At the main Nissan dealership, I picked up our new car today. Bizarrely, it had been covered with a big red cloth sheet and I had no idea it was ours until the car salesman, Andrew, unveiled it when all the paperwork had been done. "It's not every day you buy a new car!" he explained.
Minus the red cloth, our vehicle looked very handsome in his metallic gun metal grey livery. He was spotless and manufactured in England too - up in the north east near Sunderland.
Like Old Andrew in Melbourne, Young Andrew was a nice guy and I was happy to deal with him. He talked me through most of the car's main features without boggling my mind. The new motor is a different kettle of fish from Clint entirely.
To begin with, there isn't a key and there's no traditional handbrake either. There's a touchscreen with satnav and camera functions. There are switches for heating the seats and the steering wheel though today in northern England such facilities were most unnecessary as it has been sweltering with temperatures into the thirties.
Driving the new car home through rush hour traffic was a little stressful but I only stalled him once and managed to park him on the paved area at the front of our house without incident or damage.
He is sitting there now, looking elegant and well-designed - just like his new owner! I may not drive him again for a few weeks now while I familiarise myself with the manual which seems to require the kind of technical knowledge and natural car fascination which poets and former English teachers just do not possess.
When I drove away from the showroom, I noticed that there were just eight miles on the mileometer. Being in a position to buy this fine car, I appreciate that we are very lucky compared with most other humans on this planet. Below, you can see our new car's identical twin - David. Ours will also have a name soon - I am mulling over a few ideas.
That's a very handsome car. Having to learn all the different bells and whistles puts me off when I start thinking I'd like to have a new car.
ReplyDeleteI wish that cars were more simple and think that that would be better for safety.
DeleteNothing beats a new car! It's exciting as you try to learn all the new STUFF! I have one that we bought 13 years ago and I'm still learning. (What does that infernal beeping mean and how can I turn it off!
ReplyDeleteMaybe "exciting" is not the right word Bruce. "Daunting" might be better.
DeleteIt can get complicated buying a new car. It sounds like you've done your homework and will enjoy your new car.
ReplyDeleteI should have done more homework Mr Kline!
DeleteYou seem to need an entire college course these days to figure out all the bells and whistles on a new car!!
ReplyDeleteBut your newbie is a beauty!
It is indeed a thing of beauty Bob. In a way, it is a privilege to own it.
DeleteDavid looks a bit Sporty and altogether very nice. Perhaps you could name yours Jukebox? Or Jack. But not Wilfred, that's a terrible name for a car.
ReplyDeleteIf I was going to give the car a female name I would call it Elsie. Perhaps it is transgender.
DeleteHours of endless enjoyment in the new car, well that is after you have learnt all its magical touches. Bit worried about not having a hand brake. What do you do on a hill?
ReplyDeleteThere's an automatic handbrake operated by a small switch near the gear stick. This will take some getting used to.
DeleteWill Shirley be allowed to drive it?
ReplyDeleteA neighbour has that same model in bright yellow.
Of course she will Carol! I have offered her three "test drives" so far and she has declined them all!
DeleteI was the same when I got my new car - the manual took weeks to read through. Even now, i still have to look up stuff, like, where's the fog light.
ReplyDelete...or where's the steering wheel?
DeleteTake it back. They forgot to put handles on the rear doors.
ReplyDeleteThere are handles but they are higher up.
DeleteI have no idea what the buttons on my steering wheel do.......I use the other ones in the middle!! Still have to ask the husband to change the clock. My previous Nissan ( Note) just needed about one press of a button to change from GMT to summertime. You will love the heated steering wheel in the winter!
ReplyDeleteA bit disappointed that you got a grey car.......nearly all cars these days seem to be grey, white, black or silver.....so boring!
Even with my much simpler Hyundai i20, I had no idea what some of the buttons were for after nine years!
DeleteWe bought a shiny new car a few years ago. It, too, had lots of wondrous bells and whistles... and many, many annoying beeps and warnings. It was, alas, too overwhelming..and too bulky for me so it had to go. Our smaller Ford is easier for me...although we hardly ever need to drive these days. More economical that way too!
ReplyDeleteA car should reflect the character of its owner. You might be better off with an orange Robin Reliant.
DeleteDoubtless you will entice us with further drip-fed details. First question is, obviously, did you get the hybrid version?
ReplyDeleteIt's a petrol manual. My wife spotted it on the forecourt - rather than in the showroom. It was what they call "pre-registered".
DeletePretty sweet!
ReplyDeleteAw shucks, thanks Debra! Too kind.
DeleteVery exciting! But yes, there is an awful lot to learn these days when you buy a new car. Something I have discovered is that sometimes it's just faster and easier to google a question you may have like, "How do I set the time on my (whatever make and model you have)?" There will always be some patient person on Youtube who will talk you through it with video too. Although on your new car, you may not even have to set the time. But you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteA useful tip Mary - thank you. Just seeing things written down is rarely a good way to embed practical knowledge.
DeleteCongrats on the new car, Neil. I'm hoping my old car lasts as long as me so I don't have to learn about all of those new gadgets.
ReplyDeleteI suspect I may never understand all the facilities on our new Juke.
DeleteDon't bother reading the manual, it will tell you silly things like don't drink the acid in the battery. You know how to drive, drive it and enjoy it. Push all of the buttons and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteCrazy Americans!
DeleteThe manual?! I don't know anyone who reads a car manual. Just treat it like a rental -- hop in and drive. You'll learn as you go. (I see that I'm echoing Travel's comment above.)
ReplyDeleteCrazy Americans!
DeleteA new car is exciting! Congrats! If the car's twin is called David, I'd like to suggest Dexter for a name.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy with my low mileage, well maintained 2014 Toyota, and the best part is that it's paid off. :)
It's great that Hillary (your car) is a Toyota Jennifer. Very reliable brand.
DeleteWho is your favourite Hull player of all time? You could name your new car after him perhaps?
ReplyDeleteA toss up between Ian Butler, Dean Windass and the player voted the greatest Hull player of all time - Ken Wagstaff (Waggy).
DeleteWith our previous new car, the showroom did the same as for you - car under a sheet waiting to be revealed once the formalities had been completed. With other car purchases in the past we've had some very nice flower arrangements, but most recently nothing like that, not even a proper handbook, just a website to go to to download the full manual! As for the 'learning curve' - one of the first things I did was disable the keyless entry (for security), followed by how to turn off all of the myriad so-called safety features, like the speed limit warning - the car insists that the stretch of road outside our house has a 19mph speed limit! Personally,I find the current fashion for making cars look like mobile tablets very distracting, more so than using a mobile phone, as you frequently need to interact with the screen on the move, and that means taking ones eyes off the road.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience Will. Some of these bells and whistles could be quite dangerous in my view.
DeleteOo new car! Enjoy. If he were mine and his twin is David, I would call him Goliath. 😁
ReplyDeleteTo be called Goliath he would need to be as big as a removals lorry!
DeleteWe found we needed to give extra revs to avoid stalling because it was so quiet. I also give an imaginary extra kick on the footbrake as a substitute for having no handbrake. The engine cut out when stopped takes a bit of getting used to, as do the self-driving features. And ours is a 2019!
ReplyDeleteI just took the car out for its first proper spin and I struggled with reverse from our sloping driveway because I am so used to having a handbrake.
DeleteYour new car needs a unisex name
ReplyDeletegrey like the shimmering pelt of .... an arctic fox you might say?
ReplyDelete