The Chevrolet Blazer arrived just as the snow was settling on the black ice, and for once I was genuinely pleased to be the temporary owner of an off-road leviathan.
One press of the 'Auto 4-Wheel Drive' button and I was safely away on the school-run, forcing back a sneer as I passed other parents in their conventional cars.
Mind you, my previous experience of big 4x4s like the Blazer has suggested that sneering opportunities are few and far between - most of the breed combine gargantuan external size with a cramped interior, and thirsty engines with feeble performance. In short I'm no fan, but as I snuggled into the Chevy's leather seats, flicked on the climate control and got used to its car-like handling and ride, I began to see the attraction.
The Chevy Blazer lives up to its name by being unashamedly American - umpteen switches and knobs pepper the dash, while a vast 4.3-litre V6 pulls the beast along.
But it's not all yank-tankery. The 1999 Blazer even has its steering wheel on the right. It's also sensibly small by US standards, about the same length and width as a British family car, while that big engine has the power to keep up with traffic in all conditions, even when the optional and preferable 4-speed automatic gearbox is fitted.
Inevitably, the Blazer's fuel consumption figures are inexcusably poor - around 20 mpg in mixed driving - but that's no worse than most of the US or British-built competition. And the Blazer is much better than the 4x4 it most nearly resembles, the heavy-metal song on wheels that is the Ford Explorer. It feels as roomy inside but is more manoeuvrable, boasts a better ride and more European styling.
One feature the Blazer shares with the Ford Explorer is a tempting list price. The fully loaded LT automatic version I've been driving costs £24,925 on the road. There are airbags everywhere, the seats move in more directions than my bottom can cope with, and there's also leather, cruise control and a CD player. Heck, there's even an electronic compass for when you lose your bearings at Tesco.
It really is a value for money package, and the Blazer beats our own Discovery in the gadget-per-pound count. But beware - if we slide into recession, second-hand Blazers will be hard to sell. Few people fancy a 20 mpg car when they've got more deserving mouths to feed. And there are only 12 Chevrolet dealers in Britain.
That said, you could do worse than the Blazer. And if you're in the minority of 4x4 owners who do actually go off-road, the Blazer should still satisfy, thanks to a proper ladder chassis and plenty of ground clearance. But for me the secret to the Blazer's considerable charm is its big-skies American feel, which I find as comforting as a blueberry muffin on a British winter's day. Chorus of American Pie anyone?
