11th March 25. One of my favourite cars

I had been looking forward to today and having regrets at the same time. Reason being I was collecting one of my favourite cars of all time. A BMW M5.

Looking forward to it because I have great memories of driving these and driving them fast. The regrets are that in this line of work it's not the done thing to drive that way or professional. So I had to drive with caution and safely. I did find the car very different to the earlier versions of the M5 and I mean the F10 versions made between 2011 and 2016. Not previous models

That 560 BHP version of the 4.4 V8 with the first properly useable switchable automatic gearbox, rear wheel drive and adjustable suspension and sports modes. Was an incredible car. No Hybrid, no four wheel drive. Just enough tech but blisteringly fast and the equal of most supercars.

Today's version was four wheel drive. Which is incredible the way BMW engineer it. The drive is genuinely to all four wheels equally and to the wheel that needs it. Making it very balanced the car had amazing grip. Coming out of wet corners It just pull with amazing power, just not for me. I prefer the more raw original version. The interior is also subtly different the original was just enough tech to play with but not over the top like cars today. If I need warning that I'm changing lanes and more annoying, if I need it corrected by the car. I'll give up driving. Not everything needs to be designed for the lowest common denominator. Or idiot.

The interior of this newer version was a little bit on the bling side for me. I always liked the understated design of the 90s BMW cars and although the 2011 F10 M5 did have a lot to comprehend. It was all necessary and where you wanted it. Maybe BMW's target market has changed since.

Having said all that. The car is immense. Makes an amazing noise. A real sound. Not today's noisy backfiring "Bro"mobiles.

A deep dark menacing V8 rumble. Imagine a noise like the end of the world. Not a yank V8 . A powerful, properly tuned and engineered 560BHP V8.

Having stained the seats in the BMW and reluctantly left it, with it's current guardian. Kings Lynn BMW. I walked the very short distance across the road to a place I actually used to work. EMG Kia. I somehow have good memories of this place. Even though the regime was very strange. You were contracted to work 365 days a year. You did get 29 days holiday but they had to include All the statutory holidays too. And you only got 6 days off a month hard to get used to but still good memories nonetheless.

I walked through the doors and was greeted by a couple of ex colleagues and we chatted about the job etc. then the general manager came out and said hello. He was one of the industry's good guys. Knows his stuff and didn't suffer fools. He actually did seem pleased to see me and was genuinely happy about the work I'm now doing.

Another one in a very long list of people who tell me that what I'm doing is something they really want to get into. So he took my website details and joined up a few days afterwards. Very happy for him and look forward to guided him through the process.

So I came to collect a car and the 2016 Nissan Qashqai was out back and a quick digital appraisal later I was on the way back to Aylesbury

The drive between Kings Lynn and Cambridge has two sides to it.

It's a very beautiful drive if you relax and take in as much as the view as possible.

You get a 360 degree horizon at times and the views across the fields and fens is amazing. Especially later in the afternoon when the sun goes down and paints any clouds or haze with an amazing orange colour scheme.

The drawbacks are the numbers of trucks and the speed of the numerous tractors. But, take your time and get into the views and it's a great road

Once past Cambridge however onto the A428. It's all ok until just after Camborne. Then the dual carriageway goes down to two lanes until the A1.

Just before St Neots. There's a place I used to live briefly in 2007/8 . Back then we found out by some inside information from a civil engineer. That this whole section of the A428 was going to be replaced by dual carriageway all the way to Milton Keynes and the M1. That was fifteen years ago and for that whole time. Pretty much. The Black Cat roundabout has been undergoing roadworks. Now I can see that planning is happening and this area is just chock full of new bridges and roads under construction. Avoid for a while.

So from just west of Cambridge. That amazing drive becomes a distant memory and the drive from there, past Bedford and through Milton Keynes is quite depressing.

Got the old Qashqai back to my customer. Jumped on the bus home and another day done.

The start of which was amazing in that car on those roads. So a good day not spoiled by Milton Keynes. 😆