And that brings me back round to Range Rover's proving grounds, where I am driving an executive limousine through what appears to be the shallow end of an abandoned swimming pool.
Summing up the debate for Labour, opposition Treasury spokesman Lord Davies of Oldham said "austerity is proving to be unacceptable in a whole range of countries".
In its interim statement, Menzies said declines in magazine sales were "within the range of expectations expected although weekly titles are proving particularly challenging".
On the proving grounds' high-speed circuit, as one might expect, the new Range Rover felt distinctly less ponderous and quite a bit more spirited and direct in handling.