisy pub. Thankfully, however, it’s not like that all the time. When you put your foot down and hustle it a bit, the car starts talking again. You begin to feel you’re dictating things rather than reacting to them. Sadl...