We are now two-thirds of the way into this season of Top Gear. So, how did episode four shape up? Like an old copy of Max Power magazine, this post contains spoilers. Top Gear Series 20, Episode 4 – UK Air Date 21st July 2013 This episode turned out to be somewhat of a mixed-bag…
Tame Geek Review – SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI
Some say he manages to get behind the wheel of more new cars than The Stig. All we know is he’s called The Tame Geek, and tonight he’s feeling all Catalonian. 2013 SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI What! The Tame Geek is going to review another car from the Volkswagen Group? Yes, but hold on!…
Renaultsport Mégane RB8 Limited Edition on sale now
With the raft of new hot hatches currently dominating motoring headlines (Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTI, Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG) it’s perhaps easy to forget that the Mégane Renaultsport is still out there after three years of being on sale. Perhaps to remind us, or more probably to plug Renaultsport’s F1 engine supply successes, Renault are offering…
Friday Photo from the archives #8
Today’s Friday Photo from the archives is a little bit of a cop-out, as it’s a car already featured previously. Yes, it’s that infamous Audi S3: It’s featured today for no reason other than it was exactly five years ago to date (July 19th 2008) that I collected the money-pit which would be my 225 bhp…
Why the Volkswagen XL1 is better than a Le Mans racer
Volkswagen is currently making a lot of noise about this: If you didn’t already know, that’s the Volkswagen XL1, currently the world’s most fuel-efficient hybrid car in regular production. EngageSportMode isn’t usually a fan of eco-cars, but the design details of the XL1 mean that it feels less hair shirt and more Nomex overalls than…
F1 2013 – Senna’s Mid-season Review
After nine rounds of the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship, EngageSportMode’s canine correspondent reviews how things stand so far. Formula 1 2013 – State of Play So Far Tyres. Seriously, if I hear any more jokes about Pirelli and their lack of durability I’m going to go leave a “present” on somebody’s front lawn. It’s…
Top Gear Review – Series 20, Episode 3
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…
EngageSportMode is NOT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013
Unlike last year, EngageSportMode decided not to make the pilgrimage to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s a very long way from Newcastle Upon Tyne, ESM’s Mate Dave has just bought a house, and if you go every year it might lose the novelty. So, instead, ESM is at home watching the Festival of Speed…
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…
