When ‘we’ got the electric vehicle, in 2023, it was amazing. (For reference, ‘we’ have an EV and ‘I’ have a racing car; that’s the official ownership schedule). A computer with wheels. Did everything. Not that we ever got to use approximately 92% of its potential because its just too many ‘menus’, too many options, who fucking needs it? Voice control, FFS? Gimme a break. Its just a brilliant vehicle, fast as f-… anything and brilliant at everything else. Until you’re at Gatwick airport at midnight with 95 miles on the charge which you know will never get you the 60 actual miles to home. Then you’re fucked.

The first winter we had the car we discovered what is technically known as ‘the best thing ever’. Although they call it ‘pre-entry climate control’. Where you lie in bed, all warm and snuggly, and its -5 outside and Mel’s going swimming at 6.45 in the morning and there’s 3 inches of frost on your freezing car. So (for a bribe), you press that ‘pre-entry’ button on the app and 10 minutes later your wife enters a warm, de-frosted, seat-heated, cleared-windscreened vehicle and whizzes round to the David Lloyd, in lovely comfort. (We’re not here to discuss her sanity; this is about cars).

In March the car’s going back to the leasing company wot spawned it. The government very kindly paid for it completely, for which we’re grateful, but now we’re going to buy another car. And one thing’s for sure; it ain’t gonna be fully electric. The world is just not ready for that yet. I’m not ready for that yet. So Mel wants a hybrid. Saving half the polar bears.

And, having spent a couple of weekends in car showrooms in Colindale (car central. If it ain’t in Colindale; it ain’t a car), we’ve worked out one little thing. A ‘primary criteria’, if you like. It MUST have pre-entry climate control.

I thought such a thing was exclusive to EVs. My mate has Mel’s car, same in every detail, other than its the petrol version. Same year, same model, but no pre-entry thing. Oh. Its just electrics then.

Then we went to Canada. Where its sub-zero for most of the year. And me mate Dave, who has a fabulous and excessive collection of cars, told me they’ve had pre-entry climate control on ALL vehicles for years. Button on the key-fob. Starts the car, puts the heat on. But not available here. Third world mentality.

We found a lovely car on Saturday, perfect in every way, it was even bright yellow (she loves a bit’a colour). But NO climate control. Therefore; no test-drive, no deal.

Well, it reduces the choice and that’s no bad thing. But I love ‘car shopping’.

Happy Monday
A xxxx