So of course it makes perfect sense to swap Japanese reliability for style, performance and class of a German car, a 2010 Volkswagen GTI.
(The interior is my favorite part -- love those plaid seats!)
Showing posts with label auto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label auto. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Welcome to the Fast
Yesterday, I said a bittersweet goodbye to the Subaru. It treated me well, took me to many, many scooter rallies and never let me down.
So of course it makes perfect sense to swap Japanese reliability for style, performance and class of a German car, a 2010 Volkswagen GTI.
So of course it makes perfect sense to swap Japanese reliability for style, performance and class of a German car, a 2010 Volkswagen GTI.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Like everyone else, I'm ready for the weekend.
This has been a good week for working out, and my tired body is feeling it.
That's one interval workout (Monday) and one hill workout (last night), plus yoga and some other cross-training. Today is a scheduled rest day, although I'm thinking a walk might be a good idea. Tomorrow is 12 miles. TWELVE MILES. That's far.
Other weekend activities: Hang out with Aaron's brother and retrieve a bike from Aaron's dad's garage so that we can take it to Columbus next weekend. I'm glad we're staying put this weekend. I don't care that we're missing Vintage Motorcycle Days because my bank account is protesting all of the spending that I've been doing.
(With that said, definitely no rally in Detroit and only one fall half-marathon, still tbd. Racing and rallying is taking its toll.)
In other news, I test-drove a 2010 Volkswagen GTI last night. LOVED IT.
Except that it's white. Deal-breaker.
(And although the monthly payment would have been acceptable, the requisite winter wheels/tires purchase and the most-assuredly higher insurance costs would not have been acceptable right now.)
BUT IT HAS PLAID INTERIOR.
But it's white. I vowed no more white cars. It's not even a metallic white.
So we're sticking with the Subaru, which I still like and does not need anything. I'm okay with that. But the GTI remains on my list when I go to replacing it (the list also includes Mini, Fiat Abarth, BRZ, BRZ and Mazda Speed3).
That's one interval workout (Monday) and one hill workout (last night), plus yoga and some other cross-training. Today is a scheduled rest day, although I'm thinking a walk might be a good idea. Tomorrow is 12 miles. TWELVE MILES. That's far.
Other weekend activities: Hang out with Aaron's brother and retrieve a bike from Aaron's dad's garage so that we can take it to Columbus next weekend. I'm glad we're staying put this weekend. I don't care that we're missing Vintage Motorcycle Days because my bank account is protesting all of the spending that I've been doing.
(With that said, definitely no rally in Detroit and only one fall half-marathon, still tbd. Racing and rallying is taking its toll.)
In other news, I test-drove a 2010 Volkswagen GTI last night. LOVED IT.
Except that it's white. Deal-breaker.
 |
| Source: Cascade Auto Group |
BUT IT HAS PLAID INTERIOR.
 |
| Source: Cascade Auto Group |
So we're sticking with the Subaru, which I still like and does not need anything. I'm okay with that. But the GTI remains on my list when I go to replacing it (the list also includes Mini, Fiat Abarth, BRZ, BRZ and Mazda Speed3).
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The giant van
Maybe I should say a little more.
We've been looking for a cargo van for quite some time. Everyone says they're inexpensive, easy to find, etc. I call bullshit. If you want a ragged out, windowless van with a gas-guzzling engine, maybe they're easy to fine, but if you're looking for something that was well-cared-for, it's a little harder.
Last Saturday, Aaron said he wanted to check out this van he saw on eBay. It was at a used car dealership about 10 minutes from our house. It was raining, so Aaron looked at it while I played with my iPhone. I can't tell you how many vans he's looked at.
He actually wanted to test-drive this one. I knew chances were good that we'd get it.
This van started life as a passenger van, hence the windows. OSU owned it (silver was probably on purpose) and removed all of the seats, essentially converting it into a cargo van. It's a 2003 with only 44k on the odometer. And - the biggie - no rust!
By Tuesday, it was officially mine. (The fourth four-wheeled vehicle in my name. Pontiac Grand Am, Mercury Topaz, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Econoline.)
We have some stuff to do, but things like tires, brakes, heat, etc., are all good. We need to get a first row of seats (already found some places that sell those for pretty cheap), a spare tire, track for the floor so we can tie down the scoots and a hitch so we can also tow. (Cocoa Beach is gonna be awesome! And I am so happy to be able to haul the scooters in the winter without getting them covered in salt.)
We've been looking for a cargo van for quite some time. Everyone says they're inexpensive, easy to find, etc. I call bullshit. If you want a ragged out, windowless van with a gas-guzzling engine, maybe they're easy to fine, but if you're looking for something that was well-cared-for, it's a little harder.
Last Saturday, Aaron said he wanted to check out this van he saw on eBay. It was at a used car dealership about 10 minutes from our house. It was raining, so Aaron looked at it while I played with my iPhone. I can't tell you how many vans he's looked at.He actually wanted to test-drive this one. I knew chances were good that we'd get it.
This van started life as a passenger van, hence the windows. OSU owned it (silver was probably on purpose) and removed all of the seats, essentially converting it into a cargo van. It's a 2003 with only 44k on the odometer. And - the biggie - no rust!
By Tuesday, it was officially mine. (The fourth four-wheeled vehicle in my name. Pontiac Grand Am, Mercury Topaz, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Econoline.)
We have some stuff to do, but things like tires, brakes, heat, etc., are all good. We need to get a first row of seats (already found some places that sell those for pretty cheap), a spare tire, track for the floor so we can tie down the scoots and a hitch so we can also tow. (Cocoa Beach is gonna be awesome! And I am so happy to be able to haul the scooters in the winter without getting them covered in salt.)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I love the auto show!
I love the auto show. I don't know why - I'm seldom ever shopping for anything. I like to sit in things I will never buy (or could never afford). It's fun.
This weekend, Aaron and I went to the show with his dad. My favorites:
Of course, we have to find the van first. Cargo van (probably Ford Econoline), windows, not beat all to hell. It's pretty difficult. But after that, we wouldn't really need to the Subaru - it's bigger than what I usually need as a daily driver. Plus, I really like small cars.
The Abarth editions aren't quite out yet - I think the dude said they'd get theirs in April - but I really need to test drive one. And then I need to make my way to the Mini dealership and test drive. I suspect that, overall, I'll prefer the Mini Coopers, but the Fiat is more affordable.
And I can't wait until the BRZ is at dealerships. The car was inaccessible at the show, but Aaron'll let me know when they're at the dealership. Definitely looking forward to trying that.
I've always loved the Allroad (they used to be A6s in the US), so I was excited to see the new Allroad. No price, but I'm sure they're out of my price range. I can't afford an A3, so an A4 Allroad is out of the question. Looks like they're going to be loaded.
Volvo wasn't there, which was disappointing because I wanted to sit in the C30 again.
Love those little hatchbacks.
This weekend, Aaron and I went to the show with his dad. My favorites:
- Fiat Abarth
- Mini Cooper - Coupe
- Mini Cooper - Countryman
- Audi A4 Allroad Avant
- Subaru BRZ
Of course, we have to find the van first. Cargo van (probably Ford Econoline), windows, not beat all to hell. It's pretty difficult. But after that, we wouldn't really need to the Subaru - it's bigger than what I usually need as a daily driver. Plus, I really like small cars.
The Abarth editions aren't quite out yet - I think the dude said they'd get theirs in April - but I really need to test drive one. And then I need to make my way to the Mini dealership and test drive. I suspect that, overall, I'll prefer the Mini Coopers, but the Fiat is more affordable.
And I can't wait until the BRZ is at dealerships. The car was inaccessible at the show, but Aaron'll let me know when they're at the dealership. Definitely looking forward to trying that.
I've always loved the Allroad (they used to be A6s in the US), so I was excited to see the new Allroad. No price, but I'm sure they're out of my price range. I can't afford an A3, so an A4 Allroad is out of the question. Looks like they're going to be loaded.
Volvo wasn't there, which was disappointing because I wanted to sit in the C30 again.
Love those little hatchbacks.
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