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Video: Meet the Horsforth commuter who drives to work in his floating car
The recent flooding may have left many motorists stranded. But for Dar Shivtiel getting to work in Horsforth has never been a problem, whatever the weather.
The dad-of-four can often be seen driving from his home to Q-Electronics in Horsforth where he is a director in this eye-catching lime green Dutton Commander.
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Its name might not be familiar but the car has one very special feature – it's also a boat.
Electronics boss Dar saw the vehicle on eBay for 6,900 and snapped it up.
As well as driving to work he also uses it for the school run.
Dar told the YEP: "My kids think it's normal that daddy's got a boat car but my wife Carolyn hates it.
"She's been it twice and the second time it broke down and we had to be towed to shore.
"It's completely amphibious. You can literally drive from the road, down a slipway and into the water.
"All you do is pull a few cables which connect the engine to the impellar – which is like a water jet – and you're away.
"Getting out is easy. You sail up to the slipway, let the front wheels touch the bed and put it in gear.
"To be honest I don't go in the water that much because you get more stares when you're on the road."
The five-seater craft's distinctive numberplate was a 40th birthday present from work colleagues
Dar has a licence to 'sail' on canals and rivers and even Lake Windermere.
He said: "It's hilarious when we're on Windermere and these guys on their huge, posh yachts are all taking pictures of us as they go past.
"I've always been ahead of my time so when global warming really hits home and floods Leeds I'll be fine."
"One of my greatest wishes is to break down in the canal because I've got AA cover. I'd love to see their faces when they came to repair it."
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
