Friday, October 28, 2005

My poor baby.

So I was on my way to meet some friends for dinner. Some guy pulled out on a red light, and ran into my brand new (for me) car--my baby. For some of you the details will be meaningless, for others they might help. So I'm going south on Silas Creek Parkway from North Point. I am almost to the Fairlawn intersection. I am actually (believe it or not) going the speed limit. I am in the slow (right) lane. From the time that I can see the traffic light until I get to the intersection the light is green (it didn't just change)--probably 10-15 seconds or so. As I am almost to the intersection some dipshit in a truck starts pulling out from Fairlawn (trying to turn left to head North on Silas Creek Parkway). Idiot. He wasn't trying to make it through a dark yellow/red light late. No, it was red, and had been for sometime. Either he was screwing around or trying to show off to his friend in the passenger seat or was tired of waiting for the red light or something, but it was a red light and had been for quite some time. So I pull (in my humble opinion) a stellar driving maneuver, stomping on the gas and swerving into the fast (left) lane to try and get around ahead of him. My other options were (1) continue on my original trajectory and T-bone him (likely totalling my car), or (2) try and swerve around him on the left without speeding up and get T-boned by him. Not good choices. So I almost pull of this incredible move, but he tags my right rear, right behind the rear passenger's door. My ass end comes out, but I correct and get it straightened out no problem. I'm already yelling and cursing and swearing like a damn sailor. So I immediately slow down, pull onto the shoulder and put on my emergency flashers. I'm automatically watching in the rear view mirror to see what he's doing. I figure he'll turn right, pull in behind me and we'll get it straightened out. He sits in the middle of the intersection for a few seconds (the light is still green in my favor/red against him) and then proceeds to continue pulling out and turning left IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM WHERE I AM SITTING. Now I'm all kinds of fired up. So I turn off the emergency flashers, signal, and pull a U-turn through the grass median on Silas Creek, so I am now going North. I get on it (about 80 in a 45 now) because I'm pissed and he is obviously bailing. I catch him right past the BP on North Point as he's getting ready to turn right (South onto University Parkway). I'm already connecting to 911 on my cell phone. There is the red truck, then a white Lincoln behind him and then I'm behind the Lincoln. So he turns right onto University and I'm following him. I can see that the guy in the Lincoln is also going the same way as him, right behind him and he also is on his phone. So the guy in the truck accelerates up University, then turns right onto Fairlawn. He continues across Polo into Wake's campus. By this time I've explained to the 911 operator that I got hit by some guy and that he bailed and I'm following him. It is also pretty clear by now that the guy in the Lincoln is also following him. So we go through campus, take the right to take us past the Divinity School. Finally in front of the Art Museum (at least I think that is what it is, the guy in the Lincoln pulls out beside the guy in the truck and starts blowing his horn and pointing over to the side of the road. The guy pulls into a parking area, with a curb in front of him (so he'd have to hop a curb to get away going forward), the Lincoln pulls right beside him so he can't get back out into the road, and I pull in behind him so he can't back up either. Some little teenager hops out of the truck. And another rolls out of the passenger side. The cops are on their way. A couple minutes later the cops show up and fill out an accident report and everything. Supposedly they got him (17 year old little punk) for running the red light and leaving the scene of an accident. So I'm sitting on the curb in the middle of Wake's campus with all the undergrad kids rolling by staring. The whole time I'm steaming. It's building up and building up. I'm furious. My car is my baby. I love her. It is my first (pretty) new car that I've ever gotten and I absolutely adore it. Also, as you may or may not have been able to tell yet, I have a bit of a thing for automobiles. The guy not only ran a completely, unequivocally red light, but then hit me, then bailed, then tried to ditch me. I'm furious. So I get an accident report from the cop. He says he's going to get the kid for the two things I mentioned above. Obviously I am not going to be making it to dinner at this point. Then I called Laura to see if I could go over to her house, because I'm absolutely furious and if I get anywhere near that kid I'm going to beat the living crap out of him and it's good the cop is there because otherwise he might not be living anymore and can I come over to her house to relax and calm down a little bit. So she said yes, so I headed that way. I called my (poor) mom and bitched to her. I cursed a lot. I felt badly. But she handed the phone off to my brother-in-law, so I hope I didn't offend her too much. So long story short, I got hit, had to run after the guy to catch him, and my baby got jacked up. Obviously, the glass-is-half-full side of it is that (1) I didn't get hurt, and (2) my baby didn't get hurt more badly than it did. I guess. I'm still pretty pissed at that kid. He *never* apologized to me the whole time I was sitting there behind his car while the cop was filling out the paperwork. I wanted to beat his bitch-ass. I called my insurance after I got to Laura's and they got a claim going for me and stuff and said that most likely the kid's insurance should cover all my stuff AND pay for my deductible, so that would be really nice. Laura made me dinner, and helped calm me down so that was nice of her. She takes good care of me. I'm going into the body shop tomorrow after school and I'll let you know what the damage actually is...My prediction is: right rear quarter panel and rear bumper need replacing (plus the sundry trim and lighting)--parts + labor = $2,500. We'll see. I'll post some pictures later of the damage (it doesn't look very bad)...

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Autocrossing.

I went down to an autocross they had in Winston-Salem this morning. It was quite interesting. There were some really cool cars there, and some that were not as cool. An STi put up the best time (1 minute, 41 seconds), but what was really impressive was a 3rd gen RX-7 (possibly my favorite car of all time) putting up a 1 minute, 43 second lap. We talked with the guy between laps and he said it was stock except for a cat-back exhaust, front anti-roll bar, tires, rotors and pads. Pretty impressive that a 255 horsepower (stock) car that is over 10 years old is able to (almost) keep up with a brand new rally-based 300 horsepower, all-wheel-drive monster. I love RX-7s...

RX-7 (paddock). Posted by Picasa

RX-7 (start line). Posted by Picasa

RX-7. Posted by Picasa

RX-7. Posted by Picasa

RX-7 (finish line). Posted by Picasa

Z06 (start line). Posted by Picasa

Z06. Posted by Picasa

Z06. Posted by Picasa

Z06. Posted by Picasa

Z06 (finish line). Posted by Picasa

STi (start line). Posted by Picasa

STi. Posted by Picasa

STi. Posted by Picasa

STi. Posted by Picasa

STi. Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

"Drivers (no longer) wanted?"

So, I have some pretty serious issues with VAG's restrictions on one's ability to build the new (B6) Passat to one's liking. My car (B5.5) came with: the four cylinder (1.8 liter turbocharged inline-four), manual transmission (5-speed), leather seating, Monsoon (premium) sound system. I can't build a comparable car on the new platform. I would *like* to build a B6 Passat with: the four cylinder (new 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-four), manual transmission (new 6-speed), leather seating, and the premium sound system. I can't. Here's how it goes. I try to bulid a "2.0T" model Passat. So far so good. Then I pick the exterior color I want. So far still so good. Then I pick leather interior. Here is where the problems start. It then requires me to pick a package ("Package #2") with a stereo with either the XM or Sirius option. In and of itself I am all right with this. If I had a choice, I don't want a $2,825 package with options I don't really want just to get leather interior. Then the problems really start. I choose the XM stereo option and then I am forced to agree to further options including leather interior (which is fine--it's what I want), the premium sound system (great--I always want that), AND the 6-speed *automatic* transmission (at an additional cost of $1,075). BIG problem. I don't want (and won't get) a car with an automatic. So, I try to get around it. I *settle* for leatherette interior (yuck), and move onward to options. Two more problems come up. I try and get the Cold Weather Package for $225. Seems simple enough. Nope. I then have to choose (again) between XM and Siruis (this time a $1,625 package). Again, I don't really want it (well, I don't want to pay for it anyway), but I'll get it if I have to in order to have heated seats and mirrors. Nope. Again I have to select a further package including the $1,075 automatic transmission. Dammit! Ok, so no Cold Weather Package. Let's at least have a pimp sound system to go with our leatherette seats. Nope. I click on the premium sound system option, and again I have to choose between Package #1 ($1,625 plus $1,075 for the automatic) or Package #2 ($2,825 plus $1,075 for the automatic). Either way I'm out a *minimum* of $2,700 and I have a freaking automatic. We can't have that. So essentially the only alternative I am left with is to get the "2.0T" model, manual transmission, leatherette (not leather) interior, and NO premium sound system. That's ridiculous. Volkswagen's catchphrase is supposed to be "Drivers Wanted." Well true drivers are going to want a manual transmission, nice seats and good tunes to listen to. That isn't that much to ask, and you can't get these things together on the B6 Passat.

Maybe you could go and ask your dealer to custom option one for you, but I don't know if they would be able to get you one they way you want or not. I would be surprised if you can get one the way I want. Very frustrating.

I love station wagons...

Matt asked me this question:

"You've brought up Jettas and wagons within two posts, so this is more or less relevant: any idea whether VW will be producing a wagon for the 2006 redesigns of the Jetta and Passat? The VW website no longer shows a Passat wagon and the Jetta wagon is the 2005 body style."

Great questions; as (you probably know) that issue is close to my heart. As an aside, the *only* thing I would change (from the factory) about my Passat is if it could have been a wagon. It has all the options I want and the drivetrain I want, color, etc., but if it was exactly like it is, except in wagon style, it would be *money*.

Back to the question at hand--it is my understanding Volkswagen will be releasing the new Passat (B6) wagon next February (2006). That will be very cool. I have some issues as to Volkswagen's new restrictions as to building Passats to your liking, but I will address that in another post.

The question about Jetta wagons is a little more difficult. For a time Volkswagen would not commit to the statement that they were even going to make a (new) Jetta wagon (MkV). However, the latest news I have heard is that they *are* going to make a Jetta wagon. Well, yes and no. It might not be under the "Jetta" moniker. There are some issues with the required re-tooling at the factory in Mexico that makes the MkV Jetta. Apparently they have to switch it all up to make the wagon. So what they're thinking about doing, is making a wagon, but under a name other than Jetta and with different body-cladding. They are planning on putting the Haldex 4Motion feature on it, and making it a little farther up-market than the Jetta itself. However, nothing is set in stone as of yet, because whatever they choose to do, it will require (as discussed above) the retooling of the factory in Mexico. The rumors I've heard (read) are that it won't be at U.S. dealers until 2007 at the earliest, and possibly as late as 2008. Don't hold your breath...

Monday, October 10, 2005

Hmmm...

So the new (2006) Jetta GLI has a 180 mph speedometer. Interesting...

Friday, October 07, 2005

I love 540i wagons.

I think they're absolutely cool as hell. V8 power, wagon practicality. Throw in a Dinan package (412 horsepower, 397 lb/ft of torque; power to weight ratio of 10.0) and you have quite the little sleeper. The ONLY thing that is a drawback for me is it is only available in an automatic transmission.

I *really* hope they bring a M5 wagon over here for the E60 platform. That would be ridiculous. 507 horsepower, 7-speed SMG transmission--in a wagon?!?! Where do I sign up?

Thursday, October 06, 2005

My mom always told me...

...people often have more money than sense. Lindsay Lohan crashed her Mercedes yesterday (second time in four months):

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Lohan-Accident.html

She (and her passenger) are fine. The issue I have is that the car she wrecked (this time at least) was a new Mercedes Benz SL65--one of the sickest cars on the road today.

http://www.tuningnews.net/news/040407a/mercedes-sl65-amg.php
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?article_id=9743§ion_id=15&page_number=3
http://automobilemag.com/reviews/convertibles/0504_mercedes_benz_sl65_amg/index.html

Some of the SL65's features include: 6.0 liter twin turbo V-12; 4,564 pound curb weight; 604 horsepower; 738 ft-lb of torque; power to weight ratio of 7.6; 0-60 mph in the high 3s (I've seen 3.8 and 3.9); 1/4 mile in the high 11s at nearly 120 mph. The power to weight ratio puts it at or ahead of such cars as: the C5 Z06, 360 Modena, 996 Turbo S, 996 Turbo with X50 package, 996 GT3, C6 Corvette, the new (E60) M5, etc., etc. The SL65 is ridiculous. I have seen one once in my life (in NYC this summer). The car looks absolutely sick. Also, FYI, the asking price for one of these ranges from $170,000 and $200,000 right now. And Lindsay f***ing Lohan wrecked (at least one of these). I'm sure she deserves and appreciates her car. She certainly appreciates its 12 air bags. More money than sense...