Vicky Parrott has been a motoring journalist since 2006, when she eventually did so much work experience at Autocar that it felt obliged to give her a job. After that, she spent seven years as a features and news writer, video presenter and road tester for Autocar, before becoming deputy road test editor for What Car? in 2013. After five years with What Car?, Vicky spent a couple of years as associate editor of DrivingElectric and then embarked on a freelance career that has seen her return to writing for Autocar and What Car? as well as for The Daily Telegraph and many others. Vicky has been a Car of the Year juror since 2020, and the proud owner of a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300-SL 24V since 2017. She aspires to own an Alpine A110 and a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
Vicky is an expert in:• Electric and hybrid cars• Battery tech• Modern classics• Road testing• Biscuit varieties
Vicky Parrott Questions & Answers:
What’s the best piece of advice you could offer a car buyer?
Do your research. There’s a wealth of information out there on cars – be it new or used – and if you walk onto the forecourt confident in what car you want and what it’s worth then you already have the upper hand. What’s the best car you’ve ever driven? My answer to this question changes on a daily, if not hourly basis. Decisiveness isn’t always my strong suit… The 2008 Ford Fiesta ST is up there, and so is the Alpine A110. Both are incredible engineering achievements in the scheme of ‘everyday’ (if you can call the Alpine that) cars. I’ve driven all sorts of supercars and either of these would still be top of my choices if I want a brilliant drive on my favourite road.
What will the car market look like in 20 years?
Battery electric cars will be the dominant power source for personal transport, but hydrogen will have become a big player for heavy goods, commercial vehicles and global transport. More people will use car clubs or simply hire a car when necessary, especially those who live in cities where car usage will be minimal anyway. Outside of the major public transport hubs, car ownership will still be prevalent, and car ownership will still be popular even if subscription ownership will also have become more common. I live in hope that hover boards and time-travelling DeLoreans will also be reality.
