Women and Wheels
women's motoring & cars & car reviews for women
Rear view mirror with a difference
Jun 1st
We like this – and it’s going to be law in the States by 2014, so you can rest assured it’ll be coming here soon. Much better than some of the in-dash systems we’ve used recently (although they’re better than nothing).
Your ordinary rear-view mirror houses a small, very bright monitor that shows you what’s happening right behind your bumper. The aim is to avoid hitting small children, and in fact the American legislation is called the Kids Transportation Safety Act. This version is made by Gentex and they’ve already made 1.25 million of them in 2010 alone!
An intelligent response to Intelligent law-making we say.
D-Day – the collection of our Honda PCX125
Jun 1st
My main emotion, masking any potential excitement, was one of fear. Would I ever see my children again or would I fall foul to some horrific accident on my first journey on the Honda PCX 125?
Videoman Paul (expert bike-rider, at least in his own head although admittedly he is still alive) drove me down from North West London to the amazing Honda Institute in Colnbrook – they really ought to consider offering day trips.
It was a tense trip to say the least. I do appreciate that there is only so much reassurance that a person can give, and Paul had reached his limit after 15 minutes. Sadly my need for it extended for the entire hour-long journey.
My agony was further prolonged when we arrived, as my contact had taken a bike for a spin – occupational hazzard I suppose working with so many lovely toys. Paul was happy watching and naming aeroplanes flying overhead (the Institute lies a few metres from Heathrow’s runways) – I made him take his anorak off.
Then it appeared, being wheeled towards me – if only it were in slow motion to show off its shiny black bodywork and chrome trim. This was exciting.
So what is the PCX 125?
This is Honda’s all-new scooter with fuel-saving Idle Stop technology. It’s compact yet still has the look of a bigger bike and is actually rather gorgeous with great curves and flowing lines. Looks great in white too (the alternative colour scheme)… More >
Saab Convertible 25th
May 31st
2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of Saab’s iconic Convertible, which makes us feel old and excited at the same time (excited because this could be a great chance for Saab to let us test one). Seriously though, Saab’s are generally lovely and different to everything else on the road.
Three generations of Saab Convertible have hit the road in the last quarter of a century and almost 300,000 have been sold around the world (at one point it seemed like 250,000 of those were in London SW1), establishing the vehicle as a global icon for the brand. Amazingly the convertible has accounted for as much as fifty percent of total sales in Europe. Pity the poor team designing the next Saab hatch then?
Life on the Road: The journey of the Saab Convertible
The journey of the iconic car began in 1986 when a production run of just four hundred Saab 900 Convertibles came off the line for the US market, and we were young and happy. By the time the 900 Convertible went on sale in Europe that year, demand exceeded production capacity. Seven years later and a second generation came to the market. Autumn 1993 saw the all-new Saab 900 Convertible arrive. This second generation model and its Saab 9-3 evolution in 1998 became an icon, with more stylish design, and a move to a hydraulically –powered soft top to save your fingernails.
2003 brought a whole host of innovations to the Saab Convertible with the launch of the third and current generation.
21st Century Saab
Saab celebrated the first anniversary of its rebirth as an independent company in February 2011 by launching an exclusive Independence Edition of its 9-3 Convertible.
The 1.9-litre TTiD Independence Edition Convertible (catchy eh?) is based on the top-of the-range Aero specification with a 180hp engine, six-speed automatic transmission and unique Amber Orange metallic paint finish, a limited edition serial number etched into the rear side windows, distinctive interior trim and comprehensive equipment. Sounds like it’ll get you noticed then, as if driving around in a convertible won’t draw enough attention…
If you’re flush with cash and fancy a new summer runabout, visit www.media.saab.co.uk
Peugeot RCZ – Gorgeous, gorgeous gorgeous ad infinitum!
May 28th
I was so excited to see another RCZ on the road – it pulled out right in front of us. I wanted to shout and wave to let them know that I too had one (albeit for only seven wonderful days) but they ignored me. I felt as if we should have had an immediate bond – the only other time I’ve seem one was at its launch last year.
To me, this only makes the car more desirable. As it is, every time I get out of it, I fall in love all over again. It still shocks me as to just how beautiful it is.
So when I finally did draw up alongside the RCZ with my ready smile, all I got was a cold glare! Was it the two eager faces of my kids in the rear, or the fact that my RCZ was even more stunning than his with our amber red paintwork, contrasting silver aluminum roof arches, black 19” alloys with black-painted brake calipers and ’11′ registration plate?
Some people are just so shallow! Unlike me, of course. More >
Skoda Superb Greenline II Estate
May 28th
I was so taken with the green jelly babies provided so thoughtfully on the launch of Skoda’s Greenline Range, that all I could initially think about was where I could get some more. After nearly choking on the vast amount I managed to cram into my mouth and Paul having a panic attack as one got stuck up his nose (don’t ask) it was time to get down to the serious business of getting to know our Skoda Superb estate.
I have a vague recollection of having been in a Skoda Superb last year as we were chaffeured around an event, but this was the first opportunity I had had of driving one.
While the Superb is by no means the most expensive estate car that we have sampled, once you appreciate all that it has to offer its relatively modest price becomes even more attractive. This Greenline II model comes in at £25,335 thanks to a few added extras (electric boot, KESSY keyless system and parking sensors) but the Sat Nav and leather are standard – very enlightened. And with this Greenline II model, which figures across their whole range of vehicles, Skoda say you’re also getting a cleaner, greener and better car.
All words though, so lets look at the figures. The Greenline II Superb, which let’s not forget is a very large estate, rewards you with over 64 mpg on a combined cycle and churns out only 114 g/km of CO2, which not only means it’s cheaper to run but it comes in the band C for tax which will set you back a mere £30 a year. And on top of all this, the Superb is a good looking car that has so much leg room in the rear it feels like a limousine.
However, it doesn’t feel as if you’re driving a huge car, and even from the outside, it doesn’t look like a giant, but just a good looking estate, and the green credentials of this range does make sense in today’s world, especially if you cover some distances.
So why might you choose this car over all the other lovely looking estates that are in the market place eagerly waiting to seduce you? More >