Happiness is a Warm Daihatsu

“Over hill, over dale, through bush, through brier,
Over park, over pale, through flood, through fire.”

Well maybe not through fire, but I’ve done most of the rest in my trusty Daihatsu. My favourite car of the moment and fortunately one easier to drive than it is to spell.

I give you the Daihatsu Copen. It’s sporty, funky, cute, almost cuddly and it’s red. Bright red and I do love a nice red car. It’s got alloy wheels, rear spoiler, and a fantastic hard top which opens up to let the wind blow through your hair as you cruise along Sauchiehall Street of a morning. And the best part is that I got to sit in one once.

OK, so I don’t actually own one myself. The budget won’t quite stretch that far (although for a sports car they are surprisingly cheap) and it wouldn’t last long parked in Glasgow City Centre (this makes me feel a bit better). What I do have is a Daihatsu Charade. A small nippy “city” car in silver (not grey apparently) and no less enigmatic than the Copen. The Charade and I have an understanding. As we tear up the countryside (responsibly of course) plotting world domination together, she pretends that she’s the funky Copen and I don’t disabuse her of this notion.

However back to Sports Cars. Owning one myself is of course a dream but there is something really special about having a sports car. To me it speaks of freedom, unfettered by the world and by responsibility. To be free to do what you want any old time. To spend the day cruising with the roof down and the radio on, just because you can.

Which is why it was with some dismay that I heard of the imminent departure of such a sports car from the family of G. The decision was taken on the discovery that baby number two was on the way and it was decided that a sports car was no longer practical. While I have every respect for them for holding out until baby number two, it’s an indication of a little bit of freedom lost and a little bit of settled down life gained.

Where will the sports car go? To a single girl like me, but one who has a bit more money to spend? And what will replace it? A sturdy practical family car ideal for shopping and school runs, while the sports car heads off into the sunset and life gets a little bit more settled down.

Sometimes I have moments of yearning for the settled down life myself, but tonight its back to the Copen/Charade, windows down (unless it’s raining) volume up and we hit the road to freedom.