Auto Trader

Whether it’s a success or not is down to whether YOU decide to go or not.

Web Editor Adrian Higgins and Editorial Assistant Adrian Hearn give their verdicts on whether it’s worth the trip.

Adrian Higgins – The Web Editor’s View

The British Motor Show has returned to London – and some people aren’t pleased.

“What was wrong with Birmingham? It was easier for everyone to get to – and you could drive!” pretty much sums up the pro-Midlands arguments I’d heard for the last few months.

However, as a resident of Hackney, in East London, used to a one-and-a-half-hour cross-city commute to our Wimbledon offices in the south west of the capital, this was going to be a breeze.

After hopping on the 277 bus from my house to Westferry for a transfer to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), I was there within 45 minutes – not bad for a four mile journey in London.

Nice for me – but what about non-London visitors? Well, even travelling within the capital can be problematic as my namesake explains below.

But in its favour the DLR is one of the best parts of the capital’s transport system. It’s above ground and passes through the jaw-dropping skyscapes of the city’s rejuvenated eastern Thames-side district.

Arriving by car can be tiresome, Assistant Editor Stuart Milne spent over an hour on the geographically short drive from Greenwich to the ExCeL centre – nothing to do with the motor show and everything to do with a crowded city where getting into third gear is a novelty.

We’d definitely recommend spending the night before the show in London if possible and letting the DLR take the strain. 

The ExCel centre is a huge hangar like exhibition area which even on Tuesday – with temperatures hitting the low thirties Celsius – stayed relatively cool.

We were suffering in suits but if you’re going for fun you’ll be able to dress a little more informally.

And there’s no shortage of places to get a drink or bite to eat once you’re there.

So what about the stars of the show – the cars?

Many manufacturers took their time signing up but the only noticeable absentees were Audi, VW, Skoda and some of the supercars brands including Ferrari.

But whether you’re going to choose a new family car, to gaze at dream cars or be entertained there’s plenty to make the trip worthwhile.

Big manufacturers including Ford, Vauxhall and Toyota all had their latest models on display while even with Ferrari not there the big and little kids alike could drool over the sexiest of motors on the Sunday Times Supercar Paddock.

Plus there were vintage cars from the Bealieu Motor Museum to warm the cockles of motoring-nostalgia buffs’ hearts.

Visitors have an opportunity to drive some of the cars on show and can also experience the slo-mo thrills of 4X4 area Adventure Land as passengers while professionals take the wheel of Nissan, Volvo and Kia off-roaders.

And kids will also love the automotive Romeo and Juliet spectacular Dockside Story – featuring car stunts and acrobatics - check out our full review tomorrow.

Whether you’re prepared to make the journey to East London will of course depend on your individual circumstances and of course location.

But the four members of the Auto Trader editorial team were still there at the show’s close wanting to see more after spending a full day there this week.

And it wasn’t just because the Auto Trader stand is fantastic!

Adrian Hearn – The Editorial Assistant’s View

I hadn’t been to the motor show since I was an eight-years-old in long shorts so I was pretty excited to be going again. I’d had to wait 13 years for another petrol-fuelled testosterone hit so I was expecting a day of entertainment.

Travelling from Wimbledon on the train was not the best idea. I think I would’ve got there quicker by swimming the Thames …or maybe even travelling by bus. 

It took over two hours to cover the short distance in the blistering 47 degrees Celsius train heat. Delay after delay but that’s London’s transport system for you. My shirt was sticking to me and I felt as if I was about to melt. My 24-hour antiperspirant had lasted less than 24 minutes.

The first time I went to the motor show the journey also took just over two hours. However this was for a 130-mile trip from Somerset to Birmingham.

Browsing around the main hall I was bombarded by gorgeous cars accompanied by gorgeous women. But I bypassed the beautiful ladies and went to the Times’ supercar paddock.

My dream machine is the ultimate ‘80s supercar – the Ferrari F40 - and to see it standing next to its younger brother the Enzo was an ultra-cool moment. Two icons side-by-side was one of my highlights. I take my hat off to the Times for their effort because the Italian giants didn’t have their own stand.

It was similar story with many of the other supercar manufacturers. Their cars were there but they were all on stands for luxury hire companies. The motor show is meant to be a chance for the motoring industry to showcase its best designs.

I found myself looking around stands for family cars such as Kia, Hyundai, Vauxhall and Peugeot. People my age don’t generally want to see traditional family hatchbacks.

We want to see elegant supercars and ridiculous concepts. If I wanted to see a four-door saloon, I’d go to a dealership – at least then I might get a chance to test drive one.

But I would get to do a bit of driving courtesy of Mazda and their Zoom Zoom challenge. The editorial team challenged each other to see who could get the quickest lap time.

As the junior member of the team I took it upon myself to set a precedent and I came second behind the Assistant Editor Stuart. I probably should have let senior Adrian beat me so I’m sure I’ll pay the price for that!

There weren’t many premieres at the show but what lacked in quantity made up with quality. The new Jaguar XKR convertible was sensational - elegant and utterly gorgeous – certainly the new car of the show.

If you want to see some of the world’s ultimate cars then it’s worth a visit… if you can handle a bit of congestion, or a journey on London’s Victorian transport system.