The Smart Drive Podcast

Ashley’s Volvo appears determined to turn a driving instructor into a tailgater, while a Caterham offers a rather more expensive solution to his fading love of driving. Why mild hybrids, regenerative braking and engine-off coasting can force drivers to relearn familiar habits, even when they have decades of experience. Ashley considers a Caterham 360S, the Caterham Academy and the minor practical...

A quiet coffee turned into Oulton Park, race cars, nostalgia and the faint sound of two grown men getting ideas. Simon and Ashley watch 14-year-old Ginetta Junior driver Jacob Ashcroft in action, with paddock chat, McLaren support, podium updates and the sheer professionalism of junior racing. Track driving leads into a proper discussion about car control, tyre feel, wheel sizes, CrossClimates and...

Modern cars are getting cleverer, but that does not always mean they are getting easier to understand. Simon and Ashley look at EV regenerative braking, one-pedal driving, coasting, and why efficiency depends heavily on where and how you drive. There is a nostalgic detour through heel-and-toe, double-declutching, cold-start rituals and one very slow-motion hedge incident with an old Land Rover. Th...

An Audi software update that sort-of fixes things, insurance small print that actually matters, and the slightly humbling business of trying to get better at driving. • Simon talks through his push to sharpen up commentary driving ahead of a possible IAM Masters attempt, including the mental juggling act of limit points, positioning and saying the right thing at the right time. • There’s some prop...

What’s harder — overtaking 15,000 runners or convincing drivers to carry a survival blanket? Ashley’s Liverpool Half Marathon reality check and the six-week countdown to London for the James Bulger Memorial Trust Turning an £1,800 first-car project into a £4,655 charity raffle success story Mountain rescue tales, air ambulance support, and why every driver should pack emergency kit It’s a heartfel...

Simon’s voice is hanging on by a thread… so naturally he decides to do 700 miles of EV road trip admin and talk about it anyway. Audi Q6 road trip reality: 300 miles, one 12-minute stop , and a 265kW charging flex (plus the “nothing to do but scroll” problem) Spreadsheet terrorism: the true cost per mile of EV life, plus tyre maths that suggests the rears will last until 2038 M6 Junction 37 drama:...

What do you get when EV nerdery, dodgy auto-park confidence, and marital car vetoes collide? Rivian R2 chat: why its software architecture is so intriguing (and why VW buying in says a lot) Auto-park bravery vs real-world reality — including the classic “parked perfectly… can’t get out” moment “Divorce cars”, weird instructor motors, and a surprisingly thoughtful detour into deafness, BSL and driv...

“Two grown men swap seats in a Focus ST and immediately remember why manuals are both brilliant and mildly exhausting.” • Focus ST first impressions: sharp steering, short gears, rev-matching modes and UK-road “jitter” in Sport • The spicy debate: should you flash before an overtake — helpful heads-up or unnecessary aggro? (Roadcraft gets name-checked) • EV chat: pence-per-mile “road tax”, where f...

Christmas jumpers on, windows cracked, and one mildly existential crisis about being older than TV legends — it’s festive motoring chaos with Simon and Ashley. • The oddly brilliant “top car gifts” list: dash cams, smart tyre inflators, OBD2 scanners and other stuff you’ll actually use • Track-day tales: a 1969 Dodge Charger experience and a torrentially wet airfield session that taught real skid...

What do Japan’s bonkers driving exams, megawatt EV charging, and black-ice panic all have in common? Japan’s notoriously tough driving test and why precision doesn’t always equal preparedness 1-megawatt EV charging, dual-gun chaos, and what it means for real-world range in 6 minutes flat Winter driving tips: ABS myths, launch control in the rain, and the smug joy of pre-conditioning your EV A mix...

In this live-in-car episode (yes, we recorded in the same vehicle), Simon & Ashley navigate real-life motoring madness: • A dodgy Volvo manoeuvre sparks chaos in the car park • Can you actually pay for a latte with your phone in a drive-through? • The 600 kW charging cable existential crisis and hot takes on adaptive cruise control Grab your favourite drink and join us for a laugh-packed ride...

In Episode 6, Simon & Ashley pull up to the roadside with serious and silly topics: • How to spot car-report scams and protect yourself when selling used • A comparison of French smooth roads vs UK squeaky ones — what the driving experience teaches us • Speed-limit debate: should the rules change and what it means for drivers With practical advice, humour and real talk on motoring-culture, thi...

Episode 5: Simon & Ashley return with a broad lane of motoring topics: • The era of ‘peak buttons’ — why too many car controls drive us nuts • Pedal fail stories, dash-cam tinkering and the quirks of smart motorways • Cyclist vs driver tensions: can we all just share the road? Whether you’re behind the wheel daily or just love driving culture, this episode delivers insight and laughs. Subscrib...

In Episode 4 we go deep into mechanical mayhem and driving evolution: • Decades of dodgy cars and stories of the worst failures (yes, including super-glue incidents) • Can you really learn to drive from YouTube? We debate it • Manual vs automatic: Which is right for you now? If you love car culture, driving tech and the unexpected — join us for 61 minutes of fun and insight. Subscribe and tell us...

Simon & Ashley hit the streets and charging points in Episode 3: • Hot-hatch heritage meets EV future — can both exist? • Insight on what it takes to be ‘EV-ready’ and whether you’re already there • Driving disasters, insurance oddities, quirky Euro driving-test tales and more Whether you’re a petrolhead, EV adopter or somewhere in between — this episode’s for you. Subscribe and drop us your d...

In Episode 2 we get behind the wheel and rewind through driving chaos with Simon & Ashley: • An EV adventure across the Scottish Highlands — and the worst drivers around Loch Lomond • Handbrake fails, overtaking quirks and what drivers should know • Honest chat on changing driving styles, tech, and staying sharp behind the wheel Laughs, real-world tips, and stories from the tarmac. Hit subscri...

Welcome to the launch of The Smart Drive Podcast! Hosts Simon & Ashley dive into: • Taking the new Audi Q6 for a test drive and dissecting its driver-assist tech • Embarking on a budget £1,500 first-car challenge — can you still have fun on a small budget? • Insight into driving examiner recruitment and what it means for learner drivers Join us for unscripted motoring chat, laughs and one or t...