I could’ve excused the Meriva if this was a tired example, but it wasn’t: it was six years old at the time, but the mileage was low and its condition was immaculate. It says a lot about it that the customer’s trade-in – a knackered Rover 25 diesel – felt infinitely more pleasant to drive.
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Shane Wilkinson and the shocking…
Willys Jeep
When the opportunity arose to test some of the finest and fastest cars in the world on a hilly, alpine-style test track, I naturally made a beeline for this eighty-something year old war machine. While others set off in safety and comfort, I sat myself directly above the Jeep’s fuel tank and fired up this roofless, doorless, seatbeltless relic. Joined by my equally-brave colleague, Yousuf Ashraf, we then set off into the unknown.
About twenty seconds into the journey I had an even greater level of respect for anyone who had driven a Willys Jeep during the war. The suspension was nothing short of brutal; even a tiny pebble in the road would cause the Jeep to jolt so hard that I’d headbutt my own knees. My feet were also nearly at eye level thanks to the laughable driving position, and the steering was little more than a guessing game. Above all that, though, were the brakes…
As we headed down the first hill of the test track, I noticed that a sharp bend awaited us at the bottom. I pressed the middle pedal and soon realised that the drum brakes offered the same stopping-power of a freshly baked sponge cake. As we hurtled towards the corner at an unknown speed – the speedometer being broken – I watched my life flash before my eyes, turned the wheel and let fate decide the outcome.
Thankfully, after desperately trying to prevent both Yousuf and myself from being ejected, we made it round the bend – with a lot of protest from the rear tyres – eventually arriving on the other side in a state of delirium. The Willys Jeep is both terrifying and hilarious in equal measure and I hope I get to drive one again soon.
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