I test drove the car. I loved it. I drove another one at a different dealer to get a comparison test, loved that one too. I called a mechanic and arranged for me to take the car from the dealer to the mechanic to have him inspect it. And then I went to bed.
When I woke up I realized a few things. 1) Althought I have the money to buy the car, maintaining the car would be a ton of extra money. I drive a Toyota, on which I've fixed 2 things, the front left shock mount and the back left shock mount, both that gave out because I drove over speed bumps way too fast (you know the speed bump trick where you go all the way to the right and take the bump without really slowing down? It kills the left side of your car). Other than that, oil, brakes, and general maintenance. And it was great, since I don't have a full time job and work could get really slow any day (it kind of is right now). Also, insurance on the GTI would have been almost 5x as much as I pay now, because it's a sports car, and because it's awesome. And I knew that despite I was looking at an extremely rare car that I absolutely loved to drive, if anything ever broke on it, I wouldn't be able to fix it, and I wouldn't be able to fill it up b/c it took premium fuel, and I wouldn't be able to insure it. I supposed I could, but then I'd have to eat Ramen for the next 5 years or give up Dr. Pepper. And that's just crazy talk.
Yeah, it's been a while. Seems to be the cycle nowadays. I don't even care that much anymore. I write less and less here, possibly because I'm less full of myself than from my youthful days of college. However, I couldn't pass this story up.
My dream car, as many of you know, is a Black VW R32 MkV with a Stage 3 twin turbo kit. That's a lot of car talk, but basically it's a super pimped out version of a VW Golf/Rabbit. MkV just means the Mark V, or latest body style. I've told people I'd "settle" for a GTI (front wheel drive instead of all wheel, plus 200hp instead of 250), which isn't actually saying a lot 'cause GTIs are insane. My reason for loving the GTI? It's the perfect everycar ninjacar. What am I talking about?
The average young american male wants a car that can go fast. Not just go fast, but handle corners, etc. It's why some of them get cars like Mustangs and soup up Civics. But we're also poor. We can't afford high end sports cars with bad gas mileage, and let's be honest, they're impractical. Their back seats are a joke, so your friends can't actually sit there, and they can't carry anything in the trunk, like a guitar or boxes. And let's face it, we move a lot, we move our friends, and we move in herds of 3 or 4 at a time. We need a car that can carry 4 with reasonable comfort, haul a decent amount of crap, get good gas mileage, and we'd like a car that can go fast, handle, and look decently cool. Enter the GTI. It's a VW Golf that's been pimped out. 2.0L 4 cylinder engine with 200 hp, 0-60 in 7 seconds, it can fit 4 or 5 decently comfortable for a compact, can handle, looks cool, and is a hatchback for hauling crap. It is the perfect car. And many people agree. Top Gear, my favorite British Car Show, named it the car of the year in 2004 (first year the new GTI hit Europe). Many other magazines and car websites named it their respective CotY as well.
Unfortunately for me, I can't afford one. They start around $21k, and hold their value decently well. Also, they've only been in the country since halfway through 2006, so about a year and a half. The Mark 4 GTI is more boxy, has a 1.8L 180 hp engine, and has a 5 speed instead of a 6 speed manual transmission (and doesn't have the awesome new DSG gearbox for you automatic people. Basically, it's a genius piece of engineering that takes away shift shock.) I love the Mk4 almost as much as the Mk5, except I really want the 6 speed transmission. It has to do with turbolag and other supernerd car things. Enter the 2003 GTI 20th anniversary edition. Because the GTI is a little cult car, like the Mustang or Porche Carrera, VW decided to release anniversary edition models. Give the car a little extra spice. In the US in 2003/2004, they released the 20th anniversary edition, which had wheels off the R32, seats out of a Porche, and most importantly, a 6 speed transmission for the 1.8L engine. I'll take it.
Next problem, Volkswagon only moved 4000 to the US. That's not a lot. And only half of those are black. Add in the fact the country's huge, I'm trying to find a black GTI 20th in LA with decent mileage (around 50k) for a decent price (hopefully under $15k) with no physical problems. I'm dreaming at this point and I had given up, not that I was really going to buy a car.
All this to say, Sunday night I was talking to my sister in Seattle online and mentioned my massive love affair for the car, and said if I ever found the oh so rare GTI 20th anniversary edition in black for around 50k miles at a decent price, I'd seriously try and get one. Two days later, I found this: So yeah. I've been freakin' out the last couple days, debating whether I had the money, because it is exactly what I said I wanted but never thought I'd find. I mean, there are only 2000 in the US. And to have decent mileage on it and stuff. Come on. Not gonna happen.
The sad part is, I love this car so much. You know when you were in middle school and you really really liked that one girl but couldn't talk to her, and she sat next to you in class and you thought you'd puke from the excitement and dread in your stomach? I get that feeling when I see this.
Anyway, so I don't know if I'm going to get it, but I'm gonna go down to the place and check it out. Maybe test drive it. And try and figure out if I have the money for the perfect car.
Holy crap it's that time of year again. The time when networks parade out tons of new sitcoms and dramas in hopes that we watch them, then cut them off when they start to get good.
Of my shows last year, two were canceled, Veronica Mars and Studio 60. However, I may add three shows to fill their slots, although one is a half hour sitcom, so the time sorta kinda works out (it doesn't).
The first is a half hour sitcom on CBS called The Big Bang Theory. Basically, super nerds living in LA are shocked when a cute blonde moves across the hall of their apartment. They hang, and hilarity ensues. Not the greatest premise. But I saw the pre-screener and it was frakin' hilarious. I was sold when early on one of the guys made mention that they were going to watch Battlestar Galactica with commentary on. There were lines said that have been uttered amongst my nerd friends and I. It was funny, it was nerdy, and it was sweet. Although it's basically riding one joke, they're socially immature nerds, she's a girl (and not a ditz, just a normal cute midwestern girl), and they're friends.
The second show is Chuck. NBC, one hour sci-fi dramedy. I say sci-fi not in the sense of space and aliens, but more this. Chuck, guy that works at the Nerd Herd (Geek Squad) gets sent some kind of email form his CIA agent friend that contains all the intelligence of the CIA and NSA combined. He sees a series of images and now is basically the national intelligence computer. He's a nerdy guy (apparently TV execs are going after nerds now), with no social skills apparently (although he seems to get along fine), and he's being tracked by Adam Baldwin and this girl from the CIA that's kinda hot. Also she's a ninja assassin. Hot ninja assassin, yes, I know. I was sold when I saw that. But it's really a good show and funny, too.
Last show I might add is a show called Pushing Daisies. ABC, dramedy. It's kinda weird, very Tim Burton-esque. Done by the guy that did Men In Black. It's tragic, it looks funny and silly. I think I might like it.
Not a lot has been going on. Working some, although I'm not working now. Trying to write although I can't write right now. Smalz moved to LA, and I haven't left. Oh, and the NFL season started and I'm in three fantasy leagues.
Yes, I haven't posted in over a month. So things I've discovered in the past month of little or no value?
Stardust is a great film and you all should go see it. It's a little darker than the Princess Bride and not as quotable, but equally as good.
Our fridge broke and all the food inside went bad, yet no one told me for a week because my housemates suck. I desperately want to leave. So badly that I get depressed when I have to think about returning and try and find things to do to not go home.
I found funny awesome t-shirts: Reunite Pangea
Define Interesting: n. Oh God Oh God We're all going to die.
Helped Todd finish shooting his pilot.
Thought about getting a GTI.
Drooled a lot.
Realized I'm poor and what little money I make should be spent on food and getting an apartment.
First, August 14th, aka this coming Tuesday, is National Madden Day. True story. Look it up. Yes, it's that time of year again. Injury Watch on the cover recipient, this year Vince Young, along with half of the male population of this country getting sick/ going on vacation/ "working" from home; all starts this Tuesday. I'm very excited. Mainly because it IS coming out for the Wii (I wasn't sure), and I'm intrigued by the innovative gameplay. Also I've been getting madden since 93, except for those two years when I got NHL 95/96 for Christmas instead, back in my hockey loving days.
Secondly, my fantasy football league is at a nice 9 team size. Now we just have to find a day when we can get everyone together in cyberspace at the same time to do our draft. I had it scheduled for this saturday, but then got emailed by 4 different members saying they wouldn't be able to make it. So yeah, now we're trying to find a new day.
Lastly, I love webisodes. The concept fascinates me on multiple levels. From the academic, intellectual level, I'm fascinated that people would a) spend money to shoot something to put on the web for free where no one will see it most likely, and b) that companies are trying new and innovative ways to market their brand. From the more humanistic real level, I like webisodes because they tend to have a different structure for storytelling. In a movie you expect 2 hours of content. TV it's 30 min. to an hour. On webisodes, there's not a pre-arranged timeset, but we expect them subconsciously to be less that 10 min. Less than 5 ideally. It makes for really good comedic shorts. Also really bad ones. But you have to get in and out really quickly. You introduce characters, you set up your punchline through a few minor jokes, you punch, you get out. Anyway, so American Eagle had Milo Ventimiglia, aka Peter Petrelli from Heroes, direct like 10 or so webisodes called "It's a Mall World" about these guys that work in a mall. The only plug in the two eps I've seen for AE is that one of the girls works at one, and they showed her standing in front of it. Very subtle. No slamming of their brand down your throat. Of course, all the actors are probably wearing AE's latest, but they're paying the bills, so it makes sense. Anyway, they shot it, it's on youtube, their website, and apparently they bought some ad time during the Real World every Wed. to show a new ep. Interesting marketing campaign. And the webisodes aren't that bad. I actually laughed.
