Sidney Opera House? Pah! Great Wall of China? Yeah, right! Stonehenge? Get outta here! One of the best pieces of engineering I ever saw was something I could sit in. Something I could drive.
No two cars are the same. Sure, they may come off the same production line, but how much are you like your brother or sister? Every one has small defects, or little bit's added to make them different. It gives them, well, a personality. Ronnie had a personality. Ronnie was a great car.
It started in September, 1998. I got a job with some people called Maindec. They promised me a company car, either a Astra Estate 1.7 diesel turbo, or a 1.8 diesel Golf Estate, probably only one or two years old. Hurrah! thought I, and Neville the Nova was left, for once, at home. My dad works next door to Maindec, so, to enable me to pick up my car, I went with him. He starts work half an hour earlier than they do, so I sat in his workshop and waited. Then two people drove up and started knocking on Maindec's door. No-one else was there yet, and I decided that I should go and see what they wanted.
"We've got a car for Maindec." They said.
"Is it for a me?" I asked, checking the name on his papers. Indeed it was. I looked about, but couldn't see an estate car anywhere. "Where is it?" I asked the man. We were standing next to a blue Escort. A brand new, very nice blue Escort. "Is it the Escort?"
"No." He said, pointing, "It's the Rover." I turned around and nearly tripped over my tongue. Before me was a sparkly new, British racing green Rover 620si special edition. It was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful car's I had ever seen. I became aware of someone shouting at me.
"Sir? Sir? Sir? SIR! Can you sign your name?" Without looking, I scribbled something on a bit of paper and rudely waved the guy away. I had a set of keys in my hand. I had to drive the car, I had to drive it right then. Obviously it was parked in a stupid place, so I got in and moved it. It was comfy, it was quiet, it was as smooth as you wish. I named it Ronnie the Rover, got out, and locked it with the blippy button. Then I unlocked it and locked it again five times.
   My boss turned up and I had to go into the upstairs office to talk to him. Every time he went out of the room, I went over to the window to stare at the car. I loved it. Absolutely loved it.
   When it was time to go home, I set off to Nase_2K's house to show him. And I fell in love with it even more. Air con, traction control, ABS, Slide Reaction System, 500 breaking in miles on the clock, Limited Slip front racing diff., twin injection, alloys, twin exhaust, electric windows, vented brakes, oh… my… God… And to top it all, it was incredibly fast. With the traction control turned off, you could light up the front wheels if you put your foot down in third. And you take third at about 60mph. There is nothing better, when overtaking some old granny, than making a statement by going past with white smoke screaming off your front wheels. At seventy.
   Some of you may be thinking that a Rover is an old man's car. No. No, no, no. It is the ultimate Rude Boy's car. With the stereo wound up, thumping away, Fiesta XR2I's would pull up next to you at the lights and have a go. I could let them get two car's lead before I set off and still beat them to the other side of the lights. Easy.
   Eventually, after taking it up to 146mph, ( it would have gone faster but I bottled out, ) and throwing it round impossible corners without an inch of slippage, it had to go back to the hire company to be sold on. That was just before Christmas 1998. So if anybody knows of the whereabouts of Ronnie, registration S610VAH, please e-mail me. I loved him and he loved me. I know he probably went to some old business guy, but hey. I reckon I'll be the only person ever to handbrake turn that car.
   And so now he is gone (So's the job, different story…). Every time we go past any Rover 600 series I have to look the other way. Ask any of the others, they'll tell you.
   And to all of you who still think it was an old persons' car… 9500RPM redline. 52mph in first. And when I get it back ( which I will, ) you can bring whatever you like down for a race. I'll kick it into next year. Goodbye Ronnie. You were definitely a High Spirited car.

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