Articles by Louise Treccasi

Yes, I know it's a fashion no-no, but, girls, I just couldn't resist. I went topless in winter and it only took 25 seconds. I have to admit though, the timing was all wrong but typical. I mean, just when I get my chance to drive around in a sporty open top, it rains. I got to drive around town in a Volkswagen Eos and was pleased with my first impression. The car has a chic and funky body design and I knew it would attract some looks. The best feature, without a doubt, is the roof. At the press of a button, the Eos adapts to your mood . . . and the weather. Its five-piece retractable roof takes it from coupe to convertible in about 25 seconds. It has been cleverly designed with parking sensors and a windscreen-mounted wind deflector preventing the roof from accidentally opening. But even with the roof closed, you can still enjoy the warm weather with an integrated glass/sliding/tilting roof, which lets in natural light and air. Volkswagen has named the Eos hardtop convertible after the Greek goddess of the dawn. And I felt like a goddess, spoilt for choice. The car really does have it all. It gave me a new driving experience, lots of freedom and luxury, comfort and space, safety and, most importantly, performance. The car is jam-packed with luxury items including leather steering wheel, cruise control, climate control air conditioning, electric front and rear windows, front cloth sports seats, ABS brakes, a six-speed gearbox and a dual clutch. Then there are the safety features  such as; driver's and front passenger's airbags as well as combined head and side impact airbags for front passengers. For music fans, there is a six-disc mounted CD changer with eight speakers. The car was smooth on the road and had a two-litre diesel turbo engine, which was a little clunky but very powerful and economical. Friends and family were queuing up for a ride, despite the back seats being a little squashy. But whether you sat in the front or the back, it didn't matter, you still got to experience style and luxury at its best. To sum up, fun, fun, fun. If only it was in the sun.   Love it or leave it Volkswagen Eos 2.0 TDI From: $47,990 Love it  Choice: transfers from coupe to convertible in 25 seconds. Comfort and style: lots of chic and funk. Leave it Not much room for passengers.  

And while the South Koreans may not have showcased their best football skills at this year's tournament, one thing's for certain – they sure know how to design cars that create a simple driving pleasure and make you feel safe.Enter the Hyundai Accent. The new model is simple. It is certainly not a flashy car or hotted-up V8 number. But it does the job.It has all the conveniences a driver needs. It is comfortable, roomy and reasonably priced.Overall, the four-door sedan offers a smooth and quiet ride."But can she go?" was the question family and friends kept asking.Yes, she can.Put your foot down and she has good speed with good pick up and lots of zip.But its best design features centre around safety. The Accent makes you feel safe, and it's like all the details have been designed with you in mind.I have never really heard of front seat belt pretensioners. They tighten and adjust the shoulder belts to reduce forward movement. What a clever idea.The anti-skid braking system and electronic brake distribution kept me firmly in control, especially in wet and slippery conditions.Then there are the dual front airbags and the warning lights reminding you to buckle up, telling you that a door has been left open and advising you to "check engine".There is even a sunglasses holder so your sunnies are close by and scratch free.But passenger comfort is just as important as driver comfort so I put my family members to the test. They sat in the back and enjoyed the ride, stretched out in comfort. My eyes lit up when I saw the large boot and storage space. So much room for my shopping bags and shoe boxes!!And fuel economy is a bonus. A full tank lasted the whole week.Chuck in front and rear cup holders, airconditioning, heating, power windows and central locking and you have a pretty good package.But not everything can be so perfect. And this car does have some minor flaws. There is no middle console on which to rest your left arm, stash your CDs, bills, letters and loose change. Lets face it, the glove box can only fit so much.And every girl loves the radio and the odd sing-along. While the radio system was good, it wasn't great. I guess I'm used to my Blaupunkt and Bose stereo systems.But overall it's hard to complain.So now to 2010 where the South Koreans will aim for a stronger performance at the next World Cup.But in my book, the car-making country is already a world winner.LOVE IT LEAVE ITHyundai AccentPrice: $19,490LOVE ITDriving and passenger comfortFront seatbelt pretensionsExtra boot and storage spaceLEAVE ITNo middle consoleStandard radio system