TDI fades into regulatory oblivion; Enter Miata

[Laconian]

Lawl. On my scenic country drive today, I got coal-rolled by a redneck sociopath in a "CHOKE ON MY SMOKE" lifted RAM with a vinyl decal depiction of his entire assault rifle family. The fuck. Oh, also: "FREEDOM ISN'T FREE", apparently.

[CaminoRacer]

 

[Laconian]

The downside of driving through rural areas.

[CaminoRacer]

The downside of driving through rural areas.

I roasted two lifted trucks the other day. They looked like they were "racing" through traffic and ended up just a little bit ahead of me on both sides (3 lanes, I was in the middle lane). I gunned it and showed them what real muscle looks like.

And then I immediately had to brake to turn into the grocery store parking lot.

[Tave]

I've not been rolled yet, which is kinda surprising given how far into the sticks I get. Then again this is undercover car country.

I thought my first one was coming: dude in a 90s diesel with an epic Joe Dirt haircut (only missing the blade of grass/straw in his teeth) stared me down at a redlight and......told me "Hey man I like that car!"

[Laconian]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww... a gentle hillbilly!

I knew quite a few when I worked at the farm store. There seem to be more of them than the angry stomping maybe-does-crank junkrats.

[Soup DeVille]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww... a gentle hillbilly!

I knew quite a few when I worked at the farm store. There seem to be more of them than the angry stomping maybe-does-crank junkrats.

Fact is most real rednecks are decent folk; but the more they go out of their way to identify as a redneck, the more of an asshole they likely are.

[93JC]

I was just challenged by an old school red mustang 'vert. The first gen w the 289 (didn't those make like 180 hp at best?).

W/ a two-barrel carb they were rated ~200 (gross), but the four-barrel was 225. "K-code" (solid lifter, bigger manifolds, etc.) option 289s had >270, but they were pretty rare.

[Soup DeVille]

W/ a two-barrel carb they were rated ~200 (gross), but the four-barrel was 225. "K-code" (solid lifter, bigger manifolds, etc.) option 289s had >270, but they were pretty rare.

I would never assume a Mustang to be stock.

[Cookie Monster]

I would never assume a Mustang to be stock.

Yeah probably weighed down with Pepboys stick on chrome bits

[Soup DeVille]

Yeah probably weighed down with Pepboys stick on chrome bits

Lol, maybe. But most old Mustang owners are a bit more mature than that.

[Raza]

I was just challenged by an old school red mustang 'vert. The first gen w the 289 (didn't those make like 180 hp at best?). I didn't even realize it was a race at first because I was too busy staring at his car. Dude lit up his back tires for 10-15yards and I had no trouble smoking him with a normal launch.

I had a kid in an old Buick challenge me once.  I was so surprised, I almost didn't launch in time to whoop him. 

[Raza]

Lawl. On my scenic country drive today, I got coal-rolled by a redneck sociopath in a "CHOKE ON MY SMOKE" lifted RAM with a vinyl decal depiction of his entire assault rifle family. The fuck. Oh, also: "FREEDOM ISN'T FREE", apparently.

Shit like that doesn't happen in Tokyo.  I've only seen one pickup truck, and it was smaller than a Ford Ranger.

[Raza]

Fact is most real rednecks are decent folk; but the more they go out of their way to identify as a redneck, the more of an asshole they likely are.

I tend to judge more by bumper stickers and the presence of truck nuts than the truck itself.

[Tave]

It's been a nice week for top-down driving but may snow Sunday, can't wait till we turn the Spring corner for good.

Car feels sublime, and I've got so much positive feedback from random people.

I'm not missing the space/practicality of the Jetta one bit (well, maybe slightly when I golf and my bag rides shotgun). Now that I've had time to reflect on it, I can only remember 2 times in 3 years that it was even useful: once for an Ikea run and once to pick up my Casper mattress from the post office.

[Laconian]

Last night I fit four full grocery bags in the trunk. Not much room left over but it did the run just fine. The upright space is quite practical.

[Tave]

Last night I fit four full grocery bags in the trunk. Not much room left over but it did the run just fine. The upright space is quite practical.

My upper-limit for grocery runs as a single guy is ~$200, and it handles that no problem.

Really loving this engine it's such a sweetheart and eager all across the rev range.

[Soup DeVille]

I tend to judge more by bumper stickers and the presence of truck nuts than the truck itself.

That's the self-identifying part I'm talking about.

[Laconian]

My upper-limit for grocery runs as a single guy is ~$200, and it handles that no problem.

My husband loads the grocery cart up with imported cheeses. I can't look at the checkout prices anymore because the total $ amount is a frequent cause of marital strife. It's one of his ground rules - cheese is like oxygen to a Frenchman.

[Laconian]

And yeah the engine is great. I love driving up hills because it means I can nail the throttle for longer.

[Tave]

My husband loads the grocery cart up with imported cheeses. I can't look at the checkout prices anymore because the total $ amount is a frequent cause of marital strife. It's one of his ground rules - cheese is like oxygen to a Frenchman.

I could never get one of my ex's out of the store w/o multiple bags of burrata and various Texa$ Swiss stinkies. I feel your pain.

For simple 'ol me, $200 is around 8-10 store bags stuffed to the gills. I've got a blanket, jacket, neck pillow, and upholstery/widow wipes in there too; I could cram another bag or so if I emptied out everything.

[Tave]

And yeah the engine is great. I love driving up hills because it means I can nail the throttle for longer.

It prefers to be shifted high on the rev counter but is really torq-y down low and linear through its range. It fits well to the car's limits. I can see how it'd be fun to do drop a V8 in it, but the power delivery in cornering is so effortless in this that's it's hard to picture a better match.

[Laconian]

3rd gear is best gear

[68_427]

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[Raza]

My husband loads the grocery cart up with imported cheeses. I can't look at the checkout prices anymore because the total $ amount is a frequent cause of marital strife. It's one of his ground rules - cheese is like oxygen to a Frenchman.

On my watch forum, it's money spent on watches that causes the marital issues.

On my car forum, apparently, it's money spent on cheese.

We're doing it wrong, I think.

[Tave]

The other weekend I wandered onto a gravel road on my way to a winery and had some fun playing with throttle-oversteer. It's soooooo much more progressive, catchable, controllable....whatever you wanna call it versus anything else I've driven, the balance is just perfect. We're suppose to get a little snow tmrw and I'm hoping enough sticks to have a some fun.

[Laconian]

On my watch forum, it's money spent on watches that causes the marital issues.

On my car forum, apparently, it's money spent on cheese.

We're doing it wrong, I think.

I've made peace with it; I just have to look away from the cash register's tally.

[AutobahnSHO]

I've made peace with it; I just have to look away from the cash register's tally.

Lol my wife gets anxious about money, she looks away even with regular no-frills groceries....

[Soup DeVille]

My husband loads the grocery cart up with imported cheeses. I can't look at the checkout prices anymore because the total $ amount is a frequent cause of marital strife. It's one of his ground rules - cheese is like oxygen to a Frenchman.

Just to fuck with him, sneak a couple packages of Kraft singles in there.

[MrH]

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