DOWNPHORSE is one of South Africa’s most up-and-coming freelance motoring media brands, which brings both journalistic and photographic expertise together to create a vibrant identity.
Toyota Prius
It’s no secret I love a good hybrid, and the Toyota Prius is probably the world’s most famous example. I wasn’t interested in how many celebrities own one or how Google used them to map the world’s roads however – I wanted to know if this car really saves money at the pumps. And oh [...]
Kia Cerato Hatch
The Cerato might be looking a little bland these days thanks to other Kia products appearing with out-of-this world styling, but it’s no less a great little car. The sedan was joined last year by the hatchback, and I took the new 2.0 SX 5-door for a spin. Here are my thoughts on the [...]
Citroen DS4 THP 200 Sport
It’s no secret that the French like to build slightly off-the-wall cars, and Citroen is by ar the looniest of the lot. The revolution started in 2010 with the DS3, and in a few months’ time we’ll be seeing the utterly gorgeous DS5 on local roads. This new DS4 however, is up for the Car [...]
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
There are few more brutal speed machines on this earth than the Mercedes-benz E63 AMG. And this new one, with its smaller but no-less powerful engine, has made the eco mentalists happier with reduced emissions and better fuel consumption, while still offering a truly ballistic drive. Here’s what I had to say about it on [...]
Toyota FJ Sport Cruiser
I was one of the first local journalists to test what is, in my eyes at least, the first cool Toyota we’ve ever been able to buy. The new FJ Cruiser (this one in Sports guise) is an incredible machine and I adore it – and it’s phenomenal off-road, as these photos show. Here’s what [...]
VW Golf R
After driving this and the Scirocco R, I think I now know what would happen if you had to strap a nuclear missile to a car. Blistering performance and a gorgeous drive makes this one of my favourite cars of 2011. The photos came out nicely, too… Here’s what I had to say about it [...]
VW Polo GTI
Dressed in red and featuring beautiful gunmetal wheels, I fell quite in love with the new Polo GTI. My only real gripe was the 7-speed DSG gearbox, which is jerky at low speeds and annoyed me quite a bit. Other than that though, this German offering in a diverse hot hatch segment offers the quality [...]
Volvo C30 D2
It might have taken 24 years but I have finally come to the realisation that I am a “Volvo man”. My first two Volvo test cars arrived in November this year and boy did I enjoy them! This green C30 D2 was the first of the duo, and I enjoyed taking these photos almost as [...]
My 2011 Driving Season Wrap-up
After nearly twelve months of driving, photographing, testing and loving a host of brand-new cars, my 2011 driving year has been full of excitement and joy. The numbers are simply astounding – 100 test cars have found a home in my driveway and I’ve been to 35 different events (mostly product launches). It’s only once [...]
Joburg Motor Show 2011 Gallery 3
After three years of starving for a motor show, the 2011 Joburg Motor Show has come, and is almost over! The best show yet, there’s tons on offer from many manufacturers, including exquisite hall exhibits, off-road demonstrations and the opportunity to test drive cars back-to-back for the ultimate comparison. If you haven’t yet been, here’s [...]
