Clangers

This week, the Clangers dive headfirst into the wonderfully strange world of special editions. Not the exotic homologation specials or limited-run supercars, but the everyday hatchbacks, saloons and family runabouts that were given a second lease of life with some stripes, a fancy badge and a tempting finance deal. From the Citroën AX Salsa and Mini Special to the Nissan Micra Wave, Fiat Panda Ita...

Episode 13 of The Clangers Pod dives into the cars that went from overlooked underdogs to fully fledged modern classics. This week, Mike, Tom and Craig look back at the cars they dismissed when new — but which are now loved, collectable and, in some cases, surprisingly valuable. Did the road testers get it wrong, or were these cars hiding secret talents all along? Expect debate, nostalgia and ques...

The Clangers are back for another dive into the automotive graveyard, and there are still plenty of ghosts rattling around. In Part 2 of our dead brands special, we dig up even more forgotten names from the late ‘90s and early 2000s… the ones that fell through the cracks, quietly disappeared, or probably should have known better. Before that, as tradition demands, we check in with Craig to find ou...

Bloomin' eck, we've made it to episode 11. To celebrate, we're donning our black arm bands to remember the Clangers brands that no longer grace the car scene. Among others, we remember (with varying degrees of fondness) the likes of Saab, Daihatsu and Daewoo, and recall the time that we gave one of TVR's head honchos a pink Charade in exchange for a week in a Cerbera. All this plus Craig's head ga...

In the episode we've opted to call number 10, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss one of Craig's all-time favourite cars - the Mercedes W211. Or rather, Craig waxes lyrical about it while Tom and Mike list the (many) reasons why they would choose something else. Even the depressed Alfa 159 gets a mention. The team also found out what crate Craig has bought in the past week and recount more banal stories a...

In the episode we're defying all logic to call episode 9, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss cars that defined performance car motoring in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Subaru Impreza Turbo and Mitsubishi EVO took over from the hot-hatch as the ultimate sporting family cars. With supercar performance and actual rally-bred mechanicals, these beasts graced the cover of car magazines for years. This w...

In the episode we've been advised by the police to call episode 8, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the pint-sized Clangers that tugged at our heart strings. Among the tiddlers talked about are the Ford Ka, Volkswagen Lupo, Fiat Cinquecento (briefly) and the SEAT Arosa. We also discover how Tom and Craig forged a dubious connection with pop legends A-Ha and why a brown envelope with £4k in cash gave us...

In the episode we're calling episode 7 for legal reasons, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the almost-too-many-to-count Clangers that owed their existence to the Volkswagen Group's PQ34 platform - aka the Golf platform. Including (but not limited to), the Audi A3, Škoda Octavia, VW Beetle and Bora and the SEAT Leon and Toledo. We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week....

In the episode known under its codename of episode 6, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss their favourite topless models - and decide whether the MGF and the BMW Z3 are worthy members of the Clangers Hall of Fame. Is Rover's cobbled together MGF greater the sum of its (Metro) parts, and was the BMW Z3 overrated? We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks. Join...

In the episode we're reluctantly calling episode 5, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the Range Rover L322 (which inexplicably has a hex on Tom and Craig) and the BMW 7-Series - the first Bangle-era beemer. We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks. Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we're cryptically titling episode 4, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the small German cars that proved masters of their own downfall – the Mercedes A-Class (which fell foul of an Elk) and the Audi A2, (which fell foul of the accountants). We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks. Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

In the episode we're marketing to global markets as episode 3, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the merits and (many) failings of the Fiesta Mk6 (or Mk5 depending on location) and the rebooted MINI R50 - often referred to as the BMW Mini (although Craig takes issue with that.) We also discover what new crate Craig has acquired this week. Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

In the show we're logically calling Episode 2, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the Jaguar X-Type and the Rover 75 – two great cars that managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We discuss what went right (not much) and what went wrong with these two prestige British clangers. Follow us: http://www.instagram.com/clangerspod Message us: mikeaskew@mac.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

In this, the first actual episode, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the shoe-eating capabilities of the Peugeot 206 and how not to run one cheaply. The Citroen AX tugs at our heart-strings and we discover what crates Craig has bought this week. Follow us: http://www.instagram.com/clangerspod Message us: mikeaskew@mac.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special pilot episode, clangers devotees Tom, Craig and Mike discuss (among many things) the mighty Nissan Micra K11 and the Citroen Xsara (including 'lively' VTS version) and found out what pile of trouble Craig has picked up this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.