Jonathan Goddard Reviews Archive 
News from Jonathan Goddard
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Mini Cooper D review
REVIEW
Can a small diesel be any good?
6 October 2007 10:00 GMT
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Let’s get something important out the way. The diesel Mini is no where near as good as the Cooper, S or even the One. But a small diesel will never (well maybe not never) be as good as a petrol equivalent so that’s not a fair comparison. Importantly,...
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Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi Laurin & Klement review
REVIEW
Is the hype really worth believing?
1 September 2007 9:00 GMT
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Skoda has been getting a lot of good press in the past few years. As a manufacturer it has topped customer the JD Power and Top Gear satisfaction surveys, and the Octavia has won a variety of "car of the year" accolades all over Europe.
But... -
Route 66 Chicago 6000 GPS receiver review
REVIEW
Rooute 66 launches first standalone in-car GPS system
29 July 2007 15:47 GMT
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Portable in-car satnav systems have come a long way in a short time. Budget models have shown particular improvement. Garmin's woeful Streetpilot, launched a couple of years back, would have forever put many off buying a budget model again.
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Peugeot 407 SW HDi 136 SE review
REVIEW
A well-equipped, hugely comfortable dog of a car - yep, it's French
26 May 2007 9:00 GMT
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I used to own a 307. It was without doubt the worst car I have owned and coupled with the experience I have had in testing a multitude of French cars, it convinced me once and for all that our Gallic cousins are as good at making cars as they are at making...
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BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0si SE review
REVIEW
The Z4 gets a metal roof ... and a personality bypass
28 April 2007 9:00 GMT
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When I first drove the Z4 a few years back, I really loved it. Its challenging looks won me over, it's supremely quick and its roof mechanism is first rate. The Coupe is essentially unchanged dynamically so I wasn't expecting much difference.
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Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC review
REVIEW
Is the latest Honda soft-roader better than the last one?
7 April 2007 9:00 GMT
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The CR-V has always been a cracking machine, offering a truly car-like driving experience with the ride height and practicality of a 4x4. The last version added great styling, high levels of comfort and relatively low running costs.
Unfortunately,... -
Honda Accord Tourer 2.4 EX Auto review
REVIEW
A Car That's All Things To All Men?
10 March 2007 9:00 GMT
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I'll make something clear up front: I'm currently working out what company car I can afford to run, and I was close to discounting the Accord Tourer because it's just out of my budget range. Since having one on test, I’ve decided there are some things...
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BMW 320d M Sport Touring review
REVIEW
Can BMW improve on a classic?
10 February 2007 9:00 GMT
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I own a 1989 BMW 320i Touring. I love it, despite its foibles. Sitting at the helm somehow makes you feel that little bit special. Sitting in the cabin of the latest 3 Series Touring gives me more of the same. It’s great how BMW has a sense of heritage...
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BMW X3 2.0d SE review
REVIEW
Has BMW improved with the new model?
3 February 2007 9:00 GMT
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I’ve never really understood why anyone would buy a BMW X3. It’s by no means a bad car – far from it, in fact. Sure, early ones looked a bit funny, the ride was unforgivably choppy and the interior had been built by Romanian peasants earning three potatoes...
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Kia Sedona 2.9 CRDi people carrier review
REVIEW
Is this the car to opt for if you've got a growing family?
2 December 2006 9:00 GMT
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If you ever feel the need to buy a car with seven seats, it’s time to take yourself to the shed, put some Cure on the stereo and blow yourself away with a homemade pipe bomb.
Yes, life is over for you, but if you want to carry on with your... -
Mini Cooper S review
REVIEW
The new mini is here, but does it excite?
11 November 2006 0:00 GMT
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Even though the old (new) Mini was a blast, it always failed the acid test, which for almost any car is the answer to the following question: "Would I buy one?"
Gloriously, the new (new) Mini - which looks almost exactly like the old (new)... -
Chrysler 300C CRD Touring review
REVIEW
Are the Americans invading?
4 November 2006 6:00 GMT
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Chrysler, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge ... no, we’re not on the long straight highways that criss-cross the USA. We’re on sedate country lanes in Berkshire, Cheshire, Somerset and Lancashire.
The Americans are invading. In a country once... -
Porsche 997 Carrera S cabrio review
REVIEW
Has Porsche lost its magic? We get behind the wheel to find out
28 October 2006 11:06 GMT
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Remember the old car sticker, usually stuck in the rear window of a banged up old Rover that read: "My other car’s a Porsche"?
That was back in the day when the Porsche badge meant rich, ostentatious and exclusive. These days, Porsche means... -
Vauxhall Astra Twin Top 1.6 16v Sport review
REVIEW
Can Vauxhall perform with its convertible Astra?
7 October 2006 11:00 GMT
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Peugeot did it first, and now everyone seems to be having a crack. No, we're not talking about building cars that fall apart in a brisk wind, but the current fascination with churning out hard-roof drop-tops – or coupe-cabriolets as they are known – based...
APP OF THE DAY: The Weather Channel review (iPhone / iPod touch) Tonight for the first time, just about half-past ten...
Mazda CX5 2.2 TDI AWD A very zoomy SUV
WIN: Tickets to Ibiza Rocks to see Maverick Sabre and Labrinth live Epic prize courtesy of Sony
Apple testing 3.95-inch iPhone 5, with 16:9 display 1136 x 640 resolution revolution
Pentax K-30: 16-megapixel weather-proofed mid-level DSLR 81 seals makes this one tough cam
APP OF THE DAY: WhatsApp review (Android) Instant message, cross platform
3G FaceTime coming in iOS 6? Warning in 5.1.1 seems to point that way
Skyfall trailer hits YouTube: Bond 23 could be best one yet (video) New 007 flick for UK in October
Panasonic H-HS12035 Lumix G X lens announced, hints at weather-proofed GH3 Premium MFT lens
Panasonic Lumix GF5 Micro Four Thirds' mighty mini
Running blind: How Simon Wheatcroft uses his iPhone to see Runkeeper and more let this man run solo
What is So.cl? Should you be signing up?
WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Your iPlayer TV, your way
Bungie Destiny contract reveals Xbox 720 will arrive in 2013 - E3 announcement? Commissioned for Xbox 360 and "next Xbox"
British Gas turns Team GB swimming stars into superheroes Aquanauts assemble
Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
The compact system camera to beat all others?
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Is big beautiful?
HTC One V review
V for victory?
Huawei Ascend G300 review
Big bang for your hundred quid
FIFA 12: UEFA Euro 2012 review
Lacks polish, if not the Polish
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T review
Transforms your money in to a great tablet
BlackBerry Mini Keyboard for PlayBook review
Will this make working on the go easier?
Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Like a Leica
Nikon Coolpix P510 review
Does the P510 zoom beyond expectations?
Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.2TSi DSG review
The bug is back. Again.
The Walking Dead: The Game review
Fleshed out zombie bonanza
HP Envy 14 Spectre review
The Ultrabook that isn't an Ultrabook
Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR review
Can Fujifilm’s latest put the ‘super’ in superzoom?
Nikon Coolpix S6300 review
Point, shoot and scoot