I LIKE A GOOD, easy life. Nothing is better than being waited on hand and foot. If there's the chance of loafing around doing nothing, then I'll grab it with both hands and be lying back in a deckchair reading magazines in no time at all.
Why is it then that so many cars require maximum driver effort? From seats that require muscles and a degree in engineering to adjust to air-conditioning systems that could have been designed by an astrophysicist, car designs are becoming seriously complicated. I was thrilled to discover that the Toyota Camry has bucked the trend and is a winner when it comes to driving with minimal effort.
I drove the top-of-the-range 2.4-litre, four-door sedan (deluxe) model on a fabulous day when the air was so clear you could see the outlying islands with no problems. From the minute I got into the car and used the power adjustable front seats to the moment the windscreen wipers kicked in during a freak rainstorm, I was protected and pampered.
The cabin is bright and spacious and there's a large sunroof that adds to the light, airy feeling. Strangely, Toyota refers to the sunroof as a 'moonroof' in the style of a James Bond film, adding the only touch of excitement I experienced in the Camry. The car isn't about thrills. It's about comfortable, steady driving.
The Camry is a beefy 1,795mm wide and it shows. The rear seat is generous and could fit three. There are three headrests, although the person who gets stuck in the middle has to straddle the floor console. Children can be transported safely, in the knowledge that the rear seat has a safety belt child restraint system and curtain airbags.
The front seats are seriously comfortable. Heaven comes in the form of heated seats. Having grown up in cold houses and schools where you were forced to sit on hot water pipes to try to restore feeling to your nether regions, the heated car seat is an innovation that makes me sing for joy. Toyota has developed a seatbelt feature that acts as a pretensioner and force limiter and is designed to minimise whiplash injuries. Whiplash is the most common injury from car crashes and anything that prevents it is a bonus. The cabin has plenty of compartments, including a smart one below the gear stick that springs open to reveal ... cupholders. It's good to be back in a car that takes seriously the consumption of coffee while driving.
The wood panelling is sleek and I entertain myself by pushing all the covers to discover all manner of exciting things, from an accessory socket that replaces the traditional and totally useless cigarette lighter to a useful place to store sunglasses and other detritus.