It's that time of year again where my Volvo needs MOT and tax, and thanks to a battery that doesn't hold a charge and brakes and suspension that are both kaput, it's going to cost a significant amount of money to keep it on the road for another year. Combined with the poor fuel consumption and the fact I don't really need a car that big anymore, I made the decision to get something else. The short of the long is I've just ordered one of these!
It's a Toyota iQ which is a total departure from the Volvo in most ways, but importantly for me not the build quality or front passenger space. The iQ is the worlds smallest 4 seat car although in reality, it's really a 3+1. However, the space in the front is just about the same as the Volvo and in fact it feels much more airy. It's powered by a little baby 1.0 litre three cylinder engine producing a modest 67hp, but because the car weighs only a little over 800kg it's got enough poke for getting around town, which is the kind of driving I will normally be doing with it. That said, it also cruises along the motorway at 80mph very comfortably and quietly like a much larger car would.
The biggest selling points for me were the three year warranty, cheap yearly servicing, dirt cheap insurance, no MOTs to worry about and no tax to pay for whatsoever! The emissions are 99 somethings which means it's one of the first (if not the first) petrol car to be clean enough to pay no tax. And did I mention the fuel economy? 65mpg or over 450 miles from £30 of fuel. In the real world it's likely to be nearer 50mpg but even so, that's nearly three times better than what the Volvo has been delivering recently. I may end up buying petrol once every two months - fantastic! All this leaves me with more time and money to enjoy the Caterham. The iQ will practically look after itself.
Also worth a mention is Octagon Toyota in Reading. The sales process has been very smooth so far and it was a refreshing surprise when the sales guy handed me the keys to the demonstrator and said "take as long as you need, have fun!". Definitely the way to sell cars.
I was looking forward to a fond farewell to the Volvo but it decided to fight me every step of the way. I had to jump start it to maneuver it onto the drive to remove some of the sell-able items, then jump start it again when it was time to leave it with the dealer. I've taken advantage of the scrappage scheme so the Volvo has netted me £2000 off the iQ which is great considering I wouldn't expect to get £400 selling it privately without MOT or tax. It's been a great 3 years with the car, putting up with towing various cars and a general lack of servicing. I'd definitely buy another Volvo in the future.
So now I have a very long 10 week wait while my iQ is put together and shipped from Japan. I know it's a bit of a Marmite car but personally I love the distinctive looks and it's everything I need from a daily driver at the moment. In the meantime while I wait, I'll just have to use the Caterham a bit more. What a shame...