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Opinion

We’ve been commenting on the motoring scene – and, sometimes, a little bit more, since June 2004. Read what’s on the minds of AROnline’s Contributors and see if you agree with them – as always, these are opinion pieces and do not  necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the site.

Citroen XM
Opinion

Blog : My life in cars

16 May 2022 Keith Adams 47

I’m beginning to think that my lengthy spell of Compulsive Heap Purchasing Disorder (CHPD) is incurable. I’m not too unhappy about it for 95% of the time – it’s an […]

Average speed cameras on the A9
Opinion

Blog : I’ve seen the future… and it can go and do one!

7 May 2022 Keith Adams 42

Recently, I spent an enjoyable time driving to Northern Scotland. In a long couple of days, I covered more than 1100 miles, averaged more than 50mpg and consumed rather too […]

Triumph Stag in the USA
Opinion

Opinion : The Triumph Stag and its US misadventure

25 April 2022 Chris Cowin 32

The Triumph Stag might have looked like an absolute winner in the American market – it had glamour, style and panache, and yet it failed miserably. Chris Cowin recalls the […]

AROnline

Events : Preview – Leyland National 50

25 April 2022 Mike Humble 7

To celebrate the joint fiftieth anniversaries of the Leyland National and the Lillyhall factory, the Workington Transport Heritage Trust are organising a unique free event, LN50, to take place in […]

Rover 75 airbag light
Opinion

Technician’s Update : Don’t get in a mess with SRS!

18 April 2022 Mike Humble 6

When it comes to customising cars, especially my own, I tend to not bother these days, nor did I when I was younger. I say that, but not in the […]

George Turnbull

Essay : Morris Marina – How well did it sell?

12 April 2022 Ian Nicholls 109

Now widely seen as a joke car by the general public, who misunderstood the market it was aimed at, the Morris Marina sold well in comparison with its British Leyland stablemates. How successful […]

Audi 80
Opinion

Opinion : Anything we can do… they can do worse? – Audi 80

2 April 2022 Keith Adams 52

Keith Adams ruminates about some of the cars sold by British Leyland’s competitors – and wonders why it’s still so fashionable to knock our once-great nationalised carmaker even though its mistakes […]

Keith's Rover 75 Tourer
Keith's Rover 75 Tourer

Our Cars : Keith’s Rover 75 Tourer – springtime reawakenings

20 March 2022 Keith Adams 3

I can’t pretend it’s not been a long, dark winter – what with a bout of COVID-19 over Christmas, various family isolation periods, and a sense that those long nights […]

Opinion

Blog : Happy 50th Anniversary Parkers!

12 March 2022 Keith Adams 19

Last week the publication I edit, Parkers, celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Back then, it was called Parker’s New, Used & Trade Car Price Guide and its cover proudly proclaimed that […]

Austin LM14-LM15
Concepts and prototypes

Concepts and prototypes : Austin LM14/LM15 (1978-1981)

18 February 2022 Keith Adams 24

In a week when we’ve been marking the 40th anniversary of the Austin Ambassador, it seems natural to ask the question: why was it in production for such a short […]

Lotus Esprit
Opinion

Blog : Have you got a light, boy?

18 February 2022 Mike Humble 23

The wonderful world of BMC-to-Rover has given us a vast array of shared components found in many different vehicles, often with differing marques too. Mike Humble has been pondering about […]

Julian Nowill
Opinion

Obituary : Julian Nowill 1960-2022

12 February 2022 Keith Adams 10

Keith Adams recalls his friend Julian Nowill, adventurer, car collector, saviour of many a hopeless automotive case and self-confessed ‘crap car Svengali’. His passion for adventuring and East European cars […]

Opinion

Opinion : Are we witnessing a changing of the guard?

30 January 2022 Keith Adams 82

It seems odd sitting here at the end of January 2022 looking at the a Top Ten list of last year’s UK bestsellers and seeing that’s not headed by a […]

Vauxhall Viva HB
Opinion

Blog : Confessions of a Car Delivery Driver

21 January 2022 Martyn Kelham 29

Education and social conscience have improved a lot since us ‘old boys’ were at school. When my careers teacher asked me what I wanted to do, I’d said, ‘be a […]

Vauxhall Signum
Opinion

Opinion : Anything we can do… they can do worse? – Vauxhall Signum

20 January 2022 Keith Adams 34

Keith Adams ruminates about some of the not-so-great cars sold by British Leyland’s competitors – and wonders why it’s still so fashionable to knock our once-great nationalised carmaker even though its mistakes […]

Citroën

Unsung Heroes : Citroën BX

14 January 2022 Keith Adams 103

Keith Adams takes a sideways look at one of those bangers, which once littered the streets of the UK. This one was loved and admired as a repmobile for a […]

Rover 75
Opinion

Blog : Pre-launch Rover 75 marketing

9 January 2022 Keith Adams 8

One of the joys of being stuck at home is that there’s always a chance to go through the library and revisit some of those old books, magazines and other […]

Ford Cortina 80
Opinion

Opinion : Why I’m going to miss saloon cars

6 January 2022 Keith Adams 109

Ah, saloons… Remember those? Back in the 1970s saloons were the body style of choice, with the king of the hill being the Ford Cortina. Three-box cars were everywhere, with […]

Opinion

Blog : It’s Happy New Year from me, and it’s a Happy New Year from him…

30 December 2021 Mike Humble 4

So that’s it then… another one behind us, and despite the misery of COVID, 2021 has been one hell of a busy year. Mike Humble and Keith Adams Well, it […]

Rover 220 Tomcat
Opinion

Our Cars : Richard Truett’s Rover 220 Tomcat

28 December 2021 Richard Truett 5

Our man in the USA, Richard Truett, has picked up a new car – it’s a Rover 220 Tomcat that’s a former AROnline Car of The Month. Here’s the story […]

Citroen Traction Avant
Opinion

Opinion : Goodbye suck, squeeze, bang, blow…

28 December 2021 Martyn Kelham 21

Driving a pre-War or a classic car, we inevitably get comments like ‘my dad had one of those’. But very occasionally we get something far more satisfying. Someone says: ‘I […]

Opinion

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year

25 December 2021 Keith Adams 12

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here we are – bruised, embattled and confused by the past 20 months of lockdowns, restrictions, fear and a series of highs and […]

Saab 9-5
Opinion

Opinion : Anything we can do… they can do worse? – Saab 9-5

24 December 2021 Keith Adams 37

Keith Adams ruminates about some of the not-so-great cars sold by British Leyland’s competitors – and wonders why it’s still so fashionable to knock our once-great nationalised carmaker even though its mistakes […]

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Metro Cooper - 1981
Austin/MG Metro (LC8)

The cars : Metro Cooper (AKA Monaco) development story

17 May 2022 8

Unbelievably, the Metro Cooper was not offered as a ‘factory-backed’ conversion, even though it came with a blue-chip pedigree. However, there was a good reason why John Cooper Garages ended […]

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Archive (1959-2019)

Featured stories

Blog : MG’s making an SUV? Good!

9 February 2014 106
Jack Yan I have to admit to becoming a bit bored of those crying foul [...]
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News : Avis buys fleet of 100 MG6s

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There have been plenty of stretched Rover 800s sold, but did you know that the [...]

Essay : Morris Nomad vs Austin Countryman vs Austin Maxi

18 February 2017 14

Phil Rixon takes a rare opportunity to compare the Morris Nomad with an Austin Countryman and an Austin Maxi to see how closely BMC’s tailgated trio are related. […]

Archive : 10 years ago – MGs go into production again

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Nanjing Automobile Corporation announced it would start production in March 2007. Except that it never panned out as expected… […]

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