Here In My Car………

I feel safest of all, I can lock all my doors, It’s the only way to live….

I know I know. I don’t normally go around quoting Gary Numan disco songs from the 1980s, but it’s true.

Cars I have owned in my 52 years:

1.              1964 Ford Fairlane Sports Coup

2.              1981 Subaru Wagon 4WD (Cyclops)

3.              1982 Subaru Turbo Coupe 4WD

4.              1974 Ford LTD (Dorf)

5.              1977 MGB

6.              1983 Ford Bronco SLT (Big Black Bastard)

7.              1982 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE (Rice Rocket)

8.              1982 Audi Coupe of some unknown kind

9.              1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

10.          1985 Chevy Diesel Conversion Van (Otamot)

11.          1986 Subaru Hatchback 4WD

12.          1980 Datsun Pick Up

13.          1986 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Edition

14.          1980 Ford Ranger Pick Up

15.          1981 Ford F-150 Pickup Lease then Purchased (MCF)

16.          1989 Ford  F-250 Pickup Truck Super Duty Super Crew 4WD (Behemoth)

17.          2002 Volkswagen Diesel New Beetle (Presently Owned) (Der Stuka)

18.          1999 Dodge Ram Conversion Van (Presently Owned) (Green Turd)

Best Mileage:   Diesel New Beetle      44-46 mpg Hwy

Worst Mileage:   1989 Ford F-250 Pickup 4WD     12-15 Hwy.

Fastest:   1982 Mazda RX-7 Rotary 13B engine    135 MPH (RADAR Clocked 4th gear)

Cheapest:   1964 Ford Fairlane Sports Coupe. Mimi sold it to me for $1.00

Most Expensive:   1989 Ford F-250   $25,000

Most Hated:     1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

Most Loved and Pampered:   2002 Diesel New Beetle

I’m not a “Car Guy” I never really gave a crap about my cars until I had the Mazda sports car. Then I fell in love with that rush of speed that flying  4 inches off the ground at a hundred miles an hour can give you. It didn’t handle that well though which always scared me, and 9,000 rpm in first gear was a little crazy.

My favorite car, and I have no idea why, is the 2002 VW Diesel New Beetle that I drive now. Being a diesel it hits maximum torque (power) at 1700 RPMs. A Porsche needs to get to 4,000 RPM to get the same power. It’s quick, turns on a dime, Handles like a formula 1 race car and gets 44-46 MPG on the highway.

We just took Der Stuka (his name) through one of the most thrilling and treacherous roads in the world. US Highway 129 in North Carolina and Tennessee. It’s referred to as the Tail of The Dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles. My beetle with it’s low end torque was running away from most of the motorcycles and sports cars we came across. On a road where the maximum speed limit is 30 mph we had 270° turns we took at 50.

And remember. I’m not a “Car Guy”!