First Impressions VW Sharan

So, we went and picked up the new car on Saturday morning (to a few wiped away tears for the departure of Poppy car), unfortunately it wasn't *all* plain sailing, when we got to Tesco at Gatwick to fill up, I was startled to discover (when I popped the cover out of the way) that the fuel cap was missing! A hurried 'phone call to the garage later, and it transpired that when they took it out for it's final test drive before handover, the mechanic had stopped for a quick "splash and dash" and could clearly remember putting the petrol cap on the roof, but (critically) not carefully replacing it afterwards...a quick drive down the road by the same (red-faced) guy failed to locate it, so they apologised and said they would drive a new one over to us this week sometime...in the meantime, we popped to Halfords and I managed to score a temporary cap (one that just wodges in) for £3 (from the clearance items shelf, because the cardboard was a bit bent on the packaging) - result...! ;)

We're still working it all out at the moment, the reversing sensors are like a motion detector out of "Aliens", a slow beeping that gets more and more urgent as you approach items behind you...the Parrot is amazing, turn on Bluetooth on your 'phone, it makes a beeping noise, and then flashes up "Synching Contacts", you throw your handset in the glove box and control everything from the dashboard (it mutes the stereo when you get/make a call and you hear the other end through it, a little microphone above the steering wheel picking up your side of the conversation)...

The little trip computer seems to be telling us we have a range (for our £30 top up) not sure how much was in there beforehand of 1400 miles (which must be wrong), based on the average MPG of about 47 (and a bit of time with a calculator) tells me that actual fuel cost to drive a mile will work out at about 0.12p...or about £24 to get to Bude in Cornwall from our house (the common benchmark for these things in our household)...or about 50% cheaper than doing the journey in Poppy...(and fuel enonomy will only improve if we take some of the seats out, as they are big and heavy, and there aren't seven of us)... ;)

So, what's it actually like to drive? Well, having never driven an automatic before, I have to say the closest analogy I can find is that it's almost exactly like driving a videogame car - stop/go and steer (with luxury leather steering wheel)...It didn't take long behind the wheel before I stopped automatically reaching down to change gears, and actually, you kind of end up feeling like you are being extremely lazy...with not even biting point to worry about, the whole experience is terribly laid back, hill starts are trivial...it almost feels like *cheating*...I mean, I don't even have to move my left leg (if I don't want to)...

Thomas *loves* his new position, the second row of seats (where he now sits) are actually even higher up than the front row, meaning in his new forward facing car seat he now has an excellent view of the passing scenery, through his deeply tinted passenger window... ;)

...oh and the Tesco shopping (10 bags) didn't make a dent on the available storage (even with the pram in the back)...which is excellent...we *coped* just fine with Poppy, but this feels like life on easy street...why struggle when you don't *have* to... ;)

New car!

Well, while Flyingpops is finding it a bit hard to get excited (in mourning for Poppy the Beetle), I am *very* pleased indeed (I'll explain why in a minute) to tell you that on Saturday we went out and bought a new car! Meet (well, actually we haven't quite settled on a name yet, but one will come, I'm sure), in the meantime say hello to our new (super-practical) Volkswagen Sharan (probably to end up being called Bertie the Bus or similar)...

Oh joy, oh rapture...! No more - struggling with Poppies tiny boot space, no more - scratching the head deciding do we want either pram or shopping bags...no more - struggling with Thomas' car seat or popping him into it through the boot (risking personal back injury)...no more...urm....actually, that's just about all there is (in a negative sense) to say about Poppy...she has been a fantastic car, not only extremely reliable (as all Volkswagen-made things are), but just as fun as the Golf to drive, it really was only it's 3-door-ness and tiny-boot-ness that were ever an issue (and actually, even with those, we've coped very well even taking nine baby-months into account) - Poppy, we'll miss you - I know the garage man will look after you and make sure you go to a good home... ;) I also know Flyingpops will miss being the coolest yummy mummy in town, but after putting Thomas in his car seat without bending double for the first time, I don't anticipate too many *backward* glances to come...

*respectful silence + wistful gaze*

Now, the Sharan (for me) feels almost like getting Colin the Camper back (but better)...in the (rapidly approaching) long lazy summer time, we can take four of the seats out, throw in a load of cushions and the camp kitchen, maybe even the beer fridge, drive down to the ocean and *almost* be in the same position that I have been *dreadfully* missing since Thomas'-birth-forced-sale (no seat belts in the back/stranded with electrical problems once too often - neither acceptable with new Tiny Baby)...maybe we can even stop where we are, put up a gazebo, throw the fifth seat (and baby car seat) out there and blow up the air bed...Not quite worked out where Thomas is going to sleep, but it's a nice (half-formed) thought, anyway... ;)

This car really did tick all the boxes, both (sport) front seats recline almost horizontally or position you (van-driver style) with a lofty view over all you survey (and have comfy arm rests), it's got heavily tinted windows all around the back (so much so that it's rather hard to see in from outside), it's got AC (a first, for us), as I mentioned before it's got seven seats in all - each of which have a reasonable amount of leg-room) and five of which fold up like transformers, turn into little tables (with cup holders) or vanish completely (turning it into a mini-van), it's got a trip computer (which went absolutely bonkers when Flyinpops tested the (very adequate) acceleration) and hands free kit built in (one of those corporate jobs where you hear through the car stereo), those parking proximity warning things and even posh alloy wheels (another first)...! Considering the mileage (extremely low), we got a bit of a bargain...Flyingpops even managed to get free baby sitting from a greasy mechanic (while we did the test drive), the exact Parkers price guide value for Poppy in exchange and £50 off the 12 month parts and labour warranty, prompting the exhausted salesman to mop his brow and confess reluctantly "Well...you've won every round", before modifying the on-paper deal with a quivering hand (and making a nervous glance towards the office)...

Oh and of course, as it's a Volkswagen we still get in cheap to Santa Pod...Bring on the summer... ;)