His 'N' Hers

They say you should never criticise someone's religion, dress sense, driving or choice of car!!

So there's no way I'm going to criticise Ali's "baby" - her Toyota 2.0l Celica GT. But then there's no need to.

OK, it's 10 years old or so, and the alloys could do with a tidy up - but that's the limit of it's imperfections. I've come to get to know this ol'gal quite a lot this weekend (more about that later!) and I have to say I'm impressed.

It has to be said, the Japanese know how to make a good car. In the 70's, Datsun Sunnys were the laugh of the motor industry - cheap copies of their Western counterparts. But no more.

The Toyota Celica has won countless rallies around the world and has passed on many of it's traits to the current Celica model.

So what do I drive? A silver Volvo V50. OK, it doesn't get the pulse racing like the Celica does, but then you could say it's understated. Typical Volvo restraint is obvious with the grey interior mimicking the exterior silver paintwork. But what Volvo lack in eye-catching detail, they make up with what's under the bonnet.

Because I use my car for work, it has to perform. And so that's why we went for the police spec' version:
180bhp 2.0l diesel turbo with uprated brakes and suspension. Additional body stiffening struts can be seen in the engine bay. You have to treat it with respect when working it hard though, as it doesn't suffer fools gladly. On more than one occasion it's bitten me on the bum when I've put too much power into a corner. But then, just power off, and all's right with the World again, with just the skid control light tutting at me from the dashboard!!

A far cry from my first Volvo which was a 1982 yellow 343, similar to this blue 345.

So why have I got to know Ali's car so well this weekend? Well, it's like this:

Ali has been away this weekend, training and when I offered her my car to use it was "Ooooooo can I?! Can I?! And that was the last I saw of it ALL weekend!!

So, taking the girls horseriding, looking at new houses and other running around has been done from the comfort of Ali's Ol'Gal!!