Articles by Sam Riches

Take a group of mates who want to indulge a little, add them with someone who always has to work the next day and who, by chance, has been given a seven-seater and you've got a great night for six and a long one for the odd woman left over. Not only does the four-wheel-drive turn into Sam's Cabs and charge nothing, it also becomes a coat room so those jackets don't have to be lugged around, a ladies' dressing room where big mirrors assist in makeup touchups and a DJ booth where loud sounds get tested outside the club and where guys adhere to the universal the-louder-the-better philosophy.Good thing there's plenty of room and thank God for sound controls on the steering wheel.Next day, seats fold down and we're ready for shopping. Only problem is fuel's getting a bit low.Normally there wouldn't be a problem. But driving to the shops, I'm not sure which side I need to pull up at the servo so I'm looking for the fuel-tank button which will pop it open. At each set of traffic lights, for the first time ever, I pray for red so I will have a few more desperate seconds to find this thing. There isn't one.At the last set of traffic lights, I've resorted to flicking through the manual. Then there's the situation I tried to avoid. I have to pull over to work out which side I need to present to the pump.The little arrow by the fuel gauge apparently indicates this, but in my panic at being caught empty I happen to overlook it.Somewhat cleverly, I think, I pop the bonnet so it appears I have a legitimate mechanical failure requiring inspection, as though I have some idea of what I'm doing.It's on the left side, in case you're wondering.While there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Captiva - on the practical side, it's got plenty of room, extra seats and storage spaces - it really isn't anything special. Yes, there are leather-trimmed seats and a sporty chrome-finished dash. There are also gadgets, including a compass. I figure if I don't already know where I'm heading, what am I doing in the first place? There are only two reasons I can figure a compass would be handy: if you're rallying - in which case, I don't think the Captiva is the vehicle to rally in, and, if you're actually an off-road driver.The Captiva is a solid vehicle but just lacks a hint of attitude.LOVE IT LEAVE ITHOLDEN CAPTIVA LXPrice: From $41,990LOVE ITSmooth driving, lots of storage and spaces for "stuff", sizeable mirrors eliminate what could be tricky blindspots.LEAVE ITSeats are not comfortable for extended trips, slow speed pick up, no button for the fuel tank.

Call me nosy – as a journalist I prefer curious or inquisitive.With the advertising for the Territory focusing on how unlike a truck it was – I was initially dismayed, I wanted the truck – I wanted to be sitting higher and able to look down.First things first – I wanted the mums at school to check out my rig and give me envious looks.Monday morning and the household student had a first-class ride through the school gates right up to the office – no bus for her. Private schools are not the best place to employ this tactic – there are luxury cars and 4WDs everywhere so I didn't stand out too much.We did stand out at the airport, though. After collecting our visitor, piling her luggage into the 4WD was never an issue.Neither was fitting anything else in – the Territory has more than 30 storage spaces and mega-room with the optional third row of seats down – there are storage solutions to rival Ikea.The problem lies with the fact I am not known for my fantastic co-ordination – and the split tail-gate did nothing but highlight this. Push a button on one side and you can split the tail opening rather than opening it as a whole with the button on the opposite side.So, the top pops up – and Sam wears a crack in her head as she tries to work out what's going on. Nah ... really it didn't hurt ... much, because I am a tough almost-truckie now.I say almost because it really is like driving a car. The steering isn't heavy and it doesn't take two days to hit 60km/h with the six-speed auto.You almost don't think about how big it actually is while driving along until someone points it out – or it slaps you in the face. I never had to worry too much about tree branches in my low-to-the-ground regular car, so I didn't think too much about driving with the windows down while being so high up.Until I did get hit in the face with a few leaves and a twig large enough to sting a little.As passengers laughed, I used the steering-wheel controls to turn the music up to drown out my hoarsely whispered cursing.I didn't realise just how roomy the Territory was inside until sitting in the car parked outside a friend's place.As I sat in the passenger seat for a different perspective, I could almost have been in another room.Reverse parking was the only real issue I had with the Territory – and there was no pain involved.While manoeuvring into a parking space, there are a couple of blind spots, but you are kindly helped out with the reversing sensors that bleep when an object is near.Reluctantly handing the keys back – I knew I was going to be one of those who needs to keep her own car clean as the other nosy 4WD-ers look down on me at the traffic lights.I also managed to hit my head getting in and out of my own car – not having the extra room.LOVE IT LEAVE ITFord TerritoryPrice: $51,330LOVE ITBeing able to peer down on everyone.Not feeling speed bumps.Surprising fuel economyStorage – a place for everything.LEAVE ITThe reversing alarm sensitivity.Blind spots.Split rear tailgate.