PETROL prices had hit £1 per litre - and were continuing to rise. The smell of panic was in the air, with manic motorists queuing round the block to fill up their tanks before supplies ran dry.
Probably not the best week to be test driving the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, then.
This two-tonne luxury car could create a fuel crisis all on its own with an unleaded petrol consumption of just 16mpg - only slightly more than a Boeing 747.
The majestic Bentley was delivered with a near-full tank. It was all but empty within three days of me commuting to and from work in Birmingham.
Over the next four days, the car with an unquenchable thirst had drunk another £100 of fuel - yet it was worth every penny.
The Flying Spur costs an eye-popping £115,000, the price of a decent three-bedroom semi in some parts of the Midlands.
Given the chance, I'd have gladly sold my own home to keep this classy work of motoring art. After all, it's big enough to live in.
Looks-wise, the car is stunning. The sheer jet black colour was the perfect choice for its majestic and graceful shape. The distinctive front grille, gigantic alloy wheels and Bentley badge on the bonnet also added to the impressive overall look.
Slipping into the luxurious gold leather, electrically adjustable driving seat - which can go up, down, backward and forwards! - is like stepping into another world. A quality wood veneer dashboard, plush carpets and leather trim - made from only the best Scandinavian hides, no less - add to the general feeling of opulence.
The CD system has an amazing array of different sound selections to choose from. Try 'concert' and it really did feel like you were at an outdoor show.
If you become fed up with the music, you can switch to a picture-perfect TV in the centre console. The screen goes blank while the car's in motion, but you can still listen to your favourite show until you park or hit gridlock.
Of course, all this is wonderful and exactly what you would expect if you were paying such an enormous asking price.
But it's not just the looks and the luxury that make the Flying Spur so attractive to buyers including millionaire businessmen or star footballers. It's the incredible sports car-like performance.
Let me recap. The car weighs more than two tonnes, the weight of a small lorry.
Yet the six-litre, 12-cylinder engine - fitted with twin turbochargers - offers an acceleration from 0-62mph of just 5.2 seconds. That makes it faster than a Porsche.
Its maximum speed is also closer to a jet than a car at a near take-off 195mph.
These astonishing statistics makes the Bentley Continental Flying Spur officially the fastest four-seater car on the planet.
Driving such an elegant and powerful motoring legend was an absolute dream.
Despite its size, the Flying Spur is as nimble as a city car around town and on long journeys you can literally sit back, relax and enjoy a wonderful ride.
The automatic transmission is the smoothest I've handled. Switching to the S-for-sport mode gives the greediest motorist even more punch at their disposal and paddles are also available for those wanting to try out the gears.
The car, of course, has more space than a Star Trek movie and the cavernous boot was the size of our spare bedroom.
Other quality touches included individual seat air conditioning, an infra-red key fob which allows you to open doors with it in your pocket, and an electric boot which eases itself into position.
In fact, there was just one bad thing about driving a car which drew admiring glances on the road and looks of disgust in packed petrol stations - handing it back.
FAST FACTS
Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Price: £115,000
Mechanical: 552bhp, 5,998cc, 12cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 195mph
0-62mph: 5.2 secs
Combined mpg: 16
Insurance group: 20
CO2 emissions: 423g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 3yrs paint; 3yrs anti-rust