Goodbye MNZ1221, hello new Astra

Four months ago we decided to change our Passat, and decided to go for a Kia Sportage. This jeep had all the good features of this type of car, but came at a significantly reduced price tag. We went to Roadside Garages, our local Kia dealer in Coleraine. After talking to their salesman we decided to go for a 2005 Sportage. 

After the deal was done we were very satisfied with our new car, well, all apart from the 25-30 MPG, but I suppose that was to be expected.

However about 4 weeks ago the car began to exhibit a fatal fault - every so often it would loose power and stop, but then after about 2 minutes would start and drive as normal. Obviously this was a great concern for our safety, so we contacted the dealer to get it fixed. Well, to cut a long story short the car seemed to have quite a chequered past and after disputes, solicitors, rumours, lies and the occasional fact we managed to strike a deal where they gave us an upgrade to a 2007 Vauxhall Astra.

We picked it up today from the garage. It seems like a very nice, solid car, and hopefully should give us a good length of trouble free motoring. I has only 8000 miles on the clock, which is less than anything we've had before. I think this is a record for the shortest time we have kept a car, but now I have another number plate to remember. Pity, MNZ 1221 was quite easy, even for a "fish brain" like mine!