Tim Bowdler
Latest from this author
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Value choice: BMW 1 Series 114d ES 3dThe BMW 1 Series range is huge: myriad engine and trim combinations can make the final selection – once you have settled for this premium hatchback – a rather onerous...31 Jan 2013 -
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Volkswagen Tiguan: Competitor comparisonOver January we have seen a lot of snow and ice, and during that time the VW Tiguan has proved it is more than up to the job in the slippery conditions. Road...22 Jan 2013 -
Family choice: Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI SE road testThis latest Skoda Octavia is tailor-made for buyers with a family. This new version is 90mm longer and 45mm wider and the wheelbase has grown by 108mm meaning more legroom,...22 Jan 2013 -
Driver's choice: Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI 140 PS SE 5drFor driving enjoyment the new Skoda Octavia isn’t exactly up there with the likes of the VW Golf or even the Ford Focus, but the 138bhp 1.4-litre petrol version still...21 Jan 2013 -
Ford Focus ST Estate: Numberplate problemsI felt helpless. A policeman on a motorcycle had pulled me over. I wasn’t sure why, yet he asked why I thought he had. Of course, driving a bright yellow Ford...9 Jan 2013 -
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Volkswagen Tiguan: Welcome to the Parkers fleetOver the past five years I have run a number of long-termers: a Volvo C30, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Passat, Kia Optima and so on, but oddly 4x4s have,...18 Dec 2012 -
Chancellor scraps 3p fuel duty riseMotorists will be breathing a sigh of relief today after Chancellor George Osborne confirmed that a planned rise 3p rise in fuel duty will be scrapped. The tax was due to...5 Dec 2012 -
Top five cars for winter motoringWe’ve had seriously cold evenings already, the frost has started forming on cars and soon enough you’ll see snow on the weather forecast. With that in mind, we’ve picked out our...3 Dec 2012 -
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Ford Focus ST Estate: Welcome to ParkersThe Parkers car park offers a mixed bag. One week it’s full of conventional, mainstream cars that you wouldn’t even notice, then every so often there’s a headturner in there. Three weeks ago the Ford...30 Nov 2012 -
Mazda MX-5 gets a refreshMazda has revised its MX-5 with a new front end and has added a special TomTom sat nav version to the line-up. The new seven-strong range now includes the 2.0-litre MX-5 Sport...23 Nov 2012 -
Facelifted Lexus LS road testWhen the Lexus LS was first conceived in 1983 the plan was to build the best luxury car in the world. The plan took shape and in 1989 the first LS...22 Nov 2012 -
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Kia Optima: Four-door is a strong choiceIt is with some sadness that I have had to say goodbye to the Kia Optima – one of the best mile-crunchers in the business. It’s been a fairly eventful six...8 Oct 2012