Ah yes, the recession

I used to drive a really crap car like this the last time Ireland was in recession.

It wasn't the case that all Toyotas were crap. Far from it. Just my particular one.

No shock absorbers, spongy brakes, steering that used to drift left no matter what, and a horn that used to sound by itself whenever I would make a hard left turn. I think the person that owned it before me had neglected it to the point of it being worth nothing.. which was pretty much what I had available to spend on a car at that time.

Then in the last few years, as the Celtic Tiger grew from strength to strength, it used to amaze me how many young people I would see driving cars like this or this. I'm still unable to fathom how people in their early twenties can afford cars like these in Ireland.

So now we're headed for a couple of lean years it seems so you'd expect people will start becoming more prudent again. Driving smaller cars will surely be back on the agenda.

Then I saw this (below) today.


Yes - the picture is a bit hazy but it's a Hummer.

Chacun à son goût, as the French say.