About this season
Motoring programme featuring reviews of and reports about cars of all types.
Episodes (36)
1. Episode 1
Aired 22 February 2001 • 25 min
Tonight, chasing the Mondeo and the Renault Laguna, the Lamborghini Miura and how it will blow your doors off, and the future may well be bright but does it make sense.
2. Episode 2
Aired 1 March 2001
Jason Barlow takes a ride in the new Alfa 147, which Alfa Romeo hopes will make waves in the small-car market. Tiff Needell, meanwhile, road-tests the 180 XKR-R, a souped up performance Jaguar which could soon grace showrooms.
3. Episode 3
Aired 8 March 2001
Vicki Butler-Henderson looks at whether the brand new Volkswagen Lupo GTi’s sporty credentials live up to its looks, while Jason Barlow tests the remarkable new Citroën C5.
4. Episode 4
Aired 15 March 2001
5. Episode 5
Aired 22 March 2001
Jason Barlow tests the new MG F Trophy, one of Rover’s new sporting models, while Vicki Butler-Henderson checks out Vauxhall’s lastest Astra diesel — the Eco 4.
6. Episode 6
Aired 29 March 2001
7. Episode 7
Aired 5 April 2001
8. Episode 8
Aired 12 April 2001
Tonight’s show reveals the results of a special customer satisfaction survey — a study into buying, owning and running a car that reveals the very best and worst of different models, including which car registered an amazing 1,800 faults.
9. Episode 9
Aired 19 April 2001
10. Episode 10
Aired 26 April 2001
This week in the motoring magazine Vicki Butler-Henderson tests Citroën and Peugeot hatchbacks that offer better-than-average performance for little more than the cost of a standard model. Plus Tiff Needell learns how to handle a high-powered motorcycle on the road.
11. Episode 11
Aired 3 May 2001
The latest model from Jaguar’s production lines, the X-Type, marks a radical departure for the luxury brand. Jason Barlow takes the saloon sports car for a spin to see whether its makers will succeed in appealing to a younger demographic, or whether the X-Type will damage their reputation as a top people’s car manufacturer.
12. Episode 12
Aired 10 May 2001
A look at the new Peugeot 307 — has it got what it takes to lead the family hatchback pack? Plus, is the recently revived, Dutch-designed Spyker CS Spyder worth its £150,000 price tag?
13. Episode 13
Aired 17 May 2001
14. Episode 14
Aired 31 May 2001
15. Episode 15
Aired 7 June 2001
16. Episode 16
Aired 14 June 2001
17. Episode 17
Aired 21 June 2001
18. Episode 18
Aired 28 June 2001
19. Episode 19
Aired 5 July 2001
20. Episode 20
Aired 12 July 2001
Tiff Needell sees how BMW’s new Mini One compares with its rivals, and competes against Vicki Butler-Henderson in a downhill race at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
21. Episode 21
Aired 19 July 2001
Tiff Needell and the team test the quality of the new MG road cars and take a look behind-the-scenes at John Travolta’s new film Swordfish, which features a TVR Tuscan in the spectacular car chase sequence.
22. Episode 22
Aired 26 July 2001
Twenty percent of Britain’s income is spent on motoring. Jason Barlow, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Adrian Simpson and Tiff Needell explore ways of halving that figure by offering advice on the best second-hand deals, reducing insurance premiums, fuel economy and inexpensive maintenance.
23. Episode 23
Aired 2 August 2001
24. Episode 24
Aired 9 August 2001
Tiff Needell test-drives the eagerly-awaited Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, the most talked-about supercar ever to come out of Britain. So does the beautiful two-seater coupe with a top speed of 190mph meet expectations?
25. Episode 25
Aired 16 August 2001
26. Episode 26
Aired 23 August 2001
Vicki Butler-Henderson road-tests the new Tuscan S, which is rumoured to reach speeds of up to 200mph. Plus a look at where to buy cheap cars, and the new number-plate system.
27. Episode 27
Aired 30 August 2001
Jason Barlow tries out the latest update of the Ford Thunderbird, Tiff Needell assesses the merits of the BMW M3 convertible, while Adrian Simpson tries to understand how the inside of a car can tell you about its owner.
28. Episode 28
Aired 6 September 2001
Tiff Needell test-drives new models from TVR and AC, while Vicki Butler-Henderson rides in the Arrows three-seater Formula One car. Jason Barlow assesses the future of green-engine technology, and tries out a fuel cell-powered car.
29. Episode 29
Aired 27 September 2001
Jason Barlow compares the new Rat Stilo with the Ford Focus, there’s a report from the Frankfurt Motor Show including the lowdown on next year’s new cars, and Tiff Needell drives sideways as he participates in a stunt competition.
30. Episode 30
Aired 4 October 2001
31. Episode 31
Aired 11 October 2001
32. Episode 32
Aired 25 October 2001
33. Episode 33
Aired 8 November 2001
Jason Barlow, Adrian Simpson and design guru Richard Seymour assess what makes the Ford Focus a bestseller.
34. Episode 34
Aired 15 November 2001
Jason Barlow and Adrian Simpson take a look at the Land Rover Freelander and its competition in the off-roader market, while Tiff Needell test-drives the FBS Census.
35. Episode 35
Aired 10 December 2001
Vicki Butler-Henderson sizes up the new Volkswagen Polo, while Jason Barlow and Adrian Simpson report on BMW’s fortunes in the competitive executive-car market.
36. Episode 36
Aired 17 December 2001
Vicki Butler-Henderson and Adrian Simpson compare the merits of British roadster the MG F with international counterpart the Mazda MX-5. Tiff Needell races a Mini Cooper and Jason Barlow tests the new Mercedes SL500.