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Tim Saunders

Tim Saunders is the former Business and Motoring Editor of the Bournemouth Echo in the UK. testdrives.biz

Most Recent Articles by Tim Saunders:

Travel: Hampshire Fun Days Out

Hover TravelDays out are a good way of spending time together, experiencing something new but also keeping the children occupied, taking some of the strain away from their addled parents. With this in mind a day trip to the Isle of Wight sounds like just the ticket. Usually it can take around half an hour or so to get over to the island, which does eat into a day trip. We were excited to discover that Hover Travel flies passengers over this strip of water in just 10 minutes. We’ve never been on a hovercraft. It is a very similar experience to travelling by ferry but considerably quicker.
- Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Motoring: Citroen DS3 Crossback

“Ahhh, it’s as if the car’s greeting me,” coos my wife Caroline as she walks up to the DS3. Its door handles pop out and the power folding wing mirrors unfold. The automotive equivalent of a dog licking you to death. “I can imagine this appeals to lonely people,” she adds. This characteristic certainly draws admiration from fellow motorists I meet on our travels between Hampshire, Dorset and Wales.
- Tuesday, March 31, 2020

MOTORING: Kia ProCeed GT Line

MOTORING: Kia ProCeed GT LineEstate cars are passé. Look around, there are shooting brakes everywhere. This term is used for estates that resemble more of a coupe in terms of style and panache. The latest such offering is the ProCeed GT Line from Kia, an elegant and eye-catching design for sure. There’s room inside for five adults and there’s a nice large boot, which swallows the Friday night food shopping with ease.
- Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Motoring: Lexus UX250

Motoring: Lexus UX250Patience and understanding are required when driving the Lexus UX 250. As an impatient, approaching middle aged man… I struggle with this especially when faced with the following issues:
- Monday, January 20, 2020

Motoring: Volkswagen Crafter

Motoring: Volkswagen Crafter“You can move a house with that mate,” the delivery driver smiles, as he hands over the keys to the green Volkswagen Crafter. “It’s just as well,” I reply, “because I’ve got loads of furniture to shift.” There’s no denying that it is a large vehicle, so large it fills the length of our top driveway and is so wide that there is only just enough space to walk down the side of it.
- Monday, January 20, 2020

Travel: Exbury Gardens

Travel: Exbury GardensResearch shows that spending time outdoors improves blood pressure, boosts mental health and can even reduce the risk of cancer. Exbury Gardens in the New Forest, UK immerses visitors in nature and lifts their spirits. This national treasure is celebrating 100 years since the 200 acres of prime Hampshire land was purchased in 1919 by Lionel de Rothschild, of the famous Rothschild banking family, who set about creating a horticultural delight. Known for its azaleas and hydrangeas and its springtime display, overtime this parcel of land has been divided into specific areas to showcase the beauty of plants, flowers and trees.
- Sunday, July 28, 2019

Motoring: Nissan Qashqai

Motoring: Nissan QashqaiIt always amazes me how these days large vehicles are fitted with tiny engines. I first came across this with the shapely Toyota C-HR and now the Nissan Qashqai has been revamped with just a 1.3-litre petrol engine. It’s the same engine that can be found in the Mercedes A-Class. The turbocharged unit is as punchy as some 1.8s of old. Not only does this help the planet by reduced emissions but it also aids efficiency – it travels around 500 miles on a full tank.
- Sunday, May 5, 2019

Travel: West Sussex

NymansWatch out… there are elephants in West Sussex… Well, that’s what we find when we visit. There’s Dumbo at The Dome – a truly magnificent art deco building - and Elmer at The Connaught, both in Worthing.
- Sunday, May 5, 2019

Motoring: Kia Stonic

Motoring: Kia StonicIncreasingly - perhaps it’s old age setting in - I value a sat nav more and more. In fact the strength of a car can plummet if it is fitted with a substandard device from my point of view.
- Monday, April 15, 2019

Day out at Finkley Down

Day out at Finkley DownConfidence and independence. Two key qualities that a day out at Finkley Down near Andover gives our children. It’s amazing to see. Little Henry (3), who when we last visited was literally latched to mummy and had to be carried almost everywhere, is now roaming free. And he loves it. The sense of achievement in his little face is a sight to behold as he says: “I’ve done that myself,” on doing lots of climbing in the indoor play area and going down the big slide all by himself.
- Sunday, March 3, 2019

Motoring: Seat Leon Cupra

Motoring: Seat Leon CupraSpeed comes at a cost. That’s my first thought when I drive the Seat Leon Cupra. It’s a fast five-door hatchback and the price paid is modest economy of around 38mpg. In these days of high insurance premiums and costly fuel is this a price worth paying for what is arguably a very stylish, well-made car?
- Friday, March 1, 2019

Travel: Cheltenham - a family break

Travel: Cheltenham - Gloucester Old SpotThe Regency and Victorian splendour of Cheltenham is only a couple of hours away from where we live, making it an extremely attractive place to visit. Composer Gustav Holst was born in the spa town in 1874 and his father, Adolph von Holst was organist at All Saints' Church, Pittville.
- Sunday, February 3, 2019

Mitsubishi Eclipse Crossover

Mitsubishi Eclipse Crossover Like your favourite coat, a Mitsubishi always has a particular smell and feel, I find. And that’s very reassuring because you know what you’re getting. Always good build quality and a robust practical vehicle that’s satisfying to drive.
- Thursday, January 3, 2019

Skoda Karoq

Skoda Karoq SE L 1.5 TSI 150PS I don’t usually pay much attention to the weather but during my test of the Skoda Karoq I cannot help but notice it. I decide to take it on a trek to Hertfordshire and before long spitting rain turns into a torrential and persistent downpour that sees many motorists stranded.
- Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Travel: St Albans, Hertfordshire

Verulamium was a Roman town in the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire. We discover this during a two-night stay at The Straw House in # Street in the historic cathedral quarter.
- Thursday, October 4, 2018

Day Out: Exbury Gardens

Day Out: Exbury Gardens Spending time with family is the way I enjoy marking a significant birthday. And for this milestone occasion we make our way to Exbury Gardens deep in the New Forest. It has been persistently raining for the past week and it really is risky deciding to spend an entire day out with such questionable weather. The sky continues to be grey and threatening but we are blessed with absolutely no rain whatsoever during our trip.
- Saturday, June 30, 2018

Motoring: Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback 2.0D SE Premium Lineartronic AWD “It’s too big, I can’t drive it,” says my wife when she tries to drive the Subaru Outback. True, it is a large vehicle. But if given the chance it exceeds expectations. Because here we have an estate that boasts a massive boot, large enough (once the retractable cover is removed) for all the stuff that the Saunders family regularly travels with: two pushchairs, travel cot, luggage and lots of food. And there’s still room to change my young son’s nappy. But the great thing is that when behind the wheel the driver forgets that it’s an estate car.
- Friday, April 6, 2018

Travel - day out - Marwell Zoo

Travel - day out - Marwell Zoo Birds have four types of feathers. I never realised this until I visited Marwell Zoo in Hampshire. Wing feathers help the bird fly, tail feathers help to balance and steer, body feathers give protection as well as streamlining while down feathers keep the bird warm.
- Thursday, April 5, 2018

Motoring: Peugeot 3008

Motoring: Peugeot 3008 When I take delivery of the Peugeot 3008 SUV (sports utility vehicle) I have a schedule planned. It is going to Chichester, only 30 minutes from home, down the M27 and after that a more gruelling trip to Cornwall, some 240 miles away. This should give me a good idea of what this vehicle is about. Throw into the mix a trio of trouble: Harriett (6), Heidi (4) and Henry (1).
- Saturday, January 13, 2018


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