Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

1 week ago | motoringresearch.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

The fastest family cars © JLR A family car definitely doesn’t have to be dull. On the contrary, some offer the speed of a supercar with the load capacity of a small van. They’re perfect for parents who enjoy driving and want a vehicle that ticks every box. Here, we’ve nominated many of our favourite estate cars and SUVs, with a focus on the new and nearly-new models. Strap in for a family-sized helping of performance and practicality.

3 weeks ago | motoringresearch.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Brit-popular in 1995 © Ford It was the year Pulp’s ‘Different Class’ album debuted at number one, while Blur and Oasis battled for singles-chart supremacy with ‘Country House’ and ‘Roll With It’. Meanwhile, the car market was a very different place. Using DVLA data, we’ll travel back to 1995 to reveal the 25 most popular cars on UK roads that year. These vehicles were everywhere in the mid-1990s, yet most have almost vanished today.

3 weeks ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

The destination is Simonsbath, in the heart of Exmoor. A 50-mile drive from my starting point on the north-western fringes of Dartmoor. Setting the sat-nav to ‘as the crow flies’ mode, I could be enjoying a flat white at the Exmoor Forest Inn within the hour. But thanks to the unique way in which the road network of Devon is constructed, following a crow to Simonsbath is almost impossible without the aid of wings. On a good day, it’ll take 90 minutes.

1 month ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

With thanks to Flavio, an early UK Fiat Coupé 16v has joined the Petrolblog fleet. It doesn't have a second gear, the ABS light is on, and there's a massive dent in the door – and that's the problems that we know about. Still, it has a wonderful engine and it looks fabulous.

1 month ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

I’ve always enjoyed crossing the River Severn. Be it over the original Severn Bridge or the Second Severn Crossing, hopping from England to Wales has invariably signalled the start of a holiday or the promise of a good drive on one of Britain’s best roads. Something positive. An event to look forward to. But to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, famously photographed waiting for a ferry to cross the Severn, the times they are a-changin’. Driving in Wales today can be a frustrating experience.