It is a well known fact (well known by people that know me anyway) that I love spending other peoples money. I am really good at it too as the long suffering Ian will testify. I usually manage to sell up when helping others find the gadget they are thinking of buying. Spending company money is especially pleasurable, there is no guilt involved and they do have rather a lot of it.
This month however has been rather stressful. I have been spending my own hard earned (and yet to be earned) cash, I have bought a new car.
My Fiat Punto Sporting is getting long in the tooth and bits are starting to fail. I rely on the car so much that I cannot afford it to not work.
I have really loved the Punto – despite it’s limitations and inadequacies, it has transported me, with a smile on my face (mostly), to work for the last six years without too much issue – quite something for an Italian car. Sure it has had a couple of issues – it needed a new clutch because of the stop start nature of the city driving I do and it has had its fair share of bumps and scrapes along the way, however overall it has been a good car.
Because I rely on a car for work, I need it to carry on working for at least three years and I am not supremely confident that the Punto will do this. It needs work now that will cost about £700 and there is no guarantee that it will fix all that is wearing out. I have therefore been looking for a suitable replacement.
As is my way, I wanted to see everything before making a decision, and I have certainly tried. My poor wife has been dragged to every dealer in the local (and in some cases not so local) area. I have read countless reviews, looked at all the websites and bought magazines.The biggest problem that there wasn’t a car that gave me the same instant buzz I got from the Punto.
When I sat in the Fiat (before that even, when I first saw it) I knew it was right – the car for me.
I just couldn’t find a car that gave me the same feeling (in budget anyway). There’s a lot of really good cars but there was always something not quite right.
The New Fiat Punto – gearbox felt dead and inaccurate and the interior was nasty, the Fords – not enough knee room (I’m a big chap and they felt cramped inside), the list went on.
I almost plumped for the new Mazda 2 Sport – a great car; nippy, spacious, well made, good kit level, nice design but no spark – it just didn’t excite me.
I liked the look of the Honda Civic – it is a little quirky I grant you, with that plastic bit instead of the front grill and the starship enterprise bridge dashboard, but the thing looks like it is going fast when parked and has renowned build quality and it is built in the UK by people who care about their products.
The stumbling block was one of price. I searched on the internet and found that my local garage had used models that were within range so I went over and tested the car – wow, what a drive. Although the reviews I had read said it was a hard ride, it was so comfortable compared to the Punto, was responsive and the steering was accurate and Wifey was satisfied that I wasn’t going to kill myself in it.
I have therefore plumpped for the Honda. A Civic 1.8 petrol EX in Galaxy Grey (metallic). The EX has more bells and whistles that I care to mention here (have a look on the Honda site).
I should get it in about 10 days and and finally – yes, I bought a new car! (this is something I vowed never to do again after the Punto but it was a really good deal).
More Pictures on mypicturedesk.com
Time to recycle all those car brochures!