What is it with Merc drivers?
I love those cars and have fleetingly flirted with buying one but the salesmen seemed so damned disinterested I ended up keeping my Beemer. Now I could kiss that guy for never bothering to send me a final quote on the car I liked.
I have a fabulous short drive to work: speed down the hill from Tamboerskloof to the office, 15 minutes tops – unless I find myself trapped behind a Merc.
For some obscure reason no matter how flashy the car, how powerful the engine or how young or old the driver they all seem to pitter along at a ridiculous pace with both hands firmly in the 10-to-2 position on the steering wheel.
Aaargh! I want to scream, ‘‘Use that power, for heaven’s sake!’’ Why buy a car that has the ability to move at a good pace if you don’t drive it properly?
The best part of driving a BMW is you can change lanes in a flash, drive right up the backside of someone slower in front of you and push him into another lane (unless it’s a Merc driver, of course). You can accelerate fast and get yourself out of irritating or dangerous situations in a second and zoom along the freeway at a fantastic pace, leaving all those other plodding cars behind you.
If I want to take the gap to cross a busy road or change lanes if I see a BMW in sight I just won’t do it – that car is going to cross that distance in seconds! If it’s a Merc, on the other hand, I know I can take my sweet time because it’s going to come chundering along at a snail’s pace.
A relative recently acquired a new Merc. I looked at its lovely lines with a smidge of envy, then asked him how it compares to his previous drives. And his answer said it all: ‘‘It’s a car for a sedate, comfortable drive and it will last for years.’’ Well, I’m not there yet – and maybe I never will be. Bring on my little Beemer!
From the 7th floor:
Last week we were onto the scoop story published by well known Hollywood author Ian Halperin on what really goes on in the Jolie/Pitt relationship!
But working with America to clear rights and negotiate a final deal is always frustrating – the time difference!
LA wakes up only at 9 pm our time and they never seem to feel the same urgency we do about signing and sealing a deal in a day. So we had to hold over the four-page spread for this week - but it was worth it.
Details brought to you by someone who has inveigled his way into the inner Hollywood circle and has fascinating insight into the real facts behind the hundreds of stories that fly around Tinseltown’s hottest couple.
On a lighter note my colleague Elmari strode past me in the most beautiful pair of Prada shoes I have EVER seen!!! And I mean ever – and I’m a serious shoe fanatic. See, that’s why we work in an office - so we can share mutual admiration of pretty things!