Life gets busier and busier. Writing this review right on deadline has given me cause to reflect on that.
This week the build-up to Christmas has made itself felt. The pace at work is heating up and, coupled with that, I have launched on a bit of an ambitious project to get a new building up before the end of the year. Also, at home, I have finally got the all-clear to do some renovations and a re-wire, which I hope to have complete before Christmas.
Throw into this mix oodles of children who all need to be fed, watered and entertained, a test I'm supposed to be studying for, bills to be paid and a passing attempt at trying to keep up social contacts, and it all starts to crowd in.
I would go outside and sit on the deck for 10 minutes to cool off but then I notice that I haven't completed building the steps - which I also hope to do before Christmas.
So, after getting up this morning and making sure the kids were fed and getting them off to school, I sat down to type this up.
I'd set aside the time from my day-job, made my coffee and toast with peanut butter and jam, and typed the first couple of words - that's when I got a text saying I was late to pick up an internet purchase across town I'd arranged the day before.
I grabbed the Sonata's keys and rushed out the door and was halfway to Springvale when I noticed something unusual - I was relaxing.
The air con was set to cool, the radio was on and the Sonata was handling beautifully. The seats were comfy, the interior nice and the cabin had heaps of room. Outside was a hot, frantic rush as people went about their ever increasingly busy day but inside I was safe in my little bubble of serenity.
All too soon I was at my destination and handing over money but that 10-minute drive had put me in a better frame of mind.
The word Sonata means a piece of music and it suits this car which, much like a well played piece of classical music, soothed my jagged nerves.
Aside from its obvious mental health benefits, this car has some nice touches. The coffee holders in the centre console have retractable fingers which hold your cup in place (as I found when rushing across town), the windscreen washers each have three directional jets to make sure your window gets cleaned, and the cruise control, air con and stereo are all at your fingertips.
The 2.4-litre engine starts and runs beautifully and has plenty of stoke. The automatic transmission is quiet and smooth. I had a go using the manual change function as I went up Durie Hill but, even though it worked well, I'd stick to letting the auto do its thing as this car just suits cruising.
The back seat and boot have heaps of room and the Sonata looks and feels new.
The nice blue colour, offset by the attractive wheels and dark interior, also adds to the overall appeal.
Who needs a chill pill when a 10-minute drive will do?
