Currently this season of Top Gear is averaging a C grade from EngageSportMode’s reviews. Could a supercar themed third instalment help bump up the marks to something worthy of putting on the fridge door? As ever, contains spoilers (but no donkeys). Top Gear Series 20, Episode 3 – UK Air Date 14th July 2013 We’re…
Category: Manufacturers
Uncle Steve Writes – Part 3 of 4 – MINI Cooper SD
In the penultimate part of the 4 part series, ESM’s Uncle Steve covers his most recent car purchase. So, as previously mentioned, the Leon FR TDI has gone, arriving in its place is a MINI Cooper SD hatchback. Again purchased from our tame motor trader, Cooper MINI Durham. So let’s get right down to the…
Uncle Steve Writes – Part 2 of 4 – MINI Countryman Cooper D ALL4
In the second part of his tetralogy, Uncle Steve tells us all about the MINI Countryman Cooper D ALL4 – is this the longest car name in the world? Maybe, but it’s also the name of the car purchased by the fiancé of Uncle Steve. Back in October last year, we were looking for a car…
Uncle Steve Writes – Part 1 of 4 – The Leon FR TDI
In part 1 of a 4 part special, ESM’s Uncle Steve returns. Since he knows you’d be disappointed if none of the four contained a rant or complaint, he’s getting in there straight away with an article on possibly the least reliable car ever produced by SEAT, a Leon FR TDI owned initially by Steve’s…
Top Gear Review – Series 20, Episode 2
So after the initial hurrah of a new series, we’re now at that awkward second episode stage for this season of Top Gear. Check out what EngageSportMode made of it below. Warning, contains spoilers, but is gluten-free. Top Gear Series 20, Episode 2 – UK Air Date 7th July 2013 EngageSportMode wasn’t hugely complimentary of…
Hyundai i30 – Short Review
EngageSportMode’s BTCC Correspondent recently went on holiday to France. Whilst he was there, he found himself with a Hyundai i30 at his disposal. So what did he make of the Korean hatchback? Hyundai Holiday Hell? Quite the Opposite… I was recently lucky enough to have a mini break in the South of France. On arrival…
The Nissan ZEOD RC – Is it all new?
As a break from discussing Formula 1 tyres, instead EngageSportMode examines Nissan’s new electric Le Mans challenger, and the craziest car you’ve never heard of. Is the Nissan ZEOD RC really from the 1970s? A couple of weeks ago, Nissan unveiled its new electric racing car – the ZEOD RC. Following on from 2012’s DeltaWing…
Top Gear Returns – Series 20, Episode 1 Review
Top Gear is arguably the biggest motoring-related television programme in the world. So for what is now the 20th (!) series, EngageSportMode will be writing a short review of each episode. So here we go [warning, contains non-aerodynamic spoilers]: Top Gear Series 20, Episode 1 – UK Air Date 30th June 2013 I’m not sure…
That Whole Sebastien Loeb Pikes Peak Thing
Yesterday Sebastien Loeb, the Frenchman who brought the World Rally Championship to its knees by winning everything, set the fastest ever time at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The previous record stood at 9 minutes 46.164 seconds; Seb managed a rather incredible 8 minutes 13.878 seconds. Loeb set his time in the “Unlimited” class which, as…
EngageSportMode Shares the R-Line Love
If you just cannot get enough of hearing about my Polo R-Line, but would rather read about it elsewhere, then you prayers have been answered. Over the coming months I’ll be documenting my ownership of the R-Line over at PoloDriver.com But in all seriousness, I am genuinely honoured to have been asked to contribute to…
Friday Photo from the Archives #7
Some car ideas work better in certain places than others. Some, such as the BMW 5-Series GT, don’t really seem to work at all – at least not in America that’s for sure. The Volkswagen Jetta (or Bora/Vento/Golf with a boot) is one of those propositions that has never really taken the UK by storm….
The Lamborghini Murcielago SV – Does it have a soul?
After playing around with WordPress this weekend, I realised I could change the header image (that picture at the top of the page) to rotate randomly through a selection of suitable ones I uploaded. Since I began EngageSportMode back in December 2011, I’ve always had one picture in the header. This: If you don’t know,…
EngageSportMode 