Properly, or surprisingly good real world cars (yes, it's another wife car thread...)
No, I'm not looking for advice this time.
My missus was due a car change, and after very careful consideration I decided against getting her something new on contract lease.
This was after a close (ie five second) inspection of her existing car (Vauxhall Zafira Elite) that showed that after nearly four years of ownership there was not a panel without a dent, scratch or chip, and not an alloy that didn't look like someone had been at it with an angle grinder.
I realised that due to my spouse's complete disinterest in cars (apart from sporty convertibles - for which she seems to have a weakness), any car on a contract lease would result in a bill of thousands at the time of handing it in.
So, knowing that she mostly judges cars based on their colour, size of rear window (no, I know it makes little sense) and cost to fill up rather than MPG (which yes, I know makes even less sense), I went online for a look.
I had a fair idea what would suit her (and the large dog), but using cunning wife psychology I also identified several other vehicles that I was certain she probably wouldn't like to have a look at first. Then, after gaining her agreement that she would reluctantly come out with me to visit car dealerships for a maximum of two hours provided we could also visit Dunhlem Mill for yet another excessive cushion purchase, we set off on our mission to buy a reliable car a couple of years old that I wouldn't care if/when she trashed.
Nope, she didn't like the Mokka, because it was "sh** brown" (Bronze actually).
The CRV wasn't right because she didn't like the higher boot ("The dog isn't a puppy, he won't like that").
The Zafira.. (No she didn't want another Zafira because she had had one, very happily, that had been extremely realiable and she had liked a lot. Go figure).
Mercedes B Class was a no-no because "You have a Mercedes and I don't want one."
So far, so good. She hadn't liked any of the cars I had shown her, as intended.
It was time for me to make the move. "What do you think of that one?"
"I like that. It looks nice. I like the rear window, and the colour." And once inside "Oh yes, this is nice and comfortable, and I like the low boot for the dog, and the screens."
"Would you like this one then darling?"
"Yes please."
"Would you like to go for a test drive?"
"No, I'd like to go to Dunelm Mill now."
So two days later I went and picked up her new car and I have to say driving it I was hugely impressed by the comfort, ride, space, toys, build quality, interior and, well pretty much everything really. Fortunately, she actually seems to love it too, now she has finally driven it.
Oh, what was it?
Ford S-Max Titanium in metallic black with the chrome trim and blacked out windows. It looks a bit gangsta.
As an all-round real world car I struggle to see how anything can be much better to be honest. It seems pretty much capable of doing anything she'll ever need it to do, and do it well.
Anyone else have longer term experience of one?
Or any other wife/car/real world great car recommendations they'd like to share?
