Overdrive

I was down in Melbourne recently and I had to visit a friend who lived in Kooyong near the tennis complex where a major tournament was on. At the club was a big sign that said "Free Parking for the first 20 Jaguars". Now I was driving a 1988 XJ sovereign with their characteristic pepper pot wheels. IT looked pretty good but not quite in concourse condition.

I didn't try to get a previewed spot.

But there is something about driving some older classic cars and on that weekend I drove three old Jaguars. I loved it. Is it just me. Well to talk about the glory of this style of motoring I have on the line Les Hughes the editor of Jaguar Magazine.

Originally aired on 4 February 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

I was down in Melbourne recently and I had to visit a friend who lived in Kooyong near the tennis complex where a major tournament was on. At the club was a big sign that said "Free Parking for the first 20 Jaguars". Now I was driving a 1988 XJ sovereign with their characteristic pepper pot wheels. IT looked pretty good but not quite in concourse condition.

I didn't try to get a previewed spot.

But there is something about driving some older classic cars and on that weekend I drove three old Jaguars. I loved it. Is it just me. Well to talk about the glory of this style of motoring I have on the line Les Hughes the editor of Jaguar Magazine.

Originally aired on 4 February 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Jaguar F Pace

Why would Jaguar build an SUV? For the same reason Porsche build some. In Australia 79% of Porsche sales are not sports cars. A wide range of vehicles in your fleet including an SUV is critical.

The F-Pace is a medium size SUV and in Australia the sales of vehicles in this class grew by over 45% in 2016.

Good points: Good looks, touches of heritage in the style, good interior with a wide screen.

Possible improvement: Road noise, not quite the ambience of a luxury car, snug room in the back.

Originally aired on 4 February 2017. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Toyota has just brought in some examples of its new Mirai sedan to show its new technology to the Australian market. It has a whole new look, new body and new interior. But none of that is of particular interest at this stage.

The car is the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The real issue is not just whether the Mirai is a good car but how the hydrogen fuel cell technology fits into the vehicle and to see how it feels to drive. These are the practical pointers to the future of this technology and its use in fleets.

Named as the 2016 World Green Car, the Mirai is the world's first mass-produced fuel-cell sedan and is already being sold in Japan, the United States and Europe in areas supported by a refuelling infrastructure.

The Mirai is an electric engined car but it is not powered by batteries which have considerable weight, have limited range and are slow to charge. The electric motor in cars like the Mirai and the Hyundai ix35 get their power from a fuel cell that takes hydrogen and combines it with oxygen in a reaction that releases electricity. The by-product is water.

Originally aired 22nd October 2016

161022 - Quirky by David Brown

Falcon XR6 by David Brown

Hyundai i30 by David Brown

Would you buy a vehicle where AC is only an optional extra, it is only available with a manual gear box, only the top spec model has electric windows, to adjust the rear vision mirrors you have to reach outside and do it by hand - there not electronic let along heated and the vehicle is not particularly cheap.

Could such a vehicle be sold in the Australian market. Well the Toyota Landcruiser 70 series is just that vehicle and the owners absolutely love them.

The 70 series is mainly sold as a cab-chassis ute style vehicle although you can get it as a troop carrier. They start at about $61,000 plus on road cost but by the time you put on a tray, AC etc is could be at least $75,000.

So who buys them?

Matt Wood from Bauer Trade Publications and I were on the launch and Matt joins us on the line to talk about the vehicle.

Originally aired on 29 October 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky News: Melbourne Lord Mayor candidates promise to ditch the mayoral car. Good news for walking or for Uber?

Can we reduce road crashes by controlling the accelerator pedal?

NSW orders trains that won’t fit some stations.

Originally aired on 15 October 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au