Irish Times Podcast

Here is me chatting to Neil Briscoe about the Mercedes Benz G Wagon.......

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Good value at a hundred grand...............

On a recent trip to the Austrian Alps I spent a leisure afternoon at the thrill and ride of the Kitzbühel Off-road Experience. Hosted by Mercedes Benz in a vast and deep quarry, the experience allows those in attendance (and brave enough) a drive in a Mercedes Benz four-wheel-drive vehicle. On offer is the M Class,GLK Class, GL Class and G-Wagon. There was no decision to be made by me as it was always going to be the G-wagon. This in my opinion is the last word in luxury and off-road ability. Think of it as having the ability of a Land Rover Defender on the outside and the luxury and plush finish of a Bentley on the inside. After saddling up in the cosy cabin with my very Germanic and friendly instructor, Michael, we set off in low-ratio gearbox between the red cones and down a hill to our first obstacle, a left-to-right bend on an angle of about 22 degrees with plenty of snow and ice under our winter tyres. I continued to drive for about twenty minutes before handing over to Michael who showed me "how it's done".... We crawled up severe inclines with all three differential locks on and not a spin of even one tyre. We made our way down to the very pit of the quarry where there were ice holes and 30 degree tilt turns waiting for us. All were no problem for this mighty machine, the original and best All-Terrain-Vehicle money can buy.  I asked what price the G-Wagon we were driving was and was told it was Eur 100,000 in Germany and I instantly thought to myself what great value it was at that price.

The G-Wagon is made under contract agreement by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria for Mercedes Benz and has been since it was first launched in 1979.

Booking is essential.  http://www.kitzbuehel.com/en/news-and-events/events/Mercedes-Benz+4MATIC+-+Experience_te29690

Top Gear's P45 heads to Beaulieu

The long-awaited new Top Gear series is now airing on the BBC and that can mean only one thing – new challenge cars arriving at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear! And visitors will not be disappointed – the latest arrival is none other than Jeremy Clarkson’s weird and wonderful P45.

For the first instalment of the 19^th series, Jeremy returned to our screens in possibly the strangest mode of motoring transport viewers have yet seen. Following the mass popularity of his video demonstrating the many benefits of the world’s smallest car, the Peel P50, the big man was set a new challenge. His mission? To create and drive a car even smaller than the Peel P50. The result? The brilliant yet bonkers P45 micro car.

A team of talented students from Coventry University’s Automotive Design course were commissioned to work on styling, whilst the aluminium bodywork was hand crafted by the people who make the fabulous Petersen Bentley. Showing extraordinary attention to detail, the P45 was painted with blue twin stripes, paying homage to legendary AC Cobra creator, Carroll Shelby. Fortunately for Shelby, that was where the similarities between the two cars ended.

Ever the professional, Jeremy embarked on an extensive road test of the vehicle, which saw him driving at top speeds of around 30mph on the A3, taking the vehicle onboard a coach to London... to demonstrate how easy it is to get onboard a train, and then driving it through Westfield Shopping Centre and the British Library. Despite its many, many shortcomings, including a microscopic fuel tank, high risk of nose-smashing and inability to get through a car wash without jamming the machinery and soaking the driver’s suit, Jeremy then entered the Dragon’s Den, seeking investment from the dragons for mass production – their verdict was a unanimous and resounding “I’m out”.

Throughout the test drive, Jeremy was singing its praises, describing the car simply as “completely excellent”. Richard and James, however, were a little less enthusiastic, preferring to call it “utterly ridiculous” and “a complete death trap”. The P45 is now on display at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear exhibition, where visitors can make a thorough inspection of the car and decide for themselves whether it is ingenious... or just plain insane.

The unique motor joins a whole host of cars at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Another recent addition is the budget Bond Lotus Excel submarine car from the50 Years of Bond Cars special and the collection is awaiting the arrival of another new creation from Series 19, due to be unveiled shortly.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. 

SIMI Video on New Number Plate System for Ireland

Toyota storms back to reclaim number one spot

Toyota is hitting back, from finishing second in 2012 for new car sales, with 1,278 units registered in the first 20 days of 2013. Volkswagen are in second place with 1,183 units and Hyundai are third place on 1,060 units. Ford with 963 units and Skoda with 673 units complete the top five.

Volkswagen's Golf was the top selling model, with 433 units, followed by the Toyota Avensis (368 units) and the Ford Focus with 330 units.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	MAKE TOYOTA VOLKSWAGEN HYUNDAI FORD SKODA NISSAN AUDI KIA BMW GM (OPEL)	UNITS 1,278 1,183 1,060 963 673 596 588 537 475 452	% SHARE 12.62% 11.69% 10.47% 9.51% 6.65% 5.89% 5.81% 5.3% 4.69% 4.47%

Figures supplied by  The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

SIMI DISAPPOINTED WITH TAX INCREASES BUT WELCOMES NEW REGISTRATION PLATE

While increases in VRT and Road Tax were strongly signalled, we warned Government that now is not the time and it is certainly not the time to increase both. The motorist is already paying enough tax to be on the road and new car sales are down 10,000 on last year. We have always said that more tax would be generated from increasing the sale of cars rather than increasing taxation. The Budget VRT increases should deliver about €50 million but this amount could be generated from the sale of just 6,000 extra cars and this would also support 800 extra jobs which would save the Government almost €20 million.

On the plus side, for those buying a new car next year with a trade-in, the increase in VRT will have a knock-on effect on the value of the second hand, so the cost to change should not be significantly different. We are also satisfied that this major restructuring of VRT and Road Tax Bands was based on consultation with the Industry and has produced a structure that will give us stability into the future."

Alan Lyons, President of SIMI says, "The introduction of the new registration period is really good news for the Industry. For several years, we have been highlighting the problem of seasonality in our industry, where 80% of new cars are sold in the first half of the year, forcing garages to reduce staff because of lack of business later on in the year. While we may not see a significant change in buying patterns in its first year of introduction, the new plate will have a hugely positive impact on the industry in the long term."

The retention of the VRT relief for electric cars, plug-in hybrids and flexi-fuel vehicles is also welcomed, as too is the reduction in Road Tax for Electric cars.

Scooter driver fakes accident to trap woman

A man has faked injury on a roadside in southern France in an effort to lure and assault an unsuspecting woman. The attack serves as a warning for other vulnerable drivers.

The incident occurred on the night of Friday 16th November. The female victim was driving on a road outside the city of Menton in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of south eastern France when she noticed a man lying on the footpath next to his scooter. Assuming he'd been involved in a road accident, the woman says she pulled over to assist the supposed victim, who then proceeded to assault her. The man then fled the scene as another vehicle approached.

The police department of Menton has launched an investigation.

                                               Women drivers beware when driving at night.....