The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Why don’t you spring for a new car?
CATERHAM SEVEN
The Caterham Seven is the go-to lightweight sports car and, as much as we love it, it’s not a car which is all that comfortable to experience over winter. With its thin roof, relatively sparse interior and firm ride, it’s a car that doesn’t lend itself to the colder months.
But now the sun is starting to make more of an appearance, the Seven will come into its own. Wrap up warm, turn the heaters on full and drop the roof – it’s the only way to drive a Caterham – and we guarantee you have a smile on your face before long.
MAZDA MX-5
If the idea of a Caterham Seven appeals but you want a few more creature comforts, then the MX-5 could be the car for you. A huge success here in the UK, it’s a two-seater that can be used day in, day out and, thanks to an easily foldable fabric roof, it’s a great springtime car too.
The latest model receives features like heated seats and very effective heaters, so even if the temperatures do fall, you’ll still be able to enjoy your MX-5.
MERCEDES-AMG A45 S
As much as we’d like springtime to be all crisp mornings and dry, sunbleached days, the sad fact is that — here in Scotland, at least — many afternoons will be spent driving through rain. Traction is what you need, then, and for that, you need look no further than the MercedesAMG A45 S.
Effortlessly quick and, thanks to all-wheel-drive, immensely capable in the wet, it’s a great car for this time of year.
MORGANPLUSFOUR
The recently revealed Morgan Plus Four represents one of the biggest updates to the model in the car’s 70-year history. It uses an all-new platform and a brand-new BMW-sourced engine, too. If anything, it’s more grown-up and a little more comfortable than the car it replaces.
It’s a great car for springtime, too. It’s more comfortable than sharper equivalents, such as the Seven, but it’s still exciting to drive. The perfect compromise, then.
AUDI RS 4 AVANT
Audi’s latest RS 4 Avant may have received just the lightest of tweaks over the outgoing model, but it’s only helped to strengthen the appeal. With quattro all-wheel-drive, it provides tons of traction in slippery conditions, so the greasy roads we often see in spring shouldn’t be a problem.
Plus, it’s spacious and practical – meaning that a spring-cleaning run to the tip (when it reopens) can be handled with minimal fuss.
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
Honda’s Civic Type R may have been around for a little while now, but that doesn’t stop it from being an exceptional choice for spring drivers. It’s fast, immensely capable in the bends and far more practical than you’d expect, too.
Plus, it manages to find traction in even the trickiest of conditions – though it laps up dry roads like nothing else.
PEUGEOT E-208
We couldn’t finish this list without representing the electrified contingent, could we? The e-208 is one of the latest cars in the new wave of battery-powered vehicles, and, with its range of more than 200 miles, it’s by far one of the most useable.
Plus, as the temperatures rise, electric car batteries become more optimised as cold weather can still affect their ranges dramatically. More miles and more smiles!