toffee

After a work meeting in Boronia I drive the extra couple of kilometres to Ferntree Gully. On the seat beside me is a purchase contract for a new car. Weeks of discussion, mostly internal, brings me to the inevitable: Boyle’s Law of Gases. It applies equally to so-called lifestyle, which expands to fill the container of one’s income.  

This is my last chance to purchase a vehicle; insufficient retirement income will preclude future transaction.

Petrolheads identify themselves with Holden or Ford. As an anti-petrolhead I don’t identify with cars. But I am brand-loyal: it’s Honda or Volkswagen for me. I had five Honda motorbikes, love my little Honda Jazz; only the Volkswagen Caddy tempts me to consider anything else.

The Caddy is a strange vehicle: commercial small van without seats, people mover with seats, five or seven. It’s tall enough in the back to step into and long enough—with rear seats removed—for bikes without need to remove wheels or pedals.

Five years ago when I buy the Jazz I draw columns and boxes on a sheet of A4 to compare the Jazz and five other small hatchbacks for pros and cons, fuel consumption, prices. The Honda wins as I hope and expect. No need for comparisons this time. The Caddy has commercial but no people-moving equivalent. Less expensive, less practical cars are possible, but I want German know-how.

I prefer manuals to automatics but consider the auto this time. My good woman learned to drive a  manual in Serbia but has not driven one for 20 years. She will be my co-driver on long trips—if I get an automatic. I decide to stay manual.

I ask a few people what colour car? My good woman likes Salsa Red. I fancy Primavera Green. I look at car colours when walking the JRT or hunting lunch in Collingwood. The Primavera is dismissed in favour of the darker Venetian Green. Candy White, Reflex Silver and Blackberry are available for delivery in ten days. For other colours the wait is 12 to 14 weeks.

At the dealer’s desk, pen in hand, I opt for Toffee Brown. My good woman approves.

So I must wait for three months while the factory produces one Toffee Brown manual Caddy Trendline TDI250 for me. I like the idea of a car being made especially for me. The only better thing would be a top-end bicycle.

     

Rock on.