I usually don't include a lot of personal items in here, but I thought it was important that I share something with all of you. I'm in love. Her name is "Vette.
Here's a picture.
She is a C6 and she's absolutely beautiful. I've never really been the type to go for fancy wheels, or to worry too much about what I was driving. Mostly I'm concerned about transportation and let what other people think be damned.
But what a great car! One of the definite perks of working in an automotive company is the opportunity to drive really sweet vehicles on a regular basis. But really, none of the cars I've drive have really affected me quite as strongly as the new 'Vette. The most striking thing for me: I've driven Corvettes before, and they drive like sports cars. That's fine because they're supposed to after all, but it makes them less practical, and in the wrong conditions it makes them dangerous. But the C6 drives like a dream. This was further heightened by the fact that she was (unfortunately) an automatic, but it was the smoothest I've ever seen a sports car be. If you want you can drive very easy and controlled without effort. Acceleration isn't jumpy and turning is smooth. But when you want it, its all there. Pinned to the back of my seat I could feel that she was hardly even warmed up. (Of course, as in accordance with company policies I was always driving in a controlled manner and well within the posted speed limits.) Driving along the videogame-like expanse of Westbound I-696 I knew I could be anywhere on the road that I wanted to in a second, but cruising was still very comfortable.
In fact the engine absolutely screams at 400 HP in a V-8 and yet it still manages mid 20's in Highway mileage. It's better in every way than the C5 and yet costs *less* at a base price of $44,245.
I've had a few days to settle down and have decided not to sell my house and live in the C6. But I did think about it. My few complaints: I didn't like the radio very much. It has the keyless electronic ignition and door system that is currenly in the XLR, which might be nice next year, but still seems a little buggy. I really can't think of anything else, and if I had an extra $44,000 in a drawer, neither of the above would really make me think twice.
But I suppose in the meantime I'll just continue to live with my 10-year old 180,000 mile Honda, and let my love languish unrequited. But perhaps someday in the future we can make it work.
Notes: Pictures produced by my cell phone in unlit garage, which don't really do the car justice. Go to the Chevy site for the good ones.
Corvette commercial which shows young boy driving wildly pulled from the air
You know the funniest thing about this post? I know the person who directed that commercial. And I know a guy in an art department who almost got sucked into being on the team who made that commercial... and everyone is very glad that our favorite guy (Ty) did not get involved with that production team because now they're being black-listed, in a sense.
Oh, and I think I may have just cheated on my husband. I think I had a orgasm reading about Vette. The hubby doesn't know a thing about cars, but I grew up working on them--and apparently he's the Michigander who grew up in Car Country? Sometimes I feel jipped growing up in old Cali. But anyway, the fastest way to my heart is through a good ol' fashioned Mustang or Corvette. Or in this case, the new ones pack a punch, too.
Mmmm... Vette...
Does this make me a lesbian?
--S
I'm really annoyed by the furor over the commercial. And I'm sure it was a great spot (it's been pulled even from the Internet so I can't see it). I'm really just annoyed in general by the tyranny of Safety. Safety is a myth and it always has been, and to give up on dreams and fun and joy for some temporary illusion of safety is insane. This isn't to say you shouldn't be responsible or even cautious when warranted. It doesn't mean you should ignore your basic human needs for shelter and food and such. But assuming that you can ever make people "safe" is false and causes people to make dangerous assumptions. And really, how can a rational person think that not showing commercials with cool cars driving fast will stop young boys (and girls) from dreaming about screaming sideways through an intersection and winding up to 90 mph in third gear? If you've got the need for speed, you don't need anyone to explain it to you.
Anyway.
There are arguments that could be made about the 'Stang or Viper perhaps, but the Corvette is *definitely* female. Which means you may in fact be automotively-bisexual.
I haven't driven any of the new Mustangs, but I hate what they've done to the styling enough that I'd rather have a '66 over a '06 anyday.
I love the fact that my job allows me to get the chance to drive cool ass cars with having to buy one. I've usually gotten my itch scratched with bikes or by whining until I could drive other cars. But since being here I've driven the VR6 in a Golf (a great example of HP -> Weight ratio and even better in Torque -> Weight), the Bettle Turbo S (incredibly fast, even if I feel stupid driving it), the VW V10 TDI (enough torque to part the Red Sea, and mid 30s on MPG), the W12 in a Phaeton (what an insanely ridiculous and wonderful car), Cadillac XLR (similar to the 'Vette but gives up some HP and just too classy for my taste), Audi A6 4.2, Audi Allroad (4.2 TwinTurbo). I only got to look at the GTO, but I'll hopefully get a chance with that in the next year. (Why does the famous new GTO look like a family car?)
Anyway, I'm not sure how I'll survive once I leave this job now that I'm so spoiled. I might have to actually get my own.
They pulled that ad? But it had a fine print disclaimer! That makes everything okay, right?
I thought it was a good ad. They show the little boy's unrequited love for the 'Vette, but the connection you have to make on your own is, "Hey, I'm an adult now. I can morgage my house and get a 'Vette." Maybe that was the problem. People aren't that big into thinking and just took the thing literally. My only problem with the ad was that the "hot chick" featured in it was 12 or so which was kind of creepy.
It really doesn't matter what you do anymore; there's always a chorus of assholes waiting to be outraged and tell you what a horrible person you must be. I think I'm going to go buy some cigaretts, some porn, and a big ol' fur coat.
Dude! The new Mustang is sweet looking! Except for the funky fog lights on the GT.
The real question is why is Ford finally building a Pony to compete with the Z28 (performance-wise) now that the Camaro is dead?
Bah. Ford and GM both sold their souls with the redesign on the Mustang and the Camaro. I'm not a purist in everything, but you just don't eff with a classic. I don't really recognize the late 90s Mustang as the same car as from the mid 60s, from a styling perspective. The Camaro was very similar (but even more striking a difference to me) in its redesign in the mid 90s. I loved those old big block cars in the late 60s. I'm glad they put the modern pretender out of its misery (even if from a performance perspective it was far superior).
GM tends to lag on design in the last 20 years, but at least they've had to simple good sense not to screw around with the Corvette.
From '63 on, you can always recognize it, even from miles away.
Just to be clear, 1980ish - 2004 Mustang: yuck.
2005 Mustang: Sweet.
I will admit its gotten better. But I'm still a stubborn bastard and don't like it.
(Not that I'd pass up a chance to drive one...)
First time reading this blog, just wanted to say hi.
Interesting.
I just want to point out officially that I was full of crap for dissing the '05 Mustang. You're right, Kurt, it rocks. It shouldn't have taken me this long to correct it.