New car day

My new red car is okay.

At the sales room I opened the driver's door, and the rain dripped off the roof onto me. My nice old Volvo never did that because it had a lip round the roof that drained off the rain. I don't like new designs.

And it's got sticky out handles. My old Volvo had handles that were flush with the car. I don't like sticky out handles.

Bye bye old car

Tomorrow I scrap my 19 year old trusty steed, the only car I've ever owned, a car I've had for 13 years. I'd meant to keep it another couple of years - we could have celebrated its 21st birthday! But the government scrappage scheme was too good to miss, so tomorrow I get a new car, and trusty old Volvo goes for scrap.

If you want to know what I'm getting to replace it, you'll have to ring me and ask. I'm looking forward to hearing from you, my friends.

Test drive

I've driven a Volvo estate for decades, but I don't need an estate now. I used to have to trail a glider trailer, and then in the last few years for moving teenage children to university, and still have to do that another few years, but husband can do that. So I might take advantage of the government scrappage scheme and get a new car.

I test drove a Volvo C30 today. It feels comfortable, but then I suppose it would being as it's just another Volvo. I've booked a test drive in a Toyota.

What car?

Shall I take advantage of the government scrappage scheme and trade in my trusty not rusty Volvo, the only car I've ever owned? I wouldn't change it otherwise for another couple of years. If I change it now, I get a brand new one now for the cost of buying a second hand one in a couple of years, and get one that should be cheaper to run.

What shall I get? A red mini like my mother drove when I was ten years old, or the two-CV that delighted me in my teens, a yellow Beetle with character or the little green sports car someone once wanted to buy me. Years ago I was advised to get a Ford Fiesta or a Polo, but they were uninspiring cars that reflected the personality of the advisers. Now I might consider the insurance costs, particularly if I put my children on the insurance. Or how long will I need a big car to move students' stuff between university and home or flats? And do I care? Perhaps I'll get a Skoda. Perhaps I'll stick to the secure and reliable Volvo.