Getting confused about cars

I thought it was about time I started seriously looking for a new car, after searching on the internet for several weeks. I have been putting it off because I haven't yet received the cheque from the insurance company, and I don't relish the idea of traipsing round the dealer showrooms and getting pounced on by some over zealous salesman.

I gathered the bits I needed, street map, bus timetable, copy of Auto Weekly, sandwiches, banana, and drink, and walked the 3.4 miles to Winterton to catch the bus to Hull. I marked down four places to visit.

It was a twenty minute walk once I got off the bus, to the first one. I looked down as I walked over the flyover, and saw this shower cubicle dumped on the grass verge. Pity I am not driving, I would pick that up, I could make a cold frame with it, ha ha.

I had my eye on a black Ford Focus diesel estate, at Quicks, it looks good on the web site. No pushy salesmen thank goodness, but a nice helpfull young lady. The car had an 08 plate, 40,000 on the clock, and it was a good price. I was a bit disappointed when I saw it though, it has been a fleet car and it looks as if every man and his dog has driven it. Hmmm, I will have to think about that, I know they will tidy up all the little scrapes, but it has done quite a lot of miles for a car of that age, but I suppose that is reflected in the price.

I made a note of two other possibles while I was there, an Astra and a Peugeot, both estates, I have to have an estate for all the stuff I carry in the back.

On the way to the next one I went over Drypool Bridge spanning the River Hull. It was opened in 1961. It is a similar design to the one at Gunness not far from here, the big tank is filled up with water, and the weight of it lifts the bridge. This one is fixed and doesn't open any more.

I found this small picture of it opened.

Looking out towards the sea you can see the tidal barrier at the mouth of the river. I think I have posted a photo of it before, when I visited The Deep.

Anyway, onward and upward, more cars to look at, and the more I looked the more confused I got. Such a lot to take into consideration, now that the fuel has gone up. Should I stick to diesel or change to petrol? Then there's the emissions to think about, and the engine size, and how much to tax and insure.

I think I'll narrow it down a bit and do some more checking, give my insurance broker a ring, and check on taxdisc.direct.gov.uk to see which ones are the cheapest road tax.

When I got off the bus to walk the 3.4 miles home it was dark, and with no footpaths and no street lights it is a very dark country road. I was prepared though as I took a couple of yellow flourescent vests with me, one to put on and one to cover my back pack. I also had two red bicycle lights, one flashing and one not, one for my back and one for my front. So far so good, hopefully people can see me.

I thought it best not to rely on drivers moving out to overtake me, so everytime a car approached on my side, I jumped onto the grass verge, not easy with headlights blinding me. It wasn't much fun dicing with death, I dont think I will be doing that again.