Vehicles
These reviews were originally posted on my long-lived web forum which, after six great years, eventually went the way of the Dodo. However I there was too much great content for me to let it all die so the reviews have been moved to their new home here on TheDaddy.org.
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Bike in a Bag Touring
» by Spanners on Sat 28th Apr '07 7:03AM
9/10
A rather magnificent folding bike designed for taller folks (up to 6' 7") and a bit more rugged that their original 'Compact'.
This folds at the handlebar stem and the middle of the frame making it rally rather small when folded away. Drop the seat down with the quick release and it fits into its bag easily.
6 gears on gripshift are good for most urban sorta gradients you're likely to come across but this is not a machine for much off roading.
Comfy seat, very solid folding mechanisms and a 20inch wheel make for a fantastic ride. A ten year warranty on the frame gives me extra confidence that it'll be solid for a long time.
On the down side the handlebar stem can be a bit wobbly (down to the length it runs before hitting the frame) and as such the steering can be a bit twitchy. Also my rear brake is a bit feeble but I'm hoping that is tweakable.

On the whole it's very good value for the £200 price tag, if you need a folding bike then you can't go far wrong with this beauty.
Honda Jazz 1.2
» by Spanners on Sun 9th Jan '05 1:05PM
9/10
The most spacious supermini on the market with a superbly quiet engine (so quiet I kept thinking I'd stalled at first) great handling and a nice stiff throttle, great for people with huge clumsy feet like myself. Classy yet unimposing trim, hugely economical (50mpg combined), 5 doors as standard, RDS radio and has a funky button that folds in the wing mirrors when parked.
The extra 2k makes an upgrade to the 1.4 not worth it unless you're all about the 1-60 and will be doing mainly motorways. You do however get steering wheel controls for the radio included.
Comes in a truly appaling range of colours but there are a couple of nice blues and no-one can argue with the black.
Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDI Sport
» by Oooood on Thu 9th Dec '04 8:03AM
9/10
Fairly sporty to look at, without being boy racer-ish. Comes with all the gizmos of power steering, ABS, EBD, Climate control, CD player, low profile tyres and sports seats. Its got 130 BHP and you know it! Because it's diesel it does about 55 miles per gallon, oh, and it has 6 gears!
Peugeot 306 Meridian 1.8
» by Jay21000 on Thu 9th Dec '04 7:25AM
7/10
Lovely to drive, damn comfortable, got some serious kick in it's engine. Problem is it does look a bit boy-racerish, but I'm over it! It's one of those cars that you step out and don't have to groan and stretch as you do it! The clutch is also one of those stiff Peugeot ones which takes A LOT of getting used to. Good MPG (about 35-40 I think!). A good 1st car.