The new car: Series 2: Episode 2

As part of the project to buy a new or new-to-us car, I have tried to construct a timeline of our car life. resulting in the snap above, updated to include the purchase of our second Polo. I had not realised that we were essentially Ford or VW people. Or that the C-Max had far and away the longest life of any of our cars.

But according the man at webuyanycar, they don't make them like they used to and that we would be lucky to get ten years out of one made today. But that will probably be enough: I don't suppose that either of us will be driving by then.

So following up the brain wave noticed towards the end of reference 2, we took ourselves off to the VW dealer at Driftbridge, where we were offered a choice of nearly new or new. All petrol automatics, so not very eco, but a car which has been around a long time and which still has a good reputation. We arranged to visit again a few days later to make our selection.

On the day, the C-Max declined to start, so we had to use ClockTower Cars, who turned out to offer a good service, even if I did not go as far as loading the app.

And in no time at all we had arranged to buy a nearly new, 'vibrant violet' Polo, snapped above outside a public house near Tattenham Corner a few days later. A Young's house, as it happens.

And after a few more days and a very modest amount of paperwork, we took possession of our new car.

While we would not pretend to know the controls very well, we can lock and unlock the car, we can get into the boot and we can adjust the mirrors. And at least most of the time, we can get the key out of the ignition when we want to leave. BH has been out several times and has more or less relaxed into the new automatic regime. So far, so good.

PS 1: I might say the DVLA were very quick and efficient at processing their end of the transaction. As quick and efficient as they were at sending me my new driving license.

PS 2: one of the few bits of evidence for the existence of the Fiesta phase is to be found at reference 4. Which also serves to place it after the Golf phase.

PS 3: we have now seen the film of 'Matilda' noticed at reference 1, in part to give ourselves a break from our usual evening diet of police & murder drama, taking a couple of evenings over it. With a consideration going to Prime. There were some very funny bits, but it was all a bit too slap-stick for me, and I did not enjoy it as much as I had thought I might, children's film though it might be. It did leave me curious as to how you might turn it into a musical, but there are limits... 

A correspondent tells us that the show is expensive. While reference 5 suggests that it has been very successful - and an RSC production of all things:

'Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl ... Matilda has been seen by more than 10 million people across more than 90 cities worldwide, including over 4 million in London’s West End where it has been delighting audiences for over a decade'.

Which might explain why I remember seeing the posters, without paying much attention to them. 

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-new-car-series-2-episode-1.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/08/end-of-term.html.

Reference 3: https://clocktowercarsuk.com/.

Reference 4: https://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.com/2008/11/bock.html.

Reference 5: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/matilda-the-musical/.