Perception and reality

You know I've had my fair share of car issues.

Well Dave has just picked up his new car - a Freelander. And I love it.

I know it's environmentally irresponsible, I know it's bigger than we need but actually, that's where I'm wrong. Well environmentally maybe it is a bit naughty, but from a size perspective it's tiny.

Yes it's tall and yes it looks big but, open the boot and ... it's tiny. If we go away for the weekend or on a driving holiday anywhere then the Mondeo will win everytime.

But it just goes to show that perception has nothing to do with reality. Stowable luggage for the Mondeo is 528 litres, for the Freelander is 755 litres.

So why does the Freelander seem so small? I think it's because the volume of luggage measured in the Freelander includes space up to the roof. In reality one is unlikely to use all of this space. There's nothing to stop items moving forward into the passenger area so luggage is likely to be stacked to head restraint height and no higher.

With the Mondeo, on the other hand, one has a boot that one can stuff and stuff and stuff and the luggage will easily use all of the available space plus there's the squish factor. The hatchback boot lands on top of the luggage and will push down what lies beneath.

So maybe perception is reality after all.