I was once introduced to someone as “the lady who test-drives forklifts” which is stretching the truth to say the least! Yes, we get invited to quite a few new model launches, and I’m almost always asked if I would like to have a drive, but I always decline. My excuse is that I don’t have my forklift driver’s licence, which is pretty poor I know.

About the one and only time I actually have driven a forklift was almost a disaster. The launch was held down at the Viaduct Basin, and I almost succeeded in driving the machine off the edge of the dock. That would have looked good on the front page of the Herald – “Woman driver proves all clichés are right”!

When it comes to light commercial trucks and vans though, I’m becoming a bit of a whiz at test-drives, so when it was suggested that we conduct a review of a selection of the very best commercial vehicles currently available on the New Zealand market, I was immediately up for it.

The trouble was, we were somewhat overwhelmed with requests to take vehicles away for several days. Let’s just say I’d still be driving them now as we go to print if I’d have done the lot myself. Instead, I pulled in my ‘Top Gear’ team to lend a hand – the small but perfectly formed Murray ‘Hamster’ Chapman, the droll but cautious Alan ‘Captain Slow’ Reid, and the fearless but fashionable Helen ‘Stig’ James, which I guess left myself as the tall, cynical Clarkson.

Our results start on page 8, and whilst the aim was to write the review as if we were courier drivers, testing the manoeuvrability, the payload, and the comfort and safety for the driver, for example, it was hard not to drive around town thinking of such things as torque and horsepower and the conveniently placed coffee-cup holder.

I’d just like to say a very big thank-you to the various dealers who entrusted us with their wonderful vehicles. We had a ball, and we hope our review encourages some of our readers to ask Santa for a new Kia/Nissan/Mercedes-Benz/Holden for their fleet. In the words of a famous Californian governor, “I’ll be baaaack” to do it all again next year.

Finally, I’d like to wish all our readers and advertisers a very merry Christmas and a restful New Year. Here’s to John Key and the work that is cut out for him ahead!

Until next time …

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Lynne Richardson