After a few months sabbatical I have returned afresh with..well a bit of a quandary actually.
I have, for some time reveled in the pleasures of owning a classic car. In fact I own three classic cars at present. It's on days like today, however that the pleasures are somewhat tainted by my wet feet and legs.
I've recently undergone a lot of changes. My relationship with the A40 ended - after 4 years of courting I'd had enough. I left my job at the BBC and moved into a different arena altogether; with albeit a somewhat tenuous link to motoring, - the oil marketing industry. It's made me think. I have more time at home, more time to write and pursue my high octane interests and spend less time going nowhere fast in the London traffic, my finances have improved and oh boy have I got car fever.
I've owned my Spider Quadrifoglio for almost two years, it hasn't been the smoothest of relationships, but the pleasure really did outweigh the huge repair bills, the devastation when someone damaged the bodywork and the high fuel costs. The repairs are now pretty much complete and it's ongoing day to day living with the thing that I'm now faced with. But there's trouble in paradise.
British Summertime in all it's glory reignited the love affair with the Spider once more last week; barreling down the green and pleasant lanes of Buckinghamshire; sun beating down, the smells of cut grass and flowers; my big shades on listening to the familiar Alfa growl of the twin cam engine - absolute perfection. Then came today's' monsoonical weather and my arrival at work with wet feet; a wet right arm and a wet satchel which had been sat on the passenger seat. The windows were misted up beyond all help, I felt like a blinkered racer in the stalls at the Grand National driving to work. Cut to my colourful language as the car park barrier didn't lift when I swiped my card and the subsequent soaking I got as I grumped to security to open the goddamn door for me.
Spiders just don't like the rain. I feel guilty. This lithe Latin lovely is used to better things. She needs a warm garage, to be kept for high days and dry days, something I just can't do. If I have a car I drive it come hell or high water. I just don't like getting wet.
So now I'm aimlessly leafing through the car magazines, or 'Muppet Porn' as my friends and family call my motoring literature. They couldn't be more correct. I feel like a dirty old man, as I'm actually looking at a younger model. I'm being seduced by the Momo steering wheels and red leather that is the Series 5 GTV based Alfa Spider. I'm even looking at the GTV itself, as now the Brera has been launched with the new Spider to follow I'm hedging that the prices will reduce. Oh the shame of it, my dutiful Spider awaiting me in the car park and all the while I'm window shopping for a replacement. How positively automotively adulterous of me.
That said, as with many aspects of life, I'm one of the great procrastinators. I find it difficult to make a decision on what breakfast cereal to have let alone the future of my own car fleet. I'm going to start with a list of pros and cons, then completely loose my nerve and turn to my friends for advice. This is where you come in. If you feel particularly strongly about my predicament let me know your feelings thus helping to sway me in one way or the other and then I'll report my findings here.
Either way there'll always be an Italian in my life.
