The life of a footballer on loan is one of lonely drives up and down the country from your current club to your adopted one. That’s what North End’s latest striker Marcus Stewart had had to contend with in the past few weeks as he has made his way north from Bristol on more than one occasion, so the comfort and reliability of his car is something that is close to his heart.

How many times did it take to pass your test?
I passed on my second time, it took me about 18 lessons. I don’t remember the name of the guy, it was just some bloke who worked for a company in Bristol.

What was the first car that you bought?
It was a Ford Escort Mark II. I asked my dad if he would buy me one, he said yes, he said I’ve got a certain amount of money and we ended up buying it. The next car I got was a Manta GTE.

A what?
A Manta GTE, it was gold. I don’t think you can buy them these days, that one got stolen. I was only a young professional, about 19, 20 years old.

How many cars have you owned since then?
About six or seven, not too many.

What’s the best car you have had?
A BMW Seven series. I should have never got rid of it, it was a brilliant drive, a reliable car, it wasn’t really hot on petrol and it was very comfortable. I would say it was also the most expensive car I have ever had.

What car are you driving at the moment?
A BMW Six Series. It’s very nice, a very good car, very comfortable but it’s not as big inside as I would like it to be, not like the Seven Series was, you learn by your mistakes.

I suppose what car you drive is important to you at the moment with all the traveling from Bristol back and forth.
Yes, the one I’m in at the moment is very hot on petrol so I’m looking for Nissan to give me a car.

Well everyone else has got one! What would your dream car be?
I think that the Bentley that the Chairman has got is very nice.

What would you need to do to get one of those?
(laughs) Just go into my bank account but I don’t want to get one at the moment. I didn’t want to say that but you asked me the question.

Who has had the best car at any of the clubs you have been at?
That would be an Aston Martin Vanquish that one of the players at Sunderland had.

Were you a boy racer?
I’m sensible now but I used to be a boy racer. I had the speakers in my car with loud music and the windows down. You go through that phase and now I have grown out of it.

What music do you listen to in your car nowadays?
All sorts, from R&B to classical, it depends what mood I am in but I have got the full range.

If you are driving with the missus who decides what is on the stereo?
The kids decide. We both like Radio One so that is normally on.

What is in your glove box?
Some Sunderland signed photos which I have had in there since last season. I had 50 given to me and I have still got 50, the CD on how to work the satellite navigation is also in there.

What’s worse, speed cameras or speed bumps?
Definitely speed cameras. They’ve not caught me out too much as I have one of those Road Angel things in my car so I tend to clock them.

Model: BMW 6 Series
Engine Size: 3.0
Top Speed: 155 mph
Acceleration (0-60 mph) 6.5 seconds
Price: £47,500