I'm Liam Bird, a freelance Motoring Writer based in the South Shropshire Marches. I currently write car reviews and road tests for a number of regional lifestyle magazines and newspapers which are distributed throughout Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, most of Wales and beyond.
As a member of the Welsh Group of Motoring Writers I'm as happy behind the wheel of a super-mini as I am in the latest super-car. I have press accreditation with most of the major motor manufacturers, meaning that as well as always being on the look out for further commissions, I always have a number of cars arriving each month ready to review.
I can remember my uncle Jim telling me about how, whilst on holiday, he once went into a Skoda dealer near Bodfari, in North Wales, and tried to crack a joke about a Skoda’s lack of performance. The dealer, no doubt used to a host of such “witty” quips, promptly, and politely reminded him that the Skoda Estelle (the model on sale at the time), thanks to its combination of light weight,...
A quick glance up the local High Street these days is all it takes to tell you that there is currently an abundance of different sized SUVs for sale. From Kamiqs to Kodiaqs, T-Rocs to Touaregs, X1s to X7s, and all those in between, everyone from Aston Martin to Volvo are currently getting in on the act. However, despite what most of their manufacturers claim, few of those Sports Utility...
It’s almost hard to believe that Suzuki’s Vitara is now celebrating its 30th year in production. It’s been through some changes of course, you can’t buy a soft-top one anymore, the V6 Grand Vitara is all but a distant memory, so too the three-door. Bluetooth and Climate control are now standard-fit across all Vitaras these days; 30 years ago we didn’t even know what they were. It’s time...
According to the general consensus amongst all who rode in it, the Bentley Bentayga diesel I was fortunate to spend a few days with last year, was “one of the nicest cars” I’ve ever had. But then of course, so it damn well should be. It’s a Bentley for starters, and as you’re no doubt very aware they don’t come cheap. If my memory serves me correctly “my” Bentayga rang the tills at £139,...
Quite when we British car buyers will get tired of the SUV I really can’t say, but I’m in no doubt it will happen, eventually. People carriers were once very much the thing to have, so too hot-hatches. Both have fallen from favour and are now to be found clogging up the small ads.
So, and based upon the old adage of what-goes-around comes-around, here’s my prediction as to what...
After having driven one diagonally across Wales in December 2017 as part of its launch, it was difficult not to develop an affinity for the then very-new Mercedes Benz X-Class pick-up. It was comfy, and not just by pick-up standards: it genuinely rode well. It was well appointed; leather, sat-nav, heated seats, DAB and more. And it was more than rugged enough to cope with whatever the Welsh...
I passed my test in 1990, in a MK3 Ford Fiesta. First time too, I hasten to add. But student budgets being what they were back then simply I couldn’t afford anything as advanced as a blue 1,100c, 3 door Fiesta Popular complete with its 4 speed gearbox and optional rear wash-wipe, like that of my instructor’s. Upon gaining my freedom, my first car was an orange Hillman Imp.
In...
Not so long ago certain, sensitive, types were chaining themselves to the production lines at Land Rover, demonstrating their disgust at just how un-environmentally friendly the World’s favourite 4x4 once was. Remember? The Chelsea Tractor: We’re all doomed!
So what if I was to tell you that, albeit for not an inconsiderable sum, it’s now possible to buy a Range Rover that will...
The premium mid-sized SUV is the current motoring must-have. Every manufacturer worth their salt makes one, and every middle manager worth their sales bonus (or not, perhaps?) wants one. Can you imagine what they’d say at the golf club if you didn’t?
As for me, I’ve never been quite so enamoured. SUVs, premium or not, are not exactly what you call exciting. Nevertheless,...
I’ve been incredibly lucky. Or should that say privileged? I’ve driven quite a number of new Aston Martins. The N420 Vantage was the first, I got hopelessly lost in that one. Then came a Rapide, closely followed-up by a DBS. Next a Virage – they don’t make them anymore – and then another Vantage, an S, I think. Yes, that‘s right. It was blue, with suspension so hard it literally...
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