Day 2: From Russia with Lexus

Jul 31, 2007

Special to the Star

Luxury cars abound in the capital of the former socialist state.

If ever there was a market for ominous black sedans, Moscow is it. In a couple of days here, I've seen more Maybachs than I've seen all my life and the tony - but still traffic-clogged - streets are clogged with 7-series BMWs, brand-new S-class Benzes and long-wheelbase Lexus LSs.

After some time, you start to spot the nuances. Official cars - they're usually led along by a fast-moving Cayenne or Toyota Land Cruiser - have tinted windows, no badges and often carry a blue light on the roof. Chauffeur-driven cars have curtains in the back seat and their drivers often sit for hours on end, parked curbside, watching their dashboard TVs.

You notice, too, all the cars that have come here (legally or perhaps not) from North America. You can tell by the funny licence-plate adapters that people use to fasten the Euro-style Russian plates onto the more square holes we use in North America. You can tell, too, because they don't sell things like Ford Fusions here in Russia.

Sometimes it's better not to know what the vehicles are for.

Because of changing road, weather and road conditions, the rally itself is a constantly evolving thing. We'll be covering 7,100 km now - almost 1,000 km more than originally planned - and will be spending another two days camping out in Russia. Everything, though, is still on track to finish in Ulaanbaatar on Aug. 18.