Bruce's car of the Week: Morris Minor 1000

This week I'm going old school and British, two things that in the car world immediately strike fear into even the most seasoned mechanic. However fear not, as I think this weeks car could be an exception to that rule, let me guide you through the world of the Morris Minor 1000.

Aussie made

Often ridiculed as Britain's VW Beetle only less national socialist, I actually have a bit of a soft spot for the Minor and it would appear the Australians do too. In the post war 1950's the British car maker did rather well Down Under, Rule Britannia's cars were so popular in fact that the British Motor Corporation (BMC) built factories in Melbourne and Sydney. From British blueprints and some imported parts Australia started making it's own BMC cars, the Minor being one of them.

The boy is so transfixed by dads new car he's not noticed he's dislocated his knee, ouch 

Instantly recognisable 

Visually the series one Minor's were something of a revelation in a world of prewar running boards and sideways hinged bonnets. When they appeared in 1948 with a one piece front end incorporating the headlights they looked like a car from the future. Series two cars, the ones built in Australia had the lights moved higher to meet US legislation, but still the Minor remained a cute well proportioned little car.

An early Minor with low headlights

The oily bits

Blessed with wonderfully simple mechanics and barely any electrical components Minors proved ideal for the rugged Australian bush and importantly bush repairs. They proved too that without Britain's nasty rain and salted roads they could stand the test of time. Take into account they went out of production in 1971, the sheer number of 50 year old plus Minors for sale in Australia goes some way to proving how durable they can be with some loving care. A full technical review of the Minor can be found here.

An Aussie Minor ready for some Roo bashing 

Addressing the concerns

Understandably though the prospect of such an old car might put some off, well fear not. Australia's apparent love affair with the Minor has resulted in a number of specialists popping up to keep your aging Minor going. From modernisation that will help keep your Morris up to speed with 21st century road conditions to spare parts, anything is possible and crucially easily available. Check out some of these specialist to see what I'm on about and then have a look at my car of the week, a snip at $4000.

www.minormagic.com.au & www.morrisminorworld.com.au

Like any car of this vintage it's important to have a well documented history. This little Minor certainly does, the seller has written an extensive advert for the car which proves how well cared for and loved it has been. They have also been honest about the few little jobs that need doing, another plus point and further proof of how honest the seller is. For $4000 with current rego this car could be the perfect first step into the world of classic cars for someone or a weekend cruiser just to enjoy. Plenty more available of course, just search Morris Minor on carsales.com.au

1960 Morris Minor 1000, $4000


photo credit's: flickr.com, Photopin.com, flickr.com       

Mercedes Benz C450 AMG announced

10 years ago, if you were in the market for an all wheel drive, unnecessarily rapid estate car your only real choices were a Subaru an Audi or bizarrely a Jaguar X-Type. Things are a little different now though and manufacturers whom once upon might have turned their noses up at the prospect of building an AWD car (BMW) are clambering over one another for a slice of this niche fast wagon market. And the latest addition makes a pretty strong case for itself. This is the new Mercedes Benz C450 AMG 4Matic.

C450 tries and fails to hide behind potted furs

The Numbers

Lets start with some numbers, 273kw, a 5 second dash to 100km/h, a 2996cc twin turbo charged V6 and an official economy figure of just 7.7l/km. Impressive stats given that we haven't even heard what the no holds barred new C63 AMG is going to deliver. Realistically speaking this C450 should be all the fast wagon you'll ever need. The engine is without doubt impressive with Mercedes planning to release more cars with this power plant over the coming years, cars that will fill the gap in their range between run of the mill 4 cylinder models and seemingly physics defying power house AMG models. Mercedes way of describing this is "More emotionally inspiring AMG sports models will follow". Just keep it simple Benz, you want more poweeer!

Only two turbo's you say?    

The "Emotion"

The word emotional is actually used a lot in the press release for this car, from describing the way it drives to the way the switches work and even to describe how the car double decluctches on downshifts in Sport Plus mode. Personally I don't want my 273kw super wagon making me teary eyed when I'm downshifting for a tight left hairpin, that just sounds dangerous. No what I'd rather is that my new car made others emotional, with envy perhaps, or just plain scared when they saw it rumbling passed. The latter, I think, Mercedes have pulled off.  The new C450 looks superb especially in black, on those optional 19 inch light weight alloys. Subtle yet effective AMG bumpers, skirts and quad exhausts give the C450 an aggressive menacing appearance without being too in yer face. Merc didn't have to do too much, it's not as if the standard C-Class was an ugly duckling in the first place. The interior of the C450 is another masterstroke. If you compare my review from last year of the new Mercedes Benz C200, the difference's in the 450's interior will run to some sports seats and red stitching. No bad thing as the C's cabin was pretty much perfect as is.

The Technology 

Driving dynamics and the ability this car possesses to hold on when the road gets twisty is something Mercedes are very proud of. Honestly there are far too many systems to list that keep the C450 facing forward at frighteningly high rates of speed. The most notable being that 4Matic all wheel drive system with rear biased torque split and AMG Ride Control adjustable suspension. At the flick of an emotional switch the driver can custom make their perfect driving set up.  Having personally tested Mercs 4Matic system in a CLA45 AMG I can assure you the stuff works! I swear it's some sort of electro mechanical witchcraft, the systems seemingly unflappable and always able to get you out of trouble even if you drive like an utter twit. Rest assured the C450 AMG will be a serious weapon when road conditions allow, come to think of it with 4Matic it'll be a serious weapon in the middle of a monsoon too.

You'll have to wait

The only downside, bar the inevitably hefty price, is the wait until you can get one. It will be released in the spring of 2016 in the UK with Australia probably having to wait a little longer. There is a worry of course that it won't make it to Aus dealers at all, but the chances of that are pretty low given the Aussie appetite for fast German metal, just look at Audi's RS brand sales figures.

Confusingly badges nowadays give no hint to engine size

Source: newspress.co.uk

Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE

Sports utility vehicles (SUV's) are a big deal in Australia, you lot just cant get enough of the them. The ability to drop the kids off at school during the week and traverse a swollen billabong at the weekend really seems to click with Aussie buyers. Increasingly though car companies have been taking the humble SUV and crossing it with a coupe in a bid to make their mud pluggers even more fashionable. The results, its fair to say have been alarming, the BMW X6 a case in point. Never the less, now Volkswagen have had a go, this is the Cross Coupe GTE shown at the Detroit motor show this week and as someone who doesn't care much for SUV's, I actually think it looks pretty good.

Design 

The car follows on from 2013's CrossBlue and CrossBlue Coupe concepts and will mark the start of VW's SUV product offensive when it goes on sale in 2016. Designed by VW's North American design studios the Cross Coupe also previews VW's new SUV design language which unlike other SUV come coupe's on the market is actually rather good, in fact the Cross Coupe GTE is quite a handsome beast. Flared wheel arches, wide grill, lots of straight lines and a generally boxy appearance give the GTE a purposeful look, like it could actually do some off roading if you asked it too. Measuring 4847mm in length it is only a few mm's shorter than a Touereg but thanks to a low roof line looks considerably more compact, a neat trick, hopefully the car will change little on its journey from concept to production. The rather lovely and suitably huge wheels might also make it to production.

The Oily bits

As well as previewing VW's future design language the GTE also showcases the companies commitment to hybrid drive systems. Powering the GTE is a 3.6 litre direct injection V6 accompanied by 2 electric motors, one at the front, one at the back. All combine to produce 360hp and enough torque to propel the GTE to 100km/h in 6 seconds, before going onto 209km/h. This strikes me as a power train designed to keep American petrol engine buyers happy though. Expect the 3.6 litre V6 to be replaced in other markets with a more sensible turbo diesel engine or smaller TFSI unit, combined with the electric shove these engines will still provide all the performance you could ever need with even further reduced fuel consumption figures. All cars will have auto boxes, most likely DSG's. 

The Technology

The Cross Coupe GTE is a technical showcase too, providing the driver with a number of driving modes. 5 are available, E-Mode, Hybrid, GTE, Offroad and Battery Hold. The first mode is self explanatory, it allows the car to run on electric power only up to 32km's, Hybrid meanwhile maximises both power sources to get the most possible range out of the car and GTE does it's best to turn your SUV into a sports car. VW point out that the Offroad mode though is key to buyers, so they have gone to great lengths perfecting this set up. Sub menu's can be selected in Offroad to tailor the car for sand, rocks, sludge, gravel and snow, each one setting up the car a little differently. Things like the gearing, suspension and torque delivery are all altered depending on the mode. The most interesting fact about the GTE though is it's lack of prop shaft to the rear wheels, this car get's it's 4WD capabilities by wire instead or electric cardan shaft to give it it's proper name. The engine only ever powers the front wheels with the rear electric motor powering the rear when 4WD is needed. But what if the car needs 4WD when it's batteries are out of juice I hear you cry? Not to worry, in this instance the engine will power the front wheels freeing up the front electric motor to generate charge for the rear. Voila, the rear wheels have drive without the need for a drive shaft, this saves weight, bettering fuel economy and increases cabin space. 

Interior

Inside the Cross Coupe is no less impressive, gone are the days of buttons, everything is controlled via a 10.1 inch touchscreen while a 12.3inch screen relays all the cars vital information. The whole cabin is wonderfully minimalist. When describing the interior there's also a slightly dull thing VW mentions that proves this cars almost production ready. A split folding rear bench seat and flat cargo floor are noted, no concept car needs this so the fact it exists shows this cars pretty much finished.    

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE, a coupe come SUV that actually looks good and also happens to showcase a bunch of clever hybrid tech, is there anything that Volkswagen can't do? I might be a little bias towards VW but seriously why can't other manufacturers produce such well rounded vehicles? This is an SUV you might actually want to own some day, no word on worldwide release dates yet, but production kicks off in the USA in 2016. 

                    

Bruce's Car of the Week: Audi TT Mk1

Hairdressers car, posers car, just a Golf in a fancy frock. It's fair to say that the Mk1 Audi TT has taken a lot of flack over the years. However, have you ever taken the time to look past the preconceived ideas and see the car for what it actually is? Turns out its a bit of a design icon and despite its dynamic flaws I for one absolutely love it. And guess what, you can pick one up in Aus for less than a tenth of its original value.

When the TT was launched in 1999 I was just a kid, not even into double figures yet, but I knew there was something special the moment I saw it. The TT is without doubt a beautiful car, maybe not in a traditional Italian sense but certainly in a modernistic sense. Sharp clean lines meant it was immediately recognisable as an Audi while also pulling of the trick of not looking like anything else in their range at the time. Even now some 16 years after its release the Mk1 TT looks like it just rolled off the drawing board and as a result it's a vehicle likely to appreciate in value given a few more years. And that's just the outside, the interior is a separate masterpiece all by itself. It was minimalist before minimalist became a thing, at the time car interiors were sea's of nasty plastic, dull upholstery and far too many buttons. The TT introduced us to the world of aluminium tirm, soft touch materials and minimal clutter. It showed the public that car interiors could be both beautiful and functional in a mass produced car.

Unfortunately for the TT though the outwardly sports car image wasn't backed up by the cars actual driving experience. The media at the time was right, the Mk1 TT was essentially a Mk4 Volkswagen Golf under the fancy skin, probably VW's least sporting Golf ever. It meant the TT had a MacPherson strut front strut setup and a torsion beam rear end. Blasting down a twisting country road was not the TT's strong suit. Power in the base 1.8 turbo TT wasn't phenomenal either, mustering only 132kw it could get to 100km/h in a little under 8 seconds. A Lotus Elise rival the TT was not. However Audi did address performance concerns with the TT Quattro. Featuring a Haldex AWD system the rear torsion beam was replaced with a multi-link rear end and the 20 valve turbo motor was upped to 165kw a 6 speed gearbox installed and 2 seconds were shaved from the 0-100km/h time. The TT was now definitely sportier but still lacked the poise and precision of its predominantly RWD rivals.

The use of familiar VW parts means however, that despite pricey appearances a Mk1 TT is a relatively easy and cheap car to maintain. And with regular servicing the turbo engines just go on and on.

 
To conclude, the TT managed to be daring and different in a very restrained Audi manner, it wasn't until the R8 that Audi managed to pull this trick off again. It might be a bit of a wet blanket to drive but who cares when you could look so darn cool behind the wheel. There's a reason all the posers bought one in the first place you know! I urge you to consider a TT, have a look at the few I've picked out.

Only a months rego left but a new clutch has been fitted, low km's for its age and it's a quicker Quattro car, this TT appears to come from a very loving owner. I don't know about the red leather making it more sporty, as the seller suggests, but it does certainly make it stand out. A very tempting car in classic Audi silver.

2001 Audi TT Quattro, $12900
   





Another Quattro, this time in blue with black leather. Detailed advert, almost like a review, tells me this owner is very fond of their TT. Should mean it's been well cared for, also has the optional Bose sound system installed. Long rego and low km's make this an equally temping TT!

2000 Audi TT Quattro, $10900






Higher km's and only a FWD car means this TT is an absolute bargain. Just been serviced and re rego'd which is a bonus and comes with a natty set of Porsche twist style 18 inch alloys. All in, not to bad a car for the money.

1999 Audi TT, $8500 

12 Days of Audi condensed

For some reason over the festive period Audi released 12 pictures of a selection of the cars in their range. Perhaps it was in a bid to make people feel immensely unsatisfied with their current mode of transport, or maybe it was to boost the egos of those would had already converted to the 4 rings, I don't really know. However I'm pleased they did, because now I can share some lovely high definition pictures with all of you, enjoy.

R8

RS7

RS6

S1

S3 Sedan

SQ5

A3 Cabriolet

RS4

A8 L

RS7

RSQ3

RS4

S3 Sedan

The particularly astute among you might have noticed there are in fact 13 photo's, maybe Audi just got a little caught up in the moment, anyway I'll take the red RS4, ta very much. Feel free to tell me which one you'd opt for? And if you've got the cash head to www.audi.com.au to spec one up. 

Bruce's Car of the Week: Renault Clio Sport 172

New year, new car of the week, I think your probably getting the theme of this feature by now. I'll just make it a French quickie this week. So without further ado I give you the the Renault Clio Sport 172.

With a free revving 2 litre engine tasked with the job of punting a featherweight Clio along, the Sport is the motoring equivalent of fly buzzing around your head. Nimble, light and impossible to catch on winding roads the Clio Sport is a real headache for drivers of larger more powerful sports cars. If you hadn't guessed by the name that 2 litre 16 valve under the bonnet produces 172bhp, that's 124kw in Aussie money and is good for 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds. Standard equipment on the Sport was generous, xenon headlights, climate control and auto sensing wipers were just some of the goodies offered for the $33,000 hatch back in 2001. 2004 saw a 182 Cup version launched, it had, you guessed it, 10bhp more, was even lighter, sported a rather lovely twin exhaust and a nicer set of alloy wheels on top of the power gain.

2004's updated Clio Sport

 A whole racing series is dedicated to the Clio in Europe  

All in all with a chassis tuned by the guru's at Renault Sport and a kerb weight of just 1050kg the Clio is a proper weapon. Yes, build quality could be better and the engine makes the Clio a bit thirsty for such a small car, but all that is forgotten once you get the Sport on a good road. In Europe Clio's were advertised with the help of Thierry Henry and sold you the idea of "Va Va Voom", as cringingly bad as the adverts might have been then, I've got to admit the Clio does offer some alternative French flair to your driving experience; go sample one to see what I'm on about.

First car this week is the piece de resistance of the Sporty Clio range, a 182 Cup. Full service history and the owner says it never fails to make you feel good! That's a bold claim but one I'd be inclined to believe.

2005 Renault Clio Sport 182, $8500








Next choice is a fastidiously looked after 172 example with a few choice modifications. Major timing belt service just carried out along with a new water pump should mean this Clio will cause you little headache mechanically. It also comes with 6 months of rego on it.

2002 Renault Clio Sport 172, $6900  




Last choice is another good'un; enthusiast owned for its whole life, garaged and always well cared for I cant see why there should be anything wrong with this 172. Excellent value too. I'm aware it's silver like the others, but these 3 were the best compromise of value and condition I could find.

2001 Renault Clio Sport 172, $5000