John Simister

Motoring writer since 1984, engages with the new, loves the old and oily

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@octane_magazine Nissan Sunny GTi. We made it What Car? Hot Hatch of the Year in, I think, 1991. Fantastic machine, now utterly forgotten

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@OldenCars Hi, you can email me on [email protected].

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Are MG ZS and Jaguar E-pace from the same build-yourself-an-SUV kit? See this week's @autocar pages 28 and 61. Sad.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Yes, v v sad about Brian Laban. I last saw the jovial, knowledgable Brian in 2014, unchanged since 80s. A true car nut, gone far too soon.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

What chance of a cross-party legal challenge to Brexit result, on the basis that Leave voters voted on facts that don't exist yet?

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Spotted in France. Old Renault Trafic van with luxury wooden dash in tongue-and-groove. It's the Édition Bricolage.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Finally driven new 4cyl Boxster. Some don't like it. I love it. Proper flat-four sound, like old RS60 but civilised.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Followed a rare car today. A Toyota GT86. It was being driven very hesitantly, especially in bends. Point entirely missed. Fear of RWD?

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@hiltonholloway Actually it was the 'severe corrugations'. Life was briefly a blur and the Visa GTI rattled riotously thereafter.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@AdamTowler Throw into first hairpin to scrub off speed, find first gear, rely on engine braking and hope it didn't over-rev expensively.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@AdamTowler I drove one of these on the Grossglockner Pass, 2008. It boiled its brakes on the way down and the handbrake didn't work. Panic.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@DickieMeaden Great fun indeed, but over the years I think you've been a thousand times more sideways than me!

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Seat is to supply the Italian police with Leons. To think that Seat used to build Fiats under licence. What a slap in the face for Fiat.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@ChrisHughe I'm not using it enough, I've had a huge amount of fun with it and I need to divert resources into a pre-war car restoration.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

On holiday in France. Didn't realise that Citroen has launched new DS1 microcar.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

On a Ford launch. Here is the back of the headlight. Remember when you'd buy an 85p sealed-beam for your old Mini?

[John Simister @simmydrives]

@jrendell Simi as in simian, perhaps. Or an unexpected allusion to my closet Welshness. Being hopeless at golf, I am flattered.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

New Mazda 2, driven on Devon launch, is a good car but absolutely not a supermini. Too wide for this parking space.

[John Simister @simmydrives]

My Rover P6 2000 meets 2015 @caroftheyear shortlisted cars 51 years on from P6's victory in first COTY. Story in this week's @autocar

[John Simister @simmydrives]

Another rusty Merc at Antwerp Classic Car Salon. It's a 200 coupe of a sort I've never seen before.