Michael Sheridan - The age of the monster truck

As a result of a roo-strike I’ve found myself urgently in need of a new car.  I’ve done a lot more research than I’m willing to tell my wife, suffice to say I’ve found the Chinese-made electric vehicle that I’m going to replace the broken electric vehicle with. 

Now it’s time for my wife to have her opinion.  She has done no research and I’m not trying to share mine because she is not going to pay any attention any how.

“I think it’s safer if you get a Toyota this time.”

“Okay”, I say,” but they don’t have anything electric in the size I need.  There are other brands.”

“You had too much trouble with the last electric car.”

“That was only because it was a Mitsubishi and that dealer didn’t have enough EV mechanics.  There are other brands now.  Can I tell you about them?”

“Just ask Toyota first.”

Later, at Toyota.  “I need a bull bar. And the smallest car you can attach it to.”

They quiz me on the backstory and I walk out with an order for a diesel Hilux.  Mostly, because it’s the only workable thing they have in stock. 

This car is nothing like I had in mind and never came up in my research, because it isn’t electric and suits my wife’s criteria for me, but is not aligned with my progressive environmental ideology.   So I do some research.  The Hilux has a reputation for reliability and easy maintenance, which, apparently, means I’ve just bought the vehicle of choice for non-state militias.  And I’d thought domestic terrorists drove the Ford “danger” ranger.