James Dennison
James has been working in the automotive industry for ten years and has been writing about and making videos on cars since 2016. A University of Southampton graduate with an English BA, he’s been a car and motorsport fanatic for as long as he can remember.Read more
Having taken his first role in the industry at a car dealership in 2014, James had the perfect background to understand exactly what the modern car buyer was looking for and took this knowledge into his first role at Parkers.co.uk in 2016.
After getting experience of just about every aspect of motoring journalism as Junior Staff Writer at Parkers.co.uk, James then went on to hold a variety of video-related positions, eventually becoming Head of Automotive Video in 2019 and covering the Parkers, CAR magazine and MCN brands.
James enjoys delivering both entertaining and informative content via the medium of video and has a strong team of videographers around him to help deliver this. Often found in front of camera for CAR magazine, James and his team have won awards for their Porsche 911 GT3 and Toyota GR86 review videos, with many more shortlisted over the years.
Outside of delivering automotive video content, James is a sporadic racing driver and frequent motorsport instructor with an official ARDS qualification allowing him to do on-track tutoring across the country. As a result, James has been fortunate enough to drive some legendary cars from the automotive world, including the 1998 Le Mans-winning Porsche GT1, a Honda Civic Type R BTCC car, a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo, a 1954 Alfa Romeo Sport Spider and the Paris-Dakar-winning Porsche 911 Dakar to name but a few.
Some of James’ top tips for Parkers readers are:
- Test drive cars before buying. Sounds obvious, but many people do not. It’s absolutely crucial.
- Don’t be pressured into a certain type of car, especially when it comes to fuel. In 2024, there’s still a place for electric, diesel and petrol.
- Search the web for good deals on new or nearly new cars. There’s fantastic value out there if you look hard enough.
James has an open mind when it comes to the future of the automotive industry, but he still believes that technology such as self-driving has a long way to go. He’s also easily irritated by poor user interfaces and controls in vehicles, as well as unnecessary tech!
Latest from this author
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New Mercedes-AMG GT R boasts 577hp and race car aerodynamicsThe Mercedes-AMG GT R was revealed to the public for the first time today, with rear-wheel steering and active aerodynamics as the standout features of the brand’s new flagship performance...24 Jun 2016
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Twin test: Audi A3 Sportback vs Mini ClubmanFor company-car drivers the medium-sized hatchback needs to be a jack-of-all trades. A comfortable, economical cruiser in the week, and a practical, enjoyable drive at the weekend. Audi has long been...20 Jun 2016
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Vauxhall Insignia - which version should you buy?Launched as a replacement to the Vectra in 2008, the Vauxhall Insignia has become a common sight on UK roads. Last year it comfortably surpassed rivals such as the Ford...15 Jun 2016
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Prices announced for new Mercedes-Benz E-Class EstateMercedes-Benz has announced prices for its new E-Class Estate, which is sandwiched between the C-Class and S-Class in the manufacturer’s range and competes against the BMW 5-Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant and the upcoming Volvo V90. The new E-Class...9 Jun 2016
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Fiat 500 - which version should you buy?Since its launch in 2008, the Fiat 500 has become one of the most popular choices in the hotly contested city car class. Rivals such as the Mini, Ford Ka and Toyota Aygo offer...9 Jun 2016
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Battle of the large hatchbacks: Ford Mondeo vs Skoda SuperbLarge hatchbacks have always proved popular with company car buyers, their spacious cabins and refined on-road manners making them the ideal companion for clocking up major motorway miles. Ford and Skoda...1 Jun 2016
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What is DSG (direct shift gearbox)?DSG is a form of automatic gearbox developed by the Volkswagen group, so you’ll see it offered across the VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda ranges. It uses two clutches to...18 Jan 2016