Overdrive

Overdrive:

Welcome to Overdrive, where we cover everything to do with motoring and transport from the sublime to the ridiculous.

I'm David Brown

And in this program we look at news stories including:

German government report critical of Tesla Autopilot - Spiegel; Leaked report reveals full extent of household levy considered by government in 2014 for light rail; Edinburgh 'bleeding buses to pay for trams'; Nottingham Eco-Expressway in UK electric first; Here’s how intelligent parking systems are solving Warsaw’s traffic problems; The Outback Way: What a sealed road from WA to Queensland will mean for regional communities

We discuss the motoring needs for a listener who has two dogs, goes camping and surf board riding and he and his partner are going to have their first baby. What should they look for in a vehicle?

And in our panel discussion with Brian Smith we take a light-hearted look at stories including:

The Mustang - Is it art, is it memories or is it a show pony; Ditch lord mayoral car and walk, say Melbourne City Council candidates

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

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

Quirky News: I have found that the Mustang was a great driveway car. It was a car that when you went out and saw it in your driveway you felt good.

It was not about showing the neighbours - my driveway is hidden from the road.

But do I see this car as art or is it reminding me of my youth.

Or is it just ego. AM I thinking about driving it down the street and noticing how other people look at the vehicle.

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

A listener called in and asked about buying an SUV.

The reason was that he and his partner had two dogs, went camping a bit, also they were surfers so they carried their boards.

They have a small SUV - a Subaru XV.

But they need something bigger not the least because they are going to have their first child.

They need more room in the back for the dogs and a pram.

Of course, if you know me, I tried to suggest a station wagon but that didn't gain much traction.

They are hovering around a Kia Sportage.

Are there in the right ball park?

Paul Murrell from practical motoring.com.au have tried most vehicles so what does he think? He joins us on the line.

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

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

Overdrive:

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport.

And in this program we look at news stories including:

Do bicycle helmets work?, Average speed cameras ‘cut worst crashes by more than a third’, How to create 16,000 jobs in the car industry, Looking back on the 131-year battle to build a railway to the Redcliffe peninsula, Android Pay and MasterCard offer free travel on London's public transport, App aims to cut smartphone-related traffic accidents by 'bribing' drivers with coffee

We reflect a little on an email from a listener when we hear from a car owner who has meticulously researched issues of getting your car serviced.

We also have a few driving impressions of the Ford Mustang and the Audi A4 Avant.

And in our panel discussion with Errol Smith we take a light-hearted look at stories including:

Scania wastes resources to have trucks make real-time clock, for… some… reason?, Car thief in day-long rampage defeated by manual transmission, Japanese app translates rail announcements for tourists, Forbidden vanity plates vary by state in US

Originally aired on 8 October 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

This week we had the chance to drive two different cars side by side for a day. The V8 Ford Mustang and the Audi A4 Avant.

You would not be considering this as a choice between two cars to buy unless you were torn between two totally different lifestyles.

Perhaps this will help you resolve a mid life crisis.

Alan Finlay our technical guru and I got a chance to try both.

Originally aired on 8 October 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

We had an email from a listener recently about getting a service on your car. Merve, the listener, was concerned about the cost and the necessity for such frequently services.

I thought we would talk to someone who is a keen motorists, has been known to do his own service, has a high degree of attention to detail and is not afraid to inform a dealer if he thinks the service arrangements need some improving. And he definitely thinks they need some improving.

Alan is an engineer and good friend of this program and he joins us on the line.

Originally aired on 8 October 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

It must be ten years ago, maybe more, when Overdrive - Brian Smith and I, were competing in a Dutton rally.

Dutton rallies were glorified club racing where over a period of two or three days you went to a series of race tracks, drag strips, hill climbs and skid pans to compete in a variety of events.

We were a bit laidback. We chose novelty cars. One year it was a Volvo station wagon another year a Mitsubishi Magna.

One time we were waiting to compete at the Eastern Creek Raceway on the very small figure eight circuit when ahead of us was a young lady in a rally Corolla. Compared to our mellow approach she was focused and clearly very determined.

She punted the Corolla around the circuit with engine screaming and wheels throwing up dirt and mud.

It was Molly Taylor, who has gone on to have an international career in rallying.

She's back in Australia rallying in a Subaru in the Australian Rally championship and she joins us on the line.

Originally aired on 17 September August 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quirky News: Nissan uses anthropologist to influence autonomous vehicle design; Designer makes clothes out of transit upholstery fabric and wears them on PT/Why is transit seat fabric so ugly?; Iceland road painted to save lives of terns; NT open speed limits put all road-users at risk, doctors groups say;

Originally aired on 3 September 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Quite a number of years ago I was driving through Melbourne with a friend and we came up on the new Porsche Cayenne. Porsches first entry into the SUV market.

My friend didn't recongise what brand of car it was.

When I said "Porsche" he said WHY? When you look at the latest sales figures we now know why.

SUV sales are booming none more so than with Porsche. More of that later.

In our interview with Jonathon Coleman he mentioned that their family's major car is a Lexus LX350. A large sized SUV.

Let's road test that and talk about Luxury SUVs in general with Paul Murrell from Practical Motoring.

Originally aired on 3 September 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that roams through the world of motoring and transport

I'm David Brown

And in this program we look at news stories including:

Road safety measures for Victoria to be fast-tracked after 'horrific' 24 hours on roads; Is urban transport too expensive?; Amazon and UK Government aim for the sky with partnership on drones; Opal data gives customers option to avoid the bus crush; UK university projects shows wireless sensors could improve rail crossing safety; Why women-only ride-sharing services are revolutionary

We chat with media personality Jonathon Coleman about his rather twisted motoring career

We talk about the prevalence of SUVs particularly in the luxury car class and road test the Lexus RX 350.

And in our panel discussion with Brian Smith we take a light-hearted look at stories including:

Nissan uses anthropologist to influence autonomous vehicle design;

Originally aired on 03 September 2016. For past programs and individual segments visit www.drivenmedia.com.au