Not many people can say that they’ve never lost faith in their cars, but since 1987 when government worker Paul Mylchreest bought a Vauxhall Cavalier, he’s never looked at any other make. And astonishingly, he’s owned one of each generation of the Vauxhall Astra. In 1988 he bought his first, a MK2 Astra and recently he took ownership of the new MK7 at the local dealership, Mylchreests Motors in Douglas.
“Does this make me an Astra obsessive?” laughs Paul, “Probably, but for good reason. It’s a fine car, comfortable to drive and fits my life-style perfectly. Every new generation Astra is an improvement on the last – why wouldn’t I want one?”
Mylchreest Motors’ David Mylchreest (who, he is keen to stress, is not related to his customer) agrees.
“It’s always exciting to see someone pick up their new car, but this was a very special handover. The new Astra MK7 is, in my opinion, the best small family car on the market and Paul has driven tens of thousands of miles in his Astras, and knows the brand better than anyone,” says David. “The fact that he has stuck with the Astra, despite increased competition in that sector of the market, is a real vote of confidence in Vauxhall, the Astra and in Mylchreests.”
And a week on, Paul still loves his new car. “I’m not one of those people who goes out at night with a head torch to polish the paintwork,” he says. “It looks great sitting on the drive, but cars are for driving, and despite the appalling weather, I’m really enjoying doing just that. The MK7 is a great car, but I expected nothing else!”
Photo - Mylchreest Chairman, David Mylchreest handing over the new MK7 Astra to Paul Mylchreest. Courtesy of Mylchreests Motors Ltd.
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