Well, my car is 4x4, but it is a car, not one of those monster jeeps. I have an Audi A4 Quattro, so it's a four-door family car that also happens to have 4-wheel drive, it's diesel and does 18km to the litre so that's about 50 miles to the gallon, same size as a Mondeo.

The 4x4 is a great safety feature adding to the stability of the car during braking and cornering and also assists a smooth acceleration when you are trying to avoid trouble like in crowded lanes on a motorway or pulling into a roundabout, 2nd gear is particularly powerful just when you need it.

Style and safety, driven with confidence, it's a great car.
 
John W

Mosquito nets are good to have. They also lend an air of torrid romance to the bedroom, I always think. Ahem. I'm reminded of when I was living on a houseboat in Amsterdam (during the madly hot summer of 1995) and working until late one evening in my little corner but leaving the lights on and windows open in the main living area. When I finally walked through in the wee hours, intending to get some sleep, I noticed to my horror that the ceiling, only a few inches above my head, was covered with THOUSANDS of mosquitoes (reminiscent of a certain scene in the second "Aliens" movie), attracted in by the light and waiting for a living victim to pass by. I flattened as many of them as I could and retired behind my net. Luckily none of them got in.

heh, heh, that just rolled off my tongue didn't it; I'm often standing in carparks with customers etc., WAFFLING and they always talk about cars and stuff so that's my bit.

I know Richard was referring to those gas-guzzling machines, my neighbour has a monstrous looking Mercedes beast, of course he needs it for his catering company delivering sandwiches to industrial estates 

The Audi was my company car when I was employed, and when I left last year they wouldn't give it to me, I had to buy the darn thing off the lease company, but I love it and it probably saves my life, occasionally, on the M6  

heh, heh,

The only time you see the M6 like that is when you are a mile ahead of a jack-knifed truck 

The two-tone Hillman Minx is a nice touch too, eh?

Fabulous.

Oh dear. I should have made all these exceptions for nice Audis and for people who live in the tundra. I'll get my coat.

Actually I am going to buy a car in the next few weeks, what with completing my move back to Blighty and not much liking the idea of trying to negotiate the streets of London in a left-hand drive vehicle with an overheating problem. (If only I lived on the peaceful M6!)

So, Martle, is that one for sale? Does it have electric windows and air conditioning?