@Long_Voyager94 It's like they knew you were coming, and tried to prepare for it.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39150/meet-the-90s-dodge-caravan-off-road-minivan-that-almost-made-it-to-production

They should be.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

@essextee Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day; sell a man a fishing pole, he may never learn to fish and then come back to buy a fish.

@Snakesm13 continued saga for his 997 CS reminded me of when I bought my 987 Cayman:

I was an off-site contract employee based out of Texas which was then asked to do a rotation at the client office in California to learn more of the extent and inner workings of the project. That stint was supposed to be 1-month long; I stayed on project and in California for 2.5 years.

This was fine for me as I had only just returned to Texas and hadn't gotten my own place to stay, and the car I had bought for myself there my parents graciously stored in their garage until about 9 months later when we sold it (back to the dealer I had bought it from, and for the same price; that kinda being its own story).

So. I'm in California, living out of a hotel, getting per diem, and working 65+ hour weeks. I was making really good money and it was becoming apparent I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Then I started car shopping.

My Cayman was offered as a CPO out of Porsche Livermore. Long story short, I test drove it, I loved it, the price was very fair, and I began the process to buy it. Then came the snag: I could not claim residence in California.

So what did I do? I did a tour of, and signed the lease on, an apartment during my lunch break the following day. That evening, I brought the lease package with me to Porsche Livermore as proof of residence. And I bought my Cayman.

So, what have you done to buy a car?

@nauraushaun You don't. The intensity of the dumb just settles down over time, but every now and again you really think back to that moment and remind yourself how dumb you once had been. And you subconsciously remain forever grateful that you don't actually forget, and are forever better for it.

GIB.

GIB.

GIB.

GIB.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

@carsoffortlangley Incorrect: a Texan wouldn't be self-conscious about doing any of those things while driving.

@musashi66 Oh look, it's the Chevrolet Blackwood....

You've been forewarned; this may not be worth your time to read. Let's begin!

• the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is cosplaying as "manly," and I hate it for the lies it wears on its shoulders. I would buy a 2020. Scratch that, I'd buy a 2019. F*** 2020.

• mid-cycle refreshes are the pubescent stage of cars; no longer young and pure of intent from their creation, but now morphing -- appendages and features changing at varying rates in a way that reminds you of their brother, but it doesn't suit them well.

• hypercars aren't special; they're just overly funded. Special cars punch above their weight. If anything, hypercars are punching down.

• if I can see through a wheel to beneath the car, then either upgrade the brakes or the wheels are too large. It's either underperforming or overflexing.

• cameras are not a sufficient replacement to greenhouses. Give me back my glass; I'll see my own way out (bah-dum-ccchh!!)

• if it doesn't have 3 pedals, it's not a manual; stop listing your automatic incorrectly in ads; I SWEAR TO GOD it's like people are actively trying to kill what automotive joy I have left. It's bad enough no one makes a stick anymore...

• raw onions are better than grilled.

• I love going for a drive; I also love not having to.

• I have no problem changing my oil more frequently than is 'required', but I can't be bothered about a cabin air filter.

• time is a human construct.

• the R55 MINI Clubman is the only 5-door shooting brake in existence.

• Millinocket, ME is an awkward but incredibly lovely town.

• I won't buy gas in Mississippi.

• I want a highway legal version of an SxS with an enclosed cab. Someone please make. Then GIB.

• rules are stupid, but freedom is overglorified.

• album just finished; so too does this post.

@just-jeepin said in And it has power steering:

@flatisflat Waiting for the constant outflow of money to pause for a year or two.

Darn you and your responsibility!

@way2blu I'm having a difficult time fathoming how this thing is listed for what it is. Why are you making posts about it and not on your way to camp out in the dealership's driveway to buy this first thing in the morning?

@just-jeepin What feels incredibly fitting at this moment are the words of Brandon Boyd and Incubus, in saying, "What are you waiting for? A certain shade of green?"

@taylor-martin Do it -- whatever it ends up being. Nothing better than getting a near POS to tinker on to learn a buttload about cars because you're not relying on it as your sole transportation and thus anxiety levels go way down. I support all the things.

@silentbutnotreallydeadly It is definitely more green in person. I think the photo filter I threw on did too much in bringing out the highlights in the mixed-fabric strands.

@ita97 WUT?

@rallywrench
A two-haiku-fer
perhaps? But I digress; sounds
like a rough day, though.

@daftryosuke I adore looking at this generation 3 hatch; it's such a gorgeous shape! Congrats!

@davesaddiction Pretty sure we both won.

@taylor-martin Even with shop access, a lift, a bevy of tools, and a proper oil drain can and high-rise funnel, I still hated changing the oil in my MINI. I say any DIY oil change is a successful oil change; kudos!