'Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the perplexing One Car For Life challenge, or OCFL, for short.'
'Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the perplexing One Car For Life challenge, or OCFL, for short.'
Your perfect three-car garage? Child’s play, says Meaden. What you really want is to identify your automotive soulmate
"The best drives are always about the journey, and not the destination."
"The best drives are always about the journey, and not the destination."
Flying may be quicker, but you can’t beat the sense of adventure that comes with a big-miles road-trip, reckons Meaden
'What's the best drive I've ever had? It doesn't involve the best car I've ever driven...'
'What's the best drive I've ever had? It doesn't involve the best car I've ever driven...'
What was your most memorable drive? Dickie recounts some of his, and obviously, they're incredible...
‘High summer might seem like an odd time to ponder the merits of driving in the rain, unless of course you’re British’
‘High summer might seem like an odd time to ponder the merits of driving in the rain, unless of course you’re British’
There’s a natural antidote to the crushing ability of modern performance cars, says Meaden, just keep an eye on the Met Office
‘The value of Long-term tests for magazine readers cannot be disputed’
‘The value of Long-term tests for magazine readers cannot be disputed’
Long-term magazine tests are a fundamental link between you, the reader, and us, the journalists. We shouldn’t dismiss them, says Meaden
‘Cleaning your car is the simplest and most readily accessible car-based pleasure’
‘Cleaning your car is the simplest and most readily accessible car-based pleasure’
It’s easy to get sentimental about cars, but to romanticise washing them? No problem for Meaden (who hasn’t held a sponge in years)
‘I think I’m done with fast road cars’
‘I think I’m done with fast road cars’
‘Too fast for the road’ has long been a badge of honour among supercars, but it’s now a condition that afflicts most performance cars
'It's time the established fast-car makers gave us all something to look forward to.'
'It's time the established fast-car makers gave us all something to look forward to.'
Dickie questions whether the established manufacturers are doing enough to adapt to the future of sports cars...
'We should begrudgingly endorse the SUV not lament it'
'We should begrudgingly endorse the SUV not lament it'
Meaden dons a flak jacket and presents a robust defence of the cars we all love to hate
'Toyota can make white goods models and still be the world’s most exciting car brand'
'Toyota can make white goods models and still be the world’s most exciting car brand'
Calling Toyota 'the most exciting car brand' might sound dubious, but Meaden might be on to something...
‘Listening to music should be endorsed not scorned when you’re behind the wheel’
‘Listening to music should be endorsed not scorned when you’re behind the wheel’
Switch off the stereo and listen to the music of the engine? Alternatively, suggests Dickie, leave it on and crank up the volume.
‘Are modern performance cars better value than their predecessors?'
‘Are modern performance cars better value than their predecessors?'
It’s easy to moan about the seemingly extortionate prices of new performance cars, but is that actually the case? Meaden investigates.
'2018 might see a road-legal production car hit 300mph. Pointless? In every practical sense, yes'
'2018 might see a road-legal production car hit 300mph. Pointless? In every practical sense, yes'
Dickie ponders the pointless, but seductive objective of road cars reaching the 300mph milestone
'The ritual of looking at cars was one of the great spectator sports of my childhood'
'The ritual of looking at cars was one of the great spectator sports of my childhood'
Dickie harks back to a time when hunting down second hand cars was a Sunday ritual rather than an open tab on your browser
'Nowadays Lamborghinis flatter their drivers, rather than frighten the bejesus out of them'
'Nowadays Lamborghinis flatter their drivers, rather than frighten the bejesus out of them'
Worried that Lamborghini might be losing its hardcore edge, Meaden appraises the future of the raging bull
Ford Escort Mexico review – all the power you'll ever need
Ford Escort Mexico review – all the power you'll ever need
If there's ever a car to demonstrate that power and speed aren't necessary for a thrilling drive, it has to be the Ford Escort Mexico.
"Car technology is turning the colourful tapestry of European driving styles into a miserable morass of badly driven metal"
"Car technology is turning the colourful tapestry of European driving styles into a miserable morass of badly driven metal"
Could recent changes to cars and roads be causing driving standards to decline? Dickie has noticed some worrying initial signs.
'The speed at which electric hypercars are appearing is turning me off'
'The speed at which electric hypercars are appearing is turning me off'
Not only is the way in which hypercars are built rapidly changing, but so is their raison d’être.
‘The elusive thrill of driving is more readily accessed with the roof down’
‘The elusive thrill of driving is more readily accessed with the roof down’
Perhaps more evidence of his advancing years, Meaden confesses to a growing passion for convertible motoring
‘When it comes to car ownership I reckon we all fall into one of three categories’
‘When it comes to car ownership I reckon we all fall into one of three categories’
Dickie Meaden discusses the three different personality types that exist among car owners.
'It’s the battle of risk versus reward that’s catnip for car nuts like us'
'It’s the battle of risk versus reward that’s catnip for car nuts like us'
When the alarm bells (and suspension failure warnings) are ringing, should you still buy that well-used dream car? Meaden did.
‘Ring records once meant something, now I feel completely immune to their impact’
‘Ring records once meant something, now I feel completely immune to their impact’
Nürburgring lap records have become mighty but meaningless, says Meaden, who reckons we can bring back the awe of the olden days
'The roads are a treasure trove of memorable turns if you’re on the lookout'
'The roads are a treasure trove of memorable turns if you’re on the lookout'
We’ve all got our favourite corners. Meaden wants to hear yours in the hope that it could become part of something rather special
'The critical ingredient isn’t the car or the driver. The road brings the magic'
'The critical ingredient isn’t the car or the driver. The road brings the magic'
Car, driver, road: they’re all important, but which holds most sway when it comes to a rewarding drive?
'The notion of dropping an unlikely motor into an equally unlikely recipient is almost as old as the car itself'
'The notion of dropping an unlikely motor into an equally unlikely recipient is almost as old as the car itself'
Some of the most deranged automotive one-offs are the result of engine swaps. Meaden identifies his favourites.
‘What would you commission as your one-off supercar?’
‘What would you commission as your one-off supercar?’
Money no object. Three words, endless possibilities for the imaginative petrolhead. Meaden gets the ball rolling with his own fantasy car
New v used – which car should you choose? - Porsche 911 Carrera GTS v Aston Martin V12 Vantage S - New v Used
New v used – which car should you choose? - Porsche 911 Carrera GTS v Aston Martin V12 Vantage S - New v Used
The 911 is hard to beat, and the latest GTS is a real gem. But perhaps a special used alternative in the V12 Vantage S might sway you...
Ferrari LaFerrari review, price and video
Ferrari LaFerrari review, price and video
The LaFerrari is finally here - we review Ferrari flagship on road and track
'You don't need to take a far-flung vacation to acquaint your car with a great road'
'You don't need to take a far-flung vacation to acquaint your car with a great road'
"Just get up early, drink coffee, grab the keys and drive" says Dickie Meaden
'It takes a special kind of person to take the plunge with a bold car colour scheme'
'It takes a special kind of person to take the plunge with a bold car colour scheme'
So you think the motorsport-inspired livery on your car is cool? It might be, says Meaden, as he plays arbiter of automotive taste
"It's a shame that our relationship with the performance car industry has become that of junkies and pushers"
"It's a shame that our relationship with the performance car industry has become that of junkies and pushers"
The so-called 'power wars' that manufacturers have engaged in are no longer relevant, amusing or helpful.
"Dukes of Hazzard probably played as important a part in influencing my future as any maths or English lesson"
"Dukes of Hazzard probably played as important a part in influencing my future as any maths or English lesson"
Car makers are missing out on the incredible power of the silver screen and should try harder to engage with car culture, says Meaden
Aston Martin Vulcan review - track-only Aston reviewed at Blyton Park
Aston Martin Vulcan review - track-only Aston reviewed at Blyton Park
Aston Martin's Vulcan delivers an intoxicating blend of the best bits of driving a race car and an exotic supercar
McLaren 570S Spider 2017 review - has the roadster got the Sports Series sparkle? (video)
McLaren 570S Spider 2017 review - has the roadster got the Sports Series sparkle? (video)
Every bit as good as McLaren 570S with the roof up, with roof down the Spider delivers more fun and a greater sense of occasion