cheltonianmotoring


Number one: howpractical it is.


This is, before all else, a practical five door family hatchback. It has a big boot, the seats fold, and it’s not massive tomaneuver. The parking sensors and cameramake parking a doddle, and access isn’t an issue - no complex gymnastics needed to get in, although the drivers bucket seat can bump you in the back a little while trying to avoid the steering wheel getting in. Price:Okay, you can buy a new


Focus in base spec for less than £18k, but ideally you’dwant at least the ST- line spec, andwith a fewbells and whistles, thatwill set you back around £25k and get you a 1.0EcoBoost engine. For an extra £7k (that sounded less inmy head) you get so muchmore power, somuchmore noise and somuchmore fun. You also get a lotmore fuel


consumption. This thing is thirsty. Seriously thirsty. Thatmonstrous power unit up front and drive going to all fourwheelswill hit yourwallet. Hard. Plus, the insurance and tax aren’t going to be that friendly, but if youwant performance and insane acceleration, but also need to be able to cart the family around and do a ‘big supermarket shop’ every now and again, thiswill let you do all of thosewithout having to buy two cars. So, to sumup: this is a proper fire-


breathing, snarling beast of a car. The noise fromthe exhaust is


exhilarating, and itmakes an awesome cracklewhen you let off the throttle after hard acceleration. The four-wheel drive systemwill keep you safe, the air bagswill look after you if you give it toomuch but you’ll be able to go shopping and sell stuff at a car boot sale in it too. Which is just aswell, because you’ll


need all the petrolmoney you can muster.


CatchmoreofToby at www.cartestdummy.co.ukor followhimonTwitter@tobyaiken


THECHELTONIAN SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2018 49


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