7th March 25 Chesterfield

Yesterday was a sort of day off. But helping move my daughter into a new apartment in Southall, West London.

Today was a straightforward train from Aylesbury to Chesterfield. Well as straightforward as you can from Aylesbury. You need to change a few times. First train is the very short journey to Princess Risborough to change platforms to get Oxford bound. Then from Oxford Station to Birmingham New Street. Before I caught the train to Sheffield. Getting off a stop before at Chesterfield

It's a short 15 minutes walk to the dealership to collect a sold, 73 plate Ford Kuga.

The Ford Kuga is one of those cars I just don't see the necessity for now. Back when they were available with a strong 2.0 litre diesel engine and mated to a manual gearbox and four wheel drive. You could at least fit a towbar and pull a small trailer or caravan. Not that I ever would. Now your choice is a 1.5 four cylinder petrol or a Hybrid. I just don't get an SUV with a small engine. Don't care what BHP it has. Torque pulls. Not BHP.

Don't get me wrong, the car drives well enough and the 1.5 with a turbo does get the car moving quickly enough but it does no more than that really. It's not a seven seater or an off road car. It doesn't have the quality or tech of a German brand. And it really doesn't go round corners well. It's no better at that the the Vauxhall Mokka and that drives like a 60s milk float in EV versions.

There is a particular roundabout in Milton Keynes I use frequently. It has a really poor surface, just at the point you need grip. It actually shakes the Vauxhall off its line and it shudders and hops, really making you feel the car is falling apart and off the road. At the same time. Quite an achievement. Then there's the steering, which doesn't tell you anything about how the car changes direction just starts to bounce between lock. It's a horrible experience and not much better in the Ford. The automatic gearbox in both is never in the correct gear to accelerate into the next part of dual carriageway. Both cars kicking down either not enough or too many gears. Leaving the car screaming it's engine to the red line as these small engined SUV's are all guilty of..

The front of house staff at Perry's Chesterfield are always friendly, helpful and best of all. Don't look at you with the same disgust because you're "only a driver" quite the opposite. Note to Perry's Chesterfield: Start a receptionist or front of house training course. Pretty much all the other places I visit. Need you.

So the Kuga collected, appraised which is emailed directly to the sales manager at the customer. I drove the short distance to the filling station just before joining the M1 southbound.

I'm sure you don't need telling that always spend a bit of time researching fuel stations before setting off. Getting stung if you need fuel on the M1 is a sure way over the month to eat profits

Car drove as it should down the M1 doing nothing to excite or really disappoint . Apart from the roundabout in Milton Keynes.

Arrived safely in Aylesbury dropped off the car after the final appraisal. And walked that relaxing 20 minutes home. This part is quite important. Let me explain.

Driving, possibly at my age. Means 100% concentration. More so on today's roads I guess. This produces adrenaline which if you don't get rid of, by a short walk or some exercise, you can suffer from various symptoms and causes stress, anxiety and your blood pressure can suffer. Sometimes after a long journey at getting straight home. I found myself literally vibrating with the adrenaline. Listen to your body.

Another day done.