Advantages: cheap to buy, cheap to run, handles most terrain, good looks
Disadvantages: basic technology, rear drum break

...I bought my honda xr 125 from a local dealer for £2400 this included 2 years warranty and 2 years breakdown cover. I believe that for the money its a great value bike and it has never let me down on reliability after 1000 miles. Thats 300 miles run in period and then 700 miles of giving it death and it just seems to love it. The ride itself is reasonably comfortable and the handling is ok as the bike is quite light. As for performance, ok its not the fastest 125 but lets remember that it is a 4 stroke engine which is more reliable and much better sounding than its faster 2 stroke alternative.That said, its not as bad as most people told me, it can find a comfortable cruise at 50mph after taking no time to reach and you can squeeze 65mph out of a long straight. 5th gear does seem to offer no extra power though. I use this bike whenever... Read review

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Advantages: Wear rates, price, grip
Disadvantages: None

...Motorcyclists who also ride their offroad machinery on road either for commuting or leisure, face a tricky problem, which tyres to use? They need to provide grip both on and off road. Tyres designed for use offroad have wide tread gaps, great for providing the necessary grip in the loose surfaces found offroad or in heavy mud but useless and often illegal for road use. These types of tyre also wear very quickly on tarmac; buying a new one every month can get expensive. Conversely, tyres designed for road use, whilst providing good grip and wear rates on tarmac, are often useless or dangerous in the dirt. What you need is the IRC TR8 4.00” X 18”. This tyre provides for both types of use and is now a standard original fitment to Honda XR250 and 400’s. I have been using the rear TR8 for 10 months on the recommendation of friends much... Read review

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Advantages: Price, low running costs, reliability and cheap insurance
Disadvantages: Lack of top end speed

...Great bike, little money and a whole lot of fun! Thats the XR125L summed up in a few words, but let me go a little bit more indepth! When I first bought mine, I went into a honda show room looking for a CBR125R but when I seen this beside it, I literally laughed at how small the CBR is in comparison to this bike - I read review sites for the CBR and no one listed the height of it, or maybe I ignored it because it looked okay in the pictures! This little package of joy is a mean looking learner legal machine, guys on big bikes won't believe it's a 125 due to the height and road presence that comes with it. I've had mine for almost 2 years and have not had a spot of bother even though I've put 10,000 miles on it from new, just a new set of tires and a bulb replacement, which is of minimal cost. The tires on these machines are great... Read review

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Advantages: The car is a great sporty looking convertible which at a price which is quite affordable
Disadvantages: Mine wasn,t fitted with a cup holder. And thats all I can think off to be honest.

...When my old and trusted XR2 went in for it,s mot it failed badly. So bad that the mechanic looked at it and in two minutes told me it needs so much welding it wasn,t worth the price of the car. He didn,t even charge me for the mot (must have felt sorry for me) which was pretty good. I decided to get a bank loan and buy a car privately. Looking through local papers, magazines etc. I found a picture of a car that automatically caught my eye. The car a Honda CRX. See the problem with me is that If I see something I like I get my heart set on it and try my hardest to get it(even cameron diaz and jessica alba hehe!) So off I went looking for the car I wanted. The problem is though they are quite hard to find and seem to sell at a dearer price than the book value. Eventually I found one which was really cheap for what... Read review

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Advantages: comfort, acceleration, spacious
Disadvantages: fuel consumption

...Having road tested 8 MPVs inside a week, I was fast despairing of finding that elusive vehicle that could offer me space for my growing family and performance. My Honda Shuttle test drive was to change all that. She came out of the blocks like a thoroughbred, immediately I was aware of the power of that mighty 2.3 litre engine. However, it was not just performance that I became instantly aware of, this car floated effortlessly over the terrain like an ocean liner. The all-round visibility and lofty driver position made me feel king of the road. However, there were yet more treat in store, because the acceleration both at the traffic lights and at cruising was sensational. It made me mindful of my old XR3i, as you could feel the power forcing you on. All Shuttles are automatic, and the automatic changing is just a dream. My only... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap 2nd hand, reliable reputation, spares no problem.
Disadvantages: New owner so company longeavity is uncertain.

...Thrown into the 2nd hand car market recently as my company lease vehicle was returned. I was nervous about looking at Rover due to the uncertainty caused by the BMW sell out. The 420 gsi 16v 5 door saloon is a superb motor car. I have been used to all types of vehicle ranging from Suzuki jeeps to the old Escort xr3i, and the ubiquetous BMW. I was looking for performance and comfort. Even though the boy racer days are over the 0-60 rate of 9 seconds is pretty good. There are a lot of hot hatch backs out there, but with the car crime rate being high where I live, a sheep in wolf's clothing was my aim. All the creature comforts are there as well. Sunroof, alloys, good stereo, leather furniture, elctric everything, mirrors windows etc. The lively 2.0 litre engine supplies around 32-42 mpg dependent on how it is driven. The handling is good... Read review

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Advantages: Makes VTR owners jealous, 0-60 under 7.5 secs, great handling
Disadvantages: Cramped seating, group 14 insurance, thats all

...I upgraded my Saxo VTR to a VTS two years ago as I wanted the top of the range model. A supermini with 120HP powered by a 16V engine and 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. Even today it is still the fastest car of its class, quicker than the Peugeot 106 GTI and the new Mini Cooper.It can even hold its own against the Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R. This is due to the all round disc brakes and lowered suspension combined with very nice 15" alloy wheels and very low profile tyres. This puts the car in Insurance group 14, which meant a quote of £700 for comprehensive cover with protected no claims (age 32, 7 years no claims living in Harrow). I have owned several cars through the years from Fiesta XR2's to Peugoet 205 GTI's and I must say that the VTS has been the best car that I have had. It is so versatile in all road situations from nipping... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to look after, easy to ride, cheap to run & maintain, Japanese reliability.
Disadvantages: Good ones getting rare now, not as quick as modern bikes. No fuel gauge.

...bulbs to blow, to say nothing of the fact that soon after a ride you always reek of two-stroke exhaust stink. But despite being as robust as they are, many of these bikes will have succumbed to learners mistakes, and others will have been thrashed to death on off road tracks. Others will lie neglected in sheds after their once proud owners passed their tests and got bigger, faster bikes, so it won't surprise you to learn that there aren't that many of them still buzzing about, especially as Honda stopped making them in 1993. Nowadays Honda's flagship trailbikes are the XR models, which are lovely machines, but I still find myself hankering after another MTX125. For a field bike with no tax, MOT and several scratches, expect to pay in the region of £300. At the other end of the spectrum, a very late, disc braked model will set you back £800... Read review

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Advantages: 90's classic, Stunning engines, Superb handling
Disadvantages: Manual roof a bit heavy if you are slight of build

...The Honda CRX first hit the showrooms in the mid eighties in the form of a small and sporty 2 + 2 coupe. Think of it like a Ford Puma sent back in time and you can see how forward thinking our Japanese friends are. With its 1.5i 16 valve engine and low low weight it made for a sporty alternative to the mainstream hot hatches of the day, XR3i and Pug 205 GTi to name 2. A school boy at the time, the CRX was right at the top of my wish list. Honda further developed the little coupe over the next few years increasing the engine size to 1.6 l and gradually increasing bhp from 125 to 150bhp. My desire for ownership continued and by 1992 I was finally in a position to own one. But Honda had made further plans for the by now cult status CRX and quite dramatic they were too. Remove the rear seats and make the CRX a convertible!!! So my... Read review

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Advantages: Hours of game playing
Disadvantages: ------

...Punto 1.8 HGT Ford Mustang '67 Ford Focus SVT Ford Focus ZTS '04 Ford Falcon XR8 Ford Mustang GT '99 Holden Monaro CV8 Honda Civic DX Honda Civic Type R(EP3) Honda CR-X(EF8) Honda Integra Type R(DC2) Honda Integra Type R '02(DC5) Honda NSX(NA1) Honda Prelude VT(BB1) honda S2000(AP1) Mazda Miata MX-5 Mazda RX-7(FD3S) Mazda RX-8 Mitsubishi FTO Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR Mitsubishi 3000GT(Z16) Nissan 300ZX Nissan 350Z Nissan Skyline GT-R(BNR34) Opel/Vauxhall Corsa Sri 1.8i 16V Pontiac Firebird Peugeot 206 GTI Renault Clio Sport 2.0 16 V Subaru Impreza 22B STi(GC8) Subaru Impreza WRX STi(GDB) Toyota Corolla 1.6 Toyota Celica SS-I(ST202) Toyota Celica SS-II(ZZT231) Toyota MR2 (SW20) Toyota MR-S Toyota Supra (JZA80) Volkswagen New Beetle Volkswagen... Read review

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