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BUYING USED: LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II It is rare for appearances to be as deceptive as with the Land Rover Discovery II. Upon its launch it looked… well, pretty much the same as the 1989 original, even down to the square headlights, rear ‘alpine’ lights and exposed roof drip rail. But don’t be fooled because, in reality, only the tailgate was carried over. That’s right; the Discovery II didn’t look it, but this really was a ‘new generation’ Disco. .... Issue: Oct 2010 |
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ROAD TEST: KIA SPORTAGE FIRST EDITION By any standards, the previous-generation Kia Sportage wasn’t an exciting vehicle. And neither was its predecessor of the 1990s. Oh sure, they both provided a value-for-money alternative to the top-selling compact SUVs of the time, offering decent equipment levels and low prices. But when it came to driver appeal or on-the-road dynamics, they were well down the league table. .... Issue: Oct 2010 |
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ROAD TEST: MAZDA CX-7 DIESEL When Mazda launched its stylish new crossover here in the UK in 2007, it proved a welcome addition to the market, combining four-wheel drive practicality with a handsome and curvaceous bodyshell guaranteed to appeal to younger family buyers of the time. But there was just one problem: its engine..... Issue: Sep 2010 |
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BUYING USED: JEEP WRANGLER While the Jeep Wrangler feels – and looks – as though it’s been around since Noah was a lad, it wasn’t until 1993 that official British imports of the ‘YJ’ model (on sale in the USA since 1987) finally got under way, all part of Chrysler’s determination to see its famous 4x4 brand succeeding in the UK’s booming market. And while most of Chrysler’s emphasis was on its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee top-sellers, it felt there was also a niche for its no-frills off-roader. .... Issue: Sep 2010 |
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BUYING USED: LAND ROVER FREELANDER The launch of the original Freelander at the end of 1997 marked a major turning point for Land Rover, this being the company’s first compact SUV. And it was a worthy effort, combining all that was great about the British brand but in a bodyshell not much bigger than a family hatchback. .... Issue: Sep 2010 |
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OFF-ROAD ON A BUDGET Even if your main mode of daily transport is a 4x4, you might not want to risk damaging it by heading off-road every weekend. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some all-terrain fun when the mood takes you – simply by investing in a ‘cheap and cheerful’ off-road toy, the kind of vehicle you won’t worry about scratching, denting or damaging when out in the rough. .... Issue: Sep 2010 |
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BUYING USED: RANGE ROVER SPORT The famous Range Rover’s 40-year move upmarket has been great for Land Rover. It has reinforced the premium SUV’s status as top dog 4x4 – but, at the same time, it also created a gap in the model range. Think about it: the Discovery has been with us since 1989, serving those who are after a big, working off-roader. And this allowed the Range Rover to get posher and dearer, culminating in the 2002 L322 masterpiece. .... Issue: Aug 2010 |
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THE £10K TRUCK Not everyone in the market for a one-tonne pick-up can afford – or would even want – to buy brand new. And, happily, there’s no shortage of choice on the secondhand market, with a budget of around £10k bringing you an array of worthy contenders. .... Issue: Aug 2010 |
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OWNER'S VIEW: LAND ROVER DEFENDER This must be the definitive 4x4. The original. The original Land Rover. Never mind this Johnny-come-later ‘Defender’ nonsense; that’s just to distinguish the real, the original Land Rover from posh, soft, over-leathered wannabees which just happen to share the same badge and get built in the same factory. When Rover launched its Land Rover, way back in 1726, when even our editor was but a youth, it was intending to build a car for farmers. Truly. Remind yourself of this the next time a Range Rover Sport passes you at Warp Factor Eight on the M25. Perhaps that should be Max Factor Eight….... Issue: Aug 2010 |
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ROAD TEST: MITSUBISHI SHOGUN 3.2 DI-DC ELEGANCE FIVE-DOOR Compared with some of the opposition out there, Mitsubishi’s Shogun is getting on in years. The first monocoque-designed model was launched way back in 2000, and the current line-up is closely related to that. Yes, it’s been updated and improved over the past decade, but it’s not exactly a spring chicken. And that has presented Mitsubishi with a few problems of late, with the Shogun being among the worst in its class when it comes to fuel economy and CO2 emissions. .... Issue: Aug 2010 |
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