I still think this is some kind of metaphorical story. you will have to scroll down to previous posts to get the gist of it.
The garage in Jersey that was the agent for Captiva spilled petrol on the fire yesterday. We had asked them how much we could get as a part exchange for our Captiva against a new model such as a RAV 4 hybrid, or a Lexus Hybrid. we had arranged to meet with their salesman at 10 am yesterday to be talked through the cars to make a decision.
No salesman, he was in England on a jolly. No call either to say sorry, can't do the appointment. So we had gone, and not been met with any welcome, or hello prospective buyer carpet.
We spent 45 minutes looking at the cars, and comparing stats, and taking the brochures.
We then had a call at about 2pm, to say the garage were not prepared to give us a test drive of a car we could not afford. How much could we afford, and how would we be paying for a new car.
On top of abysmal aftercare, we now have to deal with a crass sales team.
In the meantime we have out on trial a Mitsubishi PHEV which we are very taken with, and the garage has said as long as The Chevy dealer can get the wheels back on ours they will give us a great exchange, sort out the problems with the Chevy, and we can be on the road with a new Toyota which is perfect for Jersey, or London driving, and deliver on our driveway on Saturday. (Its Wednesday).
We can't have it tomorrow because they want to put the paint protector on it before we get it.
This is the Nigel Mansell Garage and Museum in Jersey with an incredible, 'can do' ethic.
This is a bit how I feel the EU has become, and why so many Brits decided to leave. Would you want to buy a car from the dealer, who should be looking after your interests, and have been abysmal in dealership, aftercare, and sales, or from someone else who will take a hedge on how much money they will make from the deal.
Certainly if nothing else, our relief at being given this alternative deal has delighted me. It's a win win amount. More than we were offered, less the hassle.
We were test driving today, and if nothing else the car was quiet, didn't roll, and still had battery left when we handed it back. We have an economy seven tarriff so a full charge will cost us about .77p which in Jersey will cover about 25 miles with some canny driving.
Also I did have a holier than thou moment sitting in traffic with the window open and smelling all the exhast fumes from other cars. I think knowing we are protecting our Island as well with this new purchase puts it up there for the hitting the local emmisions target.
We might also be getting tidal power very shortly, so happy days, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is certainly for the next few years a great solution in my opinion. I will update on the reality of owning one.
It won't perform much better than the chev on our Motorway driving in France, which is minimal for us. However in the village, and on short journeys or in traffic, which is the majority of our driving, it should outperform anything in the SUV category with ease as far as eco savings and emmisions are concerned.
It is a car made for Jersey, or any other short distance, heavy traffic area. It has all the feel of our chev captiva, just a massive change in eco emissions and economy, considering our top speed limit in only 10 % of the island roads is 40mph. Mostly 30mph, some 20mph, and Green lanes of 15mph.
(If you are after the racy side of Jersey check out the Boulley Bay Hill Climb, it needs to be on Top Gear! Forget the Stig!) However we are a haven for classic and vintage cars who love to come here.
In a couple of years the Alderney race will be populated with underwater turbines. The generating capacity is huge. At the moment the turbines are being made in Cherbourg, and the idea is to put the energy into the UK grid with a new cable, and also into the French grid with new cables. This ought to offset some of the UK's forcast for renewable energy.
Perhaps a little negotiation about a spare cable might be in order. We don't have to supply the French?
Let's 'sea' what little ships come sailing in once we have stabilised our UK government and stopped them being so pessimistic. The thing is, much as the Brits think small at times, Generally they have a very canny sense of what is going to work out well.
Most European countries do not have the sea on their doorstep. Britain does, and if the new array in Alderney works well, you can imagine every tidal area in the Uk will be a powerhouse. And it is not going to be expensive technology once it is rolled out.
Those who can generate renewable energy in the next 30 years are going to be able to negotiate what they like. There is a lot of potential areas this technology will be able to work. Around the British coast it will provide a near seamless stream of electricity.
RSS Feed