Ryan Hirons

Ryan serves as Editor of Car Throttle, having joined in 2023. On top of making sure everything is ticking over, you can read his takes on the latest new cars, some ways to spend your hard-earned cash in the used market, as well as the occasional JDM deep cut feature.

Before joining Car Throttle, Ryan worked at Carwow, helping to put together its YouTube drag races and prior to that, writing consumer car reviews for the Press Association. When he’s not writing about cars, you’ll find him trying not to bin them on iRacing and sometimes baking a cheesecake.

What’s the first thing you look for when driving a new car?

The first question I ask when driving a new car is, ‘How does it make me feel?’. It’s easy to assess the spec sheet of a car, how fast it is when you plant your foot and how quickly it can corner, but it’s harder to judge that immeasurable sense of joy.

That doesn’t mean every fast car is automatically good, or slow ones are rubbish. A bad car can charm its way into being a good one, and a good one can be dull enough to make me shrug my shoulders.

Is there a make-or-break car feature for you?

Ventilated seats will automatically raise a car in my estimation. As will a big kill switch to turn off the annoying ADAS beeping in one fell swoop.

What do you think will be the next big breakthrough development in the industry?

I’m not the first nor will I be the last to say this, but the people who can crack storing hydrogen en masse safely and efficiently will be absolutely laughing to the bank.

Hydrogen combustion is the thing I’m most excited to see develop in future, and could keep cars exciting for decades to come.

What got you into cars?

I’ll pin this down to three things. First, when my mum brought me home a Matchbox Dodge Viper RT/10. Second, when my mum brought home a copy of Gran Turismo 3. Third, when my mum brought home my step-dad, who had an ST182 Toyota Celica.

What’s the best car you’ve ever reviewed?

The answer I give to people who don’t have an interest in cars is a Lamborghini Revuelto. I presume you do, so I’ll tell you it’s a Toyota GR86.

Your favourite car you’ve owned?

My one and only – a ZC31S Suzuki Swift Sport. I called it Taylor, and as I’m writing this, it’s got 51,000 miles on, a door ding and peeling lacquer on the front left wheel arch. I love it.

What’s your dream car?

Nismo 400R is the ultimate. Although I’ll take any form of R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R, to be honest.