It’s the old adage that school days are the best days of your life. Personally I didn’t mind school too much, but they certainly weren’t my best days. That said my current working life isn’t making up my best days either. The term living for the weekend (and the odd bit of car reviewing) has never been more relevant. My first taste of work was whilst I was still at school and gave me a chilling insight into the world of catering. If it hadn’t been for my school-enforced work experience at a cheap new Ford dealership shortly afterwards, I think the dole would’ve been my choice of working future.
So to my first job then. I went to an open day at a large airport that was nearby where they were recruiting for staff to work at one of their restaurants. I explained that I didn’t have any contagious diseases and was able to speak to customers in a coherent manner and snapped up the job. Then followed a two day induction course that explained the different ways of putting out kitchen fires (something I wish I’d paid attention to years later when I set fire to my kitchen at University), the importance of working for such a large organisation and the security procedures due to the close proximity to the departure lounge and baggage areas.
Imagine my surprise then when I was taken to the ‘restaurant’ I was to work at. It wasn’t airside by the planes that fascinated me but at a crummy burger bar next to the coffee shop. In the three weeks I lasted, I served a grand total of three burgers and stood watching happy holiday-makers jet off the rest of the time. School suddenly seemed like a far better option so I figured I’d make the most of it and pack in working at the weekends.
However work experience was de rigueur at my school so when the time came, I went for a week to a local cheap new Ford dealership and loved it. After a day or two in the garage I graduated to wandering the forecourt shadowing a salesman. I even got to change the prices on the cars, although dropping the price on a Mondeo by £1,000 just as a couple were agreeing to the original price wasn’t my crowning glory. I always remember the coupe Ford made at that time though – the Cougar.
It was the very first car to be designed with Ford’s ‘New Edge’ styling and was a sexy blend of triangles and sharp lines that looked amazingly futuristic. The car itself I’ve never driven but due to the lack of them on our roads and the short time Ford made it, I’m guessing the Cougar wasn’t the best. This week however, I was asked to drive the new Cougar, mis-spelt Kuga on my documentation and the joy of when I first saw the original returned stronger than ever.
Turns out it wasn’t a misprint and Kuga is the name of the latest Ford. Even worse, it’s not a coupe but a 4×4, oh dear. You see I have no desire to own a large off-roader which clouds my judgement somewhat and secondly, Ford aren’t steeped in the tradition of producing good 4×4’s. Always happy to the have my misconceptions changed I had a look.
Ford has not been at the 4×4 party for some time and with good reason. They’ve been off looking at what other European car makers are doing, making lots of notes and in producing the Kuga, may have just beaten them all. For a start, the styling is simply beautiful. In an aggressive, look-at-me-the-wrong-way-and-I’ll-break-your-nose way. The side is BMW X5; the side vents Land Rover, rear - VW Touareg and the front a Ford original. It all comes together and makes the SUV unique despite its plagiarism.
Currently the Kuga is only available with a 2.0 litre, 136bhp diesel engine which is more than able. It’ll return 44.1mpg to be precise and propel you to 60mph in 10.7 seconds. The overall build quality is in-line with the current Mondeo and Focus which means that upon closing one of the huge doors, you’ll be met with a very German quality clunk.
Prices start at £20,500 rising to £22,500 for the top of the range specification, a cheap new Ford SUV I’m sure you’ll agree. Compared to its European rivals the Kuga is not only cheaper, but stacks up extremely well in all aspects of driving. Land Rover still rule the roost when it comes to actually going off road but the likelihood of SUV owners going off the tarmac is the same percentage chance of me returning to the airport burger bar.
The Kuga may have arrived to the party late, but it’s the belle of the ball.
About the author of this article:
mark creese recounts tales of his school days before ending up at a ford dealer. he has recently been reviewing the new kuga which can be found at ford deals direct
