Cars

Typically as I’m about to write about a poor start to the summer there’s blazing sunshine coming through the window, but on the whole it’s been such a damp and soggy start to the summer that I’ve been wondering if I shouldn’t have built an ark rather than a race car.

EXCLUSIVE “This car has been the biggest challenge for the company in more than a decade – if not its greatest challenge ever” Ian Minards, director of product development, Aston Martin.

What’s in your Garage? One man’s love for his lovely 2002 Targa. This month we look into the history and production of the soft-top ’02s and talk to Michael Oben who describes life with his unusual late model 2002 Baur Targa Words and photography: Mike Taylor.

Buying Guide. The BMW E28 M5 is one of the most iconic M cars ever produced and is still a brilliant classic choice.  The ultimate guide to buying and owning the original super saloon.   The original super saloon is a brilliant drive and while they’re becoming expensive it’s not too late to grab one while you still can. It’s a surefire investment and will be a hell of a lot more interesting than an ISA! Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: Oli Tennent/www.olitennent.com.

What used BMWs can you buy for the price of the M5’s optional Carbon Ceramic brakes? If you’re speccing a new M5 you could spend nearly £7500 on a set of optional carbon ceramic brakes… or you could have one of these used cars for the price of those discs! Words: John Tallodi.

Five Star The new Five is upon us and we’ve all the details on BMW’s seventh generation mid-range executive. New 5 Series G30 Sleeker, leaner, faster – hi-tech new Five breaks cover. Five Star It might be a corny headline but the all-new 5 Series looks like BMW has taken the best elements of the 7 Series and wrapped them up in an attractive mid-sized package. Words: Bob Harper. Photography: BMW/Drive-My.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that manufacturers were shying away from making coupés. The two-door format was dead according to many pundits – but how times have changed. 2016 buyers who lust after a potent BMW Coupé have never had so much choice and the range of exciting options extends to the used market too – with a healthy £20,000 budget bagging some serious machinery. You won’t regret buying any one of these three classy contenders…

With my next track day fast approaching we still had a good few jobs to do on the M3 and one of the most daunting was changing the bottom end shells. Although Dave and I had done a few E46 M3s before, we had never tackled an S65 engine. The reason for this preventative maintenance was that worryingly there is quite a large list of cars on the American forums that have suffered with bearing failure and I even know of a German car that spun a shell at less than 40,000 kilometres.

Buying Guide Fancy a sweet handling normally aspirated sports saloon? Then how about looking at the E90 330i? Like normally aspirated straight-sixes? Need four doors? Then you’ll be wanting an E90 330i – the last of BMW’s non-turbocharged sports saloons. Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: Dom Fraser and Max Earey.

Do you remember that AC Schnitzer once made a supercharger kit for the E46 330i? We have fond memories of the conversion so jumped at the chance to drive one today Words: Bob Harper. Photography: Dave Smith.

Performance Art. We get up close and personal with the wonderful M2 with a host of M Performance accessories.  We love the M2 straight out of the box but can the addition of some M Performance accessories improve it still further? Words: Bob Harper. Photography: Gus Gregory.

Porsche 964 How to buy the last affordable classic 911. Buying Guide Fancy a Porsche 964? Follow our six steps to 911 heaven. More exciting than a 993 – but care is needed when buying the ‘unloved’ 911. 6 Steps To Buying The Best Porsche 911 964 third generation. Words Paul Hardiman. Photography Tom Wood.