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The time had finally come: my daily sports car enjoyment was coming to an end...well more-or-less. The arrival of Reginald, the bull-dog puppy in late January had meant that the M3 would no longer provide enough practicality for transporting myself, girlfriend and new four-legged companion. Coupled with that, I was beginning to become increasingly frustrated with the minute fuel tank on the BMW and its insatiable appetite for 95 RON. Having owned an E46 M3 and 997 C2S in the past, I was no stranger to grimacing at the pump, but the frequency that was involved during E90 M3 ownership was fairly alarming – especially for a relatively modern piece of engineering. You accept the cost of running these cars when you dive in at purchase, but the relentless £75 fill-ups just act as a constant reminder of your cash pouring from the nozzle, into said car, and then straight out of those meaty quad exhausts.

So what was it to be: the front-runners were the Audi Q5 (3.0TDi) with all extras ticked, a diesel Range Rover Sport, or a 335d BMW Estate. Having used a Range Rover during the ravages of 2010’s winter months (see December blog: Chelsea Tractor to Alpine Monster), I was convinced that its 4x4 credentials were unrivalled – and it was a strong contender, despite the questionable WAG image. The Audi offered a sportier alternative but, for me, the styling lacked the authoritative purpose that the Range Rover oozes. Whilst the BMW Estate was a good all-rounder, I knew deep down I wanted something different, and I had become a little tired of the dreary 3-series cockpit. Additionally, I wanted to something that instilled some degree of confidence in harsh winter conditions; the M3 was truly woeful during the snow, and I just do not have the time or patience to think about winter-tyre options.

Without singling out exactly where it happened, I had a disastrous sales experience at my local Land Rover dealership: two visits, zero follow-up from disinterested staff and I seemed to know more about the cars than the salesman – not a ringing endorsement – they never even managed to engineer a test-drive. In any case, I began to realise the Mark 2 RR Sports commanded prices in the mid £40ks which was going to be a bit of a reach, but the updated interiors were considerably smarter than the original cars which still harked back to Land Rover’s agricultural roots.

Trading out of the M3 into a low mileage 335d Estate, and having to pay a few thousand quid was just too unpalatable to contemplate. So, this left me with a trip to Audi. The Q5 was certainly adequate and given all the eventualities it covers, I could see why the dealer network had a groaning waiting list for new build slots. However my interest was piqued by another car residing in their showroom, one I had not considered due to rarity and potential running costs: the RS4 Avant. The long-time nemesis of the car I was parting company with was something of an enigma to me. I had perpetually rubbished it over the years, such was my loyalty to the M3 and had never even set foot in one. But here it was: all the practicality I needed, the famed Quattro platform, the stealth looks, V8 performance and an exquisite exhaust note to boot. I had lived in the South of France over a decade ago as a student and among the usual Italian exotica that howled around the mountain roads, the bright blue RS2 was not an uncommon site. A Porsche/Audi collaboration – at the time, every petrol-head yearned for one. The RS4 represented its spiritual successor and is gradually carving out a cult following – at least, that was my argument!

A quick calculation and I could switch from the M3 into the RS by paying a nominal amount, at the same time reducing the mileage between the M3 and the Audi by 10k. A quick test-drive and I was ready to trade. The Audi emitted an electric, throaty warble from its trademark oval exhausts and as soon as the starter button was pressed, thoughts of diesel 4x4s were quickly jettisoned. The switch gear was much smoother than the M3’s, which was a big factor given I do a lot of urban driving and I immediately had more confidence when executing quick, green-to-amber shifts than in the BMW. The huge, winged bucket-seats are more than a novelty and encourage a more upright, straighter driving position with better all-round back support. The car’s build quality is excellent and the only thing it lacks is a few bits of technology here and there: after-market Bluetooth, iPod connectivity were thrown in with the purchase, but can be found on some models. The most pleasantly surprising aspect of RS4 ownership versus the M3 has been the relative frugality with regards to fuel consumption. On a long motorway run I could just about squeeze out a 300 mile tank, whereas the Audi seems to be delivering this and more under mixed conditions. It might not have the same street-cred as the BMW but it is more of a connoisseur’s choice, and the respectful nods of those “in the know” is equally as rewarding for those badge followers among us.

BMW's luxury M5 Saloon Car is back! This is the 5th version generation of the car which will be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. The super-saloon comes with a 552bhp twin-turbo V8 engine, seven-speed dual-clutch box, goes 0-60mph in 4.5 sec (top speed 155mph - limited) and has a 25% better fuel economy than the current model. Prices will start at £75k and it will be available to buy in November.

Another car set to be unveiled is the new Mercedes A Class, I think it's visually stunning and looks like something Alfa Romeo would be proud of! It will be interesting to see how it competes against the Mini, the car will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, no word yet on price.

Finally with Jeremy Clarkson being in the news a lot this week I thought it was only right to post this, I warn you the following video is a bit like Marmite, you'll either love it or hate it!

Have a good weekend.

Monday saw the launch of our fantastic sister site WhoCanFixMyCar.com, the basic premise is if you need a service or if you've got a broken down car and you are worried that you might be getting charged over the odds by your nearest garage you can post your problem and garages in your local area can pitch you a price. If you are a garage or a mechanic and are interested in signing up please call 0191 269 6875, the full site will launch in a couple of a weeks.

Porsche have unveiled the Panamera Turbo S, costing a hefty £122,630, 20k more than the standard Panamera. What's the difference between the two of them? Well you get an extra 49bhp, Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control system which stops the car from rolling and the car goes 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker. Top speed is 191 mph, only 3 faster and the fuel economy remains the same at 24.6mpg.

With the Royal Wedding rapidly approaching BMW have decided to get in on the act, the German car maker have brought out a BMW M3 Royal Edition, no word yet on price.

Finally this week RIP to Edward Stobart who built up his father's Eddie Stobart lorry empire and ran it for more than 30 years, becoming the best know haulage company in the country in the process. Edward was only 56 and died after suffering "heart problems."

Have a good weekend!

The law in the UK is very clear when it comes to car insurance. A vehicle must be named on a person’s policy in order to for that person to drive said vehicle. But this law is being broken at an alarming rate – at the expense of road users who obey the laws on car insurance.

Car insurance experts surveyed 2,019 British adults in February 2011 to garner information on the problem of uninsured driving. The results showed that 16 per cent of drivers have driven a car they were not insured to drive. Of this 16 per cent, seven per cent claimed to have driven their own car without cover, seven per cent said they had driven someone else’s car without insurance and a further two per cent admitted to having driven their car in between their insurance policy expiring and obtaining a new policy.

Lack of knowledge about car insurance law seems to be at the heart of the problem for many people in the UK. No less than 27 per cent of respondents who admitted to driving uninsured in the survey said they did not realise they needed insurance at the times when they drove without it.

A further 38 per cent of uninsured drivers claimed to have been between insurance policies when they drove uninsured, which nine per cent said they “couldn’t be bothered” to take out insurance.

Two smaller but nevertheless very telling statistics of the most telling statistics are the 6 per cent of uninsured drivers who said they did not believe insurance was necessary because they are unlikely to crash, and the 13 per cent who said they could not afford to get insured.

Commenting on the research, car insurance expert Peter Harrison said: “Uninsured drivers cost the industry £500 million each year, which as a result adds an average of £30 to every motorist’s premium. Our research shows insurance premiums rose on average by 44p per day, or by 31 per cent, last year.”

“Coupled with rising fuel prices, you can see why people are looking to cut costs, but car insurance is a necessity for all motorists and not something you should avoid paying for.”

The government is looking to clamp down on the scourge of uninsured drivers with the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement, which, from April 2011, will make it illegal to own an uninsured vehicle unless that vehicle is registered with a Statutory Off Road Notification.

In the meantime, Peter Harrison urges insured road users to shop around to money on their insurance renewals.

He said: "The rising cost of motoring makes shopping around for the best deal crucial to ensure you aren't paying over the odds for your car insurance. The average saving using moneysupermarket.com is £270, so I urge everyone to do their research and not automatically accept their renewal without checking there isn't a better alternative."

3 new dealers added to the site this week, welcome to:

Many people at the moment consider the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C the best 2 cars of the last 12 months, well that might be about to change! Porsche's amazing 918 Spyder Hybrid Supercar goes on sale this week costing a cool £672,000. The Porsche will be able to reach 62mph in 3.2 seconds, as well as having a return of 94 miles per gallon.

Another thing - like many people around the world I can't wait for is the return of the F1 this weekend, my money's on Ferrari to win everything after their fantastic pre-season, still it would be nice if Lewis Hamilton or Jensen Button won a second world championship!

With the Geneva Motor Show well and truly over for another year, here are a few of my favourite pictures from the event...

Have a good weekend!

As you've probably seen it's the Oscars this weekend so there's a lot worth seeing the Cinema at the moment, why not save yourself some money and enter our competition to win a pair of Cineworld tickets, click here to enter.

Next week is the eagerly awaited Geneva Motor Show, BMW will be unveiling their new concept car, the Mini Rocketman. The Rocketman is just 3.2m long and 1.9m wide. Inside there is very little space but there is however reasonable storage accessed behind the rear seats. Despite being a concept car there is little doubt that it won't go into full production as part of the new 2013 line-up.

Another car set to appear the Geneva Motor Show is the new Aston Martin Virage, the British company has said the new car combines performance with luxury, comfort and refinement and sits between the DB9 and the DBS in the line-up.

The Virage originally made its debut at the Birmingham Motorshow in 1988, it will be interesting to see how it does this time around.

Have a good weekend

We've teamed up with Confused.com to highlight some of the real statistics around road rage and to launch a competition to win a pair of tickets to see Drive Angry at a Cineworld near you! Infact, even if a car themed shoot-em-up isn't your thing, the tickets are valid for a show of your choice.

So if you fancy a bit of:

Or if this is more your style:

Simply answer this one simple question:

What is the "name" of this car from Nicolas Cage's Gone in 60 Seconds?

• A. Betty
• B. Eleanor
• C. James

In the meantime check out this Road Rage infographic:

Terms and Conditions apply.

Lamborghini today released pictures of the Murcielago's replacement V12, well almost, the teaser pictures are of the rolling chassis. While to most it might look like scaffolding on wheels, to the discerning Sant Agata faithful it is definitely a peak at the next generation Lambo. Only a few days to go...

Could we about to see a real challenger to the Ferrari 458 Italia already? The new McLaren MP4-12C comes in close, both cars are very similar and priced remarkably close. There's no doubt about it, both cars a visually stunning! The sooner they do a race on Top Gear the better!

Here's something you probably knew already, a survey out today by the insurance company Elephant.co.uk has revealed that Footballers commit the most driving offences, it makes you wonder why Vauxhall now sponsor the England football team!

The five professions committing the most offences are:

Meanwhile the five professions committing the least are:

Finally this week, we were reading the Sky News article about the cost of the "cold snap" in December. Insurers reported that damage to property and cars totalled more than £1bn. More than 250,000 vehicles were damaged at a cost of £530 million as motorists struggled on icy roads. It highlights the importance of being prepared as a motorist and so get set for next year by checking out breakdown cover from ASDA.

Enjoy your weekend!

We've had lots of new dealers joining the site, as usual hello and welcome to:

The classic British car that is the Jaguar E-Type celebrates it's 50 anniversary this week, launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961 the car has a permanent exhibit in New York's Museum of Modern Art due to it's sleek lines and beautiful body.

Range Rover - probably the most comfortable car in the world, well it just got ever better, Land Rover are set to unveil their new Ranger Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition which will include Apple Ipads installed in the rear entertainment system as well as an aluminium laptop table as well! The car has been described 'the most luxurious Ranger Rover ever'.

Got some time off work coming up but don't know what to do with it? Why not enter Continental's amazing competition to join them on the ultimate off roading experience driving Hummers 1,000 miles through the rocky Atlas Mountains and across the soft sands of the Sahara, in quest for the Contini 4x4 Trophy?!?

Enjoy your weekend