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 Before I begin, I think it’s only fair to tell you that my feelings toward the Vauxhall brand have never been one of admiration, generally due to the fact that I associated the car giant with the Vectra. Since its release in 1995, it felt like the uninspired choice of transport that flooded our motorways shifting sales reps across the country. So naturally, when I heard that Vauxhall were stopping its production, I didn’t lose any sleep.
It emerged soon after the manufacturer was to release something new - the Insignia. Admittedly, I wasn’t all that excited about the prospect - until I saw it. I almost did a double-take; it looked so different, inspired even. It was as if the designers at Vauxhall had suddenly slipped out of a thirteen-year coma.
With a fresh approach, it seems that Vauxhall have taken a huge step forward in styling. The Insignia’s sleek lines, low-slung roofline and eye catching looks are enough to beat most rivals like the Renault Laguna, Citroen C5, and the Ford Mondeo standing still. Even the griffin badge has been remodelled.
But as we all know, looks aren’t everything at the end of the day, and I was eager (if not a little sceptical) to find out if this was really something special from Vauxhall, so I felt obligated to take it for a spin.
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 For me, Toyota is a brand that has always been a bit like a filler track on a less-than-spectacular album. It comes down to personal preference, but I've never seen the Tokyo car giant produce something that has amazed me... until now.
The smallest thing to come out of Japan since the Tamagotchi, the Toyota iQ emerges at a time when everybody is cutting down their emissions and going ‘green' to save money, and with a Co2 output of just 99kgm means it's tax exempt. All sounds like it's got the green light, but then there's the price. A whopping £10,495 could be enough to deter the determined money-saver and send them over to the obvious rival, the (far cheaper) Smart ForTwo.That would be a mistake; the £3,000 price difference is plenty justified.
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 I may be viewing it with rose tinted spectacles but it’s the sort of car you have to have the roof down, even when it’s being washed, and its 2 degrees in February!
There are the really hard convertible men, who drive old MG’s with the roof down, when it’s a white-out and the icicles are starting to form on their eyelids. There are the other types who buy a soft top and never put the roof down because it spoils their hair. The rest of us only have to glimpse the sun and we’re pulling over to drop the top.
The first Saab Convertible hit the streets over 25 years ago and it has worn a number of facelifts very well. The latest incarnation has been around for a while now and is still loved by thousands all over the world. The electric roof operation has to be admired; very, cool!
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 We first saw the third-generation Volkswagen Scirocco at the 2006 Paris Motorshow in the form of a concept car, called the Iroc. This name was later expanded after it was deemed to share the same spirit and dynamism of the iconic Scirocco.
Whilst based on the same platform and mechanics used by the Golf GTi, it's wrong to describe the Scirocco as a Golf in a miniskirt. It shares the same wheelbase but is a significant 97mm lower and has a wider track.
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 The Ford Smax was introduced in 2006 so in car terms has been with us for a while now. The car has been widely reviewed and the trim and choice refined and expanded since. The consensus is that this is a good car and we'd agree, in fact for many it is a great car. It drives very well, is extremely practical and easy to live with and very good on the eye, but which one to choose?
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