Year-long trucking and Hyundai
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THE LETTERS from Martin Shelley and G. M. Humphrey (CM December 31, 1983) were of obvious interest to me. I was unable to respond to those letters before my departure from CMand I'd therefore like to do so now.
Like Mr Shelley, I doubted the American trucker, George Ames, who claimed to travel 370,000 miles a year (CM, November 26). But when it is considered that George (and other operators like him) is legally permitted to drive well in excess of eight hours a day; that he virtually lives on the road, along with his wife who shares the driving; that they drive almost entirely on fast freeways; and that the 55mph speed limit is openly flouted, then George's claim might just be true.
The figure he gave was 370,000 miles a year. What would he achieve by lying to the UK's Lorry Driver of the Year, senior Michelin representatives and a journalist armed with a tape recorder, note pad and camera?
The letter from the "workshop manager", Mr Humphrey, criticised my report on the Hyundai Pony Pick-up (CM, November 26). The report — based entirely on my personal impressions of the vehicle and its optional hard-top cover — followed Bryan Jarvis's detailed road test in CM, January 15, 1983.
Mr Humphrey says that seized heater controls and a small glove box are "hardly major problems." Couldn't agree with him more. I didn't say they were major problems. I merely said that the seized heater controls weren't "much fun" and that the glove box (which was a kind of slot with a lid) was "absurdly small".
He mentioned that my report was utterly biased, even though I used words like, neat, appealing, style, well designed, fun to drive, nippy and ideal when describing the vehicle. He also mentioned that he's a workshop manager but he doesn't say where or for whom. A Hyundai dealer, perhaps? If so, who is biased, Mr Humphrey — you or me?
MICHAEL RUTHERFORD, Features Editor, Motor Trader, Business Press International, Quadrant House, Sutton, Surrey