Author: Barry Scott / Published Date: 10 May 2012
Categories: Just Love Cars™
About a month after this video was filmed, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles approved Google’s application for a license for their self-driving smart car project.
Watch…
Now. Where’s my flying car?
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Author: Matt Parker / Published Date: 8 May 2012
Categories: Just Love Cars™
Make & model: Hyundai Veloster Base
Cost: $23,990 (this version)
Value for money: 
How fun to drive: 
Reviewed by: Matt Parker
Overview
"So it’s got three doors, two on this side and one on the other?" This is the toughest thing I've had to explain about a car in my life.
Once you cover the practicality aspects and the fact that the rear passenger door is hidden anyway, people seem to get it. I've read a lot of reviews on the Veloster, both before my first drive and since, and I think a lot of them really miss the point.
The three door thing sums it up. It’s not a sports car coupe, it won't win any traffic light grands prix. And it’s not a hatchback either, it’s way too cool to be a vanilla hatchback. It fulfills that space between the two, for the kind of person who just can't commit to one or the other. That person exists in the marketplace. That person is me.
Now before I go any further I need to admit something. I like this car. A Lot. So much so that I bought one.
I've got a young family so a sports coupe wasn't going to work. Have you ever tried to manouever a 65cm long 7 kilo infant into a baby seat in a two door coupe? You'll understand me then. I've done hatchbacks. My last six cars have been hatchbacks. I needed a change, and this is it.
I'm the kind of guy who wants something to look good, be well fitted out, and I don't have the time or inclination to mess around with modifications - see above comment about the young child..
The Veloster comes in 2 variants. The standard "Veloster" and "Veloster Plus". The "Turbo" will be out later this year.
Exterior
I'll tell you one thing, you certainly won't miss this car in a parking lot, or be missed driving it. It looks fantastic. In my first fortnight behind the wheel it stopped more pedestrians, cyclists and traffic than any other car I’ve driven in my life.
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Author: Jeffrey Morton / Published Date: 5 March 2012
Categories: Just Love Cars™
Nothing to do with novated leases. Nothing to do with car salary packaging.
Because we just love cars, we've decided to share with you an
App that's been geting a bit of use in Autopia lately. There are download links at the bottom, and if you give it a go, let us know how you get on.
Name: Mini Motoring v2.0.32
Cost: Free
Usefullness:
Ease of use:
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Morton
What's it supposed to do?
Created for those who just love driving, this App helps you discover
the best roads around the planet, and round the corner, as rated by
driving enthusiasts worldwide. It's the official social navigation
application of MINI Financial Services for iOS and Andriod smartphones.
How does it work?
It’s a well designed, simple to use App, and after watching the demo
on the home screen, you’ll find it pretty straightforward to search for
stretches of road and fun drives that others have already rated.
Search
Zoom in and out on a map,
and the App shows you roads that other users have rated. You can centre
the map anywhere you like, including your current gps location.
Search by the name
of a stretch or a username. This feature can be particularly useful if
you find a user who seems to like the same kinds of roads as you.
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Author: Sam Clarke / Published Date: 1 November 2011
Categories: Team Updates, Novated Leasing, Just Love Cars™
Make & model: VW Golf GTI
Cost: $58,000 (this version)
Value for money: 
How fun to drive: 
Reviewed by: Sam Clarke
Overview
“$58,000 for a hatchback!” You hear that a lot when you drive a GTI, and yes it is a lot for a hatchback, but it's worth it.
The Golf GTI combines the safety and solidity of a well built German automobile with the speed and exhilaration of an Italian sports car, and the reliability and electronic wizardry of a Japanese manufactured vehicle.
It's great fun, reliable and safe. What more could you want..?
Exterior
To the general public, a Golf looks like a Golf, but to those in the know it’s blatantly obvious which version is which, especially when it comes to the GTI. In addition to the all important three letters, there’s the twin exhaust tips and the red ring around the honeycomb grille. Sure signs of its superiority.
For some the exterior is a little understated, but to others that’s part of the appeal.
They don’t want lairy spoilers and vortex generators for their crawl through the peak hour grind. They’re quite happy to be underestimated, and then quietly burn up the highway leaving the rest in their wake.
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Author: Matt Parker / Published Date: 7 September 2011
Categories: Just Love Cars™
Name: Cheap Parking
Cost: Free
Usefullness:
Ease of use:
Reviewed by: Matt Parker
What's it supposed to do?
Based on your GPS signals, this app will tell you what public parking options are nearby, and how much it costs to park there.
Does it deliver?
Yes it does. You can select to search for the cheapest nearby parking, or the closest if cost is not a concern. I found quite a few car parking locations near Sydney Airport not listed though, which suggests the database could use updating.
Does it do anything else?
The app can take into account requirements such as having a car wash while you park, or valet facilities if you're in a real hurry. It also allows you to email the car park details to a friend or colleague, who may be travelling to an event with you. Can be used in AU, NZ & Singapore. You can also enter a location that you're going to, and figure out the cheap parking before you get there.
Verdict?
A handy little app that while you might not use every day, will definitely earn its keep on your phone.
Download 'Cheap Parking' here
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