[Zig]

Those of you with even sadder lives than mine might remember vaguely that I've had a 1995 Toyota Rav 4.1 since 1999.
I traded it in for something that should also give me reliable performance for the next eon or so, a Subaru Forester 2-litre diesel, given the attempted brochure look below.
I used the 21mm, handheld, late afternoon on Friday in overcast conditions. The colour is sage-green but seems to reflect the sky as per the sea.

[NT73]

Shock horror! Leaving a new car in a muddy gravel verge, and not a pristine showroom.

I like the treatment that you have done. I hope the car gives you as much pleasure as your cameras and musical instruments.

[Zig]

Thank you NT and seasonal best to you and family. Am cacking it a bit, I confess, as it's the 1st car I've ever bought as new(not that I could have done that without my mum's generosity). It was a close thing between this and Skoda's Yeti...but Skoda's used prices are actually monstrously above new prices, whereas Subaru were able to cut me some slack.

[Don Schaeffer]

Beautiful and thoughtful photo

[NT73]

I used to get new company cars annually or bi-annually, but they depreciate terribly in hte first 12 months, so when I retired I bought a 4 year old astra in good nick at around a quarter of the new price. I get it serviced once a year at a Vauxhall dealer and touch wood, apart from tyres and a silencer thats been it for 7 years.

Anyway a new car is an event, as you are discovering. Strange new smells and pristine paintwork. Many happy miles.

[Toad]

Excellent portrait of the new steed. Happy trails to you.

[Zig]

Many thanks boys.

[EnglishBob]

Can't go wrong with a Subaru (And that's com9ng from someone who worked for Honda for 8 years!). Will serve you well.

Cars are a bit of an illness of mine, caught the disease when i moved to teh USA and started working at the Honda Store.... been in the US for 11 years, bought 13 cars... the shortest i have owned a new car is 1 year exactly.

Currently have a 3 month old Honda Pilot... because all childless couples need an 8 seater SUV.

[Zig]

Hey Craig, good to see you again!
Man, those Honda engines though..remarkably impressive. I had looked at something like their CRV/HRV at one time, and my mate swears by Honda for both car and bikes(and give me Honda or Kawasaki for brush clearance too).
It beats me why Subaru haven't made the Forester boxer diesel available for you boys stateside, as I hear there'd be quite a demand for them..?
Ah..just twigged your last line ...thing is mate, it's like sheds: you can never have one too big and it always gets filled
One of the key selling-points(apart from getting a strimmer in the back without troubling the front seats) was that duvet, pillows, stove and camera gear go straight in with the one-touch-flat seats. Heaven.

[matthew]

A very neat shot, Zig, and it's interesting to see the car thinking about the horizon to come instead of making eye contact with the camera. It's almost a candid, but one that's full of potential.

[Zig]

I wanted the "driving into the future" feel; gawsh, you say all the right things Matt.