I went to work last night, and my colleague / friend, instead of congratulating me on the new motor and saying " health to drive", says " You didn't buy another f*ckin Marina, did you?" , with that world-weary "you total prat, what have you done" tone.
Plus his missus had been slinging piano jokes at me on facebook earlier.
I was ready for him though : " I did and I won't be drawn on it"
"Why?" he says.
" Cos you're just gonna be a dick about it"
Stunned silence.
Then later he overhears me talking about it to another workmate, describing the slot mags. " probably the nicest thing on it." he says, all-knowing.
The other guy says " I think its a lovely-looking car". Fair play.
Now the really annoying part about these conversations is that if you take the bait and patiently explain what we here all know - that the Marina was actually no worse than most other British cars at the time etc etc, they inevitably go " You can't take a joke" and win anyway.
He's just bought a big old butt-ugly merc. Did I say "You look like some old fat twat on the way to the golf club in that overpriced tank", because that's what I thought? No. I said " Congratulations, health to drive".
Because I have manners.
And because my knowledge of cars, and Marinas in particular comes from first hand experience, not from Top Gear.
Rant over.
The car arrives today, YIPPEEEE!!!
