Long time readers will know that I have a thing for Saab cars: I think the 9-5 Estate is a work of automotive art, my buttocks reckon the seats are the best in the business and I love the interiors, even when they’re orange – as many were in the 80s.

Despite all of these things, I’ve just got shot of my Saab 9-5.

Unfortunately the 9-5 was starting to cost an absolute fortune. 24 MPG in this day and age isn’t brilliant. £122.50 for six months’ road tax was pretty hefty. And at nine years old, it was just a matter of time before the big bills started. The problem with big cars is that when things go wrong, they go wrong expensively.

So what did I get? The title of the post is what we writers call “a clue”. And here’s another one.

I’ve got a three-year-old Mondeo. A diesel one.

Is it sexy? No, it is not.

Is it as characterful as a Saab? Not on your nelly.

Is it much cheaper to run and to insure, does it handle better, does it go faster where it matters and is it cheaper to fix than the Saab? Oh yes.

So, yeah. I’ve become Mondeo Man. It’s a brilliant car and I like it a lot.

The stereo’s bloody awful, mind you.

Incidentally, if you’re changing cars and want to annoy the dealer, why not get a valuation from Glass’s Guide? Then, when the dealer does the “hiding in the office for 20 minutes” thing before telling you that Glass’s Guide says your car is worth three pounds, you can whip out your printout and go “AHA! YOU LIE!”

They’ll still screw you, of course, but the screwing won’t be quite so bad. And Vauxhall will pick up the tab for the valuation.

Here’s where to go: Vauxhall.co.uk > Finance > Value Your Car. I’m amazed they haven’t stopped doing this yet: at £3.50 a pop it must be costing them a few bob.