Good motoringThe magazine for members of GEM Motoring Assist Winter 2018 An inspector calls Secrets from the Michelin Guide PLUS Simple tips for safer winter journeys Mobile phone folly: Crystal ball gazing: Competition: why are conviction rates technology you’ll want to win a two-night break at falling across the UK? know about for 2019 the fabulous West Arms Snowy night. Flat battery. Stuck. Everyone from first phone contact to the visit was friendly and efficient. Phone call answered quickly, clear information about attendance times and contact number offered. Mechanic fixed the issue swiftly and efficiently. Very happy. Merry Christmas after all. Thanks GEM! Mrs Scott, Lincoln If you need a helping hand this Christmas... ...our award-winning breakdown recovery service is there for you, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Of course, we hope you won’t need our assistance. But if you do, you know we will go the extra mile to help you. Have a very happy and safe Christmas. 24 safety advice, latest technology, best and WINTER worst motorway stops Regulars Don’t miss YOUR LETTERS: what you thought of our 09 feature on safety around horses, and why one COMPETITION: a chance to win a fabulous reader saw red over our speed detection review. 16 two-night break at The West Arms, a beautiful country inn near Llangollen in North Wales. EDITOR’S CHOICE: our seasonal guide gives 12 you great ideas on days out, short breaks and how your GEM membership can bag you some FLYING HIGH: when the RAF invited us to worthwhile bargains. 18 find out how its people deal with road risks, we jumped at the chance. Our recent visit to Coningsby even included a look at the Battle of CHARITY UPDATE: GEM’s sponsorship of Britain Memorial Flight. 23 Project EDWARD, the European Day Without a Road Death, has helped win a big safety prize. STEER CLEAR OF SKID ROW: whether 24 the months to come are cold, wet, snowy, icy, windy, foggy - or even clear and sunny - we reckon there’s something useful for everyone and every vehicle in our winter round-up. ROSES ARE BLOOMING IN PICARDY: 38 Alan Wakely urges us not to charge through northern France without pausing and taking a good look round. His line-up of recommended stop-offs includes Senlis, Chantilly and Laon. SCREENWASH ISN’T SCREENWASH: 44 Jerry Johns offers words of caution after managing to fill his washer bottle with fluid that was meant to go in a diesel engine’s emissions regulation system. Uh-oh! 16 4 www.motoringassist.com Guest contributors >> Samantha Jones Neil Barrett is a started reporting at technology writer and the Express & Star in consultant, specialising the 90s, later moving in web development, to The Times and the infrastructure and Press Association. She security, with a global spent 14 years as a client base. He chairs news editor at Sky News and is conferences and provides now a freelance reporter and interactive technology at events field producer. across Europe. Neil is a keen Samantha’s investigation into traveller and blogger, particularly dwindling driver mobile phone enjoying driving abroad. offence conviction rates starts on Neil’s tech picks for 2019 can be page 20. found starting on page 30. Automotive ON THE ROAD: our line-up of road tests and 44 reviews starts here with a few choice words from David Motton. JAGUAR I-PACE: it’s fast, luxurious and very 45 expensive, so does Jaguar’s first electric vehicle 26 have a hope of offering a worthy alternative to the Tesla? Sue Baker does some finding out. PHONE PENALTIES: conviction rates for 20 driver mobile phone offences have fallen. Does this mean we’re all heeding the warnings? Unfortunately not, according to Samantha Jones. 4X4 TRIPLE TEST: how about a small 4x4, 48 with an affordable purchase price and running costs, and without the questionable green WHERE’S MY FRY-UP? sixty years after credentials of a bigger, thirstier vehicle? Our 26 the first motorway service station flung open road test editor was joined by a group of its doors, Sandra Macdonald-Ames struggles to GEM members to try the Suzuki Ignis, the tuck in to a fry-up on any of her motorway stops. Dacia Duster and the Ford EcoSport. But she does find some other tasty treats. FUTURE PERFECT: Neil Barrett 30 considers the best of the technology that’s likely to find its way into new cars during 2019. ASK THE EXPERTS: what can happen if you TOY STORY: yes, folks, it’s head- 52 put the wrong oil in a diesel engine, plus advice 35 to-head non-stop action as Formula 1 on finding an electric car that will make a decent comes to a living room floor near you. Yes, we fist of towing a caravan. celebrate the plastic fantastic thrills and spills of Scalextric racing. HYUNDAI SANTA FE: David Motton 54 appreciates the extra kit, but rails at the AN INSPECTOR CALLS: no-one’s significantly increased price tag. 41 allowed behind the scenes with a Michelin hotel inspector, but our Russell Higham has managed to find out a little about DESIGNATED DRIVER DELIGHTS: their work, and what it means to gain - or lose - 66 whether you want zesty, spicy, rich, creamy, a coveted Michelin star. fruity, steaming or nourishing, we have your non-alcoholic beverage needs covered! www.motoringassist.com 5 Wishing you a happy and safe Christmas Chief Executive’s letter A very warm welcome to the Winter edition of Good Motoring, from your number one breakdown provider, GEM Motoring Assist. I hope you will enjoy the line-up of articles, offers and updates we have put together - this time with a distinctly seasonal feel to them. My first task is to offer, on behalf of everyone at GEM, sincere congratulations to Project EDWARD (European Day Without a Road Death) on winning a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. We were pleased to be the very first organisation to offer support to Project EDWARD when it was first organised in 2016, and we were a sponsor again in 2018. We had a sense that it would develop into a really worthwhile awareness-raiser for road safety, and it has certainly delivered in that respect, with massive social media engagement and some high-profile support for its worthy aims. I am sure that there is the opportunity for further growth and success in years to come. Nobody wants the misery and inconvenience of a breakdown during the winter (or at any time, for that matter), but I just want you to know that we are here for you if you need us.... on Christmas Day, New Year or any time. If you need roadside assistance, I know that our teams will do their utmost There are often to help you, day or night. “some simple There are often some simple things you can do to avoid a breakdown, things you can so we do encourage you to get your battery checked before winter. We do to avoid a have plenty of other practical tips to help you cope with the worst wintry breakdown... conditions. See our round-up which starts on page 24. Finally, a word from our road safety team about lights. Please don’t wait until dark to switch them on, and please don’t rely on daytime running lights, because they will not light up the rear of your car. All I should now do is wish you and your family a very peaceful and safe ” Christmas, and encourage you to enjoy this edition of Good Motoring! Good luck with the fabulous competition (which you’ll find on page 16), and have a very happy New Year. Paula Williams GOOD MOTORING is the magazine for Good Motoring is the property of GEM problems arising from advertisements members of GEM Motoring Assist. Motoring Assist. All rights reserved. The within Good Motoring. In the first instance, Editor: James Luckhurst views expressed in this magazine do complaints and correspondence relating to Road Test Editor: David Motton not necessarily reflect the views of GEM advertisements should be directed to the Motoring Assist. GEM does not accept any advertiser concerned. Should you not reach Advertising enquiries: David Breary, responsibility for errors or omissions. a satisfactory conclusion within a reasonable Creative Publishing Services Good Motoring is distributed quarterly via period of time, please contact us by post or [email protected] Royal Mail to members of GEM Motoring email. Assist worldwide. For questions and Write to: Good Motoring, GEM Motoring comments relating to GEM membership, Assist, Station Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, Good Motoring is published by Good Motoring subscriptions and editorial, RH18 5EN GEM Motoring Assist. contact GEM Motoring Assist. Telephone: 01342 825676 © GEM Motoring Assist 2018 Email: [email protected] Complaints policy: We hope you never Please note: magazine enquiries only to this experience any problems relating to the email address. contents of Good Motoring. GEM Motoring Assist can accept no responsibility for www.motoringassist.com 6 www.motoringassist.com UP TO I’m most impressed by ”48” the quality and fit! 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