Here we are, nicely settled in our new home, courtesy or 4 sites. Who indecently did a great job helping a complete half-wit sort out things involving name servers and DNS. I might know what I’m doing next time… should there be a next time.

So since my last official post, I have been quite a busy bunny. Especially with regard to the driving. Going hither and dither, all of which counting towards my experience in miles.

Something concerning me of late is the need to change my car. The question plaguing my mind is whether to continue with the car I have (Peugeot 206) and get one of the new ‘Look’ models, or go for another model or manufacturer entirely.

Quarter-to-eight and I still detect wafts of ‘new car’. The small associated with practically every car showroom across the globe. It turns out this smell can be toxic by its nature. Made up of sealants, glues, fabrics and plastics treated with phthalate esters to prevent them cracking. Good wholesome, healthy stuff then!

My search so far has taken me to Vauxhall for a brief look at the new Corsa. I did spend more time tapping the plastic components to see whether they felt as cheap as they looked (sorry Corsa owners). Admittedly with my investigations, I cannot really comment on how good a car is, having not test driven them but you spend most of the time in the car, so it’s nice to have something you like. Overall the Corsa left me feeling Vauxhall had indeed made a very spacious car, yet on the same budget as the old one, needing to stretch everything a bit further to fill the interior.

Today it was over to Paignton for a look at Toyotas and Hondas. Now the Aygo came highly recommended to me. Described as being a very comfortable ride – so much so they took it over to France on the annual wine pilgrimage. The only concern was how many cases of wine would fit in the back; they were pleasantly surprised! From the outside it looks a nice little car and inside doesn’t feel too cramped – although back seat passengers perhaps wouldn’t enjoy a long journey. I thought aesthetically it was let down by the dashboard controls, they looked and felt cheap. Not to mention the precariously perched rev counter.

The Yaris, is so far the best alternative seen. Apart from the relatively small boot and flimsy-looking rear seats, overall it seemed sturdy and not likely to fall apart in a hurry. I was surprised by the amount of interior space (much more than the 206) especially in the footwells. Access to the vehicle is easy, helped by the higher driving position.

On to Honda and the Civic. Of course, this car is very cool… and really very expensive! You’re struck by the shiny instrument panel surrounding the steering wheel and highly modern design. Surprisingly, considering the size of the car, I practically fell into it. The seat seemed abnormally low, giving the feeling of being sat on the floor (it’s Japanese, but that’s going a bit far!). Even after adjusting the seat it didn’t feel right and the speedo – a mile in front of you on the expansive dashboard – would have been obscured by the steering wheel. Clearly I needed to spend more time adjusting seats etc. The rear window is high up and bisected by a spoiler and high-visibility break light. It also felt a little claustrophobic; admittedly indoors with artificial lighting. The boot is vast; almost big enough to fit an Aygo. In all, it looked and felt expensive.

Jazz. “A style of music, native to America, characterized by a strong but flexible rhythmic under structure with solo and ensemble improvisations on basic tunes and chord patterns and, more recently, a highly sophisticated harmonic idiom.” In reality, it’s the car of choice for every other over 60. It would take some convincing to choose this over the Yaris or 206 because although it has great visibility, access and feels spacious, the interior needs updating to something Honda might consider reflects the car’s name.

What made today’s experience all the more enjoyable was the delightful Toyota salesman. Quiet in nature, young and eager. As I stand beside the Yaris, he enthuses about Toyota’s quality and reliability. “Unlike Peugeot” he says “and say, the 206 which is poorly built and unreliable….” followed a pregnant pause. He takes a step backwards and bashfully swinging his arms and foot, says “you’ve got a 206”. I could hardly contain my amusement as he desperately tried to back-track.
Even I know 133/152 in the Top Gear 06 survey isn’t prize winning stats. Compared with the Yaris 12/152 and the Jazz – a super 2/152.

One more thing: Have I discovered the only honest car salesperson? Discussing prices at Honda, there was no hesitation in reiterating the fact; over 3 years, your new car will loose anything up to 50% of its value.

With a sense of achievement and thoughts of “why didn’t I do it sooner”, I have driven a car on my own, without a single person present.
What more to say!