Some SUVs,
struggling in a
straight line
The key to
happy Porsche
ownership? Have
someone else pay
for the engine
rebuild
58 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | OCTOBER 2019
convertible and a McLaren 600 LT
Spider. It made me wonder about a twin
test of the new Mercedes-AMG A35 and
the 1956 Austin A35.
On a more serious note, I was so
pleased that your ‘Return to elegance’
feature showed photos of the four-light
Flying Spur from the late ’50s and not
the six-light. Although both models
possess wonderful elegance of body
lines, from the 222 cars hand-built by
HJ Mulliner, the significant majority
were built as six-lights, the four-light
being much rarer, and in my view more
aesthetically pleasing.
However, I would challenge your
staff and your readers to think if
VW is truly returning to elegance
with its latest Flying Spur model.
The razor-edge front and rear wings,
although a manufacturing tour de
force and initially appealing, are a
gimmick – different and unique for the
sake of it. Will this ‘elegance’ stand the
test of time? I hardly think so. Elegance
in design requires modesty.
Ron Mitchell
Proper cars, please
I’ve not missed an issue of CAR since
1973, when I passed my test. You can
take it that I love cars.
However I am increasingly disil-
lusioned by the profusion of vehicles
such as those featured in your X5 Giant
Test in the August issue. Not only are
successive generations of these models
becoming increasingly grotesque
caricatures of themselves, they are
totally at odds with what the planet
needs now.
And it’s not just their vulgarity
and irrelevance; I was stupefied by a
couple of observations in your test. The
BMW: ‘Driving in a straight line is less
straightforward than it should be.’ The
Mercedes: ‘Even in a straight line the
Merc doesn’t feel great.’
We’re well into the second century
of car design, and two of our most
garlanded manufacturers can’t even
make these things go in a straight line!
Time for a fundamental reappraisal
of what we’re using cars for in the 21st
century – before it’s too late. History
tells us that everyday practicality and
fun are easily accomplished, but such
cars seem an endangered species.
Ken Tay lor
For the love of diesel
I just read Mark Walton’s August
column about wonderful diesel engines.
I couldn’t agree more. I recently bought
a Mercedes E-Class 400d All-Terrain.
What an engine. It runs silently, drives
smoothly and then wakes up like a
giant prodded by a big sharp stick when
you apply the throttle, gaining speed
at a rate that makes you giggle. Low
CO2 output, consumption in the mid
40s and it will take me on a nine-hour
non-stop drive without refuelling. Very
impressive.
Paul Hayes
Not so bulletproof
I’m pleased to read that Mick
Beauchamp is enjoying his Porsche
964 C4 (One Year On, August). I’m not
surprised he feels the engine is strong as
I paid for a very expensive rebuild after
the car’s ‘bulletproof ’ Mezger engine
ran a main bearing at 35,000 miles
when it was mine. The joy of classic
cars! On the upside, the appreciation in
value during my period of ownership
just about covered the bill.
Charles Eaton-Hennah
Don’t waste my time
As an Italian living in France, I regularly
do 500-mile journeys (one third on
normal French roads, two thirds Italian
motorways), covering the distance in
some nine hours. I don’t doubt VW’s
Thomas Ulbrich’s assertion that ‘the
future is electric’ (‘Hands up who’s got
a plan’, August Insider) and I’m all for
switching to electric vehicles. But only
when they will allow me to do the same.
Certainly, I don’t see myself hanging
around for an hour or so in some dreary
service station, waiting for the batteries
to charge up.
Giuseppe Papuli
Deal or no deal
Having kept an eye on used examples
of the VW Up GTI, a purchase now
looks imminent. Jake Groves’ closing
endorsement in the August Our Cars,
as well as praise from all quarters, has
convinced me this is the right sporty
city runaround for me.
However, I must take issue with what
Jake says in ‘Count the cost’. I am pretty
clued up on prices and I have never seen
a car advertised privately for £9155. The
cheapest and only privately advertised
car (with suspect wording and three
owners) was spotted at £10,700.
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