It is not the first time that the comic genius of one Jeremy Clarkson from the BBC has driven my motoring thoughts in a particular direction. Several months ago, I watched as he and his colleague tried to come up with a TV ad for the then recently released Volkswagen Scirocco diesel. The brief was: … Read more
The year is 2011. Mercedes-Benz have as their absolute flagship a sports car: the SL 65 AMG Black Series. Developing 660 hp from a twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 engine, the thing costs a jaw-dropping £250,000 (Sh37.5 million). But even this price is nothing compared to the £350,000 (Sh52.5 million) SLR, undercutting the McLaren by the price … Read more
I’m in the process of acquiring a used car. I have realised that I can get a nice Mitsubishi, Mazda or Subaru for about Sh400,000, but the same quality of Toyota costs almost Sh600,000. However, I’ve been advised that these cheaper cars have serious problems when it comes to spare parts, and that they consume … Read more
For two weeks, I lightly discussed the aesthetic aspects of skin-deep motor vehicle design. More detailed explanations will follow at a later date, but for now let us look at the other important design factor; performance. While looks, and ultimately the outright appeal of a car, tend to be subjective and rely heavily on individual … Read more
Investment! Investment! Investment! Our parents drummed the importance of this monster into our heads so much that we almost ran out of brain. I, for one, was weaned on the line: “A fool and his money are soon parted (or audited)”. Well, the more aspirational among us sometimes dream of playing the fool and parting … Read more
We are told repeatedly that speed kills, but speed does not kill. Hard acceleration might, and so will losing that speed instantaneously, but speed itself will not. Those who disagree, please account for the existence of supersonic aircraft and the 430 km/h Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Couple that wrongful notion with the fact that Kenya … Read more