Sun's out, so took this out for a spin. It gave me a chance to try its new exhaust for the first time (verdict: it sounds brilliant now). I'll be looking to move it on at some point this year, though, so if you know someone who might be interested...

and, @flaneurUK, forgive me for taking an amazing career opportunity after 10 brilliant years as a motoring journo (most of which was spent at Auto Express)

... Ariel Atom and a Caterham Seven, a twin test between the Merc CLA and a Tesla Model 3... and that's just the stuff I remember just now. Not surprising that all of that is still filtering through online! Sorry that I, and my former colleagues, work really hard!

Time to dust off my Twitter again... Between handing my notice in at AE and joining BYD, I wrote: A special on the Fiat Panda, a twin test between the Golf R32 and Alfa 147 GTA, a twin test between a Kia EV4 and Renault Megane, a drive of a Citreon Ami, a twin test between a (1/)

Who would like to buy my Mondeo? It's in The Best Spec, mechanically brilliant, but has one or two frilly edges: https://t.co/oh4i3rEmeT

*pops on '205 Nerd' hat* UK-spec 205 Rallyes are always hugely over-valued - they're a bog standard 205 XR with some stickers. Get the XS - a beefier carb means they make 10 or so bhp more from the same 1.4 TU engine and they're usually far cheaper

When was the last time you saw a Pontiac Solstice in the UK? Or ever?

I hope that you all appreciate this lowered-on-steelies Fiat Seicento as much as I did today

And the 'most optimistic email of the day' award goes to

Echoing Rich's sentiment by trying to recreate his photo with what I've got just now (note to self - try to get the smaller car in the foreground next time)

The Mondeo scrubs up okay for (almost) 30 years old and 118k miles

Does anyone want to buy a cute little AX hiding a silly secret? Because I'm selling one! https://t.co/JFm3QPvhte

given this dealer is also selling a Ferrari 348, Audi RS2 and an Alfa 147 GTA, I could have a very solid four-car red/green garage right there

I hope I'm not going crazy here, but this is amazing, right? https://t.co/eA78XKetGo

I still have plenty more Japanese car spots to bore everyone with, but this has to be among the rarest things I saw: the one of 100, Hilux-based Toyota Classic

Driving this Merc today, it felt the need to jam its brakes on to a complete stop. When I bluntly told it it was wrong, the infotainment snapped back with "we need to work on our relationship". Sorry E-Class, but you lose the right to be sassy the second you act like a moron

I'd love to know if there were any times when Rossi planned celebrations like these but had to cancel them because he didn't win (probably not often given his success rate at the time, but still)

A few more memorable moments in Japan. Felt two earthquakes - one of which swayed our Tokyo hotel 31 floors up 👀. Osaka was nuts; noise, lights, crowds and food obsession, even down to a guitar inspired by the local delicacy Takoyaki. Also, lots of pink.

Then came the Toyota Roomy. Looked vast after the Nissan, but at 3.7 metres long it's pretty much the same length as an Aygo X. Lives up to the Roomy name. A little dull all round, but at current exchange rates the base car costs about £10k in Japan, so hard to complain.

Back in the UK after three-ish brilliant weeks in Japan. Had a pair of hire cars while there, including my first Kei car drive in a Nissan Roox. Huge inside and well equipped. The slowest car I've ever driven. Very likeable, though. Mountain for scale.