Gutless little four-banger.
Brad and I were talking about cars this morning--I don't know why. Here's my thing: if the first thing you have to say about a car is that it's "reliable," that car loses. For me, the automobile is a historico-cultural (wd?) and aesthetic experience. Also, it is not an investment. That's not just me, though, that's common sense. Cars are an expense, and, while there are certainly some models that will give you more value for your dollar than others, they are still an expense. "Reliable" ain't gonna do it.
So Brad's standing there with a straight face, extolling the virtues of the Honda Accord to me. And it's another instance of a wavelength that he and I just don't share. For me, yes, value is important. But a major part of value is a vehicle that makes you feel pretty and cool. The vehicle should run consistently and not need constant trips to the shop, but there are plenty of offerings out there that do that while still managing to possess hot lines. I defy you to convince me of the Honda Accord's hot lines.
However, I'm always looking for varied opinions. So, what do ya'll look for in a car? Like, if you could buy any car you wanted, what would you go for?
Personally, I like a lot of Fords. They're rich in history and cultural cache, they've got some truly sweet models, and, as my family has had several through the years, I know them to be relatively reliable. The Mustang Shelby GT500 is where it's at, if you're going with current models. I can't imagine feeling cooler or prettier or Steve McQueenier than sitting in one of those. And, practically speaking (because it does matter), they're relatively affordable and not that expensive to maintain. My mom's been driving Mustangs since 1996--the first was totalled in an accident, which is why she got the second--and she has never had a major, wallet-killing mechanical problem as far as I know.
I also really love BMWs. I don't think they have a bad model. Where I get stuck with them is the whole death-to-the-environment thing. Every year they pay a fine because it's cheaper and easier than making their cars more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. That ain't cool.
I would like to like the Prius because I am concerned about the end of the world and all. But, back to hot lines, Toyota needs to make those things look a little less like Playschool cars before I want to slap down my thousands for the privilege of owning one.
If I could own any car ever (without concern for price or the future of the world), it would be either:
or:
When I was in England, I watched this one show where they compared cars. They took this badass out onto a track and chased it with an Apache helicopter. The car was so fast and so sleek that the chopper couldn't acquire missile lock. How better to quantify awesomeness?
So, yeah, what do you drive? What would you drive if you drove? What's a car gotta have to get your juices and your dollars flowing its way? Please, don't say "reliable" to me. Bradley can tell you how much that makes me roll my eyes.
Unrelatedly ...
Ganked from shentou
1. Who was your best friend?
I guess Steve-o and Kayla would have been it during first semester. Second semester it was my new NYU jacket and the thought of moving in August.
2.What sports did you play?
I was still on a travel soccer team. I also lettered in Yacht Club.
3. What kind of car did you drive?
A 1991 blue-grey Ford Taurus named RC.
4. It's Friday night, where were you?
Probably at home.
5. Were you a party animal?
See preceding.
6. Were you considered a flirt?
There were moments when I was told I was flirting, but I always felt like it was a language I never really learned. If I happened to stumble across some vocabulary from time to time it was unintentional.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
Orchestra. Cello.
8. Were you a nerd?
Sweet Jesus, have we met?
9. Did you get suspended/expelled?
Nep.
10. Can you sing the fight song?
Did we have a fight song?
11. Who was your favorite teacher?
Simpson. He wasn't technically my teacher that year, but he was the Skipper of Yacht Club. He also let me hide out in his room on more than one occasion when I couldn't face the day. I don't know if he knows this, but he's a huge part of why I made it through that year.
12.What was your school's full name?
Hamilton High School (Big Blue)
13. School mascot?
Legally, technically, we didn't have one. We were the Big Blue. Unofficially, we had a kid in a bulldog get-up at all the sporting events. However, when the cheerleaders tried to get uniforms with bulldogs on them, a civic group took them to court to get them (the bulldogs) removed because we're the Big Blue.
14. Did you go to Prom?
No, but I don't feel like relating that tale of woe again.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you?
Hells no. I guess there are things that I wish could be fixed, but I'm not willing to fix them if it means having to be eighteen again for any length of time. That was one of the worst years of my life thus far. I'm willing to let it stand and consider myself on a permanent upswing.
16. What do you remember most about graduation?
Shaking like a leaf. I was one of the speakers. I do not do public speaking well. I especially do not do it well in front of a couple thousand people. I remember being up on stage and worrying that I would fall in the five feet between my seat and the podium because I couldn't get my legs to stop shaking.
17. Where were you on senior skip day?
Did we do that? I don't remember it. I remember I was exempt from final exams, so does that count? If so, then I was probably at home or driving around out in the county--that was what I did with most of my free time.
18. Did you have a job your senior year?
I was coaching.
19. Where did you go most often for lunch?
Uh ... the cafeteria. We weren't allowed off-campus.
20. What did you do after graduation?
Went to a couple graduation parties throughout the first month of summer, pretended I believed I would keep in touch with anybody in my class. Sat around a lot. Drove around a lot. Got stalked. Generally idled while waiting for my actual life to begin at the end of the summer.
So Brad's standing there with a straight face, extolling the virtues of the Honda Accord to me. And it's another instance of a wavelength that he and I just don't share. For me, yes, value is important. But a major part of value is a vehicle that makes you feel pretty and cool. The vehicle should run consistently and not need constant trips to the shop, but there are plenty of offerings out there that do that while still managing to possess hot lines. I defy you to convince me of the Honda Accord's hot lines.
However, I'm always looking for varied opinions. So, what do ya'll look for in a car? Like, if you could buy any car you wanted, what would you go for?
Personally, I like a lot of Fords. They're rich in history and cultural cache, they've got some truly sweet models, and, as my family has had several through the years, I know them to be relatively reliable. The Mustang Shelby GT500 is where it's at, if you're going with current models. I can't imagine feeling cooler or prettier or Steve McQueenier than sitting in one of those. And, practically speaking (because it does matter), they're relatively affordable and not that expensive to maintain. My mom's been driving Mustangs since 1996--the first was totalled in an accident, which is why she got the second--and she has never had a major, wallet-killing mechanical problem as far as I know.
I also really love BMWs. I don't think they have a bad model. Where I get stuck with them is the whole death-to-the-environment thing. Every year they pay a fine because it's cheaper and easier than making their cars more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. That ain't cool.
I would like to like the Prius because I am concerned about the end of the world and all. But, back to hot lines, Toyota needs to make those things look a little less like Playschool cars before I want to slap down my thousands for the privilege of owning one.
If I could own any car ever (without concern for price or the future of the world), it would be either:
or:
When I was in England, I watched this one show where they compared cars. They took this badass out onto a track and chased it with an Apache helicopter. The car was so fast and so sleek that the chopper couldn't acquire missile lock. How better to quantify awesomeness?
So, yeah, what do you drive? What would you drive if you drove? What's a car gotta have to get your juices and your dollars flowing its way? Please, don't say "reliable" to me. Bradley can tell you how much that makes me roll my eyes.
Unrelatedly ...
Ganked from shentou
1. Who was your best friend?
I guess Steve-o and Kayla would have been it during first semester. Second semester it was my new NYU jacket and the thought of moving in August.
2.What sports did you play?
I was still on a travel soccer team. I also lettered in Yacht Club.
3. What kind of car did you drive?
A 1991 blue-grey Ford Taurus named RC.
4. It's Friday night, where were you?
Probably at home.
5. Were you a party animal?
See preceding.
6. Were you considered a flirt?
There were moments when I was told I was flirting, but I always felt like it was a language I never really learned. If I happened to stumble across some vocabulary from time to time it was unintentional.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
Orchestra. Cello.
8. Were you a nerd?
Sweet Jesus, have we met?
9. Did you get suspended/expelled?
Nep.
10. Can you sing the fight song?
Did we have a fight song?
11. Who was your favorite teacher?
Simpson. He wasn't technically my teacher that year, but he was the Skipper of Yacht Club. He also let me hide out in his room on more than one occasion when I couldn't face the day. I don't know if he knows this, but he's a huge part of why I made it through that year.
12.What was your school's full name?
Hamilton High School (Big Blue)
13. School mascot?
Legally, technically, we didn't have one. We were the Big Blue. Unofficially, we had a kid in a bulldog get-up at all the sporting events. However, when the cheerleaders tried to get uniforms with bulldogs on them, a civic group took them to court to get them (the bulldogs) removed because we're the Big Blue.
14. Did you go to Prom?
No, but I don't feel like relating that tale of woe again.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you?
Hells no. I guess there are things that I wish could be fixed, but I'm not willing to fix them if it means having to be eighteen again for any length of time. That was one of the worst years of my life thus far. I'm willing to let it stand and consider myself on a permanent upswing.
16. What do you remember most about graduation?
Shaking like a leaf. I was one of the speakers. I do not do public speaking well. I especially do not do it well in front of a couple thousand people. I remember being up on stage and worrying that I would fall in the five feet between my seat and the podium because I couldn't get my legs to stop shaking.
17. Where were you on senior skip day?
Did we do that? I don't remember it. I remember I was exempt from final exams, so does that count? If so, then I was probably at home or driving around out in the county--that was what I did with most of my free time.
18. Did you have a job your senior year?
I was coaching.
19. Where did you go most often for lunch?
Uh ... the cafeteria. We weren't allowed off-campus.
20. What did you do after graduation?
Went to a couple graduation parties throughout the first month of summer, pretended I believed I would keep in touch with anybody in my class. Sat around a lot. Drove around a lot. Got stalked. Generally idled while waiting for my actual life to begin at the end of the summer.