Episode 1

S45 E01 • Thursday, Feb 22, 2001 • Feb 22 • 25m

Tonight, chasing the Mondeo and the Renault Laguna, the Lamborghini Miura and how it will blow your doors off, and the future may well be bright but does it make sense.

Episode 2

S45 E02 • Thursday, Mar 1, 2001 • Mar 1

Jason Barlow takes a ride in the new Alfa 147, which Alfa Romeo hopes will make waves in the small-car market. Tiff Needell, meanwhile, road-tests the 180 XKR-R, a souped up performance Jaguar which could soon grace showrooms.

Episode 3

S45 E03 • Thursday, Mar 8, 2001 • Mar 8

Vicki Butler-Henderson looks at whether the brand new Volkswagen Lupo GTi’s sporty credentials live up to its looks, while Jason Barlow tests the remarkable new Citroën C5.

Episode 4

S45 E04 • Thursday, Mar 15, 2001 • Mar 15

Episode 5

S45 E05 • Thursday, Mar 22, 2001 • Mar 22

Jason Barlow tests the new MG F Trophy, one of Rover’s new sporting models, while Vicki Butler-Henderson checks out Vauxhall’s lastest Astra diesel — the Eco 4.

Episode 6

S45 E06 • Thursday, Mar 29, 2001 • Mar 29

Episode 7

S45 E07 • Thursday, Apr 5, 2001 • Apr 5

Episode 8

S45 E08 • Thursday, Apr 12, 2001 • Apr 12

Tonight’s show reveals the results of a special customer satisfaction survey — a study into buying, owning and running a car that reveals the very best and worst of different models, including which car registered an amazing 1,800 faults.

Episode 9

S45 E09 • Thursday, Apr 19, 2001 • Apr 19

Episode 10

S45 E10 • Thursday, Apr 26, 2001 • Apr 26

This week in the motoring magazine Vicki Butler-Henderson tests Citroën and Peugeot hatchbacks that offer better-than-average performance for little more than the cost of a standard model. Plus Tiff Needell learns how to handle a high-powered motorcycle on the road.

Episode 11

S45 E11 • Thursday, May 3, 2001 • May 3

The latest model from Jaguar’s production lines, the X-Type, marks a radical departure for the luxury brand. Jason Barlow takes the saloon sports car for a spin to see whether its makers will succeed in appealing to a younger demographic, or whether the X-Type will damage their reputation as a top people’s car manufacturer.

Episode 12

S45 E12 • Thursday, May 10, 2001 • May 10

A look at the new Peugeot 307 — has it got what it takes to lead the family hatchback pack? Plus, is the recently revived, Dutch-designed Spyker CS Spyder worth its £150,000 price tag?

Episode 13

S45 E13 • Thursday, May 17, 2001 • May 17

Episode 14

S45 E14 • Thursday, May 31, 2001 • May 31

Episode 15

S45 E15 • Thursday, Jun 7, 2001 • Jun 7

Episode 16

S45 E16 • Thursday, Jun 14, 2001 • Jun 14

Episode 17

S45 E17 • Thursday, Jun 21, 2001 • Jun 21

Episode 18

S45 E18 • Thursday, Jun 28, 2001 • Jun 28

Episode 19

S45 E19 • Thursday, Jul 5, 2001 • Jul 5

Episode 20

S45 E20 • Thursday, Jul 12, 2001 • Jul 12

Tiff Needell sees how BMW’s new Mini One compares with its rivals, and competes against Vicki Butler-Henderson in a downhill race at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Episode 21

S45 E21 • Thursday, Jul 19, 2001 • Jul 19

Tiff Needell and the team test the quality of the new MG road cars and take a look behind-the-scenes at John Travolta’s new film Swordfish, which features a TVR Tuscan in the spectacular car chase sequence.

Episode 22

S45 E22 • Thursday, Jul 26, 2001 • Jul 26

Twenty percent of Britain’s income is spent on motoring. Jason Barlow, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Adrian Simpson and Tiff Needell explore ways of halving that figure by offering advice on the best second-hand deals, reducing insurance premiums, fuel economy and inexpensive maintenance.

Episode 23

S45 E23 • Thursday, Aug 2, 2001 • Aug 2

Episode 24

S45 E24 • Thursday, Aug 9, 2001 • Aug 9

Tiff Needell test-drives the eagerly-awaited Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, the most talked-about supercar ever to come out of Britain. So does the beautiful two-seater coupe with a top speed of 190mph meet expectations?

Episode 25

S45 E25 • Thursday, Aug 16, 2001 • Aug 16

Episode 26

S45 E26 • Thursday, Aug 23, 2001 • Aug 23

Vicki Butler-Henderson road-tests the new Tuscan S, which is rumoured to reach speeds of up to 200mph. Plus a look at where to buy cheap cars, and the new number-plate system.

Episode 27

S45 E27 • Thursday, Aug 30, 2001 • Aug 30

Jason Barlow tries out the latest update of the Ford Thunderbird, Tiff Needell assesses the merits of the BMW M3 convertible, while Adrian Simpson tries to understand how the inside of a car can tell you about its owner.

Episode 28

S45 E28 • Thursday, Sep 6, 2001 • Sep 6

Tiff Needell test-drives new models from TVR and AC, while Vicki Butler-Henderson rides in the Arrows three-seater Formula One car. Jason Barlow assesses the future of green-engine technology, and tries out a fuel cell-powered car.

Episode 29

S45 E29 • Thursday, Sep 27, 2001 • Sep 27

Jason Barlow compares the new Rat Stilo with the Ford Focus, there’s a report from the Frankfurt Motor Show including the lowdown on next year’s new cars, and Tiff Needell drives sideways as he participates in a stunt competition.

Episode 30

S45 E30 • Thursday, Oct 4, 2001 • Oct 4

Episode 31

S45 E31 • Thursday, Oct 11, 2001 • Oct 11

Episode 32

S45 E32 • Thursday, Oct 25, 2001 • Oct 25

Episode 33

S45 E33 • Thursday, Nov 8, 2001 • Nov 8

Jason Barlow, Adrian Simpson and design guru Richard Seymour assess what makes the Ford Focus a bestseller.

Episode 34

S45 E34 • Thursday, Nov 15, 2001 • Nov 15

Jason Barlow and Adrian Simpson take a look at the Land Rover Freelander and its competition in the off-roader market, while Tiff Needell test-drives the FBS Census.

Episode 35

S45 E35 • Monday, Dec 10, 2001 • Dec 10

Vicki Butler-Henderson sizes up the new Volkswagen Polo, while Jason Barlow and Adrian Simpson report on BMW’s fortunes in the competitive executive-car market.

Episode 36

S45 E36 • Monday, Dec 17, 2001 • Dec 17

Vicki Butler-Henderson and Adrian Simpson compare the merits of British roadster the MG F with international counterpart the Mazda MX-5. Tiff Needell races a Mini Cooper and Jason Barlow tests the new Mercedes SL500.