Changing the Frame of Reference

So my trusted Scandinavian transport is beyond the help of even the most ingenious of mechanics or the dodgiest of MoT centres.  Nearly four years after purchasing Svart for 900 quid from the less than scrupulous Westbourne Garage, rust, wear, but mostly old age, have taken their toll.  So it's off to the scrap yard and the postmortem will include details of a cracked bulkhead, a failing head gasket, and a blown exhaust, which combine to make my once desirable 900 Turbo SE a complete basket case.  The indignity of being picked apart in a scrap yard is no way for any loyal automotive companion to end its days, but needs must, and you can't save them all.  The steady demise means that there will be no memorable last run, no chance to enjoy full boost acceleration out a slow corner, gently managing the torque steer as the turbo spools up to project you at the horizon yet again.  The diesel'esc clatter that now accompanies the blown exhaust and the water leak mean that I've been nursing the car around for the last few weeks.

Still the diesel clatter will be good perpetration for my next chariot, a hand me down Nissan X-Trail that I featured back in February 2013.  The parentals have moved on to lease a rather nice 2014 Nissan Note, so the bargain priced X-Trail came up for grabs at a very opportune moment.  And although I like this car, now named Torie (an extract from Ekkusu Toreiru (X トレイル) - Japanese for X-Trail by the way), it's no '180 brake' b-road battle tool, so I'm not too sure how long it'll be kept in service.  The sensible alternative would be a compact exec estate, but as the summer nights start growing shorter, the price of sporting convertibles may start to get even more tempting than they are now.  In amongst the default early Boxster's and Z4's, the odd wild card comes along, V8 TVR Wedge anyone?!

So anyhow! Enough dreaming for now, I just wanted to let any committed readers know that the frame of reference has changes slightly from a tired but worthy front wheel drive couple, to a worthy but dull 4x4 SUV.  Why mention it at all? Well stepping from one car to another, it's inevitable that some comparison is made to my daily drive.  So to date, cars may have felt slow or fast, high up or low down, small and nimble or big and bloated compared to my old Saab.  A car that felt slow compared to Svart isn't necessarily gonna feel slow compared to Torie.  A small difference maybe, but enough of one for a small mention.  One last note, my original intention was to test and write up a couple of cars a month and have moved onto Second Degree cars by now.  Real life means that once a quarter is more realistic and a friend of a friend quickly becomes a friend if you get chatting enough to ask about testing their car! I'll endeavour to put out a review every three months at least and try to build this back up to once a month if the opportunity arises.  For now, please keep reading, sharing, and commenting on my articles.

Thanks Dan180
© Dan Ewing 2014