You are quite a Mercedes-Benz kind of guy, isn’t that right?
Yes, that’s right, I am. I have always been a big fan of the marque. I find these cars prestigious and depending on the model, very powerful too. They combine both of those aspects exceptionally well, I must say. When behind the wheel of a Benz, I feel as if I am in a serene and relaxed and very comfortable environment. In fact, my very first car was a 2002 model year Mercedes-Benz S500.
Very nice! What do you remember about it?
I remember just how stable it felt on the road more than anything. It was like a rock! And it was so smooth, you could never tell when you were going at 100kph – it felt like 50kph! But, when I put my foot down, that powerful V8 would explode to life and the feeling of being whisked away was sensational! I have since owned an ML 500 which was large and practical and great for road trips and I currently have an S Class.
Apart from Merc, what other cars do you like?
I love the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe – it is the king of the road and in fact, it is the car that I dream of owning. Someday! It would have to be black and silver. Nothing looks as classy and sophisticated as a Rolls, it is on another level in terms of luxury and refinement. I also have a soft spot for the Range Rover Supercharged Sport – I think it is the best SUV out there and not offers superb off-road performance but it is ideal as a daily driver too while for sheer speed and excitement, I would have to have a Lamborghini Aventador.
I have seen a couple of reviews in this magazine and it looks sinister, especially in matte black! And, as I am a Mercedes fan, I’d love an SLS AMG! I have previously owned a BMW X5 and Volkswagen Touareg - both were very practical and reliable SUVs.
You like large vehicles, but your GMC Sierra takes the biscuit when it comes to size! This thing is a monster!
It really is a monster and I can’t begin to explain the amount of respect it gets on the road! People see it coming a mile off! I have never owned a vehicle with so much presence. It has so much character too and it’s easy spending an hour or so just visually taking this beast in. I really think it is a treat for the senses, particularly the eyes and ears! It sounds as ferocious as it looks.
It’s a beauty alright! Tell us more…
Well, it is a 2008 model year truck but I have customised it to look more like a 2012 model year. I have had lots done to it such as fixing a pair of huge chrome side exhausts which stick out over the roof not to mention chroming a host of areas such as the engine, the side view mirrors, the tool box and of course the alloys. I added LED headlights from the 2012 model year Sierra to help update the looks further.
Those bumpers don’t look stock either…
No they aren’t, I had them changed to bigger, more aggressive ones. I have always loved the large bumpers most police patrol vehicles are fitted out with and this was my intention here, to give the truck even more presence. My plan was always to make this thing look like a monster on the road! I am always checking websites on how to customise cars and to get more ideas for my truck.
You have achieved that! Do you have trouble registering it after all the work that has been done to it?
No, registration is not an issue. Aside from the visual modifications, I have not altered the engine or the gearbox at all, they are stock. As for the custom exhaust system, well that is just for looks – it doesn’t sound obscenely loud and so it is not violating any traffic laws. I always bear this in mind when working on my cars – there’s no point spending money on a car and then not being allowed to drive it.
Speaking of the engine, it has a massive 6.0-litre V8 which oozes torque – it comes in very handy when I receive distress calls from friends who have got themselves stuck in the sand! It has come to the rescue on many occasions and is quite a heroic truck! My friends are very grateful that I own it! I also regularly use it to tow a boat that belongs to a friend – I can’t imagine too many vehicles being able to do that.
Is this you weekend toy or a daily driver?
It started out as a weekend driver but it is so much fun that I now drive it almost every evening. I use the S Class as the daily car but as soon as I am back home from work, I jump into the beast and take it for a spin. The amount of looks it gets is just funny! It turns heads like nothing else on the road and I am always getting thumbs up from others on the road or when I stop to fill up the petrol station, people whip their mobile phones out to take a snap of it.
This makes me feel quite proud. But, I have seen others with similarly large trucks on the roads and they use them like battering rams. This is not why I bought this. I never speed in this thing and I am as courteous to other road users in it as I am in the S Class. I liken my GMC as a friendly monster!
Don’t your family and friends have a wacky nickname for you?
Yes they do. They all know how much I love my ride and so, they have lovingly named me the Crazy Truck Man!
