12th May 25. Derby, Worksop and back.

Two jobs today. First a train to Harlow town from Aylesbury. Earlier the better. To arrive at the dealership in Harlow to collect a Peugeot 108 that going to Derby. Obviously sold. then to Worksop to collect a Vauxhall Mokka E for the return leg.

Vauxhall Mokka E

Started at Aylesbury station on the 6.16 to Marylebone. Then underground to Liverpool Street. Then a short journey to Harlow Town station.

The dealership is about 25 minutes away on foot.

It's another beautiful sunny day. So a walk is enjoyed to get me moving, as a long drive to Derby is ahead. Especially in the small 108.

I like small basic cars. They are for me a reminder of my early driving days. I always liked to get the most out of the car. Really being able to take it to the limit. Today's cars and roads just don't allow this.

So off we went the little 108 and me and I actually got to like it. It certainly didn't cost me a lot in fuel and being honest, that's why I do this.

We got to Derby in about 3 hours given a stop for something to eat.

So arrived around 13.00 after leaving at 10.00am. I'm happy with that. Gives me enough time to take a train from Derby to Worksop to collect the Vauxhall Mokka from the dealership there to take to my customer in Aylesbury.

The train from Derby to Worksop needs a change in Sheffield

Derby to Worksop

Sheffield station

The train from there was delayed so I popped out of the station and grabbed some water to drink.

Sun still shining so the walk was a welcome stretch.

Got the connection to Worksop eventually and arrived there with plenty of time to collect the Vauxhall Mokka

Vauxhall Mokka

The Vauxhall is a strange car. I like the design. The size is ok. The range is ok. But don't trust the range shown. These Stellantis cars Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot, are all the same underneath. Same platform, running gear and a lot of the interior.

Some say 220 miles range when 100% charged. You will get 180 if you are lucky.

The Peugeot seems to drive better than the rest. Maybe they tweak the suspension better. But they seem to ride and handle better. Certainly better than the Vauxhall. This car, especially the EV version. Drives and handles like a 60s milk float. It's awful. It's not a car. It's a vehicle to get you from A to B.

This one wasn't even going to do that.

When I arrived at the dealership to collect. Nobody had bothered to ask them to charge it.

So appraisal done and signed. I had 20 miles range so I Google mapped my way to the nearest high power charging point.

This just happened to be at McDonald's a mile or so away.

It was a very hot day now so I hooked up the charger and decided a cold drink was in order.

When I returned to the charge point. Someone was obviously struggling with the process.

I asked if they were ok and the couple admitted they had never charged an electric car before. They had actually just picked it up from the dealership and were driving to Scotland that day.

The car was a 2018 Audi e-Tron . I'm not sure of the range on these but Google said about 207 miles. I gave them my time. I was doing nothing else.

I explained the best way to get charging apps, what to avoid and how to plan their journeys. They were so grateful for the information. It made me wonder what the sales exec told them, if anything.

They bought it because of the price and from an independent dealer.

I didn't have the heart to tell them good luck when it goes wrong.

My car charged on about 25 minutes so I headed off to the M1. Which from Worksop is a fair drive to get to

I knew the dealership I was delivering to stayed open until 19.00 now so I had plenty of time.

I got to Aylesbury at 18.35 . Handed the car over and walked the mile home. Still in the sunshine that's obviously not going to end soon.

A few months now of beautiful weather

Life is still good 😊