Robert

>>Thank god for BIG cars

In an experiment on how to fly internationally with toddlers, my wife, daughter, unborn daughter (due next week) and I stopped in LA for 2 days recently to try out Disneyland which I have not visited for 20 years. At the airport we had to upgrade the hire car for all the baggage (it came to over 200kg- an average male weighs 70kg). We ended up with a Lincoln Towncar. I've never driven anything like it- incredibly soft suspension on such a massive vehicle! It was like driving a living room along a river.

I could not understand why fuel economy seemed low until I opened the bonnet; yup, 5.x litre V8. And this in a hire car.

My own vehicles are Audi A6 2.7T Quattro in England and VW Passat Variant 4Motion Sport in New Zealand. Both are 4WD and both have fairly hard suspension. The Towncar was *much* softer but even hurling it into corners like a 4WD caused little effect apart from amazing body roll- as good as one of the Disneyland rides!- but it felt safe.

You guys need to know that while this is all very normal in the USA, elsewhere there is a *major* shift to smaller cars. The biggest selling cars in europe are small hatches now- not much bigger than the Pinto.

Regards

JR