Archive for the ‘Volkswagen’ Category

Volkswagen events: Stanford Hall 2010

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

The first Bank Holiday in May means only one thing to VW enthusiasts of a classic persuasion (myself included); Stanford Hall. The long-running Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Owners Club show has kicked off many enthusiasts’ seasons for the last 34 years and is usually blessed with good weather. This year wasn’t quite so good on that front (in fact, at times it was very cold), but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the owners who brought their classic Volkswagens to the grounds of Stanford Hall itself, just outside Lutterworth.

Traditionally a show with an air-cooled bias, the water-cooled fraternity have been embraced in recent years. The venue itself is as pleasant as the relaxed atmosphere that the show enjoys, though, the imposing but somehow modest country house that the event takes its name from watching over proceedings. Sitting on the Avon river (the same one that flows through Shakespeare’s Stratford), the graceful house has been the home of the Cave family since the 1690s.

Head over to PoloDriver.com to read a more car-minded review of the event, or click the small gallery below for a few snaps of Stanford Hall itself and surrounding grounds.

Not so small wonder: PoloDriver tests
the Volkswagen Fox Urban 1.2

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Remember the bright yellow little Volkswagen that arrived with me last summer? While Polos are obviously the main interest over at PoloDriver, I do have a roving eye for most other Volkswagen models, too. So, last summer, I took a 1.2-litre Fox Urban to the North York Moors for a 1200-mile road test to see if Volkswagen’s city car can do most of what the Polo can do, but for £2000 less. Can the smaller, Brazilian-built town tiddler be a true cut-price Polo alternative? For the answer to this question and more about the global Fox family, read the PoloDriver digital mini-mag (previewed below) here.

Volkswagen Golf GTI:
‘Only for Advanced Drivers’ TV commercial

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

This spot is now a little old, but still deserves a mention for the stunning driving and cinematography. Volkswagen launched the latest Mk 6 Golf GTI to great fanfare earlier in the year and this TV commercial showcases the car and some superb driving. Made for the ‘Only for Advanced Drivers. From 21 years-old: a recommendation from Volkswagen’ campaign for continental TV screens, it certainly hits the spot (no pun intended) for impact, looking like an action sequence from a Hollywood blockbuster. Great car, great commercial. See how they made it here.

Cancer Research UK ‘Herbie’

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

Here’s an idea for a Christmas present, providing that special person in your life likes Volkswagens, and specifically a Beetle-shaped one given a life by Disney. I’m still a big fan of the studio’s Herbie films, largely of the 1970s. There aren’t too many things I buy on impulse, but this charming metal ‘model’ made the words, ‘I’ve got to have that’ come out of my mouth. I bought it yesterday from the Chelmsford branch of Cancer Research UK (you can also find it online).

Cancer Research Uk 'Herbie'

At £19.99 it wasn’t an especially cheap impulse purchase, but it is, you have to admit, charming. Made of metal (and presumably by hand) it looks a little battered like a child’s tin toy from yesteryear. Around 15 inches long and representing Herbie somewhere between Herbie Goes Bananas and the last film made in 2005, Herbie: Fully Loaded, the car has painted rust, rubber-look tyres and a crude engine lid spoiler. Being hand finished, each one is individual, too.

Cancer Research UK 'Herbie'

It’s all made from the most basic things; the door handles are nails and bolts, while all the body work is just bent and tensioned metal panels, a bit unfinished. That’s part of the bygone era charm, though, and why we like it. It was going to sit in the dining room, but it looks so nice on the hearth in the lounge, that that’s become its new home. It reminds me of my childhood, and the fact that I ‘donated’ money to charity in the process of buying it is the icing on the (Christmas) cake.

Top Gear Volkswagen Scirocco advert: the one they should have made

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Or should that be remade. I was hoping that this segment on the top-rating BBC show would be about reinterpreting this classic Volkswagen TV commercial from 1985 for the Scirocco GTX. Explosions would have been compulsory, and the boys could have got Stig to do the driving…