Financial advisor Ian Jones feels the wind in his hair while driving the Vauxhall Astra TwinTop
Tell us who you are and what you doI'm a director of The Financial Practice, an independent financial advice consultancy based in Maldon.
Do you drive much nowadays?I enjoy driving very much, but there's too much traffic on our roads these days. I do about 12,000 miles a year, but mainly for personal reasons. I'm a Leyton Orient FC supporter and I go to football matches in my time off.
What cars have you owned and what is your dream car?My first was a blue Ford Anglia 105E. But it was a lot better than my second car, which was a Hillman Imp. It was rear-engined and used to go straight on when the roads were slippery. I remember being pulled out of a ditch by a farmer's tractor when it was snowing only to be hauled out again 100 yards down the road by the same farmer. I've also owned an MG-F and a Porsche 944, which were fun, and also a black Daimler Sovereign which I discovered had belonged to Lord McAlpine. A lovely car but very expensive to run. At the moment I have a Hyundai Santa Fe, which is solid and practical. I like to drive nice cars and take an interest in quality marques. My dream car is an Aston Martin DBS. I love its lines, its sleekness and the whole image.
How would the Astra TwinTop suit your lifestyle?I am impressed by the price and the specification of the Astra and I might consider this as a second car if I were looking for one. My wife would really love it. It's got all the 'bells and whistles' I want including climate control, a Sport button, automatic indicators and cruise control. I like the instruments and was pleasantly surprised by the upmarket feel of the interior, especially the centre console which looks smart.
How does the Astra drive?It certainly has plenty of power under the throttle pedal and it holds the road very well on these country roads. It has good road holding and very responsive steering, which I like, and reminds me very much of a sports car. In short, a fun car to drive.
