First Drive: Volkswagen Passat
Jul16

First Drive: Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen’s fresh-faced Passat is a very polished and sophisticated car, writes Geraldine Herbert What is it? The Volkswagen Passat has been the default saloon choice for years and more than 30m have found homes since it first launched in 1973. Evolving through eight generations, for 2019 it has been given a mild facelift and new technology. First impressions? Although at first glance it may look just like the departing one, on...

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Car Chat with Jane Ryan
Jul15

Car Chat with Jane Ryan

Jane Ryan Author Jane Ryan talks to Geraldine Herbert about bad driving habits, road rage and dream passengers Your current car? Volvo XC 60, diesel 142-D. It’s Caspian blue and cream leather, not perhaps the most child-friendly colour combination but I love it and regularly polish the seats, reminding me of my old horse riding days when I’d have to soap saddles! Is a car important to you? Yes, hugely. I’d love to say I use public...

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Bitten by the Bug
Jul13

Bitten by the Bug

20 years apart – Colm Jennings with the Beetle he and his father lovingly restored and Colm with the car back in 1997 As the last Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the assembly line this week we talk to Irish owners about their love affair with the iconic car writes Geraldine Herbert “Our 1971 1300 VW Beetle has been in the family since my father and I rescued it from along the banks of the Royal Canal,” says Colm...

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What we can learn from Oslo
Jul10

What we can learn from Oslo

Geraldine on the virtually car-free streets of Oslo Oslo is close to becoming the world’s first zero-emission capital, so what lessons can Ireland learn from the Norwegians, asks Geraldine Herbert Arild Hermstad, the Transport Mayor of Oslo, Europe’s Green Capital is a man who believes that Oslo can make a real difference internationally. He has just presented Oslo’s climate strategy that aims to reduce emissions by...

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First Drive: Skoda Scala
Jul09

First Drive: Skoda Scala

New Skoda Scala Skoda is thinking big with the new Scala writes Geraldine Herbert What is it? As the long school year comes to an end the Skoda Rapid’s end of term report would probably say “a hard-working student, capable but not exceptional”.  The Rapid was Skoda’s simple no compromise budget hatchback that was neither rapid nor stylish and found few homes in Ireland.   Now in a bid for success in the family...

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