Tyred out

No. The garage kept it. I took a photo. Funnily enough the steering seems that bit better now as well. But then I replaced an original 2018 tyre with a new Michelin. The original was a Dunlop or something which I wasn't overly impressed with.

I do like the look of the current V90 and V60. But not so sure I like some of the inside - partly why I got a 330e rather than an XC40 in 2020.

21" wheels on a V90 seem a bit excessive. The 19" wheels on this Mazda though give a surprisingly comfortable ride with normal type dampers and springs.

That was the thinking, given I've had my S60 for ten years this month, buy one now and not really concern myself about replacement before retirement by which time we might have a better idea what's happening with personal transport.

Equivalent of politician can kicking.

On reflection, the cost to change would fuel my Focus, based on the three and a bit years I've had my car, for the next seven years not including the increase in road tax, servicing and insurance. Probably 10+ years to some kind of breakeven for not as much more space as expected.

Lovely car to drive the V90 and serene place to be, didn't notice the four cylinder in the engine room, certainly not as intrusive as some make out. Not when compared back to back with a raucous 2.3 litre, four cylinder petrol pulling the Focus around with piped induction noise in the cabin. The Focus is of course a different beast aimed at a completely different market.

I did look at a C class estate 300de, too small. E class reeks of golf club and Werther's Originals out here and BMW 5 series is just a no, think angry gammon equivalent.

Jaguar XF estate I very much like the look of, horror stories of swimming pools in the boot put me off. Leaves Audi A6 which I'm sure is a fine machine, past experience of Audi and dealers, I'd buy a VW and keep the change. Not sure the Arteon would work though given the slope of the rear hatch.

Hmmm, decisions, decisions. Could be a case of Humph status quo until spring.

Yes, the 940 was the last of the [journalese] ‘cavernous’ [/journalese] Volvo estates, and that design dated back to 1983. The V90 is good in the back seat, but no more so than the Superb, which is (a) the better load carrier and (b) cheaper.

There will be an estate version of the Volkswagen ID.7, apparently.

What’s a gearbox, grandpa? 😛

That might account for one Frankfurt colleague’s reaction as he put his bags in my E220 for a ride to Heathrow. Long before ULEZ, selbstverständlich. (He had an Alfa Sportwagon, into which I could barely fit at all.)

Wütender Schinken?

And slightly envy-inducing. Closest I came was trying to talk myself into a Lancia Dedra in about 1993. In Basingstoke though, not Florence. That had seats in something close to Black Watch tartan. Odd looking thing outside too but I liked it. Might have been a better choice than the Astra I eventually chose.