Magazines

The Mud Life Issue 11 February 2020

The Mud Life 4x4 Magazine Cover Graphic

It’s been said that we live in a throw away society; from coffee sachets, plastic packaging and even cars. Ok, the latter may be a bit extreme and a tad exaggerated, but we’re not far off.

The Mud Life Issue 11 February 2020
The Mud Life Issue 11 February 2020
Publication Information
Cover Price: Free
Format: Digital, 108 pages
Frequency: Monthly
Subject: 4×4, Off-Roading, Green-Laning
Publisher: The Mud Life
News, Reviews & Adventure

The Mud Life Issue 11 February 2020

Turner’s Torque

It’s been said that we live in a throw away society; from coffee sachets, plastic packaging and even cars. Ok, the latter may be a bit extreme and a tad exaggerated, but we’re not far off.

Every now and again manufacturers will offer a scrappage scheme that’s designed to tempt drivers into new cars, and claim that if you buy one you can help save the planet by driving a newly built and more economical car.

These schemes have their benefits of course, if your old car is nearing its sell by date, and you’re not convinced it’ll pass its next MOT without major work, then great. However, I’m of the generation that not only prefer to actually own things, but deem it silly getting into debt when you don’t actually have to.

Don’t get me wrong, new vehicles are good. Not only are they generally more economical to run, but they’re also a damn sight safer than a lot of older vehicles, like my 26 year old Surf for instance, but will they last?

The other day my attention was drawn to a small photo of a 3rd generation Toyota Surf in a magazine, and underneath was a letter that the owner had written.

He explained that the 4×4 was his wife’s 1996 Surf which, like mine, is rapidly closing in on 300k, and if road tested today it would probably be absolutely hammered for the hard and shiny plastics used in the interior, the cheap click of the switches and general grey colour scheme, but after 24 years of hard use, every single switch, instrument, bulb and function still works as designed, nothing has been replaced, and nothing rattles.

He states that every exterior panel is dented (unlike mine), scratched, or both, but it isn’t rusty. Apart from service items, it hasn’t had any mechanical parts replaced, even though it tows a two-tonne load weekly and only ever gets an annual wash (whether it likes it or not). It even happily runs on alternative fuels when diesel gets a bit too pricey. The car is, what he called, quality.

So let’s hear it for older cars, that if serviced regularly, will last for decades, making them arguably better for the planet.

Now that’s a controversial comment!

Damian, Editor-in-Chief

<strong>What’s in this Issue</strong>

TURNER’S TORQUE 5

NEWS 6-11

WHAT’S ON 12-13

LANING LIFE 14-18

VEHICLE REVIEWS

  • Mitsubishi ASX Exceed 4WD 20-25
  • Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio 27-33
  • Fiat 500X City Cross 34-39
  • Seat Tarraco 40-45
  • Flash Drives 46-49

INTO AFRICA… 50-55

GOODS & GEAR 56-61

GREEN-LANING – GLASS PEAKS 63-70

COMPANY PROFILE 72-75

BACK TRACK 76-81

BENTLEY FACTORY TOUR 82-87

FB PAGE OF THE MONTH 88-89

DINE OUT WITH DAMIAN 90-91

READER’S RIDES 92-97

READER’S FURRY FAMILY 98-99

PAST JALOPIES – TRAVELLING SMURF 100-103

RETRO SNAPS 104-105

DIRECTORIES 106-107

About Author

Leave a Comment