Chris Haining
@roadworkuk.bsky.social
Sub editor @WhatCar? (http://whatcar.com). Enjoys pop-up headlights, textured velour, wood interior trim and column stalks with just the right degree of resistance.
Fleet: 2003 BMW 540i, 1997 Rover 825Si, 2017 BMW i3 (hers)
Fleet: 2003 BMW 540i, 1997 Rover 825Si, 2017 BMW i3 (hers)
Definitely a traction control ON day today
November 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Definitely a traction control ON day today
BMWs.
Gotta collect 'em all
Gotta collect 'em all
November 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
BMWs.
Gotta collect 'em all
Gotta collect 'em all
this whole first-person narrative SEO optimisation thing is sucking all my enjoyment out of a big chunk of the internet
November 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
this whole first-person narrative SEO optimisation thing is sucking all my enjoyment out of a big chunk of the internet
First fill-up for the i3.
Gotta love a nine-litre fuel tank!
Gotta love a nine-litre fuel tank!
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
First fill-up for the i3.
Gotta love a nine-litre fuel tank!
Gotta love a nine-litre fuel tank!
Emotional day today.
Peugeot 306 (aka Donkey) is leaving us for a new life on the South coast with a very sympathetic new owner.
Nicola has owned it since she was 18 (... two decades ago). Life goes on, and the i3 has big shoes to fill.
Peugeot 306 (aka Donkey) is leaving us for a new life on the South coast with a very sympathetic new owner.
Nicola has owned it since she was 18 (... two decades ago). Life goes on, and the i3 has big shoes to fill.
November 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Emotional day today.
Peugeot 306 (aka Donkey) is leaving us for a new life on the South coast with a very sympathetic new owner.
Nicola has owned it since she was 18 (... two decades ago). Life goes on, and the i3 has big shoes to fill.
Peugeot 306 (aka Donkey) is leaving us for a new life on the South coast with a very sympathetic new owner.
Nicola has owned it since she was 18 (... two decades ago). Life goes on, and the i3 has big shoes to fill.
There is nothing I dislike about the BMW i3's dashboard
October 29, 2025 at 8:07 AM
There is nothing I dislike about the BMW i3's dashboard
Lidl of Cirencester delivered yesterday: extremely fit Alfa.
October 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Lidl of Cirencester delivered yesterday: extremely fit Alfa.
Your occasional reminder that the first-gen Volvo S40 was quite a good looking car.
Also virtually unique in having side marker lights in the UK.
Also virtually unique in having side marker lights in the UK.
October 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Your occasional reminder that the first-gen Volvo S40 was quite a good looking car.
Also virtually unique in having side marker lights in the UK.
Also virtually unique in having side marker lights in the UK.
White Whale Supra spotted locally:
October 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
White Whale Supra spotted locally:
I mean, seriously. These people.
October 19, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I mean, seriously. These people.
These people are amazing
October 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
These people are amazing
We have this base-spec BMW i4 loan car for the weekend, and it rounds off potholes with real dexterity.
Hooray for proper tyre sidewalls.
Hooray for proper tyre sidewalls.
October 18, 2025 at 10:39 AM
We have this base-spec BMW i4 loan car for the weekend, and it rounds off potholes with real dexterity.
Hooray for proper tyre sidewalls.
Hooray for proper tyre sidewalls.
Pains me to say it, but the Tesla Model Y's rear lights, with their indirect lighting, look terrific. Kinda wish they were on a different car.
October 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Pains me to say it, but the Tesla Model Y's rear lights, with their indirect lighting, look terrific. Kinda wish they were on a different car.
Somehow I didn't have a brochure for my wife's car. A shameful situation now resolved.
October 17, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Somehow I didn't have a brochure for my wife's car. A shameful situation now resolved.
Sitting in traffic tonight; it was an honour to be followed by the famous Twickenham Renault 5
October 16, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Sitting in traffic tonight; it was an honour to be followed by the famous Twickenham Renault 5
Aaanyway. 2017 BMW i3 REx.
The obvious replacement for Nicola's 1995 Peugeot 306.
We welcome it to the fleet.
The obvious replacement for Nicola's 1995 Peugeot 306.
We welcome it to the fleet.
October 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Aaanyway. 2017 BMW i3 REx.
The obvious replacement for Nicola's 1995 Peugeot 306.
We welcome it to the fleet.
The obvious replacement for Nicola's 1995 Peugeot 306.
We welcome it to the fleet.
BMW 1 Series (E87).
Nicola always liked the idea of these, only the first gen (best looking), and I love how they drive. They're old now, though, and mostly knackered, and even a good one is probably a bit needy. Plus one elderly BMW per household is enough... right?
NEXT...
Nicola always liked the idea of these, only the first gen (best looking), and I love how they drive. They're old now, though, and mostly knackered, and even a good one is probably a bit needy. Plus one elderly BMW per household is enough... right?
NEXT...
October 13, 2025 at 7:26 AM
BMW 1 Series (E87).
Nicola always liked the idea of these, only the first gen (best looking), and I love how they drive. They're old now, though, and mostly knackered, and even a good one is probably a bit needy. Plus one elderly BMW per household is enough... right?
NEXT...
Nicola always liked the idea of these, only the first gen (best looking), and I love how they drive. They're old now, though, and mostly knackered, and even a good one is probably a bit needy. Plus one elderly BMW per household is enough... right?
NEXT...
Kia Soul EV
We both absolutely loved the one I had on long-term test. Decent range, drives nicely, pleasingly odd to look at (way nippier than it looks, and great re-gen), obviously packed with safety kit and mod-cons. Might still get one one day. But out of budget for now.
NEXT.
We both absolutely loved the one I had on long-term test. Decent range, drives nicely, pleasingly odd to look at (way nippier than it looks, and great re-gen), obviously packed with safety kit and mod-cons. Might still get one one day. But out of budget for now.
NEXT.
October 13, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Kia Soul EV
We both absolutely loved the one I had on long-term test. Decent range, drives nicely, pleasingly odd to look at (way nippier than it looks, and great re-gen), obviously packed with safety kit and mod-cons. Might still get one one day. But out of budget for now.
NEXT.
We both absolutely loved the one I had on long-term test. Decent range, drives nicely, pleasingly odd to look at (way nippier than it looks, and great re-gen), obviously packed with safety kit and mod-cons. Might still get one one day. But out of budget for now.
NEXT.
Suzuki Jimny.
They're just cute, okay? Plus Nicola still misses her old work Defenders, and this is like a pocket-sized version, right?
Vetoed in the end because she occasionally enjoys exceeding 60mph, and HOW MUCH????
NEXT...
They're just cute, okay? Plus Nicola still misses her old work Defenders, and this is like a pocket-sized version, right?
Vetoed in the end because she occasionally enjoys exceeding 60mph, and HOW MUCH????
NEXT...
October 13, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Suzuki Jimny.
They're just cute, okay? Plus Nicola still misses her old work Defenders, and this is like a pocket-sized version, right?
Vetoed in the end because she occasionally enjoys exceeding 60mph, and HOW MUCH????
NEXT...
They're just cute, okay? Plus Nicola still misses her old work Defenders, and this is like a pocket-sized version, right?
Vetoed in the end because she occasionally enjoys exceeding 60mph, and HOW MUCH????
NEXT...
Honda CR-V. Any of the generations with removable picnic tables. Because removable picnic table. We actually already have a CR-V table, but not the car to put it in.
Nixed because... thinking about it... the table was more important than the car.
NEXT...
Nixed because... thinking about it... the table was more important than the car.
NEXT...
October 13, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Honda CR-V. Any of the generations with removable picnic tables. Because removable picnic table. We actually already have a CR-V table, but not the car to put it in.
Nixed because... thinking about it... the table was more important than the car.
NEXT...
Nixed because... thinking about it... the table was more important than the car.
NEXT...
Peugeot 306 Cabriolet. It's actually killing us that we can't do the six vert, but it doesn't deliver on the "more modern, safe and practical" that the adults buried deep within us are in search of. Although I might still get one one day and just not tell her.
NEXT...
NEXT...
October 13, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Peugeot 306 Cabriolet. It's actually killing us that we can't do the six vert, but it doesn't deliver on the "more modern, safe and practical" that the adults buried deep within us are in search of. Although I might still get one one day and just not tell her.
NEXT...
NEXT...
Here's a thread of the cars we considered to replace ye olde 306 of legend.
Citroen C4 Aircross. We both love these; it's all about dem airbumps. But a bit dull to drive and a relative already has one. NEXT...
Citroen C4 Aircross. We both love these; it's all about dem airbumps. But a bit dull to drive and a relative already has one. NEXT...
October 13, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Here's a thread of the cars we considered to replace ye olde 306 of legend.
Citroen C4 Aircross. We both love these; it's all about dem airbumps. But a bit dull to drive and a relative already has one. NEXT...
Citroen C4 Aircross. We both love these; it's all about dem airbumps. But a bit dull to drive and a relative already has one. NEXT...
MoT day for the Rover. Handbrake evidently holds okay, so that's a good start...
October 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
MoT day for the Rover. Handbrake evidently holds okay, so that's a good start...
540i has just passed its MOT; that's just as well, given that it's Nicola's daily until her new whip arrives
September 30, 2025 at 1:18 PM
540i has just passed its MOT; that's just as well, given that it's Nicola's daily until her new whip arrives