women's motoring & cars & car reviews for women
Paul Harmer
London-based freelance photographer and founder member of Women and Wheels
Homepage: http://www.paulharmer.com
Posts by Paul Harmer
Ford S-Max Automatically Refreshed
May 28th
While I had for some time been secretly looking forward to getting inside a Ford S-Max, the day’s fun was rather overshadowed by a turn of events on the launch of the new-look, new-drive car.
We had a puncture – no that’s not right – a tyre that was beyond repair. In fact it was ripped to shreds on a narrow scenic lane with rather too many stones and sharp rocks for comfort – especially for the car.
We waited rather helplessly to be rescued in a very pretty village (having previously tried an amazing sealant kit which fills the tyre and gets the tyre pressure up to scratch, but which won’t work if the puncture is on the sidewall). We were bored and restless until a vision of loveliness in the form of a burly, hunky man came to our rescue. What is it about a man who knows what he’s doing, while doing what he knows so effortlessly? And what a huge jack it was as well! Even Paul was impressed with the proceedings.
Proton Satria Neo Sport. Boy-Racer Heaven?
May 28th
While the slight embarrassment of being in a red car with white racing stripes never quite left me, I did really enjoy driving the Proton Satria Neo Sport, a nippy little number. It’s so easy to forget what’s on the outside when you’re having fun. Rather like my new hairdo. Feel great walking around in public, it’s just when I catch sight of myself that I recoil slightly.
However, there is a Lotus influence not only in the ride and handling but also in the design, which is perhaps why it was quite a struggle to actually get a drive in the Satria. My husband was adamant about the admiring glances the car received and refused to accept that perhaps people were just looking on in amazement at a very large, grown man driving a young man’s car with his head bent at a peculiar angle in order to fit in it. What work colleagues must have thought about his flattened hairstyle I dread to think.
But then I did begin to wonder as I saw a couple of guys, on different occasions, actually stop and take a better look at it. Perhaps it’s the lure of the Lotus badge, or maybe it’s actually rather a cool looking car? Even my 14 year-old, who doesn’t say much at the moment, did manage to exclaim “wicked” which I took to be quite a positive reaction and the most animated we’ve seen him in a long time.
Kia Cee’d SW
May 28th
While it’s true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, I’ve often found it no bad thing. The second impression can be so powerful that all those original thoughts, whether good or bad, can be swept away.
Now I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Kia’s first estate car, the Cee’d SW, mainly because Kia’s have never found themselves high on my radar. Not because I don’t think they’re worthy of my attention, just that they’ve never really grabbed it before. (I have since experienced the delights of the Sorento and the fun of the Venga, so Kia please forgive my earlier naivety)
The Kia Cee’d initially struck me as being inoffensive, innocuous and rather plain, in a no-nonsense Ford Focus type of way. The colour we had can’t have meant to inspire either, even if my mother thought it very elegant.
So while my first impression was rather luke warm to say the least, within seconds of driving it I was hooked and everything about the car took on a different hue. This must be the easiest car I have ever driven. More >
A Day Out With Volvo
Feb 2nd
Volvos have always been a bit of a mystery to me. I always associated them with grown-ups and families, steady income and mortgages and saw them as solid, dependable and somewhat dull. Over the years, of course, this is what I have become (not dull of course, never dull), and it came as rather a shock on the day.
But really, that’s all a bit of a cliche as Volvos have moved on, helped I feel, by the wonderful Wallander in his elegant, understated V50. Either that, or my tastes have changed and the Volvo range now looks very different and appetising.
What I needed was immersion therapy and I certainly got that after a day spent with the entire range which was laid out for me to drive. My only regret being that I didn’t have time to sample them all and had to restrict myself to a mere handful (the estates and the XC90 SUV), figuring these would appeal to the women in the family. We tend to do a lot of lugging.
I came away rather delighted, allowing myself a little fantasy about how my life might be with each Volvo I drove, from the entry-level C30 to the upmarket XC90. The same husband kept appearing in these day-dreams though which was slightly disappointing. See the video for the full narrative.
From the girl-about-town C30 to the all-singing and all-dancing XC90 with its seven seats, to the gorgeous new V60 with its powerful engine, stylish design and sheer comfort. So many to choose from. I’ll take them all, thanks.
You might notice the DRIVe badge-of-honour. This is attached to those models that deliver the best environmental performance in their class. The C30, together with their V50 (a medium-size estate) both with 1.6 litre diesel engines, can give you 74 miles to the gallon while only producing 99 g/km of CO2. This allows you to drive into the London congestion charge zone for nothing, while also exempting you from car tax. And they go, too.
But apart from all the wonderful savings you can make if you owned a DRIVe Volvo, it was the actually the way these cars drove and their looks, particularly the supremely elegant interiors, that impressed me.
These are premium cars and can generally match their obvious rivals for fit, finish and style, but it was a pleasant change to be sitting in something with a badge other than the obvious star, four rings or a blue and white badge on the front. It’s a different drive and a different image, and none the worse for that.
Peugeot 5008 Out-takes
Feb 20th
Just to prove that the Women and Wheels cameraman has a tough job after all. Our full Peugeot 5008 First Drive Story coming later this week…