So Many Supercars, It's Autoerotic

Cars are fun, and we love them, so we need to make them survivable too. For our relatively brittle bodies, in a crash; for our planet, from their exhalations. So much sexy metal, so little time!

My all time favorite will always be my Fifi, the little blue 2CV that carried me everywhere around Europe at 50+ MPG and a top speed of about 60MPH, a bit more with a tailwind. She was so simple, so reliable, and so rusty! But I loved her, and she never let me down. Her existence (and her millions of Citroen brothers and sisters) puts the lie to Detroit's protestations that fuel economy and safety and reliability are so hard to do. European carmakers have done it since the Second World War, because they had to. Petrol there has been around $4 a gallon as long as I can remember, so efficiency is paramount.

You can have all your experimental cars-I'll take a Tesla, thank you *laughs*

As I always say:  I have never owned a car and I have never missed one. By the time I was driving age, I already knew I would be living in New York quite soon and would take the subway every day.  In the two years in between getting my license and coming to the city, I simply borrowed the family cars.  Now, I revel in the convenience and efficiency of public transportation. And who wants to drive a car in a city with this many bars and pubs?

Olivia - Your Fifi reminds me of my all time favorite, a red '63 Volkswagen named Adolph. It had little metallic signs on the dash. Above the ashtray it said "Das Schmokadunka", above the windshield wiper, "Das Drizzleflippin", the ignition, "Das Puttersparkin" and above the headlights, Das Glimmerblinken". I always thought that was pretty funny. It had oversized pistons, a Porsche clutch, and a 3/4 cam. A real screamer. It stayed with me through all my College days. I traded him in for a '76 (?) Gremlin. I only did that because inside the Gremlin I could actually fit two speaker columns, an amplifier, a microphone stand, a music stand, a box with a microphone and various cords and wires, chorus box, etc. , harmonicas, a five string banjo, and a guitar. Can you believe it? I drove that thing around to every watering hole and hole in the wall in S.W. Missouri, and parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. It stuck with me through all my "I'm gonna be the next Dylan" days. When I say "Dylan" I'm talking about Bob Dylan, not Dylan Thomas, whoever he was. (wink)

Now I have a Jeep Wrangler (soft top, 4 wheels and a heater) for ice and snow days, Summer with top down days, and "You can't get there from here." days , a Mini Cooper S for long trip days, my Rans recumbent bicycle, for "I'm gonna get up early and ride to work" days, and, of course, an old F150 pickup, because I got tired of "Can I borrow your truck?" days.

Since gas has gone up to around four dollars a gallon (I think. It changes so much I can't keep track) I've seen a lot more bicycles and motor scooters around. I'm glad about that. I hope it goes up to eight dollars. Then we might even see cleaner air sidewalks being built, and people actually out walking. And while they are out walking they might start seriously thinking about alternative energy sources instead of defiling our oceans and our pristine wilderness in the search for more oil.

DPR - I loved New York! I felt an energy there that was really intoxicating. Folks there didn't seem to be afraid to do a little walking, and the subways were great. I can see why you would want to live there.

Things I left out of my post. - " (Didn't graduate.) s to Kansas City for good jazz . . , , No car? Good on you bro'!

Please insert where appropriate.

Sheesh while we're reminiscing about cars, I must talk about my mid-80s Ford Bronco II, Eddie Bauer edition, with push-button 4x4.

It was the perfect car for my rambling lifestyle at that time.  You could camp in it, there was room for whatever gear and friends I wanted to haul around, and good for all weather.  You could cut across a muddy field in it too, if absolutely necessary.

And it was a dude magnet.  Any chick who drives a truck is, for that matter!  Suffice to say, it was very fun, and practical at the same time.  And gas prices of the early 90s did not forbid it. 

Tiberius

Is gas really that expensive even in Missouri?  Whenever I go back to Joplin, it always seems to be cheaper there than anywhere else in the world.

One of my favorite things about the NYC lifestyle is definitely the walking.  Walt Whitman said the best cities are the ones where you can walk and I agree with him.  When I travel, I don't want my experience of the place to be filtered through a windshield.  Last month, my brother and his family came to visit.  He has always been more athletic and generally in better shape than I.  But he admitted that, when walking the Brooklyn Bridge, he could not keep up with me.

Heiress,

Interesting to hear that a chick who drives a truck is a dude magnet.  After all, a truck doesn't usually have a back seat.

May I just take a moment to point out the title of this post?
...
Yes, it's awesome.

Ti and DPR-My current car is a Mini Cooper. Minnie is black with a checkerboard top, and appears to be unique in the city, if not the entire state, for her appearance. I've tried to find some big magnetic checkers to stick on the squares to amuse the populace, but so far no luck. She's the most economical fun one can have on four wheels, I think (fully dressed, that is *wink*), and she's a people magnet. Like Fifi, Minnie elicits waves from others in Minis (if you drive a 2CV/Deux Chevaux in Europe, you're automatically in 'the club' and receive all manner of positive greetings from others of similar wisdom), and no end of comments from passersby.

Now when I travel, I love to go by train. It's the most civilized way to get about in my opinion. A rental car is sometimes necessary (especially in Ireland), but the quaint old trains in England and Italy, the sleek TGVs in France, like wingless land jets, and the efficient red boxes of the SBB CFF FFS, or Swissrail, are a serene enhancement to my peregrinations. We could all learn a lot from the Swiss about sensible organization of public institutions in general, but especially public transportation.

Ti, I hope gas keeps going up too. It's apparently the only way to induce people to think rationally about sound resource management. Here, we're expanding light rail, adding more buses, and sidewalk construction proceeds apace-most gratifying! I've always admired the gentleman I pass on the way to work each day-in full business attire, he scoots his silvery Razor to the bus stop, where he folds it up, unfolds his WSJ, and calmly awaits the bus. I freewheel by (I hypermile, and always have. My grandmother provided the example, when she used to drive me to grade school, where she taught 4th grade, in her 1956 Crown Vic, coasting at every opportunity, so now I just can't help it.), resisting the impulse to offer him a ride. He's also very cute lol...

Ti, sorry I missed you back in the day when you performed, apparently all around me. I was in bands at the time as well, singing everything from Janis to Billie and playing guitar with the sweet and tipsy old blues dudes in Memphis. Ships passing in the night indeed-unconscious propinquity always amazes me. Who knows-maybe we DID meet *laughs*

Tiberious:  Our son's first car, a Nissan Sentra, he had in college.  We had given him several stick-on buttons for the dash that said such things as "jet ignition, machine gun rear/front".  I can't remember them all exactly.  But he found they were a great way to judge the girls he dated as to whether they believed them or not and whether they wanted to try them out... 

I agree with Tiberius. One car really isn't enough. By the time you get a single vehicle to do all of the things we need to do, you may as well forget about most of the things we want to do.  I have a station wagon for hauling stuff  and a 2 seater for hauling arse. And I have an aging luxury sedan under the shed in the back, mostly to remind me of how quickly their market value plummets.

And because a long coat only goes so far...

Unfortunately, Olivia, a nation of 2CVs is safe in part because there aren't a million larger vehicles to smash into them. As soon as you introduce pulpwood trucks, Mommy tanks, and even heavy bicycles, the 2CV's survival rate begins to slide.  

A quick comparison between my 1978 (non Cooper) Austin Mini and the new BMW badged ones reveals about a foot more space between the windshield and the driver. That is pure safety concern.  Several carmakers tout their crumple zones as a safety feature. As nearly as I can tell, the Austin ( and the 2CV) are about 98% crumple zone.   

All of this auto-romanticism is giving this old Midwest boy a hankerin' to go out and car-ress a Mini Cooper, perhaps even a Smart Car today.

I've really been thinking about buying a Vespa for my around town trips to coffee shops, book stores, and our little shop. I've already got the book bag and beret, just need the bike. Perhaps I should move to a winter-free zone first.

Just a random note . . . .. It is somewhat surreal in town today. I'm hearing the drone of a B17 Bomber as it flies over my house every half hour. I could almost imagine how it must have sounded when wave upon wave of these powerful machines flew over the country side on their way to their destination. It's part of our annual "Corn Fest" this year.

Enjoy your Sunday folks.

I've already enjoyed reading all your posts. I need another espresso to get my engine purring.

To Capt Neptune,

Re: Beach Curling.

Since you already have a broom and are skilled with its use, are close to a beach, and have the moniker of Captain; I'd say that makes you our Olympic Beach Curling Team Captain.

Now we need really cool uniforms.

DPR, the dudes love "macha" chicks. 

Second that, Heiress! I grew up so tomboy, I can run with the guys just about any way.

Willie, I'll take a smaller, cuter, more fun car anyday rather than be bored to death with a suburban tank. Safe can only take you so far in life.

Peter, I'll never forget the day the Confederate Air Force came to town, and a B-17 buzzed my house, maybe 500 feet up. I heard if coming miles away, and ran out to wave my hanky as it thundered over, brutal and beautiful. I could easily read the registration numbers, and I thought of what terror it must have struck in the hearts of the Germans, raining explosives from so high up. Being a lover of pinups in all their forms, I also appreciate the nose art on these deadly machines.

Peter, you just can't beat a Mini, but I'll gladly ride 'up' on your Vespa anyday, sideways like the Italian girls in a skirt, striped top, scarf, and beret. What fun, and so DANGEROUS-OOH! *giggles*

Oh, oh... touched another soapbox topic... safety.  I am a product of a father that is the main cause of the seatbelt laws we have.  He started as the chmn. of the Indy500 safety committee and then on to the President's Comm. on Auto. Safety under Nixon.  Thus the laws we have today.  Our family has worn seatbelts religiously since the 50's.  My life was saved by one and our son's as well, some 35 years ago.  He was only three but we had the latest safety seat at that time, fastened with a seatbelt when we were hit head-on.  His life was later saved, absolutely no doubt, by his wearing a helmet while riding his bike some 12 years later.  Thus we are all very much aware of safety, and our daughter-in-law won't even start the car until everyone is buckled up.  This also means we look at those crash test results as well as the mpg when we are looking for a new car.  And the bikers that don't wear helmets we consider to be simply an evolutionary component of survival of the smartest.  Dumb enough not to wear a seatbelt in a car or helmet on a bike?  Then you won't live to reproduce more of your kind and pass on those "dumb" genes.  A bit harsh, but so is death by smash-up.

Don't get me wrong-I'm all about safety, and my kids wore their seatbelts as did we. I look forward to the day when all cars are small and light and efficient, and we bounce off one another if we make contact. Bumper cars is my favorite carny ride *grins*, and you can play it on the Place de Concorde any day in Paris if you like. I loved going round and round and shouting and waving with the other drivers. I think you can be safe and have fun too, but sometimes you just have to have fun no matter what. I was out walking the other night in my little park, and a father came by with his child on its wee bike. I noted training wheels, helmet, elbow and knee pads, and a hovering parent constantly warning the poor thing of imminent catastrophe. The child could barely move. I grew up in a simpler time, I suppose, when we ran out the door after breakfast and didn't come in til Mom called for the last time, which we recognized by the use of our middle name as well as the first. I have some scars on elbows and knees, even a bit of asphalt imbedded, but I sure had fun! I would take a quarter and ride the bus (a wee girl, alone, 8 years old) downtown to the five and dime, and buy a toy or a comic book, a candy bar, and a soda, and still have change. I know, that dates me, but that's something else I don't care about. I've had a wonderful life, and if my female relatives' genes are anything to go by, I'm only half done. Yippee!

Fear not Spinner, in my fantasies there are no accidents and I would never put Olivia in danger.  The streets are made of rubber, our berets of flexible titanium, and we will be wearing Saint Christopher medals too.

Did I not drive carefully the evening you rode in my sidecar and we howled at the moon?

Peter I love your profile pics! Working on my outfit for DPR (as you wish!), I hope I can provide some amusement in that area soon...

And I know you'd keep me safe; we'd stop at a brasserie for espressos or cafe' cremes and watch the boulevardiers and flaneurs promenade, Then zip through traffic to the harbour, where we could observe the fishing fleet return to port, purchase something fresh from the boat to have prepared at a favourite bistro, with local vegetables and vin du pays. Next, the boites, for le jazz hot, and clever conversation. I could go and on, but this to me is the essence of la dolce vita. I know, I'm I'm a dreamer and a romantic, but what is life without our dreams?

Kisses to all-Olivia

Olivia, you have summoned up a picture perfect day!  My dreams stand in awe!

Olivia - In Missouri I was performing around Joplin, Springfield, Carthage, and a few small towns like Webb City. Then Noel, Arkansas, Pittsburgh, Kansas, and Miami, Oklahoma. Really hard work when by myself. Easier with a base player friend that used to join me. Did a few radio shows, "Music In the Park" for the arts committee, benefits and the like. Did a lot of Beatles, Dylan (Bob Dylan, not the other guy.), Simon and Garfunkel, John Hartford, Hoyt Axton, and Dillards. Great fun (most of the time), and i was well received (most of the time), but I finally realized my original stuff would not likely have lasting musical and literary value, and got a real job. I wonder if we ever did cross paths.

Our lives do have some interesting parallels. Cars, music, the medical profession (I'm a cardiac sonographer), and love of trains. I only fly when I can't get around it. I usually take the "Silver Chief" from Kansas City, Mo. to Fullerton Calif. to see my family and visit my old stomping grounds in Lakewood. I lose some time, and with a sleeper car it costs more than a plane, but I love the experience. Plenty of time to read, write in my journal, dream, and meet interesting people. I always travel in my Indiana Jones outfit, Wested leather jacket, Indiana Miller fedora, Aldens, officers "pinks", and MK VII British gas mask bag. I leave the pistola and whip at home. In California I revert back to my SportKilts, and Utilikilts, when I'm not at the beach in a wet-suit. I know, I'm a strange guy. My family has always said that I have "costume-itis", and it's true. I joined the Navy, in part, so I could wear the uniforms. It's very sad. There is no treatment. Terminally strange. I'm the only guy I know that uses a straight razor and has Dreyfus rotary phones.

Anyway, back to cars: I had retired, after twenty years, from the Navy Reserves in February following 911, and three weeks later was recalled and asked to serve Lady Liberty once more. I was glad to do it, and I volunteered for overseas duty, but probably because of my age, the Navy kept me stateside and sent me to Bremerton, Washington. So I drove my Mini Cooper (the first one I had, a standard, black over maroon) from Joplin to Washington via Southern California. After three months I was sent to Pensacola, Florida, so that was another cool trip. Then I went to San Diego. The Mini performed, without flagging, through all sorts of terrain, weather, and traffic conditions. Plenty of room for luggage, and a fantastic sound system. It's a great California car too, flying up the freeway onramps, merging easily in heavy traffic, and great on gas. I ferried quite a few Senior Medical Officers (out from Washington D.C.), and high ranking Foreign Nationals, from the San Diego airport to 32nd street Naval Station. They were all impressed by the Mini's comfort, speed and agility, and my daredevil stunt driving, specifically designed to scare the crap out of 'em.

When the warranty ran out on that Mini, I was surprised at the trade in value which was about 75% of the original price, so I traded for space-blue Cooper S Checkmate series. The extra horsepower (from 161 to 185 or something like that) doesn't make that much difference in performance, from what I can tell. The standard had plenty of power, even loaded down with luggage. I'm not a big fan of the run-flat tires either. Better performance, but a little rougher ride. When the warranty runs out on this one, I'll go back to the standard Mini. It's cheaper too.

Peter, you and Ti are my kinda guys! Glad I don't have to choose lol...

Ti, I love to dress for the occasion, whether it be Halloween or Life Its Ownself. It's part of what makes living so fabulous.

My Mini is an '02. She has her quirks, since she's the first year, but I love her all the more for them. I can talk about her the way some people go on about their children or pets. No functional cupholders, no cruise control, but hell for fast and so fun to drive. I can't drive slow, although I'm very careful and defensive, but I have racer reflexes and I don't dawdle, so Minnie is a perfect match. She's helped me get over Fifi, and I'm surrounded by airbags too. Great sound system, and I can park her anywhere.

If memory serves, the Mini has the highest trade-in value of any car. I know I've been offered more than I paid for her, but no dice. That reminds me-does anyone know which car has the LOWEST customer satisfaction rating on the planet? Last I checked, it was the HUMMER, a true piece of junk if ever there was one. A gf once commented about a mutual acquaintance who had to have a Hummer to accessorize his penchant for dressing like a SWAT team member whenever possible: "he must have a very tiny pee-pee". That still gives me a giggle...

For all of you who think I drive a Rolls Royce, I hate to disappoint (Ha Ha), but I drive a Mitsubishi Montero Sport.....great for clients, great for off road stuff.  20 miles per gallon.  I also have a 1990 Chevy Astro van....why?, because I like having a second vehicle and I can take the back seat out to carry things for the garden and the groceries.

Two favorite cars of mine were a 1958 Chevy Bel Aire station wagon when I was a teenager.....great for the beach....great for dates (well, we won't go there right now); the other was a Honda CVCC....I got it during the last oil crisis in the mid 70's.  I drove it till I needed something bigger for my (at that time) growing family. 

Over the years I've owned Chrysler New Yorkers, Cadillacs and Lincoln Towncars and Continentals as well as a Ford Aerostar and a Ford Taurus wagon.  But my heart still belongs to that '58 Chevy.

My Montero SUV is, of course, my current favorite. It's a different 'image' for me and one I actually like. My professional life is peopled by people driving Lexuses, BMW's and other luxury vehicals......I choose to be the rogue...the rebel....not because it's a good 'image' but because I'm still a rogue....a rebel at heart.

My oldest son just traded in his Mini Cooper......nice car, too.

ExPat I'm so glad I labeled you a rogue-I'm taking credit for bringing out a great side of your character, sweetie. Of course it was always there, I just like to think maybe I flipped a switch *mischievous smile*.

British cars are so eccentric, with so much character. I've always wanted a Bentley. Fortunately, I think, the've always been unattainable, although the older ones are almost reasonable, and they would be so cool to tool around in! Way more class than a RR, IMHO. Could it be influence from the James Bond books (so much better than the movies-oh how I wish they'd make JUST ONE true to the Fleming paradigm), or a long-ago bit of JP's writing, a line from a past description that has stuck with me?

All these manly contributions have certainly given me a few frissons, and I'll say no more about that.

I cannot imagine why anyone would TRADE IN a Mini Cooper, unless it was for a newer Mini...

My first car that I loved...fun to drive, and got me out of some tight spots (snow drifts in the Midwest USA) 1979 Audi B 2.

To DreadPirateRoberts,

You have never looked at the stars, lying in the flat bed of a truck!?! 

Greetings:  Peter, Thanks for the postion.  I'll get to work on the uniforms.  There was talk about the "showers" used in some of the Olympics (sycro diving).   I never did see the sycro Poll dancing, but I would have liked to have seen the shower scene.

Cars.  I have already spoken about my affliction for autos, but the vehicle I have thats getting the most road time right now is a new Meyers Manx dune buggy.  It's awesome and the boys love it.  Porsche 911 engine.  Zoom Zoom Zoom. 

DPR - I believe you are exactly correct, gas is less expensive here than in most of the country. Tonight I noticed that regular was $3.45 a gallon. It's all kind of relative though, because wages here are typically lower here than the rest of the nation.

Spinner - I only wish I had a dash button that would disable the cell phones stuck to the self-absorbed, murky headed drivers in most of the cars I see around me. And how about one to destroy those obnoxiously loud car speakers emanating malignant low frequency booming rhythms that rattle my skull. Both cause me extreme vexation.

Tiberius,

Please post a profile pic of yourself in that full Indiana Jones regalia, forthwith.

Ti and Olivia,

I also used to perform in many of those same Missouri towns.  But my track record was far less glorious as I was still in school at the time.  My school choir won many competitions and was invited to perform at various country fairs and such.  I've served as soloist in Joplin, Branson, Webb City, Carthage, Columbia, Springfield, and my home town of Sarcoxie (do you know it, Tiberius?).  I usually describe Sarcoxie as the town "you've never heard of before and never will again."

La Donna,

I have gazed at the stars many times but I usually preferred to lie on the ground.  The flatbed of a truck is the right shape and size for the activities that tend to be on young men's minds but the potential for getting caught can be offputting.