The Squeezed Middle

If you cast your mind back to the last UK elections you’ll remember this phrase being chucked about a lot. I can’t remember who exactly said it, as all politicians have since become a faceless blur to me, blithering on about a financial crisis which none of them control. This blog, despite a title based in politics, is about cars. Who this squeezed middle is in society seems to be something that no one wants to define. However with the much simpler motorcar, it’s more easily pin pointed.

Trader Dreamer: BTCC Special I

YouTube is a wonderful thing, aside from millions of hours of utterly pointless drivel and many more comments of the same ilk, there’s seemingly no limit to what you can watch. I’ve recently been entertaining myself by watching BTCC videos. I’m a huge fan of the super touring years of the sport, and YouTube makes it possible to watch those races on demand. This is the first of ‘Trader Dreamer’s inspired by this great racing series, and it’s natural to start with the year 1990, the first year to feature the new 2-litre class that would make the series so very special.

(Picture from Ejcallow)

Trader Dreamer: Rover 200 BRM LE

This time around ‘Trader Dreamer’ is one rather personal to me. This is a car I’ve wanted for several years now, and with prices obscenely low at the moment, this appears to be the time to buy a car that could very well appreciate. What this limited edition car desperately needs is more caring owners, while some have such luxury, many turn up for breaking or with questionable engine conversions. The car is the Rover 200 BRM LE and my plea to you is save one for me, and sell it for the current price in a few years, ta. 

E46 328i Vs F30 328i – In Video

In the most recent ‘Trader Dreamer’ I compare the virtues of the brand new 328i to the model 13 years its senior. If you don’t want to take my conclusion alone, perhaps you should watch the two videos after the break. In one you’ll find Clarkson testing the 328i at its launch in 1998 on ‘old’ Top Gear. The other comes from Autocar, with Steve Sutcliffe testing the most recent model. See for yourself how much has changed in this expanse of time.

 The E46 & F30, both can skirt around a rocky outcrop but which would you have?

Trader Dreamer: BMW 328i E46

The embargo on reviews of the F30 BMW 3 series was lifted earlier this week, meaning that we can find out that once again the 3 series is top of its class. Hardly surprising as this has been the case for as long as I can remember. What is perhaps a little surprising is the engine in the new 328i, a name plate that we in Europe haven’t seen for 11 years. Under the bonnet you’ll find no 2.8 litre straight six, nothing of the sort in fact, the car has a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder. The new car will set you back £28,080 before you start ticking boxes, but if you’re not keen on spending that sort of money a car with a lie on its boot lid, then perhaps consider the E46 328i. It’s not lying and it can be had for as little as £2,000.

Photo from aaronmarks

Trader Dreamer: Ford Scorpio

How do you follow up a V12 Ferrari in a series of blogs? Well perhaps something a bit more realistic. Something with half the cylinders but a top speed only 40mph adrift of the now £60k supercar. A car that offers more equipment than the Ferrari, better economy, more seats, and in facelift form, more exclusivity than the Testarossa? Yes it’s all sounding great you say, well, witness, the Ford Scorpio!

Photo from kenjonbro