Mike Bartholomew

Mike joined Car Throttle as a Staff Writer at the start of 2024, a role that sees him driving the news desk, as well as reviewing cars and (often unsuccessfully) pitching features on obscure Italian hatchbacks.

Before joining CT, he worked for automotive-lifestyle-brand-stroke-coffee-house Caffeine & Machine, producing written content for its website as well as looking after its social media presence, and before that, he was a fresh-faced student on Coventry University’s Automotive Journalism MA. Away from cars, he enjoys cooking, music (although he fundamentally lacks the attention span or talent to actually play any instruments) and getting outdoors.

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

First impressions make such a big impact. If all the controls feel inherently good and all the important stuff’s easy to find, it’s a big win. If things feel flimsy, you can’t get the right seating position, and you have to jab at multiple screen menus to do something basic, it’s an instant mark against a car.

The FL5 Honda Civic Type R is a perfect example – I’ve only driven one very briefly, but I vividly remember everything about it, from the driving position to the interior layout to the control weights, just instantly feeling… right.

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

Cliche car journo answer alert: if the ADAS systems, especially the speed limit bongs and lane keep assist, are easy to turn off, a car goes up massively in my estimation. Also, driving lots of new cars has finally opened my eyes to the joys of massaging seats. Not make-or-break, but I sure miss them when I don’t have them.

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

This probably won’t be a popular answer, but it’ll be whatever comes along to make electric cars lighter and more efficient, be that solid state batteries, in-wheel motors or something else entirely. EVs are here to stay, and to be honest, for 95 per cent of driving situations, they’re just better. Get your rotten fruit ready – I’ll take the pelting.

Having said that, while I don’t think e-fuels and hydrogen combustion are the silver bullet some people make them out to be, I’m increasingly hopeful that they will be a future lifeline for lower-volume, enthusiast-friendly stuff – it just lies with governments to recognise that and make allowances for it.

What got you into cars?

I genuinely can’t pinpoint one specific thing – I’ve just always loved them. My parents obviously knew something was wrong early on, because when I was very, very young, my mum figured out the best way to teach me numbers and letters was to walk me round the streets near our house so I could learn them off car number plates.

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

I’m very thankful to have gotten into this industry just in time to drive various versions of the Alpine A110. It’s a reminder of why everything about a car is better when it’s lighter, and every car company should be learning from it, regardless of whether they make sports cars or massive SUVs. 

Your favourite car you’ve owned?

Obviously, I’ll always have a soft spot for my first car, a Skoda Citigo with all of 59bhp. But both for the memories I made in it and how wonderful to drive it was, my absolute favourite is my old Renault Megane R26. What a thing.

What’s your dream car?

As I write this, it’s one of Alfaholics’ sensational carbon-bodied Alfa Giulia restomods. But that could change if you ask me again next week. Or tomorrow. Or in ten minutes.