Just got back and drove our car after the rental, felt like a sports car, steering feel, brake feel handling, power delivery etc, it's a bloody Ford Galaxy and it felt like a revelation after the Dodge Caravan.


I was expecting it to feel weedy with its 140 bhp vs 280 odd but it actually feels more sprightly. I thought I was losing my touch in the mountains, not battering it as fully laden but I felt nervous, the car didn't feel planted, no feedback, ponderous, no driving enjoyment but fairly comfy, not any better than the Ford though, am trying to be objective here and rule out familiarity and the fact I paid for the Galaxy even though it is purely a necessity.

The dodge had a bit more space, the auto was good in town but it did about 25 mpg vs 40 plus, don't think the V6 coupled with the auto is a good combination vs a manual diesel, would be interested to see how an American would get on with the Galaxy or other Euro honed car in comparison, wouldn't even say the Dodge was better for long distance work, found the lack of feedback wearing.

Imperial, I used an online calculator to adjust as it seemed horrendous until I twigged, to be fair, it isnt that bad on fuel and given the cost over there, not that horrendous to run, the engine was plenty powerful enough and given utter death from a standstill, fairly brisk but the accessibility of the power from the diesel lump with the manual box is much better, I guess it is manual vs auto and the fact the diesel has more torque, think the US needs to go diesel for cars like this as they make more sense. The Dodge is around quarter of a tonne heavier than the Ford.

The auto box on my xj8 is very good and thats 14 years old! The only other auto ive owned was a vectra cd and that was garbage! To be fair ive been in more good ones than bad ones! The small irritation is that you plant your foot and theres a slight delay but i can live with that, probably the same time it would take me to clutch in, drop down a gear and let rip in a manual!

My company car options this time are ford having moved on from Chrysler. The lowest option is the Taurus with most options including leather and satellite radio but only 2wd. We give these out to the new hires and to be fair they are a good car. The big down side is that they are a reverse Tardis. They are the same size as my 300 on the outside but feel cramped inside. They aren't but they feel it. The next level is the Edge with Eco boost. It's a crossover and again is decent. I think Ford have jumped forward in terms of quality since the days all the US car firms were going bankrupt. I do think iris partially because of the European influence. The Eco boost is 2L I4 turbo and the feedback from my reports is that it is better than the previous V6. The next option is Edge with AWD and the V6. The next level is the AWD Flex. My colleagues love it. I hate it. I think it is based on a pimped hearse. For us it comes with gadgets and crap which are always popular. The next level is the Explorer. But, this also comes 2WD and with the 2l engine. I'm going to have one but am worried the engine will not be enough.

We moved from Chrysler because they were making the stereotypical Anerican car. Meaning that the quality had gone down hill at the time of the melt down. Ford seemed to step up and start making good cars. Now, of you sit in a previous generation Taurus you will experience everything that Clarkson ever said about US cars. Now even Chrysler have improved dramatically.

Having said all that I am still holding on to the 300 because for what I need it's great. I do 30k motorway miles. I don't need cornering I need a surge of power to pass slower cars and comfortable seats. For me this car is perfect and has amazing luggage space. We are always amazed how much baby crap we can take with us.

I think you have to remember that traditional US cars were made for a population where Quantity = quality. Meaning that having AC with crap switch gear is better than a beatiful winding window. I think that the US is getting better and I think Europe moving to meet them somewhere in between. I remember my dad paying over 20k for a Volvo in the UK without AC. Now you expect it in a 10k Eco box in a country that barely gets warm. Times change and do have US cars.

This week, I paid extra to Budget so I could have a Crown Vic when I visit.

Both the dodge caravan and Crown Vic are from the previous generation of cars. Both are being discontinued.

When I rent I go for an SUV. The bigger the better. I had a GMC Arcadia last time which was entertaining for the 2 of us. If you are not renting for amusement value then a Jeep Cherokee is good all round car. You can also rent a suitible car for the environment. Here are some examples i have done Jeep Wrangler for Hawaii and a Mitsubishi Eclipse for the Pacific coast highway. Mustang convertible for Vegas.

I always do the same. Had an Acadia a few years ago - boy they're wide - but it was strangely basic. Was bit miffed that I was almost in a Buick Enclave as they didn't have anything else suitable but an Acadia came in as the guy was walking to get the Enclave.

I was spoilt last year by Hertz giving me an Escalade. This year a less friendly agent gave me exactly the car I'd booked, a Chevy Equinox, which is the same as the Chevy/Daewoo Captiva / Vx Antara over here, but it had a 3L V6 and the Hertz hire ones (at least the one I got, which was from out-of-state) had leather, reverse camera etc. It even had remote start. For just cruising (you can't really do much else in most of the US) around, it was absolutely ideal.

I have the latest ZF 8 speeder in my 5 series, its OK but can get caught out and leave you in limbo especially when approaching junctions at low speeds and attempting to nip out into traffic.

It also seems to have moods, often it's quick witted and snaps through the gears other times it goes to sleep and hesitates.

So how many bored county cops with a speed gun sit on those roads?