It's been pointed out that the Speedline Maracana, as fitted to the Clio 16v, is the correct diameter and PCD to fit my Dacia Spring. Oh my saints.

A late suggestion in the Dacia Spring wheels chat; MINILITES.

40 years ago today West End Girls reached number 1 in the UK. As the camera swept towards the stage for the TOTP performance to mark this, Chris Lowe leant forward to Neil Tennant and hissed, "DON'T look triumphant..." youtu.be/gyWfEwEqpIU?...

The Dacia Spring wheels chat has been excellent, but I think we all know the real answer is SLOT MAGS.

White wheels on the Spring for those that are interested.

After yesterday's Spring wheels debate, here are rough mock ups of a couple of options. Bronze to match the mirrors or green to match the bodywork. Either way, the excellent @timoldland.bsky.social has offered to 3D print some centre caps to make everything look tidier. So that's nice.

In last week's Smith and Sniff I said I was looking to jazz up the bare steel wheels of my Dacia Spring. Jonny suggested moon discs, as seen in this Photoshop mock-up. Not sure. Seems the Spring isn't sold anywhere with simple centre caps on steelies, which is what I'd like. Hmm.

Went to put out the recycling last night and there was a P38 Range Rover idling menacingly outside my house. Is this it, am I in the Layer Cake?

When in Rome (put an Aston badge on your iQ and park it incredibly close to a wall).

There are just three tickets left for our Smith and Sniff live show at The Motorist on 22 Jan. Not many left for the Glasgow show on 11 Feb either. Move fast if you want to come along. Ticket links here... smithandsniff.com/pages/live

Can any Mac-heads help with a strange problem; Logic Pro on my Macbook Air has started repeatedly saving these two files (both, weirdly, old Smith and Sniff-related tracks) but they're not really the files since they seem to be zero bytes. What is going on?

Back to business as usual at Smith and Sniff with a brand new podcast for a Monday morning. This week, a listener has actually acted on our car buying advice and there's a curious tale of trying to escape doggers sent in by the presenter of another car podcast. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Happy new year! New year, new chance for me to be needlessly nerdy about car stuff. For example... www.the-intercooler.com/library/feat...

Perfect plate

No, but….

You've missed the boat on getting Smith and Sniff merch delivered in time for Christmas, but there are many other things on my handy gift guide you could ask for. sniffpetrol.com/2025/12/12/c...

Crikey, this might be our fastest-selling live show yet. If you want to come to Smith and Sniff live at The Motorist near Leeds on 22 January, move fast... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978299229...

Smith and Sniff live news: We're delighted to announce that our next show will be at The Motorist near Leeds on Thursday 22 January. Come on down to discover why we're even more disappointing in person. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978299229...

One of the new official pics of new Jag prototypes reminded me of this spy photo of the Rover SD1. Although actually, the finished Jag has more of an XJ-S vibe. I mean that as a compliment.

Lots of new Jag coverage this morning. But if you've heard this week's Smith and Sniff, you'll already know what's going on. And a bit about what the real thing will look like. Yessir, I saw it. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Thanks to everyone who came to our final live show of the year last night. We had great fun, hope you did too.

There's been a lot of nonsense talked about a certain British car company and its forthcoming models plans. Listen to the latest Smith and Sniff to get some interesting inside info down yer neck. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

What is this low quality male model looking at? Find out very soon on Smith and Sniff.

Stuck for what to ask for this Christmas? Good news! I've put together a self-centred page of stuff! sniffpetrol.com/2025/12/12/c...

Since I'm in a plugging mood (and it's been a surprising number of days since I've mentioned it), please buy my new book. It's called Petrolhead, it's a compilation of some of my many columns for evo magazine, and you can get it here... amzn.eu/d/hikgAzW

Every month The Intercooler lets me write ultra geeky things like this. If you want to read more, plus 100s of brilliant articles by much more interesting writers, you can currently get 25% off your first annual subscription by following this link... theintercooler.memberful.com/checkout?cou...

This coming Monday we're doing our last Smith and Sniff live show of the year. It's in Bristol. It's at the Tobacco Factory. There's a panto on in the same theatre and they're told us we need to work around their set. A few tickets left here... tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/otlot-...

Two things yesterday made me go WOO and YEAH. One is explained in this first photograph, the other is something car-related and very interesting that will be revealed in a forthcoming episode of Smith and Sniff.

Weird boast on this drainage company van.

Hope this is just loads of Mancunians describing the taste of toothpaste.

In today’s new Smith and Sniff we discuss the AMC Eagle, original Audi Allroad, Peugeot 505 Dangel, a secret stash of very rare coupes and the state of Polestar. It’s quite car-heavy. Sorry about that. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

I recently wrote a review of the KGM Torres. Unfortunately, this isn't it because, once again, The Sunday Times's sub-editors decided to change all my words to make everything worse. www.thetimes.com/life-style/d...

In today’s Smith and Sniff OTOSOT we’re in front of an audience in Derby answering questions about first car hijinks, selling cars too cheaply and which not-very-cool band Jonny recently saw live. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

In this week's Smith and Sniff, we're on front of an audience talking about off-putting abandoned lorries and Britain's longest motorway service area walk. Of course we are. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Made an important modification to my new Dacia Spring. Behold, the Paris look. (Also known as the unmarked police car look, or the bodywork repair centre courtesy car look.)

I was driving home from Derby today when - thar she blows! - I encountered my white whale.

Thanks to everyone who came to our live show in Derby last night. Great venue, fantastic audience, incredible model of Postman Pat's ekranoplan. We had a smashing time, hope you did too.

SMITH AND SNIFF LIVE SHOW NEWS: On Wednesday 11 February 2026 we'll be back in Glasgow. Get tickets here: www.enjoyeastren.org/events/smith...

Speaking of test cars, until now prototypes of the next Jag have had all sorts of extra bumps and layers as well as the camo wrap. But someone's just spotted a later build example that's much less lumpy. www.reddit.com/r/CarTalkUK/...

Textbook example of the 'kid wearing his dad's suit' test mule from Mazda here. More pics: www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new...

In this week's Smith and Sniff, Jonny has been to Malta and I've got a new car. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

After spotting another one of those zero insight turboposh influencers I was reminded of possibly my favourite Sniff Petrol columnist. Great fun to write, should have done more of them. sniffpetrol.com/author/xandr...

It'll be made from a yeasty by-product of beer brewing? Eww.

Crikey www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-spot...

Next month Smith and Sniff return to the 90s with another live show in Bristol. It's on Monday 15 December at the Tobacco Factory. Put on your Rockports, grab your pager and come on down. tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/otlot-...

In today's new Smith and Sniff, someone crashes their famous brother's Ferrari and someone else has bought a boat. The title probably reveals the answer to the second part. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Such sad news about Quentin. He was so supportive in my early career, I owe him more than I can ever say. Unique, brilliant and knowledgeable on camera, funny, generous and unfailingly excellent company off it. Go well Q.

SMITH AND SNIFF LIVE SHOW NEWS: Next month we’re going back to the 90s tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/otlot-...

The next Range Rover Velar is going to be very fastbacked.

Only 10 tickets left for our next Smith and Sniff live show, two weeks today at Great Northern Classics in Derby. Move fast if you want to come along. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1776133847...