Wife and I took the weekend to smash Montana backroads and antique shops. I’ve never wanted to do that in any other car that I’ve owned. Smash the backroads? Yes I’ve wanted to do that before. But I’ve never had a car that I could cruise Cowboy Trail at a mundane 115km/h in before, or one that would even allow the wife and I to have a comfortable conversation in. It’s also nice not to feel like a punk when the valet takes your keys, and for once older ladies compliment me on my ride rather than shake their heads in disgust. “What a fun looking little car!”
Yes the best thing about my car might be that it is in it’s entirety exactly how Scion… agh err… Toyota… agh err…. Subaru produced it. That, and how quickly the boot fills up with vintage china, vases and weird pearly bowls full of sea shells.
The worst thing about my car is likely how it feels broken when I go WOT at 2500rpm. You know I used to believe that my auto philosophy allowed for very low horsepower, but maybe it’s been way too long since I drove a stock AE86 or other terribly slow car. I seem to remember a 4AG at least making some urgent noises that created anticipation for a sense of acceleration… When you drop the hammer on an FA20 at low RPM it protests and complains. I swear I hear that throttle body open and air come backwards out of it.
I’ve always sucked at heal-and-toe and working a gear box though, so the positive is that now I’m getting much much better… plus the gearbox and pedals are pretty pleasant to touch.
Next year, the new worst thing about my car will likely be the ricey ass wheels that I have on it. It seems like I’m going to have to work really hard to find something that meets my new tastes (or lack there off). Maybe what I need to do is get out the cutting wheel and hack off the 20 polished spokes on each of my wheels. Seems like a good way to save weight and rid my car of it’s split personality shoes.